Help me identify this book (these books)?

[Apileofballyhoo]

I don't think they are the Cazalet Chronicles (which I haven't read) but the description of those reminds me a little bit of the ones I'm looking for.

From what I remember it's an English family saga, not wealthy but solidly middle/upper (to my mind anyhow). The main character is possibly a woman, who fails at organising the house or has no interest in it, or is a DIL living with or close to MIL in the main house. Possibly her DH is not as wealthy as others, and she has possibly has no cook.

Family seem to come to visit the main house -married sons and their wives - I strongly remember a married couple who sleep with their window open because both think the other prefers that and neither will ask to shut it.

I realise that I'm not giving much to go on. It's probably been about 20 years since I read it (or them, I'm fairly sure there was a series).

Hopeful bump.

Ooh I'd like to know what book too!

Bumping for the Sunday crowd.

Seems very similar to Cazalet chronicles!

I'll give those a read anyway. Perhaps one of them will be the one I've read, though I don't remember the war being part of it.

Go to abebooks U.K book sleuth forum and ask on there. Put some details about the book in your subject line.

Family seem to come to visit the main house -married sons and their wives - I strongly remember a married couple who sleep with their window open because both think the other prefers that and neither will ask to shut it

The latter sounds very like The Cazalet Chronicles - specifically Hugh and Sybil.

The earlier anecdote sounds like Zoe and Rupert from the same series.

Another vote for the Cazalet Chronicles here, especially the part about the bedroom window. Are you sure you haven't read them? Was it ever a TV show maybe, or on the radio?

The bit about the couple with the window open sounds really like Hugh and his wife (Sybil?? Hilly?? Not sure) in the Cazalet Chronicles. Isn’t it funny what scenes stay with you from books you’ve read ages ago ..

Read the CC anyway OP; they’re really good (apart from the last one - very disappointing)

I'm going to order the Cazalets from the library. I've read an extract from the first one and it doesn't seem familiar but they sound great anyway. I'll do the Abe books suggestion too. I'll laugh if it is the CC!

Nancy Mitford’s Love in a Cold Climate?