Synopses & Reviews
Forced into early retirement and fed up with babysitting her demanding daughter's bratty children, fifty-nine-year-old Theresa is desperate for a change. Impulsively switching her town house in Highgate for a charming seaside flat, she makes the daunting but life-affirming move to the picture-perfect town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, just outside Nice.
With its impressive villas and a shimmering cerulean sea, Bellevue-sur-Mer sparkles like a diamond on the French Mediterranean coast. Once home to countless artistic and literary visitors, nowadays the small town is home to the odd rock icon and Hollywood movie star and, as Theresa soon discovers, a close-knit set of foreigners with plenty of expat Brits among them. There's Carol, the infinitely glamorous American heiress, and her doting husband, David; the erstwhile British TV star Sally; the effervescent Guy and his partner, Gary; the ferocious business woman Sian and her wayward Australian poet husband, Ted, and the acerbic, older Zoe, who is rather fond of a drink, plus a little help from the surgeon's knife. And then of course there's the suave and charming Brian, who catches Theresa's eye.
Brimming with a host of charming characters and narrated with effortless humor, Not Quite Nice is a story of secrets, friendships, and a lesson that it's never too late to have a new beginning.
Review
"A warm, light-hearted, fast-paced tale that fans of Peter Mayle will enjoy." —Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat "A very witty novel by a very witty woman. Hugely entertaining." —Julian Fellows, creator of Downton Abbey "A hugely enjoyable romp of a novel with eccentric characters, a delightful background and a savoury tang of crime." —Katie Fforde, author of A Perfect Proposal "Utterly delicious in every way." —Joanna Lumley, actress
Synopsis
A charmingly funny debut novel about the joys and challenges of retiring abroad, from a star of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, timed to publish when the films sequel hits theaters.
Synopsis
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.
About the Author
Celia Imrie is an actress best known for her fun-loving roles in films such as Bridget Jones' Diary and Calendar Girls. She is also an established stage and television actress. She is due to appear in the sequel to the film of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel alongside Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, and Penelope Wilton, which will be released in March 2015. She is the author of a memoir, The Happy Hoofer. She splits her time between the Isle of Wight and Nice.