A both serious and delightful book. – Le Télégrame

A novel full of good spirits, in praise of hope, friendship and redeeming love. – Jean-Paul Guéry, L’Anjou agricole 

At every moment, we wait feverishly for the fall. The catastrophe. Cynicism. But Cathy Bonidan walks a tightrope, maintaining a precarious balance that we’re afraid to break when we close the book. The novel could easily lapse into sentimentality, but it does not. It simply gives hope and a taste of life. Delicious. –Simon Antony, La Montagne

An author with multiple writing styles, navigating between epistolary, 3rd-person narrative and even confession, before finally launching into a choral novel. – Lola Michelin, Ouest France

The author uses her sensitive pen to describe characters whose humanity and solidarity are touching. – Marie France

With accuracy and sensibility, Cathy Bonidan delivers a luminous novel full of hope, where friendship and love heal all wounds. – Amélie Descroix and Yves Quitté, France Dimanche

Slices of life, friendship, love, a little suspense and some tension are the ingredients of this accomplished book, which can be devoured, and of course taken with you on vacation. – La Voix du Nord / Nord éclair

At times funny, at times moving, this novel presents a gallery of endearing characters that are hard to leave. – Christine Lechapt, Page des libraires 

Cathy Bonidan’s art is to interweave the destinies of her characters and reshuffle the cards, with a touch of humor and a healthy dose of optimism. A luminous fourth novel. – Nous deux

A feel-good novel that can be enjoyed like a cool drink in the middle of a heatwave.
A genuinely positive novel, ideal for escaping gloomy thoughts and celebrating the joy of being alive, just in time for the holidays. – Thierry Boillot, Dernières nouvelles d’Alsace / L’Alsace

A feel-good novel full of emotion, with endearing characters. – Soline de Groeve, Femmes d’aujourd’hui 

A beautifully written novel full of humanity. – Jade Olivier, Version Femina

About Chambre 128 (Room 128):

A light-hearted, optimistic tale that reveals the poetry in daily life and gives readers the strength to cope with life’s trials and tribulations. – Femme Actuelle Senior

A novel that is absolutely endearing and enjoyable, has great humanity and completely avoids clichés. –
La Provence



A very spontaneous epistolary novel.
– Point de vue

About Parfum de l’hellébore (The Scent of Hellebore):

This novel’s subtle, sun-drenched scent will bewitch you for a long time. –
Notre Temps

A luminous first story. –
Le Télégramme

A debut novel that won 13 literary awards from both the author’s home region and her readers; a second novel over whose rights the most important American publishers fought (The Lost Manuscript, Saint Martin’s Press, 2021), rights sold in 11 countries… Yet still an author that French readers will be discovering for the first time in May 2024. That’s the Cathy Bonidan miracle!

There are moments in a person’s existence that can change their whole life.

And sometimes, these moments can change several lives at once.

That’s what happens when the famous TV host Bruno Lamy decides to produce an atypical show: a live news program with seven perfectly unknown people in the role of newscasters for a day. Ordinary people who have been chosen by friends and family, unbeknownst to them.

And that’s how two lonely retirees, Louise and Roger, will cross paths with Alix, a single mom who works at an employment office, Romain, a penniless, blasé student, and Justine, who teaches at a children’s hospital, as well as Gérald, a chef, and Jeff, a homeless person. Seven distinct life paths, each with its own hardships and faults. Seven characters who never should have met. Seven people that bump into each other and come together as though it were meant to be. Will they create one big, happy family?

With subtlety and sensitivity, Cathy Bonidan has poured her talent into composing a luminous novel filled with hope, in which friendship and love heal all wounds.