I did not finish this book. I just. could not get into the story and did not enjoy it very much. Not much to the plot at all.

I found this a bit of a slow burner and quite hard to get into, possibly because of the amount of characters.  Nice story once I stuck with it.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
A lighthearted yet heartwarming read, filled with a cast of likable characters. The writing is good and deeply evocative. 
A good read.

I thoroughly enjoyed another visit to Westenbury Village and to find out what all the friends were up to. There are some lovely humorous touches and the children are as amusing as ever. There is a large cast of characters to meet but the main focus is on Grace who is undergoing some real changes in her life. There is a lot of background information to digest about her past life and you really get the sense that the characters are rooted.
This isn't just a single narrative. There are numerous other strands running through and there is a lot to learn about June, the local GP. Not everything goes to plan for her and there are a few surprises in store. There are also some unsavoury elements in the background and the outside world does intrude, involving the younger members of the community. This is a great story to escape into and does not disappoint.

In short: A warm, witty tale
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

A lovely fun story another wonderful visit to Westenbury .A group of women who by now feel like friends there new adventures. romances  really delightful,A series that I really enjoy reading a town a enjoy visiting.#netgalley #aris

This book was good it wasn't bad, I only gave 3.5 stars because as many have stated it was all over the place and I was having a hard time at all times identifying who was who or what was going on, many times I was laughing by myself because I was completely lost with so many situations and characters.

This is the story of Grace who decided to start a new life and to move on without her hubby, moving to Little Acorns to teach a few crazy teens that are determined to make her life a little more adventurous no matter how she tries otherwise her life because even more challenged with these brats

A Village Vacancy will keep you glued to your hair and will make your heart laugh so much, it is funny and irreverent and Grace is also kind of all over the place so that will make this story even more worth reading.

The feelings that I got while reading this funny book was, warm and pleasant as everybody knew everybody so that made it more real and more little villa, small-town vibe. Another amazing and wonderful reason to read this book was the friendship between the women was beautiful and awesome, not many we can share the bond they had and it was so enjoyable Harriet, Juno, and everybody. 

A Village Vacancy was lighthearted, funny, irreverent, and very cozy for this winter and time.

Yet another fabulous visit to Westenbury. Julie Houston has a knack of making you feel like you're actually there, watching what's going on and living the country life. Full of humour and fun, as well as its fair share of serious moments, this is definitely a must read! I loved it. Thank you Netgalley!

An entertaining and fun story that made me smile and root for the characters.
Even if there's a lot of characters and I was bit confused at moment I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Good character and plot development, humor and a well written plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I loved the last book (A Village Affair) by Julie Houston, but honestly A Village Vacancy gave me whiplash! Trying to keep up with who was with who, made me feel like I needed to put together a chart, just so I could keep up.

But I did enjoy Grace’s character, her determination to do the best for her children, even if it breaks her heart. I enjoyed the relationships between all the characters and I was cracking up with the no so subtle surveillance operation. I

A Village Vacancy is a great story, despite the whiplash. Julie Houston is a marvelous writer and I can’t wait for her next book

This was such a fun and witty read that I loved from beginning to end. 
It was great to find myself back in the chaotic lives of the residents of the Yorkshire village of Westenbury.
All of the residents seem to have so many things going on and all of their lives are intertwined through their relationships. This is a great addition to the series from Julie Houston, although it can be read as a standalone read. 
It certainly is never dull in the Westernbury and that becomes clear from the first page. 
This story does focus on the life of Grace, who after finding out that her husband is leaving her again decides that she is moving on and is delighted to be working again. As you read the book you realise how much Grace has got going on in her life and how complicated it has become. You can see that all Grace wants is to be loved and supported.  
Grace has plenty of dramas to contend with but she does have some fun along the way too with her family and friends. There are some funny storylines with the book that are fun to read. There are some serious storylines covered too including a county lines drug story which is very relevant to how the world is now.
I really enjoyed revisiting Westernbury and with the way in which it is written makes you feel like part of the community too. 
Thank you Julie Houston for another wonderful and addictive read.

The setting of Westenbury in Yorkshire was glorious, the characters were all spot on hilarious, serious, modern women. The families were complicated - there were yours, mine and ours multiplied over and the story could not be called women's fiction because I think men will enjoy the story too.

The ramifications of a village life, the handsome widower now being eyed by many women in the village, he is rich and handsome and also a kind soul. Then there is a bunch of attractive professional women around too. I sometimes felt in the story that it was a little too crowded with characters and got a tad confusing.

Overall the story was entertaining and just what anyone needs after a dose of heavy reading. Descriptive and engaging.

