by Peter Mayle
First published 1993
When a British couple buys a dilapidated hotel in the charming Provençal village of Ménerbes, they're determined to turn it into a boutique destination. But the locals have other plans. Between clashes with eccentric townsfolk, disastrous renovations, and hordes of quirky tourists, the pair's dream quickly becomes a comedy of errors. In this wry, warm-hearted tale, Peter Mayle invites readers to savor the quaint charms and madcap challenges of starting over in the French countryside.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary, comedy
Vibes: quaint, warm-hearted, wry
Tropes: comedy-of-errors, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Provence, France, Ménerbes
Period: 20th-century
389 pages · Hardcover · Knopf