I have to admit, I've been a follower of Ben's blog for a few years now.
I discovered it when we made the decision to move here in 2010 and have been an avid follower ever since.
When he announced that, in partnership with his wife, Louise, there would be a book, I was excited to read it and downloaded it at the first opportunity.
I wasn't disappointed!
Louise's writing is skilled but casual and captivating. I found myself nodding in agreement, with both the good and the bad, so often that I feared I was going to suffer an RSI!
In fact, I should probably confess that there were even times that I verbally shouted "yes!!" as their experiences of beauty, madness and red tape struck home with our own experiences so far!
Obviously, I read the book with the eyes of a fellow ex-pat but the book would appeal equally to anyone who is in the "should we move to Portugal?" stage.
It's well-written, informative, balanced and entertaining.
I loved reading it although I was disappointed when it ended (one disadvantage of a kindle version is that it's not instantly obvious how far along, in the book, you are, unless you constantly refer to the location guide. With an actual book, this isn't a problem) Maybe there'll be a sequel ;-)
If you've ever thought about moving to Portugal, either as a passing thought or seriously, this is the book for you. It doesn't gloss over the importance of having some sort of income and dispels any myths that might try to tell you that the Algarve is full of job opportunities for anyone wanting to move here, yet it shows you that, with careful planning (and a secure job in advance!) it can indeed be done!
Louise's first part is a mostly light-hearted account of their move and the first 2 years in Portugal.
Ben's second part is more of a casual guide of useful information for anyone considering a move.
It proves that with considerable research and determination along with a healthy sense of humour and a larger-than-average dose of patience, a move to Portugal could work for you too.