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rachmacmillan's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
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
4.25
huptown's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
megs_bookblog's review against another edition
3.0
I love a good holiday read, and Snowflakes Over the Starfish Cafe didn’t disappoint.
Hollie and Jake run into each other after Jake finds a lost dog on the beach near the cafe that Hollie owns. Both have experienced tragedy in their lives and are trying to work through their grief and loneliness in order to move on with their lives.
I really enjoyed how thoroughly the author delves into each character’s story. It’s told from both points of view, and you get the feeling of knowing who they are before they meet. The only drawback to this is that it doesn’t move the story along very quickly, and some parts seem to drag.
The feelings of love and loss really shine through and it ends up being an uplifting contemporary romance.
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy to read and review.
Hollie and Jake run into each other after Jake finds a lost dog on the beach near the cafe that Hollie owns. Both have experienced tragedy in their lives and are trying to work through their grief and loneliness in order to move on with their lives.
I really enjoyed how thoroughly the author delves into each character’s story. It’s told from both points of view, and you get the feeling of knowing who they are before they meet. The only drawback to this is that it doesn’t move the story along very quickly, and some parts seem to drag.
The feelings of love and loss really shine through and it ends up being an uplifting contemporary romance.
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy to read and review.
raena_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Jessica is my go to author when I need a wonderful story full of love, families and happy endings. I know I have a favourite author for life, I don’t even need to read the blurb to know I will love it.
Hollie and Jake meet after Jake finds a lost dog on the beach near the cafè and a friendship starts to bloom. Both have had traumatic pasts but will this new friendship be everything both of them need?
A perfect Christmas read.
Hollie and Jake meet after Jake finds a lost dog on the beach near the cafè and a friendship starts to bloom. Both have had traumatic pasts but will this new friendship be everything both of them need?
A perfect Christmas read.
kanansally's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't too excited to read this book in August as it's a Christmas book, but as Net Galley were kind enough to send me a copy to review, I got stuck in.
I was drawn into the book from the start. It has the usual central couple, their friends and family and the not so nice characters.
The central characters, Jake and and Hollie are both damaged people due to events in their early lives. With support from friends, family and each other they overcome these problem's.
In places the book brought a lump to my throat - and this rarely happens to me.
I have already read the Hedgehog Hollow books by this author, and will certainly be reading more of her books.
thisreadergirl's review against another edition
5.0
"With courage, nothing is impossible."
- Sir William Hillary, 1823.
The moment I saw this book up on Netgalley, I knew I had to read this and I was lucky enough to be approved.
This contemporary story is a perfect balance between happiness and sadness, written in a brilliant manner to definitely touch your heart. Her books have family at great importance and I love that. She writes and tells us the story as if it is happening in daily life of people like us. People with dreams, hope, a past that builds them up and so much more. This makes it realistic and worth experiencing.
Hollie and Jake are two people with a tragic past, they coming together, struggling to share their stories, overcoming fear and finding each other is nicely written simultaneously taking us through their story of past and present. It is like we are going through their memories both good and bad. They are rightly called kindred spirits in her book.
"Keep dancing in the rain."
This being from Jake and Hollies POV gives us so much more, shows tremendous character development, is easy to read and has a great positive impact. The struggles, past issues, pain are written in an effortless manner making sure to show it in an uplifting way. Jessica Redland gives us descriptions that puta up vivid pictures of what is going on.
Go ahead and divulge yourself in this beautiful, heartwarming romance talking about family, friendship, community and love.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for ARC of the same.
- Sir William Hillary, 1823.
The moment I saw this book up on Netgalley, I knew I had to read this and I was lucky enough to be approved.
This contemporary story is a perfect balance between happiness and sadness, written in a brilliant manner to definitely touch your heart. Her books have family at great importance and I love that. She writes and tells us the story as if it is happening in daily life of people like us. People with dreams, hope, a past that builds them up and so much more. This makes it realistic and worth experiencing.
Hollie and Jake are two people with a tragic past, they coming together, struggling to share their stories, overcoming fear and finding each other is nicely written simultaneously taking us through their story of past and present. It is like we are going through their memories both good and bad. They are rightly called kindred spirits in her book.
"Keep dancing in the rain."
This being from Jake and Hollies POV gives us so much more, shows tremendous character development, is easy to read and has a great positive impact. The struggles, past issues, pain are written in an effortless manner making sure to show it in an uplifting way. Jessica Redland gives us descriptions that puta up vivid pictures of what is going on.
Go ahead and divulge yourself in this beautiful, heartwarming romance talking about family, friendship, community and love.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for ARC of the same.
dawne7584's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ceriwelshmumof3reads's review against another edition
4.0
So I've seen so many good things about Jessica's writing and books that when I saw this one pop-up I just had to read it.
It did not disappoint at all all! I love how you were just like thrown straight into it. There was a lot of characters I felt which is quite hard to keep up with sometimes but it all added to the story so that's ok.
I love how we were getting along with a story like we didn't know the full story. I love how entwined it was and I couldn't have a guessed the whole thing!
It wasn't my usual rom-com style book but I really enjoyed it. I like that there was more substance to story and really good, can't wait to read more of Jessica's writing!
It did not disappoint at all all! I love how you were just like thrown straight into it. There was a lot of characters I felt which is quite hard to keep up with sometimes but it all added to the story so that's ok.
I love how we were getting along with a story like we didn't know the full story. I love how entwined it was and I couldn't have a guessed the whole thing!
It wasn't my usual rom-com style book but I really enjoyed it. I like that there was more substance to story and really good, can't wait to read more of Jessica's writing!
kelsey0403's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
angiepenguins_library's review against another edition
3.0
I thought that this was a cute little Christmas story. I enjoyed seeing how the main characters Hollie and Jake overcome their fears and fall in love. They have been through some pretty tragic events in their lives and it was good to see them heal completely. I also enjoyed all the side characters. I loved how Pickles the cute little dog became such a connection to Hollie and Jake! Overall it was a cute little romance story.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Boldwood Books for this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Boldwood Books for this ARC.