The Villa Matisse was such a charming and atmospheric romance. The French Riviera setting added so much to the story — it felt warm, escapist, and full of personality, and it made the whole book really easy to sink into.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Alix and Luc. Their grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers chemistry was fun without feeling overly dramatic, and the banter between them kept the story moving at a really nice pace. Luc definitely starts off frustrating, but watching the layers come down over time made the romance feel believable.

Alix was probably my favorite part of the book though. She felt mature, resilient, and realistic as a single mother trying to balance work, family, and her own happiness. I liked that the story focused not just on romance, but also on her personal growth and confidence.

The cooking elements and villa setting gave the story such a cozy feel, and even with the lighter rom-com tone, there were still emotional moments that gave the characters depth.

Overall, this was a warm, entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with beautiful scenery, lovable characters, and a good balance of humor and heart. Perfect for readers looking for an easy, feel-good escape with a touch of slow-burn romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Villa Matisse, from it's cover, should be a gentle women's fiction about people discovering themselves; slightly boring, with literary pretensions. It isn't.

This is a witty account of a private chef, Alix, on a job in the Villa Matisse, owned by she doesn't know who and containing a disparate group of people who mostly speak English.

I enjoyed it, I enjoyed the wit, the comparison of life before, during and after the COVID lockdowns, and the effect that period of time had, how it is still the demarcation of life before and after and likely always will be,

The story trundles on at a good pace and the characters are OK. But I didn't find it entirely convincing. Susan Manville just wouldn't have gotten away with her behaviour, either at the villa or in her life before. The two main protagonists just don't seem to connect as deeply as the plot suggests. However, I might read it again because I did enjoy Ms Jenning's witty and sharp observations that made me laugh aloud in places.

The Villa Matisse felt like a long stroll through France, not only the beauty and the peace but also the chaos and the bustle that is always all around. Reading about them sitting at the cafe brought me back to my days visiting, and it makes me want to go back!

I enjoyed getting to know the characters, some more than others. What I loved was how very different they all were from each other. I enjoyed getting to learn so many new culinary words; this was my first book based around a chef, and it was enjoyable.

The family and found family were just perfect together, and I love Luc and how much he changed over the story. I enjoyed the older main characters with exes and children; it just felt very real for me in a lot of ways.

This was an enjoyable read, not a fast-moving plot, but I was smiling at the end. I won't say this is a story that will stick with me, but I definitely enjoyed my time reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read this ARC and share my honest opinions.

The Villa Matisse of the title is the Nice holiday home of Anglo-French Mandeville family. As the story progresses we learn the secrets of the family, and why Luc's mother is reluctant to visit. Private chef Alix is thrown in at the deep end, with a lack of instructions making it difficult to cater. She also finds Luc rude and unhelpful, although happy to hand her plenty of cash for food shopping. The Cours Saleya seems to be an important location to Alix, keeping her grounded and providing culinary inspiration.

Of course it is obvious from the beginning that Alix and Luc's relationship will change in the course of the story - the interest lies in seeing how. Some great characters, although some are slightly cliched.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.

Alix Bailey is a temporary cook and has taken a position at the Villa Matisse over Christmas and New Year whilst her 12 year old son is skiing with his father. After a protracted journey due to the train from Milan to Nice being cancelled, she arrives late to find the front door open but no-one around.. She had tried numerous times to contact Susan Mandeville the person who engaged her but all calls went to ansaphone.
The following morning she meets Luc Mandeville, Susan's son who is bad-tempered and bad-mannered and also the rest of the staff. She feels she should never have stepped through the front door but worse is to come in the shape of Susan Mandeville herself.
Will she stay? What will happen next?

The Villa Matisse is a charming, feel-good romance set on the beautiful French Riviera. I loved the combination of gorgeous scenery, delicious food, family drama, and a romance that develops with just the right amount of tension. Alix was an easy character to root for, and her wit and determination kept me invested throughout the story.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was entertaining, and the setting felt like the perfect escape. While the romance is central, the story also explores personal growth, second chances, and learning to trust yourself.

A warm, engaging read that left me smiling and wishing I could book a trip to the Riviera.

An enjoyable book set in the delightful south of France, good storyline, amusing with a side of angst, a slow-burn romance, an annoying mother to contend with and an arrogant employer. Easy to read ,perfect for holidays

Set in the descriptively gorgeous French Rivera, it sounded an idyllic story. Alix on a temporary cooking assignment for a family over Christmas is a bit lonely having handed over her son to her ex husband for a skiing holiday. Her parents are visiting her sister and she is alone for the holidays. This assignment seems ideal. But on arrival she finds that she is not really busy and has quite a bit of free time on her hands.

