You Had Me at Chateau is a festive contemporary romance novel by Portia MacIntosh.
Published in 2024, it follows Amber, a writer struggling to meet her editor’s demands to “spice up” her novels. As she reluctantly embarks on a writer’s retreat at a charming chateau in the French Alps, unexpected romance and self-discovery await.
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Book Blurb
After her editor tells her she needs to “up the spice” in her books (literally Amber’s worst nightmare…), she is at a crossroads with what to do with her career.
When the opportunity arises to go on a writer’s retreat at an exclusive château in the beautiful French Alps Amber reluctantly agrees, hoping a change of scenery will help with inspiration.
But while she tries and fails to spice up her writing – with the unhelpful guidance of the eccentric romance writers at the château – she meets two leading men who cause her own real-life romantic comedy to unfold…
You Had Me at Chateau Book Review
You Had Me at Chateau had its moments, but overall, I found it a bit underwhelming. I liked it, but it didn’t quite win me over.
The story took a while to get going. A quarter of the way through, and not much had really happened. It was so heavy on Amber’s inner thoughts and it just made the pacing feel uneven. Things picked up later, but the ending felt rushed, which left the story feeling a bit unbalanced.
That said, there were parts I did enjoy. The witty moments stood out, and I appreciated how the book touched on the pressure for romance novels to include spicy sex scenes. I often find it unnecessary in certain stories, so it was refreshing to see this addressed.
I also really enjoyed the setting. The idea of a writer’s retreat at a beautiful chateau in the French Alps sounded idyllic and definitely gave the book charm.
However I did struggle to fully connect with the romance, which might be down to the love triangle trope. I never really enjoy a love triangle and this was no exception, even though it was quite clear who Amber should be with.
My favourite character was actually Amber’s brother, Tom. Their sibling dynamic was one of the highlights for me. I really enjoyed their interactions and how close they were.
Overall, while this book didn’t blow me away, I’d still pick up more of Portia MacIntosh’s books in the future.