I am very happy that the publisher has given me the opportunity to read Celebrations at the Chateau and therefore I gladly give my honest review. Celebrations at the Chateau is the 4th book I have read by Jo Thomas and I know by now that whenever I pick up one of her books, I will be engulfed in the story, immediately. It was much the same with Celebrations at the Chateau. I feel like I’ve been transported to a château in Normandy for a wonderful holiday.

Celebrations at the Chateau is perfect, delicious escapism. I raced through this easy-to-read, fairly predictable but nonetheless hugely enjoyable book. As always the reader is introduced to beautiful location, wonderful characters and a lovely storyline.

When their grandfather dies, Fliss Hope and her two sisters are astonished to learn that he has left them a chateau that they knew nothing about! Travelling to Normandy in northern France to see the beautiful – but faded – house for themselves. Their happiness is short-lived when they discover the house needs a lot of repair work, there’s a big tax bill due . . . and there’s a sitting tenant in the form of Madame Charlotte Cadieux, to whom they owe a monthly allowance! In desperate need of money, Fliss decides to stay behind and convert the chateau into a B&B. This does not meet with much enthusiasm from the locals, especially Jacques Cadieux the mayor. She’s been told by many she won’t pull it off but Fliss doesn’t let it get her down. Can she save and bring back to life the chateau? Will Fliss be able to win over the locals and they mayor? There is only one way to find out 🙂

Celebrations at the Chateau shows Jo Thomas story telling at her very best, warm, likable characters we grow to love, beautiful settings, friendships, romance and a wedding! This book is another wonderful add up in Jo Thomas list of published books. I can’t wait for more!

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Great book, very enjoyable read, would recommend this to friends. Makes you wonder what it would be like to live in a chateaux

This is a gorgeous festive read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Fliss and her sisters have inherited a French Chateau from their grandad, but when they go to look at the property, they discover that they will need a lot of money to keep the place running. They want to turn the Chateau into a Bed and Breakfast, but Jacques, the mayor of the town is against it. What will they do?

I loved this book, which was fun, heartwarming and uplifting, and it kept me entertained for hours. Highly Recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Gawd, I love this book!!
It's always an exciting day when I pick up a new Jo Thomas book, I have loved every one of hers I've read and this is no different, it's just as feel-good and
Celebrations at the Chateau is so full of happiness, it's warm and cheerful and will leave you with all the feels. I can't fully express how much I loved this book, Jo Thomas is now a go-to author for me, she writes beautiful escapist stories which are all about love friendships and set in some of the most beautiful places, this time France.
This is in no other words; utterly delightful.

This was definitely my cup of tea and it held my interest to keep me reading until the very end. I really liked the characters and the setting for the book.
I got quite involved in the lives of the characters and loved the descriptive writing which made me feel part of the story.

I highly recommend this book.

It’s no secret how much I love Jo’s books. I love how she can transport you to a country with her words, her descriptions, and her wonderful stories. Celebrations at the Chateau was no different. A trip to rural France was just what I needed to relax and unwind, drinking in the atmosphere of an old chateau, an apple orchard and a host of delightful and not-so-delightful locals.

Fliss and her sisters arrive at the chateau after inheriting it from their grandfather, not even knowing he owned it. They have every intention of selling it and Fliss is left in charge of the arrangements whilst her sisters head home. She first discovers they can’t sell because of the live-in chatelaine Charlotte Cadieux. They also have to pay her a monthly allowance and a huge tax bill that’s due. After a couple of stranded tourists call looking for shelter for the night when their car breaks down and they insist on paying her for the trouble, they give Fliss the idea of opening as a B&B.

This is a great grumpy/sunshine romance. Fliss is determined to make the most of the property they can’t get rid of and soon makes friends with Charlotte who helps her deal with the new guests. The grumpy mayor/next-door-neighbour/cheese farmer/Charlotte’s grandson Jacques is so against Fliss at first, the chateau belonged to his family before her grandfather bought it but he soon ends up helping her to run it, to the annoyance of his estranged wife who fancies herself as lady of the manor if Fliss fails and the chateau is returned to Jacques.

There is a side romance between Fliss’ nephew Jason and Jacques’ stepdaughter Clementine which is sweet and innocent, two teenagers discovering romance for the first time and a long-lost romance from the older generation. There are many different ages groups and relationships featured and they all come together to make a brilliant story.

3/5
This was a quick, fun read. The plot was not my cup of tea but it was interesting enough to keep me reading.
Fliss was a really good character and ive enjoyed her journey a lot. The siblings dynamics were the highlight of the book for me and i adore when those are portrayed in books.
The setting at the french chateau was really good and i felt as if i was part of the story and it gave me all the summer and cozy vibes for some reason.
I highly recommend this book if you are looking for something light hearted and fun!

