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  • Fat Dogs and French Estates, Part 1

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Beth Haslam
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Fat Dogs and French Estates, Part 1 Hardcover – June 4, 2021

by Beth Haslam (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars (1,103)
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Buying a country estate in France seemed such a simple thing to accomplish. When Beth, her irascible husband Jack, and their two fat dogs set off, little do they know that it will become such an extraordinary adventure. Surviving near-death experiences, they drive thousands of kilometres around French estates steeped in history and crazy aristocrats.
Will they find their dream home, or return to Britain defeated?
This is the hilarious first instalment in the Fat Dogs series.
Read more
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  1. Book 1 of 6
    Fat Dogs
  2. Print length
    234 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    June 4, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    6.24 x 0.72 x 9.24 inches
  6. ISBN-13
    979-8515339715
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From the Publisher

Fat Dogs and French Estates, Part I
Fat Dogs and French Estates, Part I
Fat Dogs and French Estates, Part I
Fat Dogs 1

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B096LPVCY2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 4, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 234 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8515339715
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.24 x 0.72 x 9.24 inches
  • Book 1 of 6 ‏ : ‎ Fat Dogs
  • Best Sellers Rank: #2,418 in General France Travel Guides
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars (1,103)

About the author

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Beth Haslam

Beth Haslam

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Beth Haslam grew up on a farm estate in North Wales, where her love of animals was shaped by days spent riding and caring for the family’s eclectic collection of pets, waifs, and strays.

After a successful business career, Beth and her husband, Jack, bought a second home in France — a decision that transformed their lives in ways they could never have imagined.

Beth now devotes her time to rescuing and raising animals, writing, and embracing the rhythms of rural French life from their woodland domaine. It’s a world that continues to inspire her work, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
1,103 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find this book an enjoyable read with delightful humor that makes them laugh out loud. Moreover, the writing style is well-crafted, and customers appreciate the wonderful travel memoir that captures the adventure of moving from England to rural France. Additionally, the book features extraordinary characters that readers meet throughout the story. However, the content receives mixed feedback, with some finding the descriptions adequate while others find them tedious. Similarly, the readability is also mixed, with some describing it as an easy read while others find it frustrating to read.
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42 customers mention enjoyment, 38 positive, 4 negative
Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as wonderful and interesting, with one customer specifically mentioning the madcap adventures that kept them engaged.
I truly enjoyed, it was fun and full of adventure. Fell in love with the characters, look forward to more reads in the future!Read more
I enjoyed the book and was sorry to see it end. Laughed out loud. A fun read. Look forward to reading the next oneRead more
Thoroughly enjoyable read!Read more
A wonderful book !!! Delightfully written story and adore the way the author expresses herself ! She make you feel you are right there with them !...Read more
30 customers mention humor, 28 positive, 2 negative
Customers enjoy the book's humor, laughing out loud at its funny stories and situations.
Loved this book. Beth Haslam is very witty. Couldn't get enough of it. Mary RobbinsRead more
I enjoyed the book and was sorry to see it end. Laughed out loud. A fun read. Look forward to reading the next oneRead more
...Beth has a wonderful sense of humor (and is most patient with her cantankerous husband).Read more
...It's a very funny and interesting book as it is, and I may be the only one caught up short like that, but I felt it deserved a mention....Read more
16 customers mention writing style, 14 positive, 2 negative
Customers praise the writing style of the book, finding it well-crafted with super qualities for an amazing writer, and one customer specifically mentions the author's expressive and imaginative approach.
It is well written and held my interest, but I do not have a map of France so it left me clueless as where they are....Read more
...Can't fault her grammar and writing style, and this is certainly not one of those books that really should have had a better editor. It flows well....Read more
...The author is very descriptive and the reader can put together the scene without the benefit of actual pictures....Read more
The humour's good. Written wellRead more
14 customers mention story, 11 positive, 3 negative
Customers enjoy the story of the book, with one customer describing it as an interesting murder mystery, while another mentions giggling throughout the narrative.
It's a great story and I can't wait till I get started reading the next book. I can understand Jacks frustration with finding a place.Read more
...A cute story with one mishap after another popping up to thwart the journey....Read more
In this entertaining tale, we journey with husband-and-wife team, Jack and Beth and their delightful dogs, Sam and Biff, as they travel through...Read more
Story was choppy and a bit frustrating to read....Read more
9 customers mention travel, 9 positive, 0 negative
Customers enjoy this travel memoir, describing it as wonderful and full of adventure, with one customer highlighting the experience of moving from England to rural France.
I truly enjoyed, it was fun and full of adventure. Fell in love with the characters, look forward to more reads in the future!Read more
...Wonderful travel tales told with splendid humor!Read more
What a great story teller. This is one of the best travel stories I have ever read and can't wait to read part two....Read more
This is a very entertaining story about relocating from England and retiring in rural France to enable the couple to hunt wild game and live on...Read more
7 customers mention character development, 6 positive, 1 negative
Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one mentioning how personalities leap off the page, while another notes the first-person account of a wealthy English woman.
I truly enjoyed, it was fun and full of adventure. Fell in love with the characters, look forward to more reads in the future!Read more
...For me, this book read like a favorite sitcom with colorful and hilarious characters....Read more
Conversational tone, good introduction to the characters....Read more
...with challenges and upsets between man and dogs, her personalities leap off the page and come to life as she weaves the treasures and pitfalls...Read more
21 customers mention content, 13 positive, 8 negative
Customers have mixed opinions about the book's content, with some finding the descriptions more than adequate, while others find them tedious and overly detailed.
Well written, well told, I actually laughed out loud at least a few times per chapter. Can't wait to start book 2!Read more
...I basically thought the book was okay there was too much detail on the actual travel routes taken which I thought was quite unnecessary for a person...Read more
...The descriptions are so vivid, I felt as if I was traveling with them.Read more
Lots of chuckles, occasional guffaws and description of food leading to many sips of wine and nips of cheese....Read more
10 customers mention readability, 4 positive, 6 negative
Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability, with some finding it an easy read while others describe it as tedious and frustrating to get through.
To disjointed. Not a smooth readRead more
...book was I was in the mood for a comedy and something that was an easy read....Read more
An enjoyable read. Tedious at times. I was not anxious to rush on to Part II. There were interesting observations as to the geography of France.Read more
Fun! Keep reading. The entire series is a delight!Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • George Yuhasz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Travel Memoir
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Author Beth Haslam has written a book that is sure to brighten the dreariest of days; I have been ill and it sure did that for me. There is a wealth of wonderful writing to enjoy in this richly descriptive account of the adventures and misadventures of Haslam, along with her husband Jack and two fat dogs, in their search to find a second home retirement property in Southern France. Much to my delight, the story is chock full of unusual (An Understatement) characters who take the personality traits of quirky and eccentric to new, outrageous levels. The situations these intrepid explorers encounter are hilarious, and at times perilous. A real page turner; I kept wondering what would happen next. Expect the unexpected when you read this superbly crafted travel memoir by an extraordinary writer. Haslam applies detail exceptionally well; I especially enjoyed the vivid, comic descriptions of decrepit houses and neglected estates among the properties visited by Beth and Jack. The dogs were definitely two wild cards in the deck and added more than their share of humor (And exasperation) with their unpredictable antics. FAT DOGS AND FRENCH ESTATES, PART I was a great joy to read and I now look forward to reading the second book of the series in what promises to be another fascinating and entertaining journey. Highly recommended. 5 enthusiastic stars.
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  • Leslie M. Ficcaglia
    4.0 out of 5 stars Laugh-Out-Loud Funny Tale about Searching for a Home in France
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed Beth Haslam's book a great deal and much of it was laugh-out-loud funny, particularly the descriptions of their dogs. She writes well and engagingly and there are none of the errors due to lack of proper editing that can be so annoying. The little sketches were charming and added a lot to the narrative. However, I felt as though the book should have incorporated at least Part 1 and Part 2. It needed closure; where it ended, too much was left hanging for it to seem like a complete work. There was an extract that continued the tale and that did help; I was just surprised because other memoirs which I've read didn't stop in the middle of the search for a home, but continued until the place was at least found if not purchased. Then if there were a sequel it dealt with moving in, adjustments, and so forth. It's a very funny and interesting book as it is, and I may be the only one caught up short like that, but I felt it deserved a mention. I will look forward to Part 2!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • GoodnSimple
    3.0 out of 5 stars Amusing
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It’s not bad, and most of the whining is self directed. I am having trouble warming up to Biff; although Sam seems a bit more my style of dog. I’ll read the next one and see
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  • Lizzy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful from start to finish!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    First, I chose this book as I had visited the South of France many years ago, loved it, but I wanted to “visit” again from a different perspective. I must say, this book exceeded my expectations.