There are complicated relationships at play here. First a bit of tension between her employer Luc and herself, then there is Caroline who sees herself as Luc’s girlfriend and is quite proprietary,there is tge very loud and demanding Susan who is Luc’s mother, his daughter Emma and a few domestics adding to the mixed menagerie over a family holiday period. Lots of stories at play, all interesting and a romance that ends in a happily ever after.

A nice light hearted, happy read.

oh this book was a delight. i loved stepping into the world Jane bought to life. this was the best sinking into the location that ive had in a while. Jane must know this place surely. or maybe as we already know shes just so skilled at writing. because this book too me all the way to France. like i could look up and see the places suddenly around me, with the warmth, sun beams, ground beneath me all s the Riviera.
ALix was a brilliant character.i was on her side rooting for her as soon as we meet. she strong, capable and full of determination. but she isn't without her guarded and vulnerable side. shes been hurt too, in the worst way at the worst time and is now left single and with a child. so of course you can feel that sad and cautious side to her and her self worth too. seeing how she was in this book felt grounded in so much truth. shes trying right now to balance all things and feels a bit shaky on many fronts.
when Alix gets the chefing job at Villa Matisse it felt like it couldn't have come at a better time. well, that is until the Mr Luc Mandeville enters the equation. hes the grumpy but gorgeous thorn in her side. isn't he?
because as these two get to know each other their banter and the crackle between them turns to something so much more wonderful, for them both.
their back and forth was crazy gorgeous. their dynamic was pitched in just the right way so that it was so much part of the love in this book but never overshadowing any of the other elements. their chemistry is safe and true and turns to something so much softer, deeper and loving in front of our very eyes. i melted with them and for them.
this was such a perfect book. it came at just the right time and was everything i could have wished for.

I enjoyed The Villa Matisse by Jane Jennings, particularly her descriptions of Nice and the surrounding countryside. Although I found it immediately engaging, however, and a book I wanted to read to the end, I was always waiting for something to happen or a character to be more fully developed.

The Villa Matisse is exactly the kind of romantic escape I adore — warm, witty, and full of that delicious enemies‑to‑lovers tension that keeps you smiling as you turn the pages. Jane Jennings captures the magic of the French Riviera so vividly that I could almost feel the sunshine and smell the herbs in Alix’s kitchen.

Alix Bailey is such an easy heroine to root for: capable, determined, and juggling single parenthood with a demanding career. Her Christmas cooking job at the luxurious Villa Matisse should be a dream… if it weren’t for Luc Mandeville, the grumpiest, most infuriatingly attractive man on the Côte d’Azur. Their dynamic is pitch‑perfect — prickly, funny, and threaded with a slow‑burn chemistry that builds beautifully.

I loved the chaos, the mishaps, the moments of vulnerability, and the way the story gently nudges both characters toward growth. The romance unfolds with just the right amount of heat and heart, and the setting adds a gorgeous layer of escapism. It’s the kind of book that feels like a mini‑holiday.

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Bohnet, Katie Fforde, and Beth O’Leary, this is a charming, feel‑good enemies‑to‑lovers romcom that serves up sunshine, snark, and a generous helping of emotional warmth.

A cosy, uplifting treat — and one I happily devoured.

With thanks to Jane Jennings, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

An interesting and enjoyable read, from an author who clearly knows France and the region around Nice. She vividly evokes the city, the people and the coast line, as well as whetting my appetite for all the delicious food. The characters were well drawn; Alix, the chef, Luc the history professor who would prefer to shun social gatherings, Jess, the bereaved mistress, Caroline, the socialite, Emma, the daughter and Nicole, the young Muslim girl trying to escape the control of her father. When Alix takes a temporary job as a chef at the Villa Matisse, she doesn’t know what to expect. However, she gets far more than she bargained for and her life will never be the same again. Having spent time in Nice in my teens, I really enjoyed this well written novel.

Her son is going skiing at Christmas with his father, a well paid job as a private chef in France, whilst he is away, seems ideal for Alix. When she meets the family she realises it's not as ideal as she had hoped. A bad tempered son with an even worse tempered mother. An enjoyable read, ideal holiday reading.

Alix Bailey, single mother and private chef, has gone against the wishes of her family and accepted an offer to cater for the Christmas festivities at the Villa Matisse. Leaving her son with his father in Milan to celebrate Christmas and go skiing, Alix sets out for Nice arriving at the villa in the small hours and early next morning meets grumpy Luc Mandeville, her host, Nicole who helps around the house, Billy the gardener and Tom, who deals with the cars. This strange assortment of people are joined by other characters: Susan, the mother from hell, Caroline, the would be wife, Jules, Luc's charming friend, Jess, the friendly other woman, Emma the daughter. Each play a part in the mysterious life at the Villa Matisse as the days scroll forward to Christmas and beyond.
An enjoyable, well written, light hearted read but only three stars because it was too predictable to warrant more.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a pre-release edition

A feel good romance set in the French Riviera was enjoyable but obvious from the start what was going to happen. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.