Fix to_python not working with non-json values

localized_fields/fields/localized_field.py

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import json
+
 from typing import Union
 
 from django.conf import settings
@@ -129,12 +131,18 @@ class LocalizedField(HStoreField):
             A :see:LocalizedValue instance containing the
             data extracted from the database.
         """
-        # make deserialization if need by parent method
+
-        value = super(LocalizedField, self).to_python(value)
+        # first let the base class  handle the deserialization, this is in case we
-        if not value or not isinstance(value, dict):
+        # get specified a json string representing a dict
+        try:
+            deserialized_value = super(LocalizedField, self).to_python(value)
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            deserialized_value = value
+
+        if not deserialized_value:
             return self.attr_class()
 
-        return self.attr_class(value)
+        return self.attr_class(deserialized_value)
 
     def get_prep_value(self, value: LocalizedValue) -> dict:
         """Turns the specified value into something the database

tests/test_localized_field.py

@@ -209,6 +209,14 @@ class LocalizedFieldTestCase(TestCase):
         for language, value in input_data.items():
             assert localized_value.get(language) == value
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_to_python_non_json():
+        """Tests whether the :see:to_python function
+        properly handles a string that is not JSON."""
+
+        localized_value = LocalizedField().to_python('my value')
+        assert localized_value.get() == 'my value'
+
     @staticmethod
     def test_to_python_none():
         """Tests whether the :see:to_python function