I read the whole of this book and didn't really enjoy it.  The other books centered around the village were far better. 
 There were quite a lot of characters and I didn't like the way the writer kept putting sentences in between brackets, which became quite annoying.

The story is set in the small village town of Westenbury.  It revolves around Grace a school teacher to a class of unruly children until Grace weadles out the ring leader. It does have some laugh out loud moments. I particularly liked the lollipop lady Diamante.  And Grace's little downs adopted daughter Petronella and some of her misspoken words like cockporn which should have been popcorn very loudly in the queue at the supermarket.

Bits of the book were entertaining but I felt like I was walking through treacle for most of it.

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. xx

A Village Vacancy takes the reader back to the Westenbury for another tale of laughter, love and life.  This is a standalone story, but many of the characters previously featured in other books about Westenbury, and you will be intrigued to see what has gone before.

The funeral of one of the village's enigmatic women introduces the cast of characters. Amanda's loss is felt both in the community and her personal life. A mystery surrounds her untimely death, which gives this tale of village life an added dimension.

Grace takes centre stage in this story as she copes with her dysfunctional family life and wonders if romantic happiness is within her grasp. Westenbury experiences city problems in this story which are topical and give the story its contemporary edge. 

There's humour, mystery, romance and poignancy in this insightful story which draws the reader into the village and the lives of its inhabitants. The characters are believable and relatable, which makes their stories engaging and memorable.

I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Such a lovely read that surprised me on so many counts! If you’re looking for a fun read with many memorable characters, who each have complex stories you can really get your teeth into, this one is most definitely for you.

I really enjoyed this book for so many reasons, and it was such a hilarious read at times. My spirits were instantly lifted, but I was also gripped because of all the unexpected twists you simply don’t expect with a book of this nature! It’s clear the author is a natural born storyteller and seems to entertain her audience with ease. The only thing I was a little lost in was just the amount of characters there is to keep track of, but I think I’d feel much better about this if I read more of Julie’s works. Off to Amazon I go! Brilliantly entertaining, and if this doesn’t make you want a trip to beautiful Yorkshire, I don’t know what will!

My first read from this author, but definitely won’t be the last – enjoyable, memorable and humourous in equal measure!

A Village Vacancy is exactly the type of cosy romance that I love to read in autumn. The prospect of a love story set in Yorkshire is enough for me to adore this book, but it’s also a brilliantly satisfying comfort read.

The village of Westenbury has a typical small town feel. Everyone knows everyone, and everyone knows everything about everyone. There’s a large number of characters in A Village Vacancy, which really surprised me. The book is a standalone, but links to some of Houston’s other works, so I did miss out on some of the village’s history. There are a lot of personalities to work out. Although it took me a while to connect with every personality in the book, I really enjoyed getting to learn about the friendships between each of the characters.

Julie Houston’s writing style is welcoming and relaxing. I really like how she gives each of her characters a likeable charisma. However, there were little descriptions when it came to the appearance of the voices, which made the residents of Westenbury difficult to picture. Still, the scenic portrayal of a small Yorkshire village during autumn gives A Village Vacancy a snug ambience.

The focus on female friendship in A Village Vacancy is really uplifting, and one of my favourite aspects. I adore the bond between the women! Grace, Harriet, Juno and co, feel more like friends by the last page, and I think that’s what makes this story such a comfortable read. There’s a good balance of humorous adventure with emotional storytelling that gives the book a neighbourly feel.

There’s a fun dynamic in this book that adds to its light-heartedness. At the same time, the sensitive hardships make the fictional tale feel much more down-to-earth. Grace faces loss in more ways than one, and it’s interesting to see how she develops throughout the story. I do wish there had been more of a deep dive into Grace’s wellbeing and the effect her challenges had on her, but this doesn’t take away from the entertaining factor of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed my time in Westenbury with A Village Vacancy. It did feel a little slow in places, and I struggled at first as I haven’t read the entire series. But, it’s an easy book to pick up, with great twists and quirky characters. I’d recommend this book to anyone who’s on the hunt for a heart-warming tale of love and friendship this autumn.

I love returning to Julie Houston’s Westenbury and I never fail to be completely charmed and enchanted by her hilarious and heart-warming tales and this fantastic writer is back with another top-notch romantic comedy: A Village Vacancy.

Grace Stevens has decided that the time has come to stop wallowing in the past and to move on with her life. Her ex-husband is off exploring the world and enjoying himself and she is damned if she is going to stay home feeling sorry for herself. The time has come for Grace to put herself first for a change and to do the things she has always wanted to do but which she was too busy and preoccupied with other people’s needs to do anything about. So she decides to go back to teaching and returns to the local school, Little Acorns. Teaching young cherubs and filling their minds with knowledge and information is something Grace was always passionate about – it’s just a shame that her pupils aren’t exactly the shy and retiring type!

