The synopsis of this book sounded way more interesting than the book actually was. I felt like it took some time to get the story going but I was still feeling really hopeful for this book so I kept reading. I was expecting it to get better the more I read it but it just didn’t happen that way and I forced myself to finish the book. This was my first time reading a book by Nina George and it was a big disappointment for me.

The setting in Beautiful Nights is lovely, and Nina George’s writing is as poetic, but the story just didn’t connect with me. The characters felt distant, and the emotional core of the plot—especially the secret between Claire and Julie—lacked depth. The pacing dragged, and I found myself losing interest. A beautifully written book, but not one that left a lasting impression.

Beautiful Nights by Nina George is a self-indulgent journey of one woman’s attempt to “find herself.” There were unexpected twists and turns along the way to a stunning conclusion. Claire was a good character but way too self-involved. She had family: a son, a husband, sisters and a brother. All helped along the way but all were hurt by her behavior. The style was difficult as there was a lot of telling and very little showing. I really thought it was a waste of a day, reading this book.

I was invited to read Beautiful Nights by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #NinaGeorge #BeautifulNights

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Such a beautiful romantic lusty plot that swept me off my feet. Claire is a professor who begins an affair with her son’s girlfriend Julie. It’s clearly relatable as she’s frustrated with her husband and his own misbehavior and all the responsibility in her life has worn her down. The way Julie and Claire interact throughout the book is artfully captivating. It seems Julie is also beginning to experience the same frustrations of life as Claire and it causes them to have an intense tether between them as they both seek freedom and happiness. The secrets and twists throughout were very good and I truly enjoyed the picture the story paints of being feminine and wanting to really FEEL.

This was an entertaining read that I truly enjoyed reading.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
I really liked the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

I had difficulty reading this book as I had to keep remembering it was taking place in France and the sensibilities were different than I am used to. A literary exploration of the life and feelings of Claire, a professor of, basically, human emotions, although she is seen as cold and unfeeling. We meet her as she embarks on an afternoon assignation with a stranger. We slowly learn about her life and how she feels about herself.
Her husband is a composer and has had many affairs which she has overlooked.
Enter Juliette, the girlfriend of Nicolas, Claire's son, another woman trying to find herself.
The ocean in Breton where the family spends their summer plays a large part in the book.
The reason this was a difficult read for me is that I am not a very introspective person and I just wanted Claire to confront her husband.
I did like the ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest opinion. For those who enjoy literary fiction from a woman's point of view I am sure they will enjoy this book.

I like how the story starts, off kilter and not giving to much away about what the story is about. After many years of doing the right thing, taking care of her siblings and raising her son Nicholas, Claire decides that it's time to do the things she has always wanted to do, including having other types of relationships besides the married one she currently has. I was a little confused about how Claire knew Julie and why all of a sudden they were in love, but I love how much Gillies loves Claire, enough to let her go to explore the life she wanted. I loved the relationship Claire had with her half siblings Ludo and Anelle, they were both a comfort and yet still a contention in Claire's life but she loved them enough to accept them as they are.

I loved how Claire helped Julie overcome her fear of being in the ocean and giving her the courage to become a singer, it was as though the ocean was a metaphor for how both Claire and Julie felt at the time and how the ocean supported both with what they were looking for.
I found that the gathering of the family at Claire's beach like a finale of Claire's past and the start of her new life. The family was fun, touching and a symbol of what a summer at the beach should be about, of being together, feeling the ocean breeze and sun on your face and trying new things like Tango.

The best part of the story is that Claire found her voice and took charge of finding out what she wanted and making it happen. She finally gave herself permission to find out what it was like to be on her own to leave everything she knew behind to do it. I found it very courageous to not go along with what societies view is, but once you step away from all those other voices and listen to you own, you will find a type of freedom that you can only experience on own and will learn who you are and what you like, and what you love and what you can let go of.

I want to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of a story about the freedom to chose a new course of life and to try new and exciting things.

No I will not condone this book there are so many things wrong in this story. LGBTQ not my take if you don’t want betray read somethigg bc else

I found this book very difficult to get interested in. The characters are one-dimensional and the plot is lacking and it wandered off about half way through the book and never really got back on track.

