NOT QUITE NICE is a coming of age adventure, but not the growing-up kind, the growing older kind. It's the story of Theresa Simmons, a lady of a certain age no longer content in her daily routine in the London suburbs. She's ready for a change, so she moves across the Channel to a small seaside village in France. The transition is not always easy; that's the adventure. Author Celia Imrie may give Theresa a tough time, but she also provides her with friends and supporters, along with challengers and thieves.

It's hard to categorize NOT QUITE NICE. It's not truly a comedy, although it has some good laughs. It has a mystery at its core, and although it's not a thriller, one scene made me gasp out loud in shock. It's not a travelogue, but it will give you a lovely taste of the French Riviera, and I mean that quite literally. The text is sprinkled with recipes relevant to the story, and they will leave your mouth watering.

If Celia Imrie's sounds familiar, it's because you've seen her in dozens of movies and TV shows, from "Doctor Who" and "Star Wars" to "Calendar Girls" and "Nanny McPhee." I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to see Ms. Imrie play the title role of her first novel.

If you liked Imrie's film "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," her book will definitely appeal to you. I also recommend NOT QUITE NICE (that's "neece" like the city) for readers who may be reaching a certain level of maturity and want to read about those of a similar age. It is a delightful and entertaining read.