Can Jodie Start Again...?
Can Jodie Jackson find her perfect life? She has left her old life and painful memories behind and is in search of a new start. Will she succeed? Enjoyable, escapist fiction from Carole Matthews with a colourful cast of characters and an ideal setting.

This book was like a holiday on the Isle of Wight - whilst reading you could feel yourself slowing down to island pace. I think there will be a queue, wanting to stay in houseboats on the island, on the off chance they get a neighbour like Ned.
I liked all the detail about the woodcarving and would love the chance to watch works of art being created by chainsaw!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Didn't think sepulchre into this book but it surprised me how I couldn't put it down once I got into it thank you for letting me read it ,would recommend to others

Thank you for the opportunity to review this novel.

Every summer I read Carole Matthew's new novel and I enjoy them. This was not an exception but what I didn't like was the obvious way the author tried too hard to plant things throughout the chapters and you could see how this would end on page 10. It felt overworked. Like I said, I enjoyed it but not as much as her earlier books.

Carole Matthews used to be my go to read for a ‘pick me up’, this didn’t disappoint either. An easy read, nice and light-hearted which is why I really enjoy her books. Great idea for location too, on a houseboat, something different.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This was an easy, comforting read - perfect escapism for these unsettling times! With characters you can't help but care about and a beautiful setting, Carole Matthews can always be relied upon to write comforting and uplifting books, which she has certainly done again with Sunny Days and Sea Breezes.

I always enjoy books like this. And during these hard times in the middle of a pandemic, it's nice to read something light-hearted, fun and entertaining. I love the characters, Marilyn is me and I hope to remain as sassy and loving when I'm her age. Ida is so sweet. Ned is an interesting character too. It's what you'd expect from these type of easy reads. They always cheer you up. I'd definitely recommend it.

I have read and loved all of Carole Matthews’ books, and Sunny Days and Sea Breezes was no exception. Needing some time alone, Jodie escapes to the Isle of Wight and her brother Bill’s houseboat, Sunny Days. Cue the arrival of Marilyn, hired by Bill to clean the houseboat and look out for his sister. Jodie has never met anyone like her before, with her flamboyant clothes and unusual turns of phrase, but Marilyn turns out to be exactly what she needs.
Gradually the other people she meets in Cockleshell Bay – her neighbour Ned, living statue George, and Ida who runs the café – enable her to see that what will help her most is to loosen up, and try new experiences, not hide herself away from the world.
Eventually her past catches up with her, and she has to return to reality. Carole Matthews deals very sensitively with some extremely upsetting subject matter in Sunny Days and Sea Breezes – loss of a child, grief and infidelity – but still delivers an entertaining and uplifting tale full of hope and the importance of friendship.
The first person narrative works well because we have to wait for Jodie to gradually reveal what has happened to cause her so much pain. All the characters are well drawn and believable, but not all are particularly likeable. I thought Della was behaving oddly from the start, but had no idea of the depth of her treachery. No spoilers, but there is a scene at the gym involving her handbag and clothes that is just priceless.
I believe Carole Matthews wrote Sunny Days and Sea Breezes after enjoying a holiday on the Isle of Wight, and this shines through the glorious descriptions of life on the island. I am definitely keen to take a trip and see for myself.
Thanks to the author, Sphere and NetGalley for a review copy.

Jodie Jackson is all at sea, in every sense.
On a ferry bound for the Isle of Wight, she's leaving her London life, her career, and her husband behind. She'd like a chance to turn back the clocks, but she'll settle for some peace and quiet on her brother Bill's beautifully renovated houseboat, Sunny DaysBut from the moment Jodie steps aboard her new home, it's clear she'll struggle to keep herself to herself.

Jodie soon delights in her newfound freedom. But out of mind isn't out of sight, and when her old life comes knocking Jodie is forced to face reality. Will she answer the call or choose a life filled with Sunny Days and Sea Breezes?

A lovely easy read for summer afternoons - I really enjoyed this book and will look out for more from the same author. Many thanks to netgalley for an ARC in return for my honest opinion.

First i would like to thank Netgalley for letting me review this book.

I really enjoyed this book i now want to rent a houseboat and go on a holiday i really liked the pace of this book i felt like i was there loved the storyline i did kind of guess what was going to happen but it was a feel good book and would recommend

Carole Matthews is one of my all time favourite authors. Her books are always good, always readable, and "Sunny Days and Sea Breezes" is no different. I devoured it in one day. The story focuses on Jodie Jackson, who suspects her husband is having an affair and flees to her brother's houseboat on the Isle of Wight. Whilst there, she meets a plethora of characters, including George (a living statue), Marilyn (her brother's cleaner) and Ned (her neighbour).

