This is a perfect combination of beach read, romance, and humor, with some local folk lore added into the mix. THE CAFE BY THE SEA by Jenny Colgan (releasing June 27th, 2017) was another good genre cleanser for me! So far, June is killing it with awesome beach and summer reads – this one definitely falls into that category.
My Thoughts: 4.5/5 stars!
Flora is a quiet Scottish woman who left her hometown behind, the island of Mure, for the busy streets of London. She wanted to, not only, escape her past but to live with some anonymity for a change. While in London she’s been working as a paralegal and has made a few friends, but she can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to love. Perhaps this is because she’s hopelessly in love with her boss.
One day, her brother calls her out of the blue and requests that she returns home to help with Colton Rogers. Flora had not been home since she suddenly left years before after the death of her mother. Her strained relationships with her brothers and father are very present when she arrives back home. Colton Rogers is an American that had purchased property on the northern end of the island with intentions of building a resort. With her help, he realizes that he must get to know the locals of this small island and experience what they do.
It was definitely fun getting to meet the locals and see all of their stories unfold. The relationships between Flora and her family were incredibly realistic. Real issues, real obstacles to overcome, real solutions and learning to live with each other again, and all with a lighthearted element to them. This was my first book by Colgan and I was amazed at how well she developed the characters and the relationships between them all.
This book as something that everyone will enjoy. Family, a little bit of romance, humor, and lots of amazing food – Flora cooks for her family and the locals and she uses her mother’s old cookbook. These recipes helped bring the family together again and gave them that sense of belonging. Her passion for cooking turns into her eyeing up an old cafe by the sea that needs some restoring.
This is perfect for summer and should be added to anyone’s beach reading list!
A big thanks to William Morrow for the copy in exchange for my honest review!
–Jess
Jessicamap Reviews 