I thoroughly enjoyed this novel- a lovely summer read with a warm cast of characters and depth of storylines. Having been a reader of Carole Matthews for years now, in my opinion this is one of her best.

This is more than a sunny beach read!
Carole has written about some serious issues but in a tender and understanding way. She has also included some fun and laugh out loud light- hearted moments as a counter balance/
Jodie escapes to her brother Bill's houseboat on the beautiful Isle of Wight where she meets some very colourful characters. As she slowly recovers with the help of her new friends, her husband Chris turns up to beg for a second chance.
Festivals, wood carving, and a beautiful setting makes this an enjoyable read.

This is an easy reading, feelgood tale from this prolific author. The main character, Jodie, has suffered some setbacks in her life and takes some timeout on her brothers houseboat on the Isle of Wight. This is the story of her healing with the help of some wonderfully drawn characters, particularly the very colourful Marilyn. The descriptions of the setting could easily entice the reader to visit for a holiday!

Sunny Days and Sea Breezes is wonderful escapism in these difficult times and pure Carole Matthews at her best. Set on the Isle of Wight, the author brings the Island to vivid life into your imagination.

An unspecified tragedy brings Jodie to the island and to say her state of mind is delicate, would be to put things mildy. Throughout the novel, we are taken on the journey as she finds the reasons to live and trust again. Helping her is the enigmatic Ned, her next door neighbour and the wonderful Marilyn.

Sorry Carole, Marilyn steals not only every scene she's in, but the novel, at least IMHO. May we ask for her to be given her own book, please? A reason for another visit for more research, perhaps?

All in all, a novel I ate up virtually in one sitting. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

My thanks to Netgalley and Sphere for the pre-release copy.

Another fabulous read from Carole Matthews. Set locally to me on The Isle of Wight, it is full of lovable characters - I especially loved Marilyn - it's an uplifting story full of hope and emotion. I did shed a few tears, but many of them happy as well as sad. Really well-written, the short chapters made it easy to pick up and put down when I only had a few minutes spare. Loved it!!

Aah Carole Matthews is just always a breath of fresh air as are her books; comforting, cathartic and yet doesn't shy away from tackling hard issues and emotