Bella's Wish

COMMENT & REVIEWS

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Bella's Wish was published in March 2026. 

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First reader reviews...

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Gripping, thought provoking and a lot of fun.

Part mystery story, part reflection on aging and the passing of time, and part nostalgic travel guide to Languedoc, this is an entertaining, thought provoking and extremely readable novel. Seeking to understand why one of his oldest friendships seems to have run its course, Simon returns to the region of France he used to call home, and to his memories of a long and varied life. In so doing, he finds things are not as they seem. The region, its people and Bella herself are not as they appear, and have secrets to be uncovered!

Dense, beautiful prose, a pacey, gripping plot, and genuinely insightful commentary on how people and friendships change through time make this book a delight. - Amazon reader (March 2026)

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A reflection on ageing and friendship set in the French countryside

For anyone who has read Andrew Sanger's 60s trippy novel Love and may have wondered what happened to its idealistic group of characters, this layered new novel offers some answers and is also a treat for the senses.
Older readers will relate to the achingly poignant reflections on ageing and temps perdu and how the characters' lives unfolded through the decades.
The novel's prose flows easily and dreamily, much like the gorgeous French countryside where it is set, with many gentle pageturning moments. There is also much to relate to connecting Bella's enmeshed past and present lives - the consequences on children of neglect by their hippy parents, dark formative experiences that influence decisions made later in life and the desire to be true to one's principles all the way through life. - Amazon reader (March 2026)

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Touching and complex

The way this book raises issues of friendship, loyalty and family abuse is touching and complex. The descriptions of landscape and French life add beauty and interest. - Amazon reader (March 2026)

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Beautifully written, compelling mystery

Bella's Wish is a beautifully written book which flows so well. A delightful, compelling mystery set in France. A very good read. - Amazon reader (March 2026)

 

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