The Valencia Expat Club

This is a coming-into-herself kind of novel. It's light, predictable and the author paints a beautiful picture of Spain that will have readers eagerly booking their next trip to España. It's a summery read and while I enjoyed the corny humour, it was a bit of a miss for me.

The gist: Dahlia's personal life takes a nosedive, and she moves to Spain to find out who she wants to be in this next chapter of her life. There's slow burn love, some family dysfunction and vivid descriptions of Spain's food and people. But I'll be honest, it bothered me that things go exceedingly easy for her — she gets a job, meets long-lost family, gets a 'new' man and blends in with the locals seamlessly. As one does. Hmm.

I know this is a lighter read, but I wanted more! More conflict, more chemistry and depth to the characters and expected more culture shock for Dahlia. There's a great 'long-lost family' plot line with long-held grudges with Dahlia's vibrant Spanish family, but they were largely ignored. 

I also don't understand why the prior connection between the main couple was included since it didn't add to the plot and was too serendipitous for my liking. And don't get me started on the MANY similes that were sprinkled throughout with a very heavy hand. They soon became quite distracting. 

This is a light, feel good story about a woman finding out who she is in this next part of her life that has a Hallmark vibe, but unfortunately, I wanted a spicy paella, and this was too under seasoned to be memorable.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Atria Books for the complimentary digital advanced copy that was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: June Patrick

Genre: Romance, Light Read

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Atria Books

First Published: June 2, 2026

Read: May 28-30, 2026

Book Description from GoodReads: One Italian Summer meets Eat, Pray, Love in this heartwarming novel following a recent divorcee’s escape to Spain where delicious food, romantic adventures, and the transformative magic of starting over leads her to reconnect with family, forge new friendships, and rediscover herself.

Dahlia Delaney’s marriage just imploded, her friend group picked a side (not hers), and her fancy San Francisco life now fits into a single suitcase. Armed with a broken heart, a freelance marketing gig, and one blurry childhood memory of her abuela’s garden, she impulsively hops on a flight to Valencia, Spain, to reconnect with distant family—and maybe herself.

But Valencia isn’t just sunny plazas and sangria. There’s her chaotic new job at a quirky expat bar, a family she barely knows but who embrace her like she’s always belonged, and a brooding American bar owner who’s frustratingly attractive and entirely too familiar.

As Dahlia stumbles through language mishaps, clashing cultures, and late-night paella with new friends, she begins to realize that the fresh start she came for might turn into something even better—if she can let go of the life she planned and embrace the one unfolding around her.

Perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed of starting over somewhere with better wine, The Valencia Expat Club is a sparkling, laugh-out-loud romantic escape about second chances, delicious detours, and finding home where you least expect it.