I’ve read other books written by Rhys Bowen (and for those of you who don’t know — I didn’t —”Rhys” is pronounced “Reece”) and have always enjoyed them. Bowen is an Englishwoman who now resides in the United States, but her books are mainly historical and set (or maybe all of them) “across the pond. ”

I went to a high school graduation on Saturday and we ended up being seated an hour before the ceremony started. I am terrible about just sitting somewhere doing nothing, and you can only scroll Facebook or Instagram for so long, so I decided I’d see if I could find a book to read while I waited. “Mrs. Endicott’s” was one of the first books that came up in my search, and although I am hesitant to download a book onto my phone, I knew this was how I wanted to spend my waiting time. It didn’t disappoint.

From Amazon:

Blindsided by betrayal in pre-WWII England, a woman charts a daring new course in this captivating tale of resilience, friendship, and new love by the bestselling author of The Rose Arbor and The Venice Sketchbook.

Surrey, England, 1938. After thirty devoted years of marriage, Ellie Endicott is blindsided by her husband’s appeal for divorce. It’s Ellie’s opportunity for change too. The unfaithful cad can have the house. She’s taking the Bentley. Ellie, her housekeeper Mavis, and her elderly friend Dora—each needing escape—impulsively head for parts unknown in the South of France.

With the Rhône surging beside them, they have nowhere to be and everywhere to go. Until the Bentley breaks down in the inviting fishing hamlet of Saint Benet. Here, Ellie rents an abandoned villa in the hills, makes wonderful friends among the villagers, and finds herself drawn to Nico, a handsome and enigmatic fisherman. As for unexpected destinations, the simple paradis of Saint Benet is perfect. But fates soon change when the threat of war encroaches.

Ellie’s second act in life is just beginning—and becoming an adventure she never expected.