What I really enjoyed about this book was Jodie's developing relationships with the people she meets on the Isle of Wight. While there is the main story line of her and Ned, equally important are the friendships with Marilyn and George. These are particularly heartwarming, as initially Jodie intends to keep herself to herself, but we see her thaw towards people throughout the book, and I found myself wishing I knew someone like Marilyn.

Jodie is struggling with quite a lot of heartache, aside from the suspicions of her husband's affair. One of the the more touching scenes is when she has a heart to heart with Marilyn and we learn what she has been going through. This added more depth to the story, and when Jodie discovers the truth about her husband later on in the book, I admired her even more for her reaction, knowing what she had been dealing with. I would definitely recommend this book. It is an easy read, but is thought-provoking and touching, rather than simply being fluffy and light. Plus there's a very satisfying revenge scene towards the end, that left me grinning from ear to ear.

I need to preface my review that I really enjoyed Happiness for Beginners by Carole Matthews and that has significantly influenced my current review. If I had read it as a standalone, I would have rated it higher (maybe).

I went in with very high expectations into the story, and in the very first scene, I could feel the wind and the chill. It was an immersive experience; the location and the emotions were palpable. Our protagonist is in a very low mood: her clothes, her disinterest in her appearance only compound the effect. She is off to recover in her brother’s houseboat. This contained further enticing descriptions which had me imagining such a holiday. The town and its residents were fascinating. Although the proposed garlic farm was never elaborated on, it was entertaining to see it mentioned. Overall, the entire experience was very three dimensional, and I felt like I was watching it in person.

The writing was significant enough to maintain the feel. The story itself, however, felt a little flat. I expected both the twists thrown at us, and it was hard to accept the events (or the ensuing ‘relationship’) that occurred given what we know about Jodie’s relationship status. There is never any concrete proof of her husband’s affair before she shuts everything off. This is odd and does not gel with the image of Jodie throughout the book. Also, I am not sure how healthy her coping mechanisms towards the end were but to each their own. My favourite character (and maybe anyone who read this book) has to be Marilyn. There is a surprise in every visit and every subsequent conversation that introduces us to facets of this lovable helper.

⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience and my expectation from the author.

Escapism at highest level, the perfect story for a lazy summer afternoon.
It was a pleasant, engrossing and entertaining read. I loved the lovely settings, the likeable cast of characters and the plot that kept me hooked.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Carole Matthews does it again. Book 33 and another brilliant masterpiece. Set on the Isle of Wight where I spent many a happy working holiday. The places described I was able to picture in my head, even though the names were fictitious.

Carole is great at not only place descriptions through her intense research of actually visiting the place her book is set, but also her characters. Jodie Jackson you fall in love with right from the start of the book. You feel the pain she is going through as you try and work out why she is running away from her life to live on her brother's boat. Marilyn who takes Jodie under her wing is a well written character who you would just love to be your friend. A very caring character, who you just fall in love with.

Ned is the main male character within the book, another male character you will fall in love with like you do with most of Carole's main heroes. Ned a wood sculpter, lives on the houseboat next door to Jodie, Ned takes Jodie under his wing and soon he is showing her the island.

A beautiful descriptive book, bringing back happy memories for me of holidays past. Thank you NetGalley for my adavced copy.

Jodie leaves her life, job, and husband in London and heads for the Isle of Wight, where her brother is letting her stay on his beautiful houseboat.

As soon as she arrives, she’s ambushed by Marilyn, her brother’s cleaner who’s been told to keep an eye on Jodie but takes this to the extreme! Next-door is Ned, who appears at first to be really annoying as he’s a sculptor with very noisy equipment, but he’s also rather handsome.

Of course, Jodie can’t ignore her past for ever, and when it returns to haunt her she has to make some serious decisions.

Another great read from Carole Matthews, which I’d highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Oh how I loved this! Carole Matthews is always a delight and this is one of her best. Perhaps because the Isle of Wight is familiar territory for me, but mostly the strength of the writing.

Full of wonderful characters, fantastic description and real emotion. I found myself rooting for Jodie from the start.

Highly recommended.

