At the age of seventeen in a last-minute twist of fate, Laura Bradbury is sent to Burgundy, France, for a year’s exchange. She arrives knowing only a smattering of French and with no idea what to expect in her first foray out of North America. With a head full of dreams and a powerful desire to please, Laura quickly adapts to Burgundian life, learning crucial skills such as the fine art of … winetasting and how to savor snails.
However, the charming young men of the region mean Laura soon runs afoul of the rules, particularly the no-dating edict. Romantic afternoons in Dijon, early morning pain au chocolat runs, and long walks in the vineyards are wondrous but also present Laura with a conundrum: How can she keep her hosts happy while still managing to follow her heart? Follow along on Laura’s journey to I’amour in My Grape Year.
Praise for Laura Bradbury’s Grape Series:
“Bradbury’s Grape Series feels like a series of honest and funny letters sent from a friend about her fascinating (and sometimes baffling) life in France. A beautiful read.”
—JANICE MACLEOD, New York Times bestselling author of Paris Letters and A Paris Year
“Bradbury’s Grape Series takes the reader on a romantic adventure into the heart, soul, and people of la belle France. Filled with delicious food, love, and laughter, Bradbury’s writing proves that you have to dare to follow your heart wherever it leads you…and that sometimes we have to step outside our comfort zone to truly live.”
—SAMANTHA VÉRANT, author of How to Make a French Family and Seven Letters from Paris
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This book came highly recommended and I was not disappointed. Laura sets out on a year long educational exchange at the tender age of 17. She stays with four very different families in the Burgundy region of France. Although her French language skills are lacking at the outset, she soon becomes familiar with its vocabulary, and creates a network of friendships with a host of characters.
Romance is high on Laura’s wish list and the year does not disappoint!
I learned a huge amount about the food and wine of the region, as well as its delightful landscape and people.
Laura writes from the heart and “My Grape Year” ranks highly among my favourite reads of the year.
I love all of Laura Bradbury’s books! Her humour and life experiences bring an authenticity to each story and the reader is immediately transported.
A heartfelt and realistic story – highly recommended
A 17-year-old leaves Canada and lands in France on an exchange year abroad. Travelling to live with four different host families, the book tells the story of her year abroad. Full of charm and beautiful descriptions, this is a tale of growing up, learning French, adapting to new customs and ways, and falling in love. But somehow this is more than just a story told of a gap year. The writing is exquisite, the food and wine described make your mouth water, and the heartfelt angst of being 17 and wondering if you are ever going to ‘fit in’ and find someone special, make this book so special. The homes she stayed in, the wine she tasted, and the everyday school experiences she encountered bring her journey to life, and you are left with a sense that you have really got to know the author. I am eagerly beginning book 2 and can’t wait to see what happened next. (My only warning is – don’t read this book if you are hungry – the food descriptions are that good!)
Enjoyed reading this prequel to Laura’s story. Love learning all the FRENCH phrases and following her journey with Franck.
My Grape Year by Laura Bradbury
Starts out with her leaving BC, Canada and heading to France=not her first choice for one year of school abroad.
Lots of travel and new things for her to get used to. The girl that she’s taking the place of is leaving to head to the USA for her year abroad.
Lots of things to consider and wonder about as she is served coffee in a bowl rather than a mug.
She had studied French in school but didn’t like it so didn’t learn so much. She is able to pick out a few words when others are talking. When she arrives her lugguage didn’t make it-lucky she had packed shorts and a shirt in her carryon bag.
After spendng a day at the grandmothers they arrive back at the familys house where there is a older son who speaks English who’s most helpful to her lack of speaking in French.
After school starts she finds everything so confusing. Especially love the lesson in how to taste wine-i knew some of the parts but not all of them. Love that there are grapes nearby and by the title know I will learn more about the vineyard.
For the most part there is French being spoken and she has no idea what’s being said-she can’t study that way or learn anything and the book does not translate what is being said to us reading it.
There are four different host families that she stays with and she learns so much about the culture. There is food everywhere and it’s described so much in detail you get hungry.
Laura is able to learn and harvest the grapes and the processes of making the wine. Learned so much about the grapes, so glad I read this book from the start to the finish.
Loved the four major parts of a good wine and how to tell once it’s poured.
Her friend has a brother and when she meets him it’s love at first sight….love family gatherings and all the food.
Especially liked the places visited, so much detail to descriptons.
Excerpt from the next book in the series is included at the end.