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Have you ever dreamed about living somewhere new? What if you had the opportunity to leave everything you’ve ever known, a good job and family, to start over in a new, unfamiliar, but exciting place? A new home, new friends, and a very different way of life. Would you want to do it? Whether or not you answered yes to any of those questions, you can live through Janine Marsh’s adventure in this fabulous book about her stories of her new life. It’s a true love story… about falling in love with France. The people, the culture, the food, the small villages, and every little thing in between.
The most successful expats I’ve met in this group all share similar qualities- they are very determined , bloody minded, hardworking, pragmatic, sanguine, flexible, and eventually learn to accept that sometimes things just don’t go the way they planned. They open gÎtes and pop-up restaurants, write books, take on building work, teach English, learn a new skill, often in the creative sphere, and they work hard and earn far less than before but they are happy. They are also possibly quite mad. I am one of them, and this is my story of how I learned to be a successful expat in France.
Janine Marsh
About the Author
Ex-pat Janine Marsh moved from the United Kingdom to live in Northern France. She resides in a small village in Northern France with her husband Mark, and their many pets. She can’t resist a stray animal and has what some might call myriad pets. She loves France and the tiny town she now calls home in the rural Seven Valleys area of Pas De Calais. Janine Marsh is an award-winning travel writer. You can catch her on her website www.thegoodlifefrance.com, or on social media! She has an amazing magazine that goes out a few times a year with everything you want to know about France! Hidden gems, the best places to visit, recipes, and all the things that make you love France.
I discovered Janine Marsh during one of my (many) random searches to learn more about France and French culture. I fell in love with her story and unique writing style, and I haven’t looked back since. I have enjoyed all three of her books in the Good Life series. She talks about how she came to France, the first year of her life in France, and the next few years of living in this new place called home.
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The Plot
Janine Marsh, her husband Mark, and her father were all enjoying a day trip from London to France. It was a dreary, grey dismal day, and they were in search of some cheap wine (France has the best!). Once they found some wine, surely they could find some decent food- it is France, after all! They went to a nearby town only to realize that most places were closed in the mid-afternoon.
They strolled around the city, cold and wet, and it just so happens that a nice estate agent offered them some coffee to warm up. Before she knew it, Janine was not only buying wine that day… she had put in an offer on an old, rundown home in Northern rural France. Putting in an offer on a new house was not in the plans for their day! How exciting would that be, though?
After a lot of thought and internal struggle, Janine and her husband left corporate life, sold their home, and packed up to start a new beginning in the French countryside. They basically bought a run-down barn that needed a lot of TLC, and they constantly have an ongoing project to fix it up. Janine talks about the early struggles they face with their new home and tells exciting stories about learning to live in a different culture – one that they will both come to know and love with time.
My Review of My Good Life in France: In Pursuit of the Rural Dream
This was such a fun memoir to read! I have only read a few memoirs before this one, but I thoroughly enjoy reading about people’s experiences in life. Especially if it is an experience I would love to have someday. It let’s you live vicariously through them.
I have always had this dream of moving to and living in France my whole life. Reading about how Janine Marsh moved to France and fell in love with the country and culture made me so excited for her. The culture is so beautiful, and it was fun to hear about her experiences and the differences between living in London and living in France.
Rural French living is much different than city living!
Janine has many entertaining stories, as well as some that will pull at your heartstrings. I enjoyed the true tales of Janine’s new life, her journey of fixing up a new home (that came with A LOT of problems), navigating new friendships and customs, and learning to love this new place she calls home.
Reading this memoir by Janine Marsh was everything that I needed! It was very well written and made me feel like I was living it with her, and I enjoyed feeling like I was part of the journey with her and her husband.
I fell head over heels in love. Completely and utterly bowled over. You’re thinking that the garden must have been like Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny, aren’t you? A picture of lush beauty. Fountains and flora to fall in love with. It wasn’t. It was basically two fields with a few trees and a sheep wandering around. It was very green and very big. That was it. Even now I don’t know what happened to me that day.
Janine Marsh
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Recommened Audience
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read memoirs, or books about people’s adventures. Reading the true story Marsh shares about her rollercoaster ride through a new life will bring anyone entertainment.
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If you want to read this book- check it out here!
Her other two books are: My Four Seasons in France: A Year of the Good Life and Toujours la France! Living the Dream in Rural France.
Grab a cup of coffee, My Good Life in France, and enjoy a peaceful morning. You will get laughter, entertainment, and joy from all three of Janine’s books. I hope you love them as much as I have!
Until next time,
Catherine
I love books set in other countries or places far away from me. This one sounds great. I’m adding My Good Life in France to my TBR pile!
I think you will enjoy it! I love to read books like that as well. It’s so fun to read them!
I have been an expat twice in my life (once for 2 years and once for 6 months). Both times I finished a completely different person. Surrounding yourself with a new culture and way of life teaches you so much more than a quick trip. You begin to truly understand the locals’ way of life. I would love to read My Good Life in France!
That sounds wonderful! I would love to embrace new culture for a longer period of time than what I have been able to do.
I do enjoy reading about people’s adventures. I look forward to reading My Good Life in France.
I hope you enjoy it!
Not my sort of book I’m afraid but my mother would love this. It would be perfect for their next vacation!
Thanks for reading my review anyways 🙂 I love new recommendations, if you have any to share!
I love a good book recommendation! I would struggle to move to a rural area but love the idea of adventure in a new place.
I think I would do well living somewhere rural… but in reality, I don’t think I would do so well! Lol
Sounds like “My Good Life in France” is a book I would enjoy. I often think about what it would be like to live in places I visit.
I think about that often as well. It would be nice, but vacationing there is such a joy!
I’ve only been to France once and have longed to go back ever since. Since that may be a little while, the book, My Good Life in France: In Pursuit of the Rural Dream, seems like the perfect way to escape there momentarily! I’ll have to put this one on my reading list.
Reading books like this help me escape until I can make it to the destination 🙂 That’s one thing I love about reading!
My Good Life in France sounds like a wonderful read! I’ll look for the book. I dream about living in Scotland part time.
I’m glad I am not the only one who dreams about living somewhere else sometimes!
What a fabulous book review of life in France. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading!