A stunning feel-good summer read, perfect for the weather we currently have. I absolutely adored the settings and the characters are some of my favourites!

Read this a while back and forgot to post the review.

A wonderfully light heart summery read with wonderful description. I love a beach side based book and this ticked all the boxes, the food descriptions had me salivating at the mouth and i wanted to pop on by. This is a lovely holiday by the pool kind of read

I have long been a fan of Jenny Oliver’s books – and I think this is my favourite!

The book starts with a bit about Whatsapp – and I think it’s the first book I’ve read which even mentions it – so you can see it’s totally up to date with it’s references, which I love! Whatsapp / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook feature throughout the book – just as they do throughout most people’s lives – and I really liked that.

The descriptions of Spain are wonderful – and made me want to hop on a plane pretty smartish – and the food descriptions, as ever in all Jenny’s books, are fabulous. You can almost taste the food.

Ava is a central character that you’re rooting for – and the dynamic of her relationships with family (present and absent), older people in the village and romance-wise are all beautifully explored. I liked the multi-generational aspect of the book a lot.

It was a perfect, easy, escapist read – that would only have been better if I’d been reading it on the beach!

I have to say this is my favourite Jenny Oliver book now and had me proper sobbing at the end. I would love to know what happens to all of the characters in the future – so fingers firmly crossed for a sequel???

So. I've requested "The Summerhouse by the Sea" because of few factors. First, I've already read several books by Jenny Oliver, and I know she's the perfect author to turn to when you are a need of a cute story filled with feelings and emotions. Second, I liked the synopsis - it sounds great and intriguing and I was desperately in need of a sunny setting. Third - the cover. It's gorgeous, so eye - catching, I love those brilliant, pastel colours. I couldn't wait to eventually start reading it.

But. Boy, am I happy that I've finished it - and probably only out of stubbornness and because I've skim - read the second half. I am so, so sorry but this novel just didn't work for me. At first I was surprised that it focuses not only on Ava but also on her brother Rory, but of course it doesn't mean that it was wrong, well, in fact it turned out that Rory's story was much more interesting than Ava's. Sorry. The plot was very, like in very, predictable. I couldn't connect with the characters, there was no depth to them, everything felt so superficial, and there were so many of them. It was as if Ava was just staying on one place, while Rory and Flora were moving and doing something with their lives. The beginning of this story was brilliant - Ava has a near death experience with the number 281 bus and I thought, wow, this is a promising start, but then it just went downhill.

Altogether, it was probably a warm, cosy story about new beginnings but not for me. I wanted so much more. It felt flat, there was no sparkle and it just couldn't keep my attention. Of course I incredibly appreciate the descriptions of the beautiful setting and the delicious food, all those churros, paella and sangrias, which the author vividly brought to life. However, no matter what, please do try this book for yourself, probably it just didn't work for me and you can find yourself falling in love with the little village in Spain and all the characters.

Oh my god that cover!!! From the moment it first appeared on social media, I knew straight away that I had to read it. Not only did the title intrigue me because of the summerhouse (new one on me), the beautiful colours on the cover really stood out. Do you remember the extremely popular nineties fizzy drink, Panda Pop? The top half of the front cover reminded me of the pink one, strawberries and cream I think, whereas the second half of the cover reminded me of the fruit salad 1p chew sweets. I really am a cover snob, aren't I?

Mooooooving on!

'The Summerhouse by the Sea' is written from two different perspectives; Ava Fisher's and her brother Rory. Ava came across as more of the 'heart on sleeve' character, whereas Rory comes across as militant and cold.

The book starts off with some rather bad news; Ava and Rory's grandmother had died and they need to attend her funeral back in sunny Spain. Stepping onto Spanish soil brings back a lot of emotional memories for Ava and her childhood. What she didn't quite expect though, was how unsettled she became whenever she thought of her life back in London. Ava realised that she had a decision to make...and she knew fine well that her brother wouldn't like it.

I must admit, when I first opened the book and came face to face with the emotion, I had to keep checking that I was still reading the same book. For some reason I expected the storyline to ooze joy from the start, so when it turned out differently, I was quite surprised. After all, the cover looks rather happy, doesn't it?

As I mentioned above, the storyline is written from both Ava and Rory's points of view, each characters story being told in separate chapters. For me, I could not gel with Rory at all. He seemed to have a cast iron guard up, maybe protecting himself from any type of emotion both good and bad - who knows. I just found him to be incredibly arrogant, I willed for my opinion to change by the end of the novel!

As for Ava, I found her personality much more welcoming, even if she did seem a bit 'lost'. A lot of the time it seemed as though she was doing mundane things because it was, and has been, her routine for so many years, as though she was afraid of doing anything differently.

The more the storyline unfolded, the more I fell in love with the story. Without giving too much away, there was a point in the storyline where I felt like the characters stresses were lifted; it was such a beautiful and calming moment. Daft eh? My most favourite part of the whole book, was feeling the sense of unity jump off the page and into my soul, thanks to Ava going with her heart and Rory realising that the memories in Spain are there to be....remembered.

