Produktdetaljer
Biographical note
Virginie Grimaldi was born in Bordeaux where she still lives. Translated into more than twenty languages, her novels are carried by endearing characters and a poetic and sensitive pen. She is the most read French novelist in 2019, 2020 and 2021 (Le Figaro littéraire/GFK awards) and the winner of the Favourite Book of the French in 2022 (France Télévisions). She is the author of Chasing the Stars and How to Find Love in the Little Things. Hildegarde Serle has worked in London as a subeditor, mainly on The Independent, since graduating in French from Oxford University. In 2011, she did the CIOL Diploma in Translation. She still lives in London, but her heart lives on the Quai aux Fleurs in Paris."A beautiful story, so elegantly written."
Nicola Cornick, author of The Last Daughter
"Grimaldi's concise prose, translated by Hildegarde Serle, is striking and vivid, painting a sympathetic portrait of the enduring bond of sisterhood. Readers will fall under the spell of a compassionately revealed story that blends poignancy and humor in depicting the transcendental nature of familial love and forgiveness."
Shelf Awareness
“Chapters rock back and forth like the waves of the ocean...Lovers of Europa Editions’ other titles My Brilliant Friend and Fresh Water for Flowers will fall hard for this beautiful, heartbreaking, and healing story. Grab a box of tissues!”
Electric Lit
"Grimaldi’s account of two sisters taking stock of what’s brought them this far is affecting but smile producing as well. A bittersweet slice of life."
Kirkus Reviews
“Virginie Grimaldi delivers her most accomplished, strongest novel. Her best.”
Le Parisien
“A story of life, bursts of happiness, scars of misfortune, in which many readers should find themselves.”
France Inter
“In Grimaldi’s sensitive hands, the novel is a life-affirming look at how love and dedication can overcome pain and heal scars.”
The Washington Post
"A delicate and compelling story of sisterhood and healing. Charming and emotional, the story blends poignancy and humor as it asks universal questions about meaning and family."
Paste Magazine
“Grimaldi's bittersweet English-language debut is sure to tug at the heartstrings of readers who appreciate moving novels which explore the complexities of sisterly love and mental illness, such as All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews, or Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee
LitHub
"Siblings, family, roommates–relationships ain’t easy. In A Good Life, the complicated relationship between two French sisters gets its due. Agathe (messy, chaotic) and Emma (responsible, mature) generally stay out of each other’s lives. But the death of their grandmother brings the two back together to settle the estate. Writer Virginie Grimaldi–a bestseller in France–brings to life their entire story."
Parade
“In Grimaldi’s universe, it seems to be about the difficulties and messiness of love and what we must be willing to do to keep it forever.”
World Literature Today
"Heartwarming."
Good Housekeeping (on How To Find Love in the Little Things)
"The famous 'Grimaldi touch' is a lightness of tone and style that takes your breath away."
ELLE France (on Chasing the Stars)
“Authentic, well-realised characters, wise insights, and liberal doses of humour. A book that makes you laugh and cry, a book whose characters you’ll miss after the final page is turned.”
Fictionophile