If you’re looking for some easy reading escapism during this time of self-isolation and practising social distancing then A Village Affair by Julie Houston is definitely the book for you as it is the perfect book to take with you on your winter break or as you sit by the fire at home with your favourite drink and chocolate! Even if the chocolate isn’t as posh as the Hotel Chocolat biscuits that Cassie is on the receiving end of!!
Meet Cassandra Moonbeam (or Cassie to her friends)! Cassie is married to Mark, who is the perfect, doting husband, father and friend. She has the perfect home and loves the village life she has carved for herself with her two children throughout her 18 years of marriage. After putting her career aside for her children, Cassie has landed her dream job as a senior leader in the village primary school. Everything about her life is orderly, tidy and meticulous. Cassie has spent the summer planning for her new role and is ready to embrace it in the same way that she does everything else: with precision; but precision doesn’t always account for human nature. While at yet another perfect social event, life, as she knows it for Cassie, is turned on its head and everything comes crashing down. Well, for a short while anyway!
What I thought of the Book
The book is set in an idyllic village in the English countryside where our protagonist thinks she’s set for her life to mirror the part of the world she lives in; unfortunately, life doesn’t always work like that. Events in the book reveal that when life can appear very perfect on the surface, if you dig around, there can be some weeds that need unearthing. As you read, you’ll see Cassie have to contend with everything from troublesome squirrels and to an even more troublesome husband!
Throughout the novel, you’ll meet, and become very fond of, Cassie’s wayward mother, who is about to let her daughter down in her most catastrophic way yet. You’ll really want to invest time in Cassie as she is plunged into the complexities of suddenly becoming the headteacher of a village school that could be under threat from the local businessman trying to expand his empire. Trying to juggle life as she’s never known it before, where her personal boundaries and expectations are challenged, you’ll root for Cassie as she tries to patch together some damage limitation on her world. You will also love Cassie’s friends Fi and Clare! Although the story centres on Cassie and her trials and tribulations, there are gentle threads to be picked up involving her friends! It’s a veritable hedgerow of action!
You quickly begin to realise, and will, therefore, love her even more as a result, that Cassie has sass! Her warrior spirit definitely materialises when the local businessman, who owns most of the village, wants to change the landscape of the place completely and destroy Cassie’s Grandad Norman’s much-loved meadow. You do not want to mess with a woman scorned and you definitely don’t want to mess with a village united over their wildflowers! You won’t want to put the book down as you witness a common cause ignite Cassie’s spirit and the spirit of a village.
The subtle way that the narrative flips between the past and the present keeps you hooked without leaving you waiting impatiently for events to unfold. You see how Cassie and her mum’s life lead to her current outlook. Friendships are tested; there are complex relationships and a romantic sub-plot that just adds that bit of something! This is quite a gentle narrative that teaches you how fragile relationships can be, but that when things change out of your control, sometimes that change should be embraced. As Cassie learns, life isn’t about settling. It’s about finding those moments worth sliding down a wall for!
How much is the book and how can you buy it?
A Village Affair Julie Houston, published by Aria Fiction can be found on Amazon if you follow this link. The book is also available in several formats: Kindle, paperback and audio CD. The paperback edition is currently £6.55.
About the author
Julie Houston is married with two children. She owns a Cockerpoo and lives in a West Yorkshire village. She is also a teacher and a magistrate. A Village Affair is a Kindle Top 5 general bestseller.
About the book
Product details
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Aria (6 Feb. 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1838930639
ISBN-13: 978-1838930639
Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 19.8 cm
You may also want to read other titles by Julie Houston:
Goodness Grace and Me
The One Saving Grace
An Off-Piste Christmas
Looking for Lucy
Coming Home to Holly Close Farm
Sing Me a Secret
Review by: Row Jukes
You may also want to read this:
Book Review: A Messy Affair written by Elizabeth Mundy
Book Review: The Dilemma by B A Paris
Book Review: The Prized Girl by Amy K. Green
* Disclaimer: We were given a copy of the book in return for a feature. All opinions are our own.
31 comments
Wow, thank you so much for this terrific review of A Village Affair. In these very uncertain times, it’s so wonderful to feel that people are still reading and enjoying books and have the time and energy to write such a great and thorough review. Really really appreciated. !! Huge thanks heading your way!!
I think reading is keeping a lot of people sane this moment and it is a form of escapism. Your book is lovely and I enjoyed reviewing it.
This sounds like a lovely cosy read. Love books that are set in small villages. I have been doing a lot of reading since we are on lockdown.
Yes us too, best to keep the mind occupied
Sounds like a good read! Yorkshire Tea and Viennese Whirls look like the ultimate reading snack too – that’s the kind of thing I’d reach for myself.
Yes they are indeed as I love having snacks with my book
I’ve actually just finished all my downloads on my kindle. And this seems like a perfect easy read! Will see if I can download and get stuck in.
Ok let us know how it goes Amanda
This sounds like my kind of book. I could definitely curl up with this, a coffee and biscuits
So glad you think so Jenni, it is a fab book indeed
Nice review and it sounds like an interesting and a good book for me to read, will definitely checking this out.
Thank you, it is a fab book indeed
Oh this sounds like a lovely read, perfect to read at the minute, curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea.
Agree, it is a fantastic read indeed!
Oo, I’m looking for more things to read, and thus sounds like a great way of escaping from your current situation! Thank you
Your welcome Becky, hope you enjoy the read
This sounds like my kind of book. I like books that can flip effortlessly from past and present to create an interesting read.
Agree, it is a good read
Thank you for the recommendation, I just ordered the kids more books to keep them going, I think I need to put my own order in too!
Yes you definitely need to Karen, to keep you sane and going
Oooh I love the sound of this. I need to get some new books in to keep me entertained.
Yes please do, this is a fab book
This sounds like a lovely cosy read perfect for a Sunday afternoon on the sofa with a cuppa in hand.
Absolutely agree, some self-care time for yourself while reading the book
I like quite easy reads like this one as they’re great for getting sucked into and you don’t need to be in a particular mood to read them x
Agree Rhian, it is a good book as well
I would love to have a copy of this book. Now that I have so much free (boring) time on my hands, I can read as many books as I can get my hands on. Thanks for your review. It does sound like a nice book.
Sounds like a fabulous book, I think we all need a bit of escapism at the moment, don’t we
It is a fabulous book indeed Kara, worth reading
A great review, this isnt completely my thing but my wife would love this as she is a keen reader, she uses her kindle so I will look for this!
So glad to hear that Liam, we love reading and I enjoyed this book very much