Jodie Jackson is al at sea, in every sense.

On a ferry bound for the Isle of Wight, she's leaving her London life, her career, and her husband behind. She'd like a chance to turn back the clocks, but she'll settle for some peace and quiet on her brother Bill's beautifully renovated houseboat, Sunny Days.
But from the moment Jodie steps aboard her new home, it's clear she'll struggle to keep herself to herself. If it isn't Marilyn, who cleans for Bill and is under strict instructions to look after Jodie, then it's Ned, the noisy sculptor on the next-door houseboat. Ned's wood carving is hard on the ears, but it's made up for by the fact that he's rather easy on the eyes.
Bustled out of the boat by Marilyn and encouraged to explore with Ned, Jodie soon delights in her newfound freedom. But out of mind isn't out of sight, and when her old life comes knocking Jodie is forced to face reality. Will she answer the call or choose a life filled with Sunny Days and Sea Breezes?
Thank you to #Netgalley and Little, Brown for an advance copy for me to review ahead of the hardback and Kindle publication date (25 June) in return for a honest review.
I have read a lot, if not all of Carole Matthews' books and this one is up there with my favourites. A new Carole Matthews book is a staple purchase for me whenever I see it!
We start our story with Jodie on a ferry leaving Southampton, en route to the Isle of Wight. The weather is grey, reflecting her mood. We learn that she is on her way to her brother Bill's houseboat for reflection on her London life and her relationship with her husband Chris.
However the residents of Cockleshell Bay aren't going to let her wallow on her lonesome! Between Marilyn who looks after Sunny Days (and Jodie) for Bill to George the 'statue' and Ned, the chainsawing wood sculptor who lives on the neighbouring boat, life is anything but quiet for Jodie.
Jodie is helped back to happiness by the island and its residents. She takes up yoga, attends her first festival and begins to feel like she can be happy again.
Her new found happiness is disturbed when Chris comes to visit Cockleshell Island and they end up going back to London together. Our heroine then has a tough decision to make? Stay in London with Chris and work herself to the bone or return to Cockleshell Island where she was free to live a life of happiness?
The characters in this book are so well written I wanted to make friends with them too. Marilyn is a real favourite and brought colour to every scene she was in. I saw her as a kind of Fairy Godmother for Jodie and Bill which is exactly what Jodie needed.
I enjoyed Carole's style of writing with this book too. Occasionally Jodie would speak to us the reader as though we were sitting with her on Sunny Days or at the Beach Hut Café, waiting for Ida to bring us a hot drink and cake.
This book ticked all of the demands I have of a book - relationships, fun, love and friendships, all of much you can get in a Carole Matthews book.
I have already recommended this book to friends and will continue to do so, sunshine and escapism - what more could you ask for?!

Carole Matthews can do no wrong in my eyes, not in books anyway. I haven’t found a book she has written I haven’t enjoyed. A wonderful story, fantastic characters that I love, amazing writing that draws you into the story and gives you an almost virtual visualisation of the places she writes about. It’s just fabulous. There is heart, humour, drama and lots of emotion. My criticism is when I get to the end and I am sad they are over, it’s all Carole’s fault for writing such brilliant addictive stories. This is an absolutely fantastic read and a perfect escape this summer when most of us can’t escape far.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

If you are not able to get away this year, then take a trip to Cockleshell Bay in the Isle of Wight. Stay on a houseboat and follow Jodie, Marilyn and Ned as they navigate their way through troubled waters.

Thank you, Carole Matthews, for providing me with a wonderful escape during lockdown.

This is the perfect summer read. If you’ve ever wanted to follow your heart then this story will resound with you.

Jodie escapes London and goes to stay on her brothers houseboat on the Isle of White to try and sort out her life. Her marriage is in trouble and finds time on her own is just what she needs along the way she makes new friends , Marilyn her cleaner, George the living statue, Ida who runs the beachside cafe and Ned her dishy next door neighbour.

Cockleshell bay opens its arms and embraces Jodie in just the way she needs. She finds fun, happiness and the welcome relief she has needed from her troubled past.

When her husband comes to visit her, Jodie is faced with the difficult decision, should she return to her old life and try to make a go of things with her husband or should she follow her heart and start afresh.?

A lovely timely reminder that slowing down your life and finding your inner happiness is the most important thing you can do. I did predict a few of the twists in the story but this didn’t stop my enjoyment .

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this beautiful gentle read .