Under a Riviera Moon by Helen McGinn
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Womens Fiction
When a heartsick Maggie is sent on an errand by her mother to Cannes, she is keen to get it over with as quickly as possible.
She has been tasked with collecting a treasured box of photos from her late grandmother Elizabeth’s best friend, the impossibly glamorous Allegra Morgon who is desperate to tell Maggie all about the year she and Elizabeth spent in Paris. The sixties were in full swing, the air hummed with jazz, artists and students made the streets their own, and the City of Love was weaving its magic. And against this backdrop, two people were beginning a love story that would last a lifetime - but be over too soon.
As Maggie hears more about Allegra’s life, first in Paris, then New York, and finally on the Riviera, she is captivated and inspired. Was life always leading Maggie to this moment, this beautiful place so she could finally learn to stop living in the past? Because if she can, then another love story for the ages might just be within her reach…
Helen McGinn’s deliciously escapist, unashamedly romantic story is perfect for fans of Carol Kirkwood, Karen Swan and Erica James.
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I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
my review
This beautifully woven dual-timeline story follows Maggie in the present day and Allegra in the past, gradually revealing how their lives intertwine in surprising and touching ways. The narrative is filled with heartwarming moments, authentic characters, and a sense of emotional connection that pulls you in from the start.
The setting is vivid and immersive, and I found myself rooting for both Maggie and Allegra as their stories unfolded. The themes of friendship, self-discovery, and love were sweetly explored, making this an enjoyable and satisfying read. While it may not have lingered with me long after I turned the last page, it delivered a lovely, feel-good reading experience. Perfect for fans of nostalgic tales with romance, travel, and meaningful connections.
meet the author
About Helen McGinn
Helen McGinn is a wine writer, international wine judge and author of the award-winning Knackered Mother’s Wine Guide. She spent almost a decade sourcing wines around the world as a supermarket buyer and appears regularly on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen and ITV’s This Morning as their wine expert. She writes about drinks for Waitrose Food Magazine among others and awards include Fortnum & Mason’s Online Drink Writer of the Year.
Her bestselling debut novel This Changes Everything was published in February 2021 and her second fiction book In Just One Day later that same year. This Is Us, her third novel, was released in September 2022 and her fourth, The Island of Dreams, in February 2024.
This sounds like a sweet read. I prefer my books spicy, but everyonce in a while I want to read an easy read.
I liked this one a lot too!