Monday, March 28, 2016

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery

I already posted this morning, but let's also start your week off with a book review that will definitely get you in the mood for summer reading!

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery - Jenny Colgan

The New York Times bestselling author of Little Beach Street Bakeryand Christmas at the Cupcake CafĂ© returns with a delightful new novel—with recipes!—that is already an international bestseller and is perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Meg Donohue, and Sophie Kinsella.

For fans of Jojo Moyes and Elin Hilderbrand, an irresistible novel—moving and funny, soulful and sweet—about happiness, heartache, and hope. And recipes.

A thriving bakery. A lighthouse to call home. A handsome beekeeper. A pet puffin. These are the things that Polly Waterford can call her own. This is the beautiful life she leads on a tiny island off the southern coast of England.

But clouds are gathering on the horizon. A stranger threatens to ruin Polly’s business. Her beloved boyfriend seems to be leading a secret life. And the arrival of a newcomer—a bereft widow desperately searching for a fresh start—forces Polly to reconsider the choices she’s made, even as she tries to help her new friend through grief.

Unpredictable and unforgettable, this delightful novel will make you laugh, cry, and long for a lighthouse of your own. Recipes included.


First thing first, this is the second book in the Little Beach Street Bakery series but I haven't read the first one (I'm going to pick it up soon) so I can tell you with 100% certainty this can be a stand alone book. I have talked with a few fellow readers who have read both and they said of course, reading this one first will give you spoilers about the first book, but more so that the story carries on. Honestly, I didn't feel like I've really missed out by not reading the first book so please don't let that deter you from adding this to your summer reading lists.

Jenny Colgan might be one of those authors I automatically add to my summer reading list, right up there with Dorothea Benton Frank, because it's just a fun chick lit novel that will give you sweet moments, a little bit of angst for some character but ultimately leave you smiling at the end. It's a light, feel good read basically so if you are in the market (or mood) for that, you need to add this. I also want to mention that the characters and setting are just so lovely in this book. I also finished it wanting a pet puffin, to which my husband said absolutely not because he is an absolute buzzkill.

Basically the book centers around Polly and her essentially idealistic life on Mount Polbearne. She is in love with her boyfriend Huckle but we soon discover he has responsibilities and things from his past that are making their appearance again, thus making him more and more absent and we aren't sure if his absence is going to make Polly's heart grow fonder or not. We also have recently widowed Selina who moves to town hoping to work through her stages of grief but is befriended by Polly who soon realizes she knows something that could hurt Selina even more. All while thinking these things through, Polly continues to bake in her little bakery so throughout we have little recipes as well. Some of my favorite parts of this book is the excellent craftsmanship of the story, you actually feel like you're walking down the streets of Mount Polbearne and you instantly want to really be there. Secondly, the dialogue and the interaction between characters is so fun and full of personality. I absolutely adore Polly as a character and her character development alone would convince me to pick up anything else Jenny Colgan writes because I know it will be spot on and fun.

If you want a light, fun, sweet read as you work on your summer reading lists- this is one to for sure add. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all. You can purchase your copy of Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. In the meantime, check out Jenny's website, Facebook, and Twitter to look at some of her other books and see where she what's new!


1 comment:

Heather J @ TLC Book Tours said...

I love the cover of this book ... it makes me SO hungry for delicious desserts.

Thanks for being a part of the tour!