Given to me by a friend. I tried to read it, but not to my taste. Pandemic read. ( )

This is a story of friendship and love, set in the French countryside. The story mainly takes place over the course of a few days while several friends from university days get together to celebrate Max's 40th birthday. Max is a rock star who has a lovely cottage in France, and the friends gather to celebrate with him. There is Hugo and Rosie, Lars and Nina and their daughter Sophie, Eddie and Beth-his new girlfriend, and Helen - the one that Max loves. Helen's sister, Soleil, comes for the weekend. Juliette is the chef who prepares the feast.
During the weekend, the friends reminisce about their past, and the weekend is filled with ups and downs. Several of the people are trying to come to grips with their relationships.
I didn't know what to expect, and don't even know why I chose this book to read, but I liked it.

#AFrenchWedding #HannahTunnicliffe ( )

I enjoyed the writing style best.
The storyline also felt unique.

One weekend, a group of friends meet for Max’s birthday. They are closer than friends, they are more like family. They are the only real family Max has ever known.

Max is a famous rock star. He is celebrating his 40th birthday with his group of friends that he’s kept since college.
You can tell that Max sees all the best in them. They are all of his happiest memories, they are his home.
The group also contains the love of his life, Helen. He has loved Helen for decades, he has dreamed of her. He pursued her once and she said she wasn’t ready to be together yet. He has held onto that “yet” for many years and this is the year he plans to finally win Helen.

This is also Juliette’s story. She is a live in cook/ housekeeper for Max. She was once a well known chef but moved back to her small town when her parents got sick. She’s mostly happy working for Max. She is recovering from heartbreak and she becomes an unofficial member of the friend group when everyone visits for the birthday weekend.

I don’t consider this a spoiler but the end of this story doesn’t line up right.
The prologue starts at a wedding.
Then the first chapter says “two years later”.
Most of the book takes place over the course of one weekend. Then the final chapter flashes forward to “one year later”.

It’s clearly the same wedding. What the heck?

So, the timeline issue bothers me.
And I didn’t think there was enough closer on some of the storylines.

But I enjoyed the way it was written and the story itself. I liked most of the characters. I’ll read this author again I’m sure. ( )

Lovely story. Nice twists ( )

The absolute BEST part of this book is the description of the French countryside and the food. It was fabulous and beautifully written.

The story itself, was just OK. ( )