With her most troublesome student driving her round the bend, Grace is at her wits end. But little does she realise when she calls the student’s parent in that her problems are only just beginning! After the end of her marriage, Grace thought that love and romance were far behind her, but could she get a fresh chance and an unexpected opportunity at happiness just when she least expected it? Not that Grace has much time to even think about romance with all that is going on in her life. From keeping up with her friends to tracking down a drug ring, life for Grace is far from quiet and easy. But can she ever find the happiness that has been long denied to her? Or will she meet yet another stumbling block just when things seem to be finally falling into place?

A laugh out loud romantic comedy that is simply delicious, A Village Vacancy is another winner from the talented Julie Houston. A brilliant romp about stepping out of your comfort zone, taking chances and falling in love when you least expect it, A Village Vacancy is a riotous bucolic page-turner that will make readers roar with laughter as they find themselves cheering Grace on to get the happy ending which she so richly deserves.

Heartfelt, feel-good and wonderful, fans of Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley are sure to fall in love with Phillipa Ashley’s latest novel, A Village Vacancy.

I don.t often give up on a book but after getting half way that's what I did. It was fun in parts but too many sisters with too many secrets and it didn't seem to be going anywhere fast ,more like a sit-com where the plot is made up as it goes along. I'm sure it would be ideal as a light read for someone just not me.

Who ever said village life was dull? 

Coz let me tell me you, there is never a dull moment in Westenbury. That’s for sure! *snorts* It’s ALL going on here. 

This was one of those books that had me snorting with laughter one minute, reaching for my metaphorical cushion the next (it’s a common occurrence for me to get embarrassed on a character’s behalf. You, too?), then reaching for my stash of tissues (Well, it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t cry at least once whilst reading *shrugs*.), and repeat!

Whaaa?

Oohhh. 

Hold your horses! I’m getting to that bit *rolls eyes*. 

So impatient. 

*wags finger* Zip it! I can hear you all muttering ‘pot meet kettle’. 

Of course, it goes without saying that I wanted to slap certain characters upside the head (or give them a cuff in their lug as my mum would say!). 

Oy, I was in fear for my blood pressure on several occasions but it’s all part of the fun, lol. 

Not only was this my first visit to Westenbury but also my first Julie Houston read. A Village Vacancy may centre around Grace Stevens, however there are a whole host of colourful characters and side stories to immerse yourself in. 

Thanks heavens for the cast of characters at the start of the book because I can admit to referring to it on several occasions as it took me a chapter or two to get my head around them all including the personal connections. The geek that I am (what did I say about zipping it?) would love this ‘Who’s who’ to be turned into a family/friend tree or flow chart (or is this a step too far?).

*coughs*

Moving swiftly on...

What can I say? Books are the best kind of therapy, aren’t they? A Village Vacancy was just what I needed to escape reality for a few hours. Drama, giggles, romance, and a touch of ‘Where did this come from?’ (I was channelling my best Miss Marple impression at one point). All the intricacies of life!

I hope to get to return to Westenbury soon.

Oh it was so good to be back in Westenbury again!

Grace is one of my favourite characters in this series and I really enjoyed this latest instalment. I had forgotten how much I loved Deimante too, she really comes out with some funny sayings!

This book is filled with madcap adventures (a girls’ night out in particular was absolutely hilarious), unsuitable and unexpected liaisons, and wonderfully funny tales from the classroom, all told with Julie Houston’s trademark sparkling humour. It’s a realistic story though, with real life issues for its characters to deal with.

The characters in this book are almost like friends at this stage, and it was wonderful to be immersed in their lives again.

Probably best enjoyed as part of the series, I’d recommend the whole series to anyone who likes a really well written, uplifting and humorous novel. Perfect escapism.

Loved it!!! I would give it 4.5 stars. The beginning was a bit confusing because I had to remember who all the characters were from the previous books. There are so any people to keep track of, then add their parent and children. Loved everything about the book - the characters, story and writing style. I love reading about Harriet and all her friends. I want to live in Midhope and be friends with all of them. They all seem to have so much fun together. Izzy shouldn't be in charge of planning nights out. Big Leo- King of the the Jungle was definitely something to talk about and not in a good way. Grace is my least favorite. She makes horrible choices about men and does stuff without thinking about the consequences. She acts more like a teenager than a forty year old woman. What was she thinking that night at the bar (she wasn't thinking)??!! There were so many red flags, but she ignored them all. She's very lucky to have so many people who are there to help her. I'm not sure how I feel about the person she now loves. It's a bit strange. 

Definitely recommend the book. I can't wait to see what will happen next for everyone. Look forward to reading more books by the author. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Aria & Aries through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.