I was so disappointed with this one. Nina George is one of my favorite authors and this one does no have the whimsy her stories usually have. I made it to 33% before I stopped reading. It felt like we were getting all of this internal narration, way too much of it, and nothing had happened to make the reader invested in any of these characters yet.

Lyrically beautiful, this didn't quite work for me. I found the pacing to be a little slow (which is understandable in such an introspective piece) and didn't connect with the characters in any way. The setting, however, was exceptionally well done.

There are no spoilers here, because what I'm about to say is literally mentioned in the first sentence of the synopsis (and also occurs in the first chapter of the book), but if you are someone that likes to go into books completely blind, then just be warned that I am about to mention a plot point/storyline that is a large focus of the book.

I think this book is going to be hit or miss for a lot of readers, if for no other reason that I know a lot of readers have an issue with storylines that involve cheating. However, if you enjoy lyrical writing and can appreciate a book that reflects on what it is to be a woman, a wife, and a mother, I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice by skipping this book. I also think it's important to note that in this book, cheating is used as a vehicle to explore and explain the deeper feelings and struggles of the main characters that led them to do what they did, rather than just as a plot point to create conflict or tension.

The book primarily focuses on two different women at two very different points in their lives. It reflects on the beauty and pain of youth as well as the beauty and pain of middle age. I'm middle-aged now and often find myself reflecting back to my youth and the decisions I made that led me to where I am today. This is a book about self-discovery and becoming who you really are, regardless of your age.

This book is quiet, slow, and understated, but not in a way that felt boring; rather, it added to the building tension and kept me turning pages to see what was going to happen. There were several passages that caused me to pause and reflect. So many statements were made about womanhood - some that I could relate to, some I could not (but immediately thought of friends who those statements applied to), and some that I had never before considered. There are a lot of things we live with day by day, just going through life, without ever stopping to reflect on them. Or thoughts that pop into our head, only to be pushed down because "that's just the way it is". I really loved the way this book made me stop and think, and to reconsider the way I think about certain things. I have more highlights in this book than most books I've read.

I will say that the main character of Claire is somewhat unlikeable, but I think that was completely intentional on the author's part. And I think the fact that she was made to be unlikeable, yet I still found myself empathizing with her and understanding some of her motivations, speaks to the quality of the writing. I appreciate that we were given little snippets of Claire's childhood and backstory to understand who she is in the present day. There is so much that shapes each of us, and so much that you can never know about another person unless you scratch beneath the surface.

This book contains a LOT of Claire's inner thoughts and ruminations. There is a plot, but this is absolutely more of a character-driven book. While I often struggle with character-driven books, this one really kept me captivated. The storyline was unlike any that I've read before, and because I could understand Claire's way of thinking (even if I didn't always agree with it), I enjoyed this book from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this book and will absolutely be recommending it to others. 4.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 rounded down
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When Claire, a behavioral biologist living in Paris, and her family take their annual trip to the Brittany coast, she’s stunned to find an emotional connection with her son’s new girlfriend, Julie. In search of their true selves, the women spend the summer discovering what they want out of life, and ultimately, themselves.
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This is a great example of judging a book by its cover. I couldn't wait to dive into this one. The cover is beautiful, the setting is stunning - all I wanted to do was put myself and my family on the next flight to Paris. But Beautiful Nights ultimately let me down.

Overall, the vibes are perfect for a beachy summer read because most of the book takes place on the coast, but I felt that it was anticlimactic. The pacing is extremely slow, and the book is filled mostly with the two main characters’ inner thoughts.

Introspective and thought-provoking, the writing is beautiful, but a huge miss for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Two women, both with secrets, come together in this novel about self discovery, Claire has been having an affair, as has her husband Giles but they come together for time in Brittany, where they are joined by their son Nico and his girl friend Julie. Turns out, Julie works as a maid at the hotel where Claire meets her lover. Claire also finds her bewitching. Their relationship evolves as Claire explores what she really wants in life. This is very different from George's earlier novels both in subject matter and in tone. It's quite literary and might feel slow in spots but the language makes up for that. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Nina George is a beautiful writer. Eloquent and flowing prose that is thoughtful and intellectual. This is the story of enlightenment and self discovery for two women at very different stages of their lives. Over one summer both of them blossom into women who finally let go of what they think their life should be and become the women they wish to be deep down.
The backdrop of the Brittany coastline is divine and nostalgic for summers gone.
If you are looking for a beach read that elevates this is the one.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC.

