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lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
Rounding up from 3.5 stars.
A sweet, enjoyable finish to the Little Beach Street Bakery trilogy. Polly, Huckle, and (of course) Neil the puffin are back for further adventures. There are secrets and drama along the way, but (no surprise) we get the HEA we've been expecting, and it's a treat to see it all come together. Plus, plenty more of Polly's excellent baking -- yum!
A sweet, enjoyable finish to the Little Beach Street Bakery trilogy. Polly, Huckle, and (of course) Neil the puffin are back for further adventures. There are secrets and drama along the way, but (no surprise) we get the HEA we've been expecting, and it's a treat to see it all come together. Plus, plenty more of Polly's excellent baking -- yum!
merreads's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A cute holiday romcom! Quirky setting and characters made this charming world feel very lovable. I particularly liked that we find our love interests at a different stage of life than a lot of romcoms as they've already gotten together and are engaged which made for higher stakes and more complex conflict.
reemeyer's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun Christmas story about friendships and secrets. I found it by searching for Christmas in my library’s overdrive, so I didn’t realize it’s the 3rd in a series of books about these characters. However, I wanted a snowy Christmas story and that’s what I got…and I don’t mind that the plots of the first two books were basically summed up in this one, I don’t regret skipping to the HEA
dizzybell06's review against another edition
3.0
Nice ending to a cute little series. I’m going to miss Neil.
kimasuuky's review against another edition
2.0
2.5. Not nearly as charming as the first two.
The Kerensa plot drama was distracting and unnecessary. I liked the dad storyline, but it was only a small part of the book. The relationship drama was overplayed and unrealistic - last book they had issues because of poor communication, it just felt like they were rehashing old ground in this one. Other than that, I'm left with the distinct feeling that this book was not actually about anything...
Overall this was an average yet unnecessary addition to the Beach Street series.
The Kerensa plot drama was distracting and unnecessary. I liked the dad storyline, but it was only a small part of the book. The relationship drama was overplayed and unrealistic - last book they had issues because of poor communication, it just felt like they were rehashing old ground in this one. Other than that, I'm left with the distinct feeling that this book was not actually about anything...
Overall this was an average yet unnecessary addition to the Beach Street series.
ashhulksmash's review against another edition
2.0
This is not a book I normally would have picked on my own, but the book club I'm in chose this for its January read. (Behold, there be spoilers afoot.)
Pros:
1. Jenny Colgan does a REALLY good job of describing settings. I honestly felt like I could imagine the cool breeze of being on the island, or the sweet smells of cookies.
2. It was a QUICK read. I liked that I finished it in one afternoon, even though I didn't really enjoy it.
3. I know more about puffins than I did before. I guess that's a pro?
Cons:
1. Um, the character names seem a little... not racist... but stereotypical in a BAD way? A Southern man named Huckle, a Jewish man named Ruben, and a black woman named Karmel.(spelling? I already returned this book to the library.) When I told a friend about this she actually laughed because she thought I was joking.
2. The plot is pretty terrible. I mean, how lucky was Karensa that her son had a birth mark, because otherwise, GOD FORBID, she'd actually have to tell her husband that she cheated on him, had a bastard child, and would end up poor and homeless. I mean, really, that could have been bad for her.
3. The surprise wedding. Just barf. Really, barf.
Pros:
1. Jenny Colgan does a REALLY good job of describing settings. I honestly felt like I could imagine the cool breeze of being on the island, or the sweet smells of cookies.
2. It was a QUICK read. I liked that I finished it in one afternoon, even though I didn't really enjoy it.
3. I know more about puffins than I did before. I guess that's a pro?
Cons:
1. Um, the character names seem a little... not racist... but stereotypical in a BAD way? A Southern man named Huckle, a Jewish man named Ruben, and a black woman named Karmel.(spelling? I already returned this book to the library.) When I told a friend about this she actually laughed because she thought I was joking.
2. The plot is pretty terrible. I mean, how lucky was Karensa that her son had a birth mark, because otherwise, GOD FORBID, she'd actually have to tell her husband that she cheated on him, had a bastard child, and would end up poor and homeless. I mean, really, that could have been bad for her.
3. The surprise wedding. Just barf. Really, barf.
the_spines's review against another edition
2.0
Festivity, puffins, baking, love story, Christmas. All fine and good but just because it's the holidays doesn't mean we can ignore this horrible, elitist character, Reuben, that is forgiven for his appalling behavior constantly for no apparent reason beyond his helicopter. Color me confused.
chelseadarling's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
fwog19's review against another edition
2.0
Well, shoot. I was all excited to read this book because I loved the other two. While it was fun to get back to Mount Polbearne and find out what had happened to everyone, less than halfway into the story I was ranting about how utterly WHINY Polly had become. I was thinking, "Was she always this whiny? Has Kerensa always been so dense?" I mean, SERIOUSLY. Who doesn't realize that they're pregnant until they're EIGHT MONTHS ALONG? I'm sure it can happen, but having gone through it myself, you'd think she'd have realized that SOMETHING was happening?
Also, all Polly did through most of the book was whine about how she'd never had a dad and when she finally gets the chance to meet him, she turns it down! I swear, the only saving grace in this book was Neil. I was glad to get to hear about the little puffin again.
The whole group of people this time around had me wanting to smack the lot of them. I had some good laughs at times, but I was disappointed in this book. Even the ending had me going, "Oh my GOD, Polly. Just get over yourself and accept it already!" Criminy. I understand wanting to do things on your own and not accepting charity, but when your friends realize that you're never going to be able to do something because you keep pushing them away or are just too danged busy, there's an issue that you just need to get over. Argh.
I'm still hoping that this isn't the end of the series just because I think there is more to the people of Mount Polbearne that can be told, especially with Polly and Huckle. If it is, I think the series could have been better handled in the last book.
Also, all Polly did through most of the book was whine about how she'd never had a dad and when she finally gets the chance to meet him, she turns it down! I swear, the only saving grace in this book was Neil. I was glad to get to hear about the little puffin again.
The whole group of people this time around had me wanting to smack the lot of them. I had some good laughs at times, but I was disappointed in this book. Even the ending had me going, "Oh my GOD, Polly. Just get over yourself and accept it already!" Criminy. I understand wanting to do things on your own and not accepting charity, but when your friends realize that you're never going to be able to do something because you keep pushing them away or are just too danged busy, there's an issue that you just need to get over. Argh.
I'm still hoping that this isn't the end of the series just because I think there is more to the people of Mount Polbearne that can be told, especially with Polly and Huckle. If it is, I think the series could have been better handled in the last book.