This 2017 novel set in Brittany, the northwest part of France, sometimes known as “the end of the world” mainly takes place at the Al More (The Sea) Restaurant where Genevieve, the fiery owner, Jean Remy, the restaurant’s lovesick chef, and a local artist, Yann, (who paints tiles) meet the reader.

These characters, appealingly mentioned on the blog, Carla Loves to Read, earned Carla’s 5 out of 5 stars, and because I thought her review was so good, I knew the book would be too and ordered it from my city library. I was not disappointed. This story of self-discovery and new beginnings was just what this blogger who believes, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over,” would eat up.

At the beginning of the novel, Marianne, a sixty year old drudge, married for forty-one years and in a loveless, miserable, unhappy marriage undergoes a transformation by simply getting on a train and changing locations. This unassuming, fearful, ordinary and unattractive woman becomes passionate, carefree, and powerful by the end of the story. How this happens and how her domineering husband is once again attracted to her, leads the reader on a journey of second chances, twists and turns on plot, which include all the characters, and the possibilities of finding joy in ordinary lives. It is French through and through, and when Marianne, the protagonist, must choose to” return to the known or cast it aside for the future,” the reader does not know what will happens until the final plot stands untangle.

My friend, Deb, at Readerbuzz spent the month of July immersed in Paris and all things French , literally, and later, figuratively( through reading). And this was my feeble attempt to go along. I must admit it was a very enjoyable trip. I am so grateful to my blogging friends for enriching my life far beyond its mundane limits through book reviews and clever “projects”/adventures in reading.