{"product_id":"a-very-french-affair-maria-hoyle-9781991006639","title":"A Very French Affair","description":"\u003cb\u003eA transatlantic, romantic memoir in the vein of \u003ci\u003eA Year in Provence \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eEat, Pray, Love.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhat do you say when a man you've dated a handful of times asks you to go live with him in a mill by a river in France? The obvious answer is, 'Are you out of your mind?' Mine was, 'Okay.' \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the age 63 I left my life in Auckland - my daughters, our dog, my friends, a beautiful rental by a beach and everything I'd loved for more than two decades - to settle in a tiny French village with a partner I barely knew. What could possibly go wrong? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eI arrived with trepidation but also a little bravado - after all, with a degree in French I was confident about communicating with the locals. And yes - that part was mostly fine (apart from some amusing faux pas). The true challenge was twofold: 1) learning to communicate with my new partner James (we were smitten with one another, but also sitting on a pile of baggage and emotional wounds) and 2) adapting to life in a remote hamlet when my idea of a great day out is shopping, lunch in a bustling caf?, and a movie. Did I have it in me to persevere? To make good friends and truly feel at home? Crucially, have I made another terrible romantic mistake - or am I finally growing and learning what it means to move beyond the infatuation stage and make a relationship work? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMy tale is about grabbing life with both hands whatever your age, what it means to belong, how to make a great bourguignon, the joys and frustrations of French living, and why you should always look closely at a map before emigrating. Ultimately, though, it is a story about the greatest adventure of all. Love. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Maria Hoyle\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1991006632\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781991006639\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e A\u0026amp;u New Zealand\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/01\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback","brand":"Maria Hoyle","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46545875403007,"sku":"9781991006639","price":28.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_1b41a741-4ff5-4460-ad78-53d021016844.jpg?v=1738183579","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/a-very-french-affair-maria-hoyle-9781991006639","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}