'The Summerhouse by the Sea' really is a sunny, heart-warming, and thought-provoking read which focuses on the emotional value of memories, loved ones, and the present. Jenny Oliver really has written the perfect summery novel, her words are full of poignancy, emotion and love, it would be quite difficult NOT to fall in love with this storyline.

Pack this novel in your case for your summer holiday! Or, if you're going to be rocking the stay-cation this year; grab a towel, lay it down in your garden alongside a colourful drink (and this book). Then, lay down and let your mind take you on a trip to sunny Spain, courtesy of the extraordinary, Jenny Oliver. I really did enjoy this book (even if Rory still needs to get in my good books)!

Thanks HQStories.

The summerhouse by the sea was a great book to read while chilling on holiday. You are transported to Spain where Ava and Rory who are brother and sister have recently lost their grandmother and are left the summerhouse in her will. They decide to spend the summer there before it is sold. What could possibly happen? Have a read you won't be disappointed.

When Ava attends her grandmothers funeral- she decides to spend the summer at her house in Mariposa. She hopes that the town will have retained the charm of her childhood memories - but is dismayed to find it tired and jaded. She decides to help Cafe Estrella turn itself around and find new customers to keep the tills busy.

When her brother faces a blip in his career , he also decides to find a new path forward by chilling in the sun. He brings his little boy, who is a delightful character who throws himself into everything on offer by the sea.

This book has everything- healing family relationships, romance, a village full of fantastic characters who build a vivid backdrop to the story , and churros which sound absolutely delicious. Throw in a movie star- who may or may not have been on Ava's bedroom wall as a teen and we have the ingredients for the most fantastic summer read.

I have read and enjoyed several of Jenny Olivers previous books and this one was a really lovely read. You are guaranteed to fall in love with it's charms and be reluctant to draw yourself back into the real world rather than read 'just one more chapter'. This really would make the ideal book to pack in your suitcase.

Whilst i enjoyed the story, i wanted so much more. More vivid descriptions, deeper characterisations and more realistic dialogue. Having read one of Jenny Oliver's books before, I was looking forward to reading this book. Sadly, this didn't have as much sparkle as The Grand Reopening of the Dandelion Cafe, although the Cafe Estrella did sound marvellous. A nice summer read but I wanted so much more. 3* from me.

I have read a few of the author's books before and have always come away from her books with a smile on my face. This one was no different. This was a lovely, easy to read book with plenty to keep me reading until I had finished it in one sitting.

The main female character, Ava, finds herself somewhere which brings back wonderful memories of long forgotten times with her grandmother. Revisiting places she visited many years before brings Ava some heartache, but also provides her with the ability to find something she didn't know was missing. Add into the mix her brother and nephew and the story takes a whole new turn. The imagery throughout is very well written, taking the reader to distant shores as you can almost see the scenes inside your head while reading.

Another great summer read from the author. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Best-selling author Jenny Oliver will whisk readers away from reality to the scorching Spanish sun with her gloriously uplifting new novel, The Summerhouse By The Sea.

The sleepy Spanish seaside town of Mariposa is the backdrop to some of Ava Fisher’s fondest and most cherished memories. From summers spent in her grandmother’s summer house to indulging in delicious chocolate dipped churros and tentative first kisses under balmy Spanish skies, Ava remembers fondly those wonderfully idyllic times where she could spend days on end soaking up the sun and letting the world go by. Finding the time to relax and to get away from it all is becoming increasingly alien to Ava. With her life in London being one long and exhausting whirl, Ava looks back wistfully to those halcyon summer days. However, when she is knocked down by a bus and is almost killed, Ava realises that the time has come for her to make some much needed changes to her life. Unable to remember the last time she was truly happy, Ava decides to take some stock and to go back to the last place she remembers feeling content – her grandmother’s summerhouse in Mariposa.

With her brother Rory in tow, Ava decides to leave all the hustle and bustle of London behind for a fresh start in Mariposa. In desperate need of a new project, Ava decides to throw herself mind, body and soul into breathing new life into Mariposa’s local eatery, Cafe Estrella. With the cafe having lost some of its sparkle in the last couple of years, Ava decides that she is just the girl to put Cafe Estrella back to the heart of the local community and make it look more chic than shabby.

When Ava had decided to restore Cafe Estrella to its former glory, she never imagined that she would not just be saving the local coffee shop, but also herself. For the first time in years, Ava feels truly happy. Has she finally found a place she can call home? Or will she end up going back to London?

Jenny Oliver’s The Summerhouse By The Sea is the next best thing to a holiday under the Spanish sun. Packed with gorgeous descriptions that will make you feel as if you are in Mariposa eating a chocolate dipped churro and drinking a refreshing beverage, terrific characters that leap off the pages, charm by the bucketful and delightful humour, The Summerhouse By The Sea is a terrific book that readers will devour in a single sitting.

