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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I’ve had this book sat on my Netgalley shelf for too long, so much so that I actually have a couple of Jenny’s books on it that I really want to get read asap, although the others may have to wait a while now..
Although saying that, I think part of the reason I hadn’t picked this one up was because I thought it was going to be quite festive but it was definitely more cosy, chilly winter than Christmas so it actually could be read any time of year!
If you’re a fan of short chapters then this definitely ticks that box - just be prepared for a lot of them… I was happily reading thinking I was blasting through the book and then when I turned my percentage on on kindle it was sat at about 30% (the chapter was also number 30)
Once I realised this it wasn’t a bad thing at all as it gave me loads of places to stop and I could happily snatch up the book whenever I had a few spare minutes, which I did a lot!
The characters really came to life in this book and I felt a kinship towards them all, they’re all characters in their own right as well not just as people to fill the space and I believe that they could easily have their own books. I absolutely loved the book clubs and the cafe just sounded absolutely delightful and the perfect tonic against the battering wind and rain.
Alfred steals your heart as you read this book and my heart was in my mouth towards the end as some drama takes force - although Maeve definitely has a little glint in her eye doesn’t she!!
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I could have easily sat and binge read it in a couple of days if I’d have had the time but instead it’s bought me a bit of comfort throughout the week which has been great. I’m already looking forward to more of Jenny’s writing and I’m not going to wait until Christmas this time
Although saying that, I think part of the reason I hadn’t picked this one up was because I thought it was going to be quite festive but it was definitely more cosy, chilly winter than Christmas so it actually could be read any time of year!
If you’re a fan of short chapters then this definitely ticks that box - just be prepared for a lot of them… I was happily reading thinking I was blasting through the book and then when I turned my percentage on on kindle it was sat at about 30% (the chapter was also number 30)
Once I realised this it wasn’t a bad thing at all as it gave me loads of places to stop and I could happily snatch up the book whenever I had a few spare minutes, which I did a lot!
The characters really came to life in this book and I felt a kinship towards them all, they’re all characters in their own right as well not just as people to fill the space and I believe that they could easily have their own books. I absolutely loved the book clubs and the cafe just sounded absolutely delightful and the perfect tonic against the battering wind and rain.
Alfred steals your heart as you read this book and my heart was in my mouth towards the end as some drama takes force - although Maeve definitely has a little glint in her eye doesn’t she!!
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I could have easily sat and binge read it in a couple of days if I’d have had the time but instead it’s bought me a bit of comfort throughout the week which has been great. I’m already looking forward to more of Jenny’s writing and I’m not going to wait until Christmas this time
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
lighthearted
fast-paced
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was very predictable, but very enjoyable. As soon as the nephew/landlord was introduced it was clear what would happen, and it did. Keep reading books about an escape to a life at the seaside……one day.
Ik had zelf niet verwacht dat ik dit zo’n fijn boek zou vinden. Eigenlijk een heel cliché verhaal. Man en vrouw hebben een goedlopend restaurant, man gaat vreemd, vrouw verhuist naar afgelegen dorpje, maakt nieuwe vrienden, bouwt weer een café op en de ‘eerst’ vijand wordt nu ineens de lover.
Nogmaals cliché, maar precies eenvoudig genoeg om lekker te luisteren zonder er te veel moeite in te stoppen. Dit boek volledig geluisterd op de laatste 5 hoofdstukken na, toen ging het me even te langzaam en heb ik toch de e-reader er maar bij gepakt.
Ik heb me hier prima mee vermaakt en geeft best wel het feelgood gevoel. Grappig dat ik dit dan nu eigenlijk beter beoordeeld dan ‘They Both Die at the End’ terwijl het op een ander moment wel totaal anders zou kunnen zijn.
[ 2023: Book 2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ]
Nogmaals cliché, maar precies eenvoudig genoeg om lekker te luisteren zonder er te veel moeite in te stoppen. Dit boek volledig geluisterd op de laatste 5 hoofdstukken na, toen ging het me even te langzaam en heb ik toch de e-reader er maar bij gepakt.
Ik heb me hier prima mee vermaakt en geeft best wel het feelgood gevoel. Grappig dat ik dit dan nu eigenlijk beter beoordeeld dan ‘They Both Die at the End’ terwijl het op een ander moment wel totaal anders zou kunnen zijn.
[ 2023: Book 2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ]
First, I thought this book was a holiday romance. IT IS NOT. If I had not had that expectation, I may have enjoyed this more than I did. It is most definitely Women’s Fiction, and the last 30 chapters had a romance, but that is not the main plot, at least to me.
⭐️I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was excellent.
⭐️⭐️The sense of place Bayliss establishes with her writing is strong and beautiful. She gives us delightful side characters in the town, and you do feel enveloped into their community.
Now, here’s where I had trouble. I shelved this on Goodreads 3x as DNF. It happened every time I encountered the cheating jerk of an ex-husband. He was harassing and stalking her, in my opinion, and it took her until CHAPTER 77 to tell him off and FINALLY threaten legal action. That was 76 chapters too many for me. He needed to be dispensed with almost immediately. He did nothing, to me, in advancing the plot of her growth. He was an unnecessary irritant and if I could have returned this for my Audible credit, I would have. (I’d returned one too many books by that point in the year.)
The main reason I kept picking it back up was I wanted to finish what I started, and I really did like the community this was set in. But THE EX KEPT COMING BACK
⭐️I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was excellent.
⭐️⭐️The sense of place Bayliss establishes with her writing is strong and beautiful. She gives us delightful side characters in the town, and you do feel enveloped into their community.
Now, here’s where I had trouble. I shelved this on Goodreads 3x as DNF. It happened every time I encountered the cheating jerk of an ex-husband. He was harassing and stalking her, in my opinion, and it took her until CHAPTER 77 to tell him off and FINALLY threaten legal action. That was 76 chapters too many for me. He needed to be dispensed with almost immediately. He did nothing, to me, in advancing the plot of her growth. He was an unnecessary irritant and if I could have returned this for my Audible credit, I would have. (I’d returned one too many books by that point in the year.)
The main reason I kept picking it back up was I wanted to finish what I started, and I really did like the community this was set in. But THE EX KEPT COMING BACK
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
I struggled to get into this book because the beginning didn't really make sense. Female main character has her heart broken by her husband and she completely blows up her life and immediately sleeps with someone else?
If you ignore THAT the rest of the story is very sweet and Christmasy as Annie relocated to a small town to help re-open the local coffee shop over the holidays and there is a swoon-worthy man there. It's very romantic and so sweet.
If you ignore THAT the rest of the story is very sweet and Christmasy as Annie relocated to a small town to help re-open the local coffee shop over the holidays and there is a swoon-worthy man there. It's very romantic and so sweet.