A perfect holiday romance. I loved this book, it was a wonderful read full of gooiness, the perfect book to read, sat in front of the fire, with cushions, fluffy socks, a glass of good wine, and a few delicious nibbles.

Three sisters arrive in France, to look at a Chateau they have just inherited from their grandfather. Not once during his life has he mentioned this asset and they only learn of it upon his death.

Expecting to just look and then put the place up for sale, the three sisters discover there is a few added complications to what should be a simple act of selling the property and dividing the money three ways. Of the three sisters, Fliss is the one who was closest to her grandfather and the one whose life will not be disrupted if she stays in France.

Unable to sell immediately and with a large bill looming, Fliss decides that she could perhaps spruce up some of the more habitable rooms and make it a B & B. It is going to take a lot of hard work and opposition from some of the locals, including her immediate neighbour who also happens to be the local mayor.

There is something special about the place that makes Fliss see what a life she has been living and when her nephew is sent to stay with her to escape some troubles at school, she has some added help to make her dreams come true. Perhaps staying and discovering just what it was that her grandfather was up to all those years ago that he bought a Chateau might be the answer to her and her sisters problems.

As Christmas and the New Year looms, it seems that perhaps the future will look a lot better for them all but there is still some hurdles to overcome.

As I am fast learning reading new and old Jo Thomas books, whilst the settings are as important as the characters there is also the mention of a foodstuff. This time it was apples, cider, crepes and wonderful local customs of apple harvesting and gathering the community together. That coupled with renovating the chateau and a big dollop of romance with a moody Frenchman you have the perfect book to escape into.

I enjoyed the relationships between the three sisters, and the setting of the book, but it still took me a long time to actually enjoy the plot.

Overall, an okay read.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC!

When Fliss and her sisters inherit a chateau from their grandfather they head to France to find out where it is and why they have never heard about it before.
It turns into a potential millstone around their necks with taxes to pay and payment needed to the chatelaine. This lovely story of how perhaps Fliss can make it pay for itself.

Celebrations at the Chateau - Jo Thomas

I enjoyed the relationships between the three sisters, and the setting of the book, but it was just missing something for me to rate this one any higher. Don't get me wrong it's a lovely easy read and the author does a nice job with the setting descriptions and I do think this would be the perfect read for lovers of Escape to the Chateau programme, personally I enjoyed it, but it didn't blow me away.

I would struggle to be able to review this book due to issues with the file/download. The issues stopped the flow of the book. The issues are:
- Missing words in the middle of sentences
- Stop/start sentences on different lines
- No clear definition of chapters.

Not sure if it was a file/download issue but there were lots of gaps and stops/starts which really ruined the flow.

When Fliss and her sisters inherit a chateau, they travel to see it, fully expecting to put it up for sale. Learning that this isn't possible, Fliss is left behind to try and bring it up to spec as a B&B. There is a lot of local opposition and her work is definitely cut out for her. A wonderful read.

I have read quite a few of the books with the storyline in this one. One or two more reviews are still to be written. Despite that fact, I enjoy the tale's unfolding for differing reasons. In this review (obviously), I will discuss why this story worked for me.
The first part of the story begins with three sisters who were once close but have been divided due to the pressures of their daily lives. They have been collectively left a chateau by their grandfather to do with as they see fit. Even if our lead protagonist is Fliss, the tentative balance between the sisters and their individual fears is addressed.
Because of the unexpected details of such an inheritance (as explained in the blurb, although sometimes I wish so much is not given away in the very beginning), there are some serious things to be done. Since Fliss is the only one with freedom, she decides to stick around and convert the Chateau into a place that can earn money instead of being a money pit.
The amount of work she puts in and the way the tides change over the course of the narrative make for fun reading.
I found a few relationship issues a little abrupt or not well fleshed out, but overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the tone of the complete book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who finds this plotline entertaining and will definitely read another by the author if given a chance.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Loved this! Amazingly written and kept me reading even when I had to stop I wanted to read more !! Can’t wait to read more from this author !!

A delightful celebration of a read was this book. I enjoyed Fliss's journey down the pages. The author's writing was heartwarming and I was transported to the locales of France. A sweet story.

This was such a brilliant book! I was bereft when I finished it and had to leave Fliss and the chateau behind. The cast of characters is just delightful and as usual the food and drink descriptions are absolutely divine. Highly recommend.

Lovers of Four in a Bed and Escape to the Chateau will absolutely adore this book. It was like reading an extended version of those programmes, but with far less drama.

I loved Fliss and her sisters, their relationship was so lovely to watch develop. and the French setting really brings a little extra to this lovely book.

As with so many Jo Thomas books, the food and drinks descriptions in this book are fantastic. Be sure you curl up with some cake and a cuppa when you pick this book up.