Whenever I pick up one of Jenny Oliver’s books, I find myself riveted to the page and unable to put the book down and The Summerhouse By The Sea is certainly no exception. Heartwarming, engrossing and absolutely irresistible, The Summerhouse By The Sea is another winner by Jenny Oliver!

Review: This book is defiantly a holiday read. On a rainy day it takes you away right to the hat of Spain.

I really liked this book. It is about a sister and her brother who have got a little lost in life, and forget what is most important to them. Being back in the heart of the community surrounding the Summer House reminds them of lost family happiness. I feel in love with all the quirky characters that come to dine at the local Café. This is the Café that with a little love gives back to the community and the Brown family.

This is a well written book and gives great insight into the characters minds their thoughts and feelings. I did worry at a point that it did this a little too much but it wasn't a problem it brought so much more to the story.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes a romantic, women's fiction set in sun drenched Spain.

A beautiful holiday read.

Ava and her brother Jack are both at a turning point in their lives when their Grandmother dies and after the funeral they decide to spend the summer in her summer house in Mariposa, somewhere that they spent some idyllic childhood holidays. One of the places that they are shocked about is the Café Estrella which was once a thriving business and so they are keen to get it restored - the talk of tapas and Mediterranean cuisine is a great part of the story

Rory also brings his son Max, a 10 year old cheeky chappy who is a great character - not sure whether he is a child or a teenager, definitely on the development cusp

This is a lovely story, great beach read, you can almost feel the Mediterranean sun and flavour, but with enough to keep you interested

The Sunmerhouse by the Sea transports you to beautiful Spain to follow the story of Ava. Her grandmother has recently died and not wanting to sell her house, she decides to move out to Spain for the summer.

Spain holds many memories for her, especially Cafe Estrella, though once the beating heart of the village, it now seems tired and run down. Ava decides to throw herself into helping to turn the cafe back into what it once was. However once summer is over, will Ava be able to return to England?

This book is well written with very likeable characters. You can easily read this book in a couple of days and I really enjoyed it. The descriptions of the food will definitely make your mouth water and a potential love interest all adds to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and Jenny Oliver for the chance to review.

A lovely lighthearted summer read, perfect to read at the beach or by the pool

Until now I had never read any of Jenny Oliver's books, however after having read this delightful summer read, I will definitely be looking to read more of her books in the future.

The setting for the book, being the Spanish seaside town of Mariposa, sounded absolutely divine and as I was reading the more, I felt like I just wanted to be there to experience it all for myself.

The two main characters are brother and sister, and it was great getting to know them and to read about there own going ons and the obstacles they have had to face in life and the decisions they need to make about their future.

It was truly well written, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

Thanks Netgalley - really nice book about a brother and sister and the close bond that they share. I will definitely look out for other books by this author

Spanish summery fun, full of sand, sea, a summerhouse and a whole lot of sensational sounding Spanish sustenance, set in the stunning Mariposa.

With a rather dramatic start to the story, I really wasn't sure what to expect, but it served as a wake up call for Ava, who after attending her grandmothers funeral in Mariposa, decides her life needs a new direction and a summer in Spain sorting out the summerhouse and finding herself is in order.

It's slightly further in when Rory, Ava's brother, receives his own wake up call, and its one which initially had me laughing my head off for! Rory's storyline though touches on twitter shaming though, and also on digital detoxing which is a lot easier said than done.

In some respects it was Rory's story I was more interested in, seeing how he changes as a person. To start with he is a rather set in his ways sort of person and seeing his exchanges with his family he is rather hard to like. When he has no real choice but to follow Ava to Spain for the summer, with son Max, you slowly see a whole other side of him emerge.

I loved Max, he is 10 years old, and is as that great age between child and teen, where he is wanting to look cool in front of new friends, has some interest in girls, but also still has some childlike qualities.

Ava and Rory used to spend their summers in Mariposa and are shocked at the change in fortunes of the Cafe Estrella, and seem to be determined to make it shine brightly again like its name. Seeing the Cafe slowly come back to life was great to see, and it was some of the most initially unlikely people that set it into motion properly.

There is just so much to love in this book, Ava and Rory's complicated relationship with their mother, the summerhouse itself and the secrets its hiding, Cafe Estrella and all the patrons of it, Tom the local vineyard owner, and some gorgeous tasty descriptions of the food. This is a book for all the senses, and I would love to spend a summer in Mariposa for myself.

Thank you so much to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

What a lovely read! With the heat of a Spanish summer pouring from the pages, this book flies along, taking the reader on a happy trip to the sun. An engrossing story and a very satisfying ending!

First time I've read a book by this author. It won't be the last. Thoroughly enjoyed the how the heartache of losing a loving grandmother and how it affects both the lives of Ava and her brother Rory. Also the link between them and the lovely Flora. Also how Ava comes to terms with what happened with hermother and how it affected her relationships.