    When the author and her husband Jack leave England to find a property to buy in the South of France, they have no idea what they’re in for as they travel with their two dogs to look at various domaines. For me, this book read like a favorite sitcom with colorful and hilarious characters. The two “leads,” Beth and Jack, are compatible, but they have very different personalities. Both are very humorous in their own right. I related to Beth’s breezy and funny observations and also to Jack’s more sarcastic and impatient take on matters. The entire book has a natural humor throughout … very real and never forced.

    As I was reading, I jotted down a long list of notes to put in my review as there was so much that I found quite charming. In the first chapter, when the author mentioned that speed limits in France were merely suggestions, I know there were many more laughs to come. But here’s the thing, now that I’m looking at this long list, I’m not going to use it. To be too specific in this review would be to deprive the reader of stumbling upon the many gems in this book as I did.

    I’ll only say that as Beth and Jack travel to each property that is for sale, what they find ranges from shocking to appalling to downright side-splitting. True life really is stranger than fiction. To say each property had unique features would be a vast understatement. Not only were there lots of laughs seeing these properties through Beth and Jack’s eyes, but it was a fascinating insight into the worlds that people create for themselves.

    I can’t wait to read the next book. This is really a wonderful take-me-away read … and beautifully written as well.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Mary Schmidt
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fat Dogs and French Estates - Part 1
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I have just finished reading this funny book by Beth Haslam. My review follows Haslam’s book blurb found on Amazon.

    “Buying a country estate in France seemed such a simple thing to accomplish. When Beth, her irascible husband Jack, and their two fat dogs set off, little do they know that it will become such an extraordinary adventure. Surviving near-death experiences, they drive thousands of kilometres around French estates steeped in history and crazy aristocrats. Will they find their dream home, or return to Britain defeated? This is the hilarious first instalment in the Fat Dogs series.”

    This book is about moving from England to rural France and what happens in the process. The story is well-written with more than adequate descriptions, which is nice for the mind to visualize. Haslam uses funny moments as she is optimistic whereas her husband complains, and is rather grumpy. The drawings are a nice twist to see in a memoir. I feel that this books ending could have been better, if a home had been found, and then the next books of the series continued onward.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jo-Anne Himmelman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to resist - two dogs, an impatient mechanical engineer and a layback problem solver travelling through France.
    Reviewed in Canada on April 18, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book resembles my life and I guess that is why I had so many laughs. Beth's husband (Jack) loves tinkering, grease, keeps everything just in case, drives to get from point A to B and is short on patience. They have two dogs with totally different personalities as back seat passengers and a love of B&B's. The only thing missing from my life is a search for an estate in France which Beth takes on with determination. You know when you travel in different countries and your greatest wish is to see the inside of those lovely houses ( at least mine is), well your greatest wish is Beth's command! Beth does the research, hires estate agents and we have a literary tour of some of the great estates in Provence. Well what a tour and what quirky owners and agents! I won't go into details but needless to say I laughed through the whole book. Did they find the right estate to suit their needs - not yet - you'll have to read Part 2. Part 1 is a must read first . You don't want to miss the antics, the tours, the people, Sam and Biff (the dogs) and of course Jack and Beth. You won't be disappointed.
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  • Joy Finder
    5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful and jocular trip to France
    Reviewed in India on July 19, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Fat Dogs and French Estates- had me thinking that this book would be all about dogs and in the beginning it does appear so but the title is slightly deceptive because this story is about a lot more than those cute dogs Sam and Biff.

