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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
This book is very well meaning, but way too long and meandering. The beginning was especially hard, because the chapters keep jumping in time from present day to as far back as 2 years ago - painfully unnecessarily so, since the more interesting storyline is happening in the present and the situation is such that it doesn't matter how the characters got there - it's enough to know that they did. Moreover, details from the past are successfully revealed in later chapters without the crazy jumping and it's a stark contrast highlighting those later revelations as much more effective storytelling.
TL;DR: this book badly needs a ruthless editor.
I was also unimpressed with parental figures in this story - there are no decent parents shown on page, at least among those who appear for long enough to be observation-worthy. Even the one who's painted as a paragon of virtue (heroine's father) is complicit in decades of brutal abuse, since he was the silent enabler all those years!
As the direct consequence of that, the main heroine is deeply damaged, which undermines any love story the author could try to sell - she needs lots of therapy first, since very little of that damage is unpacked, let alone dealt with, by the end of the book. Given the heavy baggage of her romantic interest, I am not entertaining much hope for their happy future.
The book is also very simplistic, predictable and morally black-and-white, but it is kind and means well, so I was able to overlook many of the flaws and still enjoy it.
(Although killing off an innocent hedgehog for the sake of last minute drama was really unnecessary. Animal lovers, be warned! I was spitting mad at the author for this cheap ploy.)
TL;DR: this book badly needs a ruthless editor.
I was also unimpressed with parental figures in this story - there are no decent parents shown on page, at least among those who appear for long enough to be observation-worthy. Even the one who's painted as a paragon of virtue (heroine's father) is complicit in decades of brutal abuse, since he was the silent enabler all those years!
As the direct consequence of that, the main heroine is deeply damaged, which undermines any love story the author could try to sell - she needs lots of therapy first, since very little of that damage is unpacked, let alone dealt with, by the end of the book. Given the heavy baggage of her romantic interest, I am not entertaining much hope for their happy future.
The book is also very simplistic, predictable and morally black-and-white, but it is kind and means well, so I was able to overlook many of the flaws and still enjoy it.
(Although killing off an innocent hedgehog for the sake of last minute drama was really unnecessary. Animal lovers, be warned! I was spitting mad at the author for this cheap ploy.)
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
Oh my god. 😭
This book was so heartbreaking but uplifting at the same time. There were sooooo many really beautiful moments that made me tear up & cry, and so I’ll likely have to read this on my kindle so I can annotate! The audiobook was incredible though, and I really enjoyed the narrator’s performance.
There was a host of complex characters, some I loved and some I obviously hated, but most importantly the main character, Samantha, was an absolute sweetheart (albeit a bit of a pushover) and deserves the world! I can’t wait to read more about Sam and her journey at Hedgehog Hollow throughout the rest of the series
This book was so heartbreaking but uplifting at the same time. There were sooooo many really beautiful moments that made me tear up & cry, and so I’ll likely have to read this on my kindle so I can annotate! The audiobook was incredible though, and I really enjoyed the narrator’s performance.
There was a host of complex characters, some I loved and some I obviously hated, but most importantly the main character, Samantha, was an absolute sweetheart (albeit a bit of a pushover) and deserves the world! I can’t wait to read more about Sam and her journey at Hedgehog Hollow throughout the rest of the series
This was a very sweet uplifting book.
Sam is having the worst day, having to watch the man she loves marry her cousin, she's sent off on an errand to collect an errant plant for her Aunt (who is one mean old bat) and gets lost on route and finds herself at Hedgehog Hollow cottage and finds the owner Thomas in desperate need of medical attention. She calls the ambulance and gets him the help he needs before heading back to the wedding, only to be berated by said cousin, aunt and also her own mother (a truly nasty piece of work). Only her best friend and father have any kind words for her.
She decides to check in on Thomas, the old man she rescued at Hedgehog Hollow and begins to look after him, despite his initial reluctance and the two become friends, helping each other find glimmers of hope and happiness.
And then there are hedgehogs too, Sam turns the place into a sanctuary for hedgehogs with the help of some new friends she's met along her journey.
A real feel-good book, with a hint of romance and a dash of hedgehogs.
Sam is having the worst day, having to watch the man she loves marry her cousin, she's sent off on an errand to collect an errant plant for her Aunt (who is one mean old bat) and gets lost on route and finds herself at Hedgehog Hollow cottage and finds the owner Thomas in desperate need of medical attention. She calls the ambulance and gets him the help he needs before heading back to the wedding, only to be berated by said cousin, aunt and also her own mother (a truly nasty piece of work). Only her best friend and father have any kind words for her.
She decides to check in on Thomas, the old man she rescued at Hedgehog Hollow and begins to look after him, despite his initial reluctance and the two become friends, helping each other find glimmers of hope and happiness.
And then there are hedgehogs too, Sam turns the place into a sanctuary for hedgehogs with the help of some new friends she's met along her journey.
