The Second-Worst Restaurant in France: A Paul Stuart Novel (2) by Alexander McCall Smith

Paul is working on a book but he can't find peace and quiet to do it.  His apartment has been invaded by his girlfriend's two cats.  Her he doesn't mind but the cats love pestering him.  His aunt offers him an apartment that should be quiet enough to write.  He accepts but the folks upstairs play loud music.  Then his aunt invites him to come to France with her.  She's renting a house.  It will be quiet...

Pantheon and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published July 16th.

He goes and gets a good chunk of the beginning of his book done.  They hear that the local restaurant is bad.  Lots of folks eat there though so they decide to try it.  They have mussels.  Paul gets very sick.  He won't eat there again.

They get caught up in the local gossip and with the family they rent from.  There's a girl staying in another cottage who is pregnant.  Once she has the baby, a boy, the father wants it.  So she moves in with the aunt and Paul "temporarily".  Then his aunt asks Paul to teach the man at the restaurant to cook.  He doesn't want to learn.

Life for Paul is complex.  He decides to trash his book and write another about the restaurant.   He's teaching the nephew to cook.  He is not only is good at it and willing to learn, he has other recipes to contribute.  Maybe all is not lost...

Mr Smith always writes about the people in depth, but that's what makes things work or not.  His writing is always entertaining.