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The Vintage Springtime Club: A charming novel for fans of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared Kindle Edition

4.0 out of 5 stars 165 ratings

Perfect for fans of A MAN CALLED OVE, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL and THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP

Newly retired Philip returns home to Cologne and is thrown into emotional turmoil upon bumping into his long-lost sweetheart. In the midst of a domestic crisis, Ricarda confides in Philip that she is looking for somewhere to live. And there and then, Philip suggests that she move in with him - he is setting up a flatshare. Will she join him with his mischievous dachshund named Ralf?

To his surprise, Ricarda agrees, leaving Philip to scramble together a crew of retires in time for spring, for the most unlikely of social experiments. There's grumpy cigarette-smoking grandfather Harry; quiet and discreet Eckart, curiously carting around his late wife's headstone; Uschi, brimming with life, harbouring a passion for leotards and aerobics, along with sausages and outrageous knitting patterns; and then, ever-practical and warm-hearted Ricarda, towards whom Phillip is developing real feelings.

Despite their differences, the flatmates thrive and embark on a series of new adventures. But when Uschi falls unwell, familiar cracks begin to show and this uniquely spirited club of friends must work together in order to survive - and truly blossom.

Read what people are saying about The Vintage Springtime Club

'Such a
wonderful, uplifting story. When I finished I felt a warm frisson of emotion enveloping me. It's difficult to believe this is Beatrice's first novel' (Kraftireader)

'This
gentle book is full of warmth and is an easy enjoyable read' (Portobello Book Blog)

'A
charming debut novel' (Alba Forcadell)

'A
wonderful tale of life, friendship and love that kept me hooked until the very end' (Reading Room With a View)

Product description

Review

A very witty and pacy novel . . . an amusing and pleasurable read - Viva!

Full of humour, with some extremely funny and entertaining moments, but also moving and, despite its carefree tone, provides much food for thought - rautlos.de

Read this book, and you could be giggling and snivelling with emotion virtually at the same time - Donna

About the Author

Beatrice Meier was born in Germany and studied literary translation at Düsseldorf University. She then went on to complete a scriptwriting programme at Munich Film School in 2002-03, and attended the Cologne International Film School in 2006. She won the Best Screenplay Award at the German Film Festival in Ludwigshafen in 2013 for the feature film Offside Trap, which was screened at festivals, the European Parliament and at trade union events. The Vintage Springtime Club is her first novel. A German television adaptation was broadcast in spring 2015. Beatrice Meier lives and works in Strasbourg.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B010PFFLLM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Book Group (7 April 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 221 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 165 ratings

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
165 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's characters believable and appreciate its readability, with one describing it as a gentle holiday read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

3 customers mention ‘Believable characters’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters in the book believable.

"...Very easy to read and loved all the characters they were real and honest" Read more

"Loved this book. Different, makes you think. Characters are believable and funny...." Read more

"Something a bit different. The characters were all real in my mind .I'm putting my name down for a flat share in my old age ,sounds ideal." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Readability’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, with one describing it as a gentle holiday read that brings a contented smile.

"Loved this book. We can be alone when we are dead. We all need people in all their shapes and sizes. This is a contented smile to yourself book...." Read more

"...Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window but a gentle read for your holidays" Read more

"Loved this book. Different, makes you think. Characters are believable and funny...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2018
    Loved this book. We can be alone when we are dead. We all need people in all their shapes and sizes. This is a contented smile to yourself book. Very easy to read and loved all the characters they were real and honest
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2018
    Nice story, sure the set up would work for some, however think lots of people would be to set in their ways for a flat share. Area sounds a lovely place to live
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2018
    A bit disappointed with this book not as good read, as The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window but a gentle read for your holidays
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 March 2018
    Loved this book. Different, makes you think. Characters are believable and funny. Sad but true story about older people finding a fulfilling role in life.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2016
    Amazon Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
    I'd like to say I enjoyed this book but I found it boring. When I read the blurb it so reminded me of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel I enjoyed that and then when the book arrived the back cover said "...... in the bestselling tradition of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" I thought I'd found a book that was going to be great. When I read a book it has to 'grab' me from the first page and unfortunately this didn't.

    The book is about friends who are retired and decide to set up flatsharing together. We have Phillip, Ricardo (who I thought was a man but it turns out Ricardo is female), Harry, Eckart and Uschi. Ooh and the dog Ralf.

    The best part was the Epilogue. Uschi had had an accident and was in a wheelchair. The rest of the motley crew were stood over her watching her wiggle her big toe. You could imagine these four people standing over the person in the wheelchair and their glee when she moved her big toe!
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 May 2016
    Amazon Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
    This is an excellent book, well written and with a tight storyline. The characters are eclectic, real and almost seem to leap from the page and move in with you. Their very real differences is what makes this book so enjoyable. The story of a group of disparate individuals, all in their sixties, moving in together is original but works. As you can imagine there are the usual insecurities, petty irritations and squabbles. However, throughout their is humour and it is clear that compassion will always win overall. There is also a romantic thread running through the book which will keep you guessing. I loved this book just as much as I loved the little dachshund Ralf. I would highly recommend this quirky book.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2018
    Something a bit different. The characters were all real in my mind .I'm putting my name down for a flat share in my old age ,sounds ideal.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2018
    A bit slow to start with but picked up later an example of how different personalities can live together.
    Not one of my best reads.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Jim Or Mo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable look at life after youth
    Reviewed in Australia on 7 October 2019
    It would be nice to think that this could actually happen. Maybe it does somewhere or other. Fortunately the book comes to a happy conclusion and those of us of a certain age can relate to some of the scenarios as we are reminded of our younger days. A story which makes us recap on our personal happiness and tragedies and what might have been.
  • Virginia Desantis
    4.0 out of 5 stars Worth a Read
    Reviewed in Australia on 7 May 2016
    This novel began slowly, with some expected outcomes but developed well and was a good, easy read. A bit of a 'girl's book' but a good light read.

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