This story is so beautifully written it is easy to get lost in it. And for me the feeling lost was not necessarily a good thing. I struggled through this one despite the premise and the pain the novel put on the page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy of Beautiful Nights by Nina George in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Beautiful Nights is a literary fiction novel told in a lyrical style. The novel features a middle aged woman in the midst of an identity crisis. Claire, a respected French behavioral biology professor, feels that she has sacrificed herself for so much of her life that she has lost who she is. She finds an instant connection during a chance meeting with Julie, who Claire sees as a younger version of herself. She wants to encourage Julie to live a full life as her authentic self and not get locked into a life that is chosen for her. The story becomes complicated when Julie turns out to be the girlfriend of Claire’s son. She joins the family on an extended holiday in Brittany and develops an unmistakable bond with Claire. “I only need to look at Claire to know, to almost know, who I am and who I could be.”

This was a raw, thought provoking exploration of femininity in its many stages and going after the life you really want. The writing style, although beautiful, was a bit heavy handed for me. There is a slow build as it explores infidelity, bisexuality, what it’s like to be a middle aged woman and the expectations put on women in our society. “If you always keep your feet on the ground, and your head down, your eyes down, how can you truly live?” Claire is a cold, complex character that I had trouble identifying with as she blows up her life in order to have the one she always wanted. But I appreciated that she took the time to explore her true passions. “I want to know where I can go when I’m the sole leader and follower - of myself.” While not a quick read, readers who appreciate detailed character studies that explore identity, relationships, and femininity will find a lot to enjoy about this novel. 3.5/5⭐️

“‘It’s a privilege,’ he said slowly, ‘to know you’re losing someone. That way you can remember the moment. Often, we lose someone without warning.’”

This rarely ever happens for me but this was almost an immediate DNF. I knew within the first chapter that it’s too lyrical for my taste and the words are trying too hard to be beautiful instead of just allowing the story to become beautiful with words.

Thank you anyway to Netgalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the complimentary ARC.

Review of Beautiful Nights by Nina George
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

Beautiful Nights is one of those novels that sneaks up on you. It starts off quiet and contemplative, but as the layers peel back, it becomes something much deeper- raw, emotional, and unexpectedly bold.

Set against the dreamy coastal backdrop of Brittany, France, the story follows Claire, a behavioral biologist whose life is starting to feel a bit... too well-behaved. She’s stuck in a marriage that’s more about comfort than connection, and when her son Nico brings his girlfriend Julie along on their annual summer holiday, Claire’s world gets a bit shaken- in all the best and worst ways.

This book is all about inner reckoning. The characters- Claire, Gilles, Julie-are each confronting their own version of longing and restlessness. And while some moments felt a little abstract or got a bit lost in translation (there’s a lot of metaphor and a few cultural references that didn’t totally land for me), the emotional core still resonated. I especially appreciated how the story explores the complexity of being a woman-how desire, identity, motherhood, and aging all collide.

Claire wasn’t always the most likable character, but that felt intentional. She’s not here to be palatable, she’s here to figure herself out, and it’s messy. The pacing picks up midway through, and just when you think you know where it's going, it throws a few curveballs. The ending left me a bit unsettled, but also impressed. It felt honest to the story Nina George was telling.

This is definitely a more introspective, literary read, but if you're in the mood for something atmospheric, thought-provoking, and beautifully written, Beautiful Nights is worth the journey.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Clare meets her son’s girlfriend, Julie, she starts to reminisce about her own life and the decisions she made at age 20. As she approaches 45 , married to a creative man who cheats on her, she realizes how unfulfilled she is.. Her career as a behavioral biologist seems stale, and she wants to feel energized by her life choices. She is also questioning her sexuality, and picks up strangers in bars, to feel sexy and powerful.
As she gets to know Julie, Clare is desperate for Julie not to make the same mistakes, as she. Because of her tutelage, they become close friends, which changes both women.
Clare’s obsessive rumination of her life choices becomes tiresome and self centered. The ending was the most satisfying part of this novel. I have enjoyed Ms George’s other novels, and look forward to her next one.