A real feel-good book, with a hint of romance and a dash of hedgehogs.
An entertaining, heartwarming and uplifting story that made me smile and root for the characters.
The storyline and the characters are excellent, the descriptions of the setting made me wish to the there.
I can't wait to read the next story by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The storyline and the characters are excellent, the descriptions of the setting made me wish to the there.
I can't wait to read the next story by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I saw hedgehogs in the title for this book and as I love hedgehogs, I was like yep, I need to read that.
Sam watches the man she loves marry another woman, not only that it’s her cousin and best friend! On her way to the wedding party she stumbles upon Hedgehog hollow and saves owner Thomas’ life.
Thomas is none too happy about this but Sam wears him down with kindness. Sam vows to turn Hedgehog Hollow into a hedgehog sanctuary that he and his wife Gwendoline always wanted and maybe even find true happiness along the way.
I’ve read a couple of Jessica Redland’s Whitsborough bay series so I already knew that I was in for an enjoyable rollercoaster ride of emotions. I won’t deny there were certain parts of the story that even made me tear up a little.
Sam is just one of those sweet, kind hearted characters that you know deserves better than she gets from people. I couldn’t help but root for her happiness although there were a lot of times where I felt like shouting at her, ‘stand up for yourself woman!’
Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow is a charming and delightful read that will give you all those warm fuzzy feelings.
Sam watches the man she loves marry another woman, not only that it’s her cousin and best friend! On her way to the wedding party she stumbles upon Hedgehog hollow and saves owner Thomas’ life.
Thomas is none too happy about this but Sam wears him down with kindness. Sam vows to turn Hedgehog Hollow into a hedgehog sanctuary that he and his wife Gwendoline always wanted and maybe even find true happiness along the way.
I’ve read a couple of Jessica Redland’s Whitsborough bay series so I already knew that I was in for an enjoyable rollercoaster ride of emotions. I won’t deny there were certain parts of the story that even made me tear up a little.
Sam is just one of those sweet, kind hearted characters that you know deserves better than she gets from people. I couldn’t help but root for her happiness although there were a lot of times where I felt like shouting at her, ‘stand up for yourself woman!’
Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow is a charming and delightful read that will give you all those warm fuzzy feelings.
Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland Isn’t my first book by the author, in fact I’ve read several of Jessica’s books now. What keeps me coming back is her lovely writing style, the warmth in her stories and the loveable and relatable characters she writes. I loved Samantha so much, wasn’t keen on her mum even with the reasons, but Sam was so great, watching her development as the story went along is just lovely. For me it has animals, drama, love and family what more could you want from a story. Heartwarming
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book for an honest opinion
Sweet and heartwarming contemporary fiction about a woman recovering from a broken heart who ends up with some drastic life changes. TW: extremely awful, dysfunctional family, so much so that I'm hesitant to continue the series, despite how much I liked the main character Samantha.
“Wounds could be cleaned and dressed, medication could be prescribed, and comforting words could be given to a patient facing terminal illness. But there was no bandage for loneliness. No prescription. No words of comfort. Yet it was a growing epidemic and just as destructive as any diagnosed illness. Thomas Mickleby was so lonely that he wanted to die.”
✮✮✮✮✮
Samantha watches the love of her life marry her cousin. On the wedding day, they ask her to quickly run an errand before the reception, to which she dutifully agrees. Almost by fate, during this errand, she helps an elderly gentleman who needed medical attention, who she forms the closest relationship with. This is the story of loves lost, loves found, family feuds, but most of all, finding oneself at Hedgehog Hollow.
I loved this book. That’s it. I said it. I full on happy escapism loved this book. I laughed, I cried, I gaped open-mouthed in shock many, many times. This was so emotional, and the storyline never went where I was expecting!
Hedgehog Hollow is somewhere I really wish was real. It’s the perfect place to go and escape, and find yourself again. Maybe they should make it a resort! But anyhow, I loved the characters and the relationships that formed amongst the drama, and I’m excited to read book two!
✮✮✮✮✮
Samantha watches the love of her life marry her cousin. On the wedding day, they ask her to quickly run an errand before the reception, to which she dutifully agrees. Almost by fate, during this errand, she helps an elderly gentleman who needed medical attention, who she forms the closest relationship with. This is the story of loves lost, loves found, family feuds, but most of all, finding oneself at Hedgehog Hollow.
I loved this book. That’s it. I said it. I full on happy escapism loved this book. I laughed, I cried, I gaped open-mouthed in shock many, many times. This was so emotional, and the storyline never went where I was expecting!
Hedgehog Hollow is somewhere I really wish was real. It’s the perfect place to go and escape, and find yourself again. Maybe they should make it a resort! But anyhow, I loved the characters and the relationships that formed amongst the drama, and I’m excited to read book two!