I love Karen Clarke’s books and Escape to the Little French Café was no exception. Natalie Bright has always wanted to be a writer and when she moved from England after breaking up with her boyfriend to Île de Ré to live with her father, she thought that the job she took at a magazine for expats would only be temporary until she had landed her dream job working for the impressive Magnifique magazine. So far though she’s been on the island for a year and all her submissions have been rejected.

She spends a lot of her time at the nearby Café Belle Vie run by best friend Charlie’s mum, where she writes her articles and eats too many pain au chocolats. Then one day she discovers a secret, superstar actor, Jay Merino is filming on the island. They met years before and it occurs to Natalie that if she can only find a way to meet him and get an exclusive interview from the intensely private actor, she can sell the story to Magnifique and land her dream job on their team. She just has to find a way to do it.

As always, Karen’s brilliantly portrayed cast of characters took me on a journey making me laugh (a lot), gasp (usually followed by shouts of No!) and wince (I can SO relate to Natalie). This book was no exception. I loved how vivid Natalie’s life on the island came across as she attempted to make her dream come to fruition.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Buy your copy of Escape to the Little French Cafe HERE