Review: The Right Place

The Right Place by Sophia Money-Coutts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Former chef Maggie has fond memories of her aunt Philippa (or Phil as she was commonly known), one of the great British eccentrics, a former model, rumoured to have slept with Mick Jagger, turned hotelier and chef, Phil ran a small exclusive hotel in Provence which was known for its privacy and its wonderful parties. She is shocked to discover that Phil had been ill and died without telling her family, although she and Phil had been estranged for several years she never stopped loving her aunt, and left her hotel to Maggie.

After three gruelling rounds of unsuccessful IVF, Maggie is sick of trying, sick of doctors, sick of medical terminology, sick of her husband Mungo and her mother badgering her. So, on the pretext of scoping out the hotel Maggie travels to France, only to find the hotel is in a poor state of repair, and significantly in debt. But before she can do much of anything two guest arrive, a couple who spent their honeymoon at the hotel many years ago and have booked four days for their anniversary. Unwilling to disappoint them, Maggie decides she can look after one elderly couple, especially since they get decidedly squiffy at lunchtime.

This very much reminded of the Russell Crowe film A Good Year, as Maggie brings the hotel back to life she recalls the time she spent with her aunt and the events that led to her estrangement. Then a disgraced Hollywood actor comes to stay at the hotel, at first only for a couple of days, and decides to help out. Suddenly all the angst Maggie felt in London starts to fall away - but is it the handsome actor or returning to her love of cooking that is making her happy?

I think if you like Katie Fforde, Jo Thomas, or Julie Caplin you would love this, very PG, sumptuous food, gorgeous settings, lovely locals. It was certainly a fun read (and would have been nicer sat beside a pool), I could argue there was nothing new but also it avoided some clichés as well, or maybe hinted at them very obliquely?

Anyway, ideal holiday reading but it may make you want to move to France and set up your own hotel.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

View all my reviews