Review: The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan

The Cafe by the Sea

by Jenny Colgan

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 416

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Years ago, Flora fled the quiet Scottish island where she grew up -- and she hasn't looked back. What would she have done on Mure? It's a place where everyone has known her all her life, where no one will let her forget the past. In bright, bustling London, she can be anonymous, ambitious... and hopelessly in love with her boss.

But when fate brings Flora back to the island, she's suddenly swept once more into life with her brothers -- all strapping, loud, and seemingly incapable of basic housework -- and her father. Yet even amid the chaos of their reunion, Flora discovers a passion for cooking -- and find herself restoring dusty little pink-fronted shop on the harbour: a café by the sea.

But with the seasons changing, Flora must come to terms with past mistakes -- and work out exactly where her future lies...


Kritters Thoughts:  Let me start by saying that I have read quite a few of Jenny Colgan's books and have loved all of them, for a few reasons this one didn't leave up to the rest and I just didn't love it.  

Flora fled her home town like a lot of young people do to get an education and then a job.  Funny enough, her job has taken her back to her small hometown on a Scottish island and she must help a client get some things settled for their latest venture.  She is returning home with her head low because she has thoughts that she departed abruptly and everyone in this small town is upset about it - are they?

Don't get me wrong, I love a small town girl returning home story any day, but there were some problems that made me not fall in love with this one.  I didn't love the love triangle at all.  I won't spoil as to who is in the triangle with her, but I just didn't care for that part of the plot, I could have done without it completely.  I would have liked her to go home and get the job done and maybe love didn't need to throw in there.

Flora the character herself wasn't completely on point for me either.  At times she was fierce and authoritative and on point and then you turn the page and she is wishy washy and all over the place, I know that a person can be both, but she was too all over the place for me.  

This won't keep me from reading Jenny Colgan's next book because I have definitely loved her others and looking at her writing as a whole I more often like than dislike.  


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.