Sophie Claire’s book begins in Columbia where the protagonist, Lily, is making a film about the lives and careers of some Columbian women in a world where women don’t really have careers. Lily is attacked and suffers a broken arm, returning to her home village in France to recover. Moving back in with her elderly grandmother, Mamie, Lily catches up with her oldest friend Olivier and enjoys the slower pace of life in this peaceful place. Torn between returning to her nomadic lifestyle and spending more time with Mamie, Lily has a decision to make.
I love a story set in sunny, seaside villages with idyllic views and villagers who all know each other and this is no exception, The author takes us into the heart of the French village with her descriptions of the olive groves, the boats in the marina and the tantalising aromas of Mamie’s cooking, making us wish we were there.
Olivier and Lily both want very different things from life which seem to stem from their childhoods, and the author keeps us guessing throughout the novel how their past relates to their outlooks on the future, Both characters frustrated me and at times I just wanted to bang their heads together and simply tell them to talk to each other!
If you enjoy a delightful novel with a happy ending, then you’ll enjoy Summer at the French Olive Grove. Slip your sunhat on, grab a cold drink and settle under a shady tree. This is a lovely book for an afternoon in the sun.
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