A Fine Romance: Falling in Love with the English Countryside

I originally bought this book as a Christmas gift for my mom. She had gotten it out of the library and read it, but wanted a copy of her own. I fully understand why! It is such a lovely book to read. You feel like you're on the trip with her and she has so many amazing recipes in the book. The only thing I didn't like about it, was that it made me wish I could take the trip myself.

A must for Susan Branch fans, Hand written, diary style filled with illustrations. So delightful!

OK, color me a Susan Branch fangirl. I’ve been collecting her books since the first one, and got my sister hooked on them shortly afterwards. One of my annual gifts to sis is at least one SB calendar. And then I discovered her blog shortly after its inception. Oh, joy. So, when she announced her trip to England and regularly posted about her exploits in advance of the book, I just couldn’t wait for the result. Naturally, I ordered one for my sister, as well.After that intro, it’s obvious that I’m a bit biased, but I can honestly say the book exceeded my expectations. If you’re already a fan of Susan, you won’t want to miss out on it. If you’re new to Susan, this is a good introduction. If you’re an Anglophile, are thinking of traveling to England, or like beautiful, whimsical art books, then this is also worth a look-see.So, what do you get? Well, this is pretty much a step-by-step recounting of the weeks’ long trip Susan and her husband Joe took, from doorstep to doorstep. Reading about the voyage on the Queen Mary 2 alone is worth the price of admission. A transatlantic crossing by ship is now on my wish list. While in England, Susan and Joe visited friends, went for long walks and drives, stopped by country houses and gardens, shopped, ate at pubs and tea shops, and just breathed in the ambiance of England. If you yearn for the glamour of London or better known tourist spots, then this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you prefer a more “quaint” and leisurely sort of trip while taking in the quiet beauty of small towns and countryside, then this is most definitely the book you want. And, of course, it’s perfect for armchair tourists. You never even have to actually leave home, but can vicariously experience Susan and Joe’s journey while in your jammies.Susan has a wonderful writing style. She takes great joy in the small things in life and she infects her readers with her generous spirit and humor. And, as with all of Susan’s books, they are a visual delight. All of the text is handwritten in Susan’s distinctive calligraphy. The book is also jam-packed with illustrations, predominantly Susan’s watercolors, but also photographs. The book isn’t just pretty, tho; it also has a serious side. It’s very practical and informative and, if you want to know more about any of the sites visited, there’s a terrific appendix as well as additional information on her blog.This is a book you could easily devour in one sitting, but then come back to in order to savor individual passages or chapters. Buy one as a treat for yourself. And then buy one (or lots) as a treat for a friend. Enjoy!

I discovered this book on the Queen Mary 2 when my sister and I were traveling transatlantic from Brooklyn to Southampton in England. The story of her meeting and romance and subsequent trip to England on the Queen Mary was what caught my attention. But as always, it is filled with Susan Branch's delightful illustrations and printed lettering.It is clearly a book to be savored. I'm reliving our trip on the Queen Mary and delighting in Susan's extended time in England.

Susan Branch's illustrations and descriptions of her trip to England inspire me to visit the places she describes, especially Beatrix Potter's home in the Lake District. Reading about the many places she stayed and the pubs she enjoyed will bring me pleasure over and over in the future.

I'm in my 40s and am fairly new to the wonderful world of Susan Branch (well, except for the precious cookbook I remember my Mom using back in the day) and THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book! What a fun way to unwind and be transported! This and the other two books that came before it have inspired me to move confidently in the direction of my dreams (and fears!) more than any other memoir(s) ever have. I recommend the trilogy to EVERYONE and I always feel so envious knowing that they'll be reading it for the first time! :-D (PS- I feel like the folks who rated it less than 5 stars and left negative reviews could really benefit from a reminder to unclench their jaws and loosen their shoulders. Sheesh! ;-) It's a light-hearted, personal story written by an artsy gal who takes the time to notice and celebrate the beauty in nearly everything. If only everyone could retain that childlike wonder in their hearts.)

Bought the book for myself---and was not disappointed. Enjoyed the chatty nature (as if I were the only one with her, and we were both good friends on the journey together) and descriptions of places from the Queen Mary 2 to the places visited in each chapter. There was no agenda here other than to inform and entertain, with reflection thrown in at the end for good measure. The watercolors are lovely, each a tiny jewel throughout the book. The photos are heartwarming at times, outlining a trip that was well thought out and truly memorable. I will never get to England and certainly never get to sail on an ocean liner. However, I did fall in love with the book, did learn much about England, and finished the book with a smile on my face and a cozy feeling in my heart. Not too many books can evoke such emotions anymore.

Bought it for my mom so she could look at pictures of the English countryside, it came with a whole story as well as recipes and other cool little things, what a great gift to give someone that likes the English countryside!

Es un libro totalmente diferente al resto.Me encanta. No había tenido la oportunidad de comprar algo así.Es para no cansarte de él.

I've been a long time writing a review about this wonderful book. I've been a fan of Susan Branch for a few years [...]now and even though I'm English I really looked forward to the release of this book. I bought a copy for me, which I ended up giving away to someone desperate to read it, before I had glanced at it. I bought a copy for my mum for Christmas, but she finished reading it one evening and the next day started it again! So I finally got round to buying a third copy just for me!Susan's wonderful, evocative writing made me feel as if I were there with her and her charming watercolour illustrations are lovely. Whether you know the areas she visited or not it's a great read - poignant, funny and full of detail. She's currently writing another book. Can't wait!

... sollte sich dieses Buch einfach gönnen! Ein wirklich mit "Kopf, Herz und Hand" gestaltetes, sehr persönliches Reisetagebuch, dass ich nicht mehr so schnell im Regal sehen werde, denn entweder genieße ich es selbst, benutze es als Kochbuch und bereite eines der vielen verlockenden Rezepte zu oder ich bemühe mich, es von einer begeisterten Freundin zurück zu ergattern! Es macht nicht nur Lust auf eine weitere Englandreise sondern es inspiriert auch zum Schreiben eines eigenen Reisetagebuchs. Danke, Susan!

I am a British ex-pat, having left England 63 years ago. I still love the country of my birth and have visited many times, over the years. Susan Branch's book is a well-spring of joy for me, as I revisited, through her musings and drawings, all the wonderful places I know and love. This book is to be treasured and passed down to family members who have not yet had the pleasure to walk where Susan (and I) have walked. I hope and pray they will get there soon...many of them have the desire... and that they will love my England as much as I do. Thank you, Susan for all the labours that went into the making of this diary!