The Cafe by the Sea A Novel

Book #56 Read in 2017 The Café by the Sea by Jenny Colgan Colgan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. In this book, Flora works at a London law firm and is needed by a client to return to her Scottish hometown, something she has avoided for the past few years. Her homecoming is not easy, nor is her growing crush on her boss. Colgan creates interesting characters, full of humor and angst and full of engagement. This was a good, quick read. I borrowed it from the public library.

Realistically this is a 2.5-3.5 in terms of writing and content. HOWEVER this was enjoyable through and though and exactly what I wanted so :)

I was on the fence about giving it a 4 but I don't really believe it deserves a 3, so just pretend that it is a 3.5. The first few chapters are a bit boring, and I couldn't get through some of the details, BUT it definitely picks up and the rest of the book was a breeze to get through! The Cafe by the Sea was the type of book I needed after reading many "serious" books (and currently listening to another serious read that is breaking my heart). We go on a journey with Flora, who is freaking hilarious, from her adopted home of London to her home on an island long off the coast of Scotland called Mure. What follows is a story about finding out where you belong, the ties that will forever bind us, and discovering long hidden passions. Seriously though, I wanted to eat everything Flora baked or cooked in the book!! Side Note: The author includes a few recipes in the back, which I'm super eager to try out! I'm also a sucker for anything folklore or mythical related. This book had it's fair share of selkie and sprite stories! "You can live in many different places. I would like to think you will step into many different worlds, many different places, and feel happy in all of them."

Colgan writes an accessible romance about a woman who runs away from her home (and past grief) only to find herself forced to return. I enjoyed this book as a light and quick read, and find myself wanting to read another of her novels soon.

So adorable!! Heads up. Do not read this by audiobook. The audiobook doesn't do the book justice. However I really loved Flora and her journey to rediscovering herself and her home of Mure. I think Joel's personality was a little lacking but otherwise I loved the other characters. Read it for the fluff!!

I thought the story itself was good. It took its time and seemed well paced, with some decent supporting characters. I just wish more romance was in it. I was left wondering when the romance developed, and why it seemed so strong, since it was so small in comparison to the rest of the book. Not bad, but not my favorite either.