Not Quite Nice
Published on 26. February 2015
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-1-4088-4687-2 (ISBN)
Description
Theresa is desperate for a change. Forced into early retirement, fed up with babysitting her bossy daughter's obnoxious children, she sells her Highgate house and moves to the picture-perfect town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, just outside Nice.
With its beautiful villas, its bustling cafes and shimmering cerulean sea, the village sparkles like a diamond on the French Mediterranean coast. Once the hideaway of artists and writers, it is now home to the odd rock icon and Hollywood movie star, and, as Theresa soon discovers, a close-knit set of expats. There's Carol, the infinitely glamorous American and her doting husband David; the erstwhile British TV star Sally; the ferocious Sian and her wayward Australian poet husband; the sharply witty Zoe with her strangely youthful face and penchant for white wine - and the suave Brian who catches Theresa's eye...
As Theresa settles to the gentle rhythm of seaside life she embraces her new-found friendships and freedom. However, life is never quite as simple as it seems and as skeletons start to fall out of several closets, Theresa begins to wonder if life on the French Riviera is quite as nice as it first appeared...
With its beautiful villas, its bustling cafes and shimmering cerulean sea, the village sparkles like a diamond on the French Mediterranean coast. Once the hideaway of artists and writers, it is now home to the odd rock icon and Hollywood movie star, and, as Theresa soon discovers, a close-knit set of expats. There's Carol, the infinitely glamorous American and her doting husband David; the erstwhile British TV star Sally; the ferocious Sian and her wayward Australian poet husband; the sharply witty Zoe with her strangely youthful face and penchant for white wine - and the suave Brian who catches Theresa's eye...
As Theresa settles to the gentle rhythm of seaside life she embraces her new-found friendships and freedom. However, life is never quite as simple as it seems and as skeletons start to fall out of several closets, Theresa begins to wonder if life on the French Riviera is quite as nice as it first appeared...
Reviews / Votes
A hugely enjoyable romp of a novel with eccentric characters, a delightful background and a savoury tang of crime * <b>Katie Fforde</b> * A warm, light-hearted, fast-paced tale that fans of Peter Mayle will enjoy * <b>Joanne Harris</b> * A very witty novel by a very witty woman. Hugely entertaining * <b>Julian Fellowes</b> * Utterly delicious in every way * <b>Joanna Lumley</b> * A sunny, funny debut novel ... a keenly observed, rollicking tale of mature expats reinventing themselves on the French Riviera * <b><i>Mail on Sunday</b></i> * This debut from national treasure actress Celia perfectly captures the colour of ex-pat life and the glitz and glamour of the South of France. A shaft of early summer sunshine, a funny, spirited read * <b><i>Daily Mail</b></i> * A comic caper set among the tangled lives of a group of expats in a southern French village * <b><i>Observer</b></i> * A delicious piece of entertainment ... Theresa finds herself in a nest of bonkers, scheming expats, and soon suspects that this paradise comes with serpents ... Theresa is a fabulous cook and Imrie includes the recipes of her signature dishes. Read the book, then make the chocolate fudge tiffin * <b><i>The Times</b></i> * In a delicious touch, the action is punctuated with recipes for the local dishes that are cooked by the characters so that readers can, if they wish, cook along with the action * <b><i>Daily Telegraph</b></i> * Evocative detail and colourful characters, Imrie's debut novel is a riotous tale of the highs and lows of life on the French Riviera * <b><i>France Magazine</b></i> * This debut from national treasure actress Celia perfectly captures the colour of ex-pat life and the glitz and glamour of the South of France. A shaft of early summer sunshine, a funny, spirited read * <b><i>Daily Mail</b></i> * It's lots of fun, with adventure at a certain age as its driving force, and sun-kissed recipes as chapter breaks * <b><i>Sainsbury's Magazine</i></b> *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 135 mm
Weight
475 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4088-4687-2 (9781408846872)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Celia Imrie
Not Quite Nice
E-Book
02/2015
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
€10.49
Available for download
Person
Celia Imrie is an Olivier award-winning actress best known for her parts in the films Calendar Girls and Nanny McPhee. In February 2015 she returns as Madge in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Her roles on stage include Dotty in Noises Off and Mrs Tilehouse in The Sea, and, on television, Diana in After You've Gone, Vera in A Dark Adapted Eye and Miss Babs in Acorn Antiques. Last year she brought her cabaret/revue show Laughing Matters to Crazy Coqs and then to the St James Theatre. Her autobiography, The Happy Hoofer, was published in 2011.
www.celiaimrie.info @CeliaImrie
www.celiaimrie.info @CeliaImrie