    We are invited to peek into the exploratory move of Beth Haslam and her husband to France and their adventures along the way. They've decided to move to France and this trip is all about finding the estate which would be just right for their little family. So you the reader join Beth and her husband on their journey.

    Fat Dogs and French Estates is succinctly written and is peppered with numerous anecdotes that will make you laugh out aloud or atleast smile and what I loved about the writing was the biting sarcasm that is extremely humorous at the same time. The author, Beth has a way of looking at things with such clarity and getting to the point of the matter all the while making you laugh while getting there. Not an easy feat to achieve.

    The description of her married life, made me dwell on my married life and the little kinks that set in but which we accept as a couple. You can help relating to her artful descriptions filled with snarky jocularity and relate it in some way to your own life too.

    Most of all I loved the way she blatantly describes her dear husband, Jack's foibles. It makes him so real that I could almost imagine him in front of me. She definitely isn't wearing rose colored glasses while she passes observations on him. He isn't the mills and boons kind of hero but definitely the sort of husband one can expect in real life. One can't help sense the bonds of love and companionship that many years of marriage can't help but produce.

    Last but not the least, let's not forget Beth Haslam's descriptive writing ~ it's factual, tactful, adroitly expressed and full of comical occurrences and observations.

    This book will take you places, set your imagination on fire and leave you laughing. A must not miss. 5 well earned stars.
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  • Margaret Sherwood
    5.0 out of 5 stars A most enjoyable read.
    Reviewed in Australia on June 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Fat Dogs was a lot of fun to read. It's a well written and very amusing description of Beth and her husband's, and their dogs', encounters with home owners, real estate agents and others on their journey through France looking for a potential new home.
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  • Vmp
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable memoir, some of which is very funny!
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on May 21, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Mostly enjoyable with some very funny parts, especially about the dogs. I just didn't like the focus on hunting, but Ms Haslam writes well and the topic of house hunting was a great way to do a travelogue about France and some of the more unusual eccentricities of the rural French people.
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  • To be Frank...
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real hoot!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I only read books that I know I am going to enjoy, and this one I’d had a sneak preview of when it was Kindle Book of the Day and promptly earmarked it for a rainy weekend when nothing else was likely to cheer me up. So what’s the story? Author Beth Haslam and irascible but good-natured hubby Jack decide to buy a second house in France because their home in England is too small for their retirement needs. Their grand plan is to buy a small country estate that is large enough to accommodate both their individual and joint interests, namely golf, dogs, DIY and ‘countryside pursuits’. After much research, they come up with a list of 12 ‘domaines’ in Provence, six of which are visited in this book.
    Sounds like a plan, doesn’t it? But things go horribly wrong: having stuffed their two portly pups (Sam and Biff) into their car and having endured a horror night in the Eurotunnel, Beth and Jack soon find themselves on a hiding to nothing, courtesy of a string of inept estate agents and ‘domaine’ owners who are as outlandish as their properties. One guy is a mad driver taxidermist with stuffed animals in his pockets, another is an Italian chef with a phobia of wasps and a love of bunny burgers, while a third has a ‘relaxing room’ that looks like a set of Pirates of the Caribbean! Poor Jack. This estate hunting soon has him IN a state: ‘So far,’ he moans, ‘we’ve endured sweltering heat, a tempest, hail stones the size of golf balls, a freezing cold gale – and we’ve only been here three days!’
    The laughs come thick and fast in this wonderful, and beautifully written, book which is as much a travelogue as it is a memoir. I learnt so much about the varying regions of Provence for instance (I’m definitely going to Vouvray. Like the French, I do like a good sausage!) while the interiors of some of the rambling, shambling estates visited are described in such rib-tickling manner that I really want to go see them myself. Beth, pleeese post a pic of that bed like a floating boxing ring! As for the dogs, well I am not a dog lover but Biff the myopic Norfolk terrier with his ‘vocational necessity’ to attack anything in black trousers had me in stitches.
    Best thing is, there’s another book in the series, and more adventures for the hapless Haslams. I do like the sound of road atlases at dawn!
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