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shadarawood's review against another edition
5.0
A blooming good book!
The reviews promise you will laugh out loud but they failed to mention the crying. Love the family connections and pure sweetness of Carrie.
The reviews promise you will laugh out loud but they failed to mention the crying. Love the family connections and pure sweetness of Carrie.
emmascr's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free From Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I really enjoyed the first book in this series so when this book was put on Netgalley I had to get it. While this is the second book in the series you can read it as a standalone.
Carrie was in love with Tom but after Megan muscled her way in and ruined everything Carrie couldn't stay in Shipley so she moved to Manchester the very next day. Ten years have passed and Carrie returns to Shipley to help her aunt on her flower stall.
Carrie never really got over her feelings for Tom so when she finds out he's marrying Megan she's more than a little wounded. When Carrie see's Megan again she is transported back to her teenage self and feels the need to impress her.
Carrie discovers that her Aunt has been keeping a secret for many many years. This part of the story is so heart breakingly sad. I really felt for Ruby and can't imagine being in her situation.
This is such a sweet story. I knew quite early on how it was likely to end but this didn't ruin he enjoyment of the story at all. If you enjoy chicklit then you will have no problems spending the day wrapped up in Karen's world.
Carrie was in love with Tom but after Megan muscled her way in and ruined everything Carrie couldn't stay in Shipley so she moved to Manchester the very next day. Ten years have passed and Carrie returns to Shipley to help her aunt on her flower stall.
Carrie never really got over her feelings for Tom so when she finds out he's marrying Megan she's more than a little wounded. When Carrie see's Megan again she is transported back to her teenage self and feels the need to impress her.
Carrie discovers that her Aunt has been keeping a secret for many many years. This part of the story is so heart breakingly sad. I really felt for Ruby and can't imagine being in her situation.
This is such a sweet story. I knew quite early on how it was likely to end but this didn't ruin he enjoyment of the story at all. If you enjoy chicklit then you will have no problems spending the day wrapped up in Karen's world.
melindamoor's review
3.0
I received the arc from the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
True to chick-lit formula in general, this book does not really hold any surprises after you have read the cover blurb, but if you'd like to indulge in an easy, relaxing beach read for the spring/summer days to come, this is definitely one to consider.
Also as with most books of the genre, for me, the real clincher is whether I end up liking the protagonist or not. In this case I had some serious doubts right at the beginning. The main characters came across as pretty one-dimensional with "goody-two-shoes", "mr-oh-so-nice-guy" and "bitch-queen" stamps all over them - no subtlety there.
The heroine, Carrie, was so gullible and painfully pathetic that pushed the borders of credibility and instead of captivating, she was deeply irritating.
Interestingly enough, it was the colourful set of secondary characters who got me more involved as the story progressed; somehow they were much better-drawn and very entertaining. Ruby's story touched me more deeply than Carrie's and I owe the most hilarious moments of the book to the endearing antics of Ruby's assistant Jane.
Somewhere along the middle of the book, Carrie became less annoying, as I felt that finally we were given some much needed development in her character: we learned more about her friendship with Megan as well as her relationship with Tom.
The seaside town of Shipley was a lovely setting and I would have loved to be given even more details about the place and its inhabitants (I haven't read the first book [b:The Beachside Sweet Shop: A Feel Good Romantic Comedy|34304574|The Beachside Sweet Shop A Feel Good Romantic Comedy|Karen Clarke|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488381651s/34304574.jpg|54132455] in this series, so I don't know whether the author went into more details there or not).
By the end I was very much in charity with everyone - well apart from Megan, obviously - and I felt we were a bit cheated with the end. I missed a final-final chapter that could have been titled "6 months later". I really would have liked to read more about how Carrie & boyfriend and the rest of the cast were getting on.
In the end I decided I'd like to learn more about "Beachside Bay", so I will check out Book #1 in the series.
True to chick-lit formula in general, this book does not really hold any surprises after you have read the cover blurb, but if you'd like to indulge in an easy, relaxing beach read for the spring/summer days to come, this is definitely one to consider.
Also as with most books of the genre, for me, the real clincher is whether I end up liking the protagonist or not. In this case I had some serious doubts right at the beginning. The main characters came across as pretty one-dimensional with "goody-two-shoes", "mr-oh-so-nice-guy" and "bitch-queen" stamps all over them - no subtlety there.
The heroine, Carrie, was so gullible and painfully pathetic that pushed the borders of credibility and instead of captivating, she was deeply irritating.
Interestingly enough, it was the colourful set of secondary characters who got me more involved as the story progressed; somehow they were much better-drawn and very entertaining. Ruby's story touched me more deeply than Carrie's and I owe the most hilarious moments of the book to the endearing antics of Ruby's assistant Jane
Spoiler
a 50something woman who decides to spice up her marriage by going on a holiday and reenacting scenes from the book "50 shades of grey" with some weird, but funny outcomesSomewhere along the middle of the book, Carrie became less annoying, as I felt that finally we were given some much needed development in her character: we learned more about her friendship with Megan as well as her relationship with Tom.
The seaside town of Shipley was a lovely setting and I would have loved to be given even more details about the place and its inhabitants (I haven't read the first book [b:The Beachside Sweet Shop: A Feel Good Romantic Comedy|34304574|The Beachside Sweet Shop A Feel Good Romantic Comedy|Karen Clarke|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1488381651s/34304574.jpg|54132455] in this series, so I don't know whether the author went into more details there or not).
By the end I was very much in charity with everyone - well apart from Megan, obviously - and I felt we were a bit cheated with the end. I missed a final-final chapter that could have been titled "6 months later". I really would have liked to read more about how Carrie & boyfriend and the rest of the cast were getting on.
In the end I decided I'd like to learn more about "Beachside Bay", so I will check out Book #1 in the series.
meloches's review
5.0
Ten years ago, Carrie Dashwood left her hometown (and never looked back!) after her best friend, Megan, and her first love, Tom, hooked up. When her aunt calls her, needing her help to run her flower stall (Ruby’s Blooms), in the beautiful seaside town of Shipley, Carrie finds herself with quite the surprise as she is recruited to arrange flowers for a wedding, which happen to be the nuptials of Megan and Tom! Can Carrie keep her cool and find her own happily ever after?
Heartfelt and hilarious, The Beachside Flower Stall by Karen Clarke was the exact read I needed to get into a “spring” mood and break out of my, seemingly never-ending, reading slump. This book had me laughing out loud and rooting for the underdog.
Although this is the second novel in the Beachside Bay series, this one will have no issue being read as standalone; however, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this novel were characters in the first, so I will be absolutely going back to get lost in the world of Shipley once again!
The novel opens with Carrie, a little uncoordinated and a lot self-conscious, trying to navigate her way through her aunt’s floundering flower business. Without any previous knowledge of flowers, she is doing her best to keep things afloat when fate knocks on her door. Tom, her first love, finds himself in Shipley, planning his wedding to Carrie’s ex-best friend, Megan. Thus begins Carrie’s battle to fight through the past, save her aunt’s flower stall and find true happiness.
Karen Clarke’s writing is an absolute joy to get lost in; her style is easy and light. This book is truly the perfect book to get lost in for an afternoon. I can't wait to check out more of Clarke's writing and for more in this series!
An easy 5/5 stars for me.
Heartfelt and hilarious, The Beachside Flower Stall by Karen Clarke was the exact read I needed to get into a “spring” mood and break out of my, seemingly never-ending, reading slump. This book had me laughing out loud and rooting for the underdog.
Although this is the second novel in the Beachside Bay series, this one will have no issue being read as standalone; however, it is my understanding that some of the characters in this novel were characters in the first, so I will be absolutely going back to get lost in the world of Shipley once again!
The novel opens with Carrie, a little uncoordinated and a lot self-conscious, trying to navigate her way through her aunt’s floundering flower business. Without any previous knowledge of flowers, she is doing her best to keep things afloat when fate knocks on her door. Tom, her first love, finds himself in Shipley, planning his wedding to Carrie’s ex-best friend, Megan. Thus begins Carrie’s battle to fight through the past, save her aunt’s flower stall and find true happiness.
Karen Clarke’s writing is an absolute joy to get lost in; her style is easy and light. This book is truly the perfect book to get lost in for an afternoon. I can't wait to check out more of Clarke's writing and for more in this series!
An easy 5/5 stars for me.
sarahs_bookish_life's review
5.0
The Beachside Flower Stall is the second novel in the Beachside Bay series. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first as this is a stand alone with new characters, just set in the same place.
You have to feel for poor Carrie. She has come back to her home town to help her aunt which means facing people that she was running away from. She has also lost her job as an accountant so really has no clue how to run a flower stall. She has to learn quickly though as she is pretty much left to run it on her own!
The author has a way of just bringing her novels and the characters to life. They are such fabulous feel good books that made me want to pack my bags and move into the area with the characters.
Megan I really disliked. She is in serious need of a good slap. She is one of those people who is’t afraid to tread on anyone to get what she wants in life. She really is quite vile and I didn’t know how at times Carrie keeps her cool.
Tom, what can I say. I think I was in love with him as much as Carrie and Megan. I was dying for him to see through Megan and send her packing. I could easily imagine life with him in the cottage at the vets surgery with his three legged dog called Hovis. A girl can dream.
The Beachside Flower Stall is a colourful and light hearted read. This is a series that will have fans falling over themselves to get their hands on a copy. It really is that good. Can not wait to see what new characters we are going to be introduced to in the next book in the series.
My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and biased in anyway.
You have to feel for poor Carrie. She has come back to her home town to help her aunt which means facing people that she was running away from. She has also lost her job as an accountant so really has no clue how to run a flower stall. She has to learn quickly though as she is pretty much left to run it on her own!
The author has a way of just bringing her novels and the characters to life. They are such fabulous feel good books that made me want to pack my bags and move into the area with the characters.
Megan I really disliked. She is in serious need of a good slap. She is one of those people who is’t afraid to tread on anyone to get what she wants in life. She really is quite vile and I didn’t know how at times Carrie keeps her cool.
Tom, what can I say. I think I was in love with him as much as Carrie and Megan. I was dying for him to see through Megan and send her packing. I could easily imagine life with him in the cottage at the vets surgery with his three legged dog called Hovis. A girl can dream.
The Beachside Flower Stall is a colourful and light hearted read. This is a series that will have fans falling over themselves to get their hands on a copy. It really is that good. Can not wait to see what new characters we are going to be introduced to in the next book in the series.
My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and biased in anyway.
charleyg's review
5.0
Carrie fancies her friend Tom and decides to make it known to him at his 21st birthday. Taking along her friend Megan to the party, Megan swoops in and steals her man. After running away Carrie returns to Shipley 10 years later to help her aunt on her flower stall... pitch for the job of Tom and Megan's wedding!
Fantastic book, although it's the second in the series can definitely be read as a standalone though I did enjoy coming back to the characters we had already met from the sweet shop.
Megan was my favorite character, I just loved to hate her. At time I wanted to stand up to her for Carrie. I found Carrie a little meek for my tastes as a main character but the bravery she showed in helping her aunt was really heart warming.
The innuendo conversations she had with the landlord of the flat that her aunt lives in was really funny and topping it off the way she did was hilarious but I'll say no more for the risk of spoilers.
Absolutely recommend the whole series of books by Karen and hope there are more to come as I'm already missing Doris!
Fantastic book, although it's the second in the series can definitely be read as a standalone though I did enjoy coming back to the characters we had already met from the sweet shop.
Megan was my favorite character, I just loved to hate her. At time I wanted to stand up to her for Carrie. I found Carrie a little meek for my tastes as a main character but the bravery she showed in helping her aunt was really heart warming.
The innuendo conversations she had with the landlord of the flat that her aunt lives in was really funny and topping it off the way she did was hilarious but I'll say no more for the risk of spoilers.
Absolutely recommend the whole series of books by Karen and hope there are more to come as I'm already missing Doris!
clarab12's review
5.0
After reading the beachside sweetshop I couldn't wait to get stuck into this one as well. This is book 2 in the series and was just as enjoyable as the first one. This is the perfect beach read. It's just a lovely and heartwarming story for any 'chick lit' fan.
leona_omahony's review
4.0
Having read and loved 'The Beachside Flower Shop I was looking forward to this one . I certainly wasn't disappointed . This is a wonderful book test kept me entertained right up to the last page . It's an easy and predictable read but I absolutely loved it . Wonderful characters and a lovely story.
shadarawood's review
5.0
A blooming good book!
The reviews promise you will laugh out loud but they failed to mention the crying. Love the family connections and pure sweetness of Carrie.
The reviews promise you will laugh out loud but they failed to mention the crying. Love the family connections and pure sweetness of Carrie.
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