Reviewer: Annie
I received a review copy
Summary:
By the author of the bestselling The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Tulip Fever, the hilarious and romantic novel set in a crumbling bed and breakfast
In her effortlessly winning novels Tulip Fever and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Deborah Moggach charmed readers and critics alike with her generous prose and hilarious dialogue. WithHeartbreak Hotel, Moggach has triumphed once again.
When retired actor Buffy decides to leave London and move to rural Wales, he has no idea what he is letting himself in for.
In possession of a run-down bed and breakfast that leans more toward the shabby than the chic and is, quite literally, miles from nowhere, Buffy realizes that he needs to fill the beds—and fast. Otherwise, his vision of the pastoral countryside will go up in smoke.
Enter a motley collection of guests: Harold, whose wife has run off with a younger woman; Amy, who’s been unexpectedly dumped by her (not-so) nebbishy boyfriend and Andy, the hypochondriac postman whose girlfriend is much too much for him to handle. But under Buffy’s watchful eye, this disparate group of strangers finds that they have more in common than perhaps they first thought.
A charming romantic comedy that will captivate even the most determined urbanite, Heartbreak Hotel is a supreme entertainment.
Review:
I was so honored when I was asked to review Deborah Moggach’s latest story!! She is a force to be reckoned with in story-telling. It would have been hard to be disappointed by the author inspired the wonderful movie “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. Needless to say, I was certainly not disappointed with “Heartbreak Hotel”. I do wish it was called “Heartbreak B&B” though…(small things)
This “Hotel” is actually a rundown home named “Myrtle House”, that is ran as a B&B (Bed & Breakfast) in a small town in Wales, called “Knockton”. Buffy (Russell Buffery) is bequeathed the B&B in the Will of his old friend/Lover; Bridie, who had just passed away.
My favorite line in the whole book is, “70 is the new 40”!! This is the B&B the “Golden Girls” would run off to for an episode. (HA! I love that show) This B&B was opened mostly to provide a home for actors, or people in the Thespian field, but it also lead to people with Heartbreaks that need mending showing up at the front door.
To be fair, I must tell you that my Mother and Step-Father own and run a B&B, so I have a lot of first-hand knowledge of the intimacy of these establishments. And, Deborah Moggach really hits the nail on the head with this part of the storyline.
Before learning of Bridie’s passing, Buffy was already living a life in London that was slowly becoming less appealing to him. With all of the changes going on around him, and the city of London…it seemed to have lost its entire luster for him. There was building going up left and right, hard to find parking…maybe “not so friendly” people. So, I think it was perfect timing for this B&B to be his next home. Moving to a quaint, cottagey town with is dog, “Fig” sounded rather refreshing to me. The question is, would he find it to be what he was looking for at the age of 70.
I loved how Moggach gave a breakdown of all of Buffy’s ex-wives, children, etc. prior to reading this story. I guess we needed it to keep up, as there is a story before this called “The Ex-Wives” where I imagine we meet these wives. I will have to read that story, amongst her others.
Moggach is gifted at introducing many characters flawlessly, as some authors introduce so many and you get confused….That does not happen with her books. And, each character is just way too awesome not to love!
As it snows here in NY, I finished this story; and it was a wonderful Snow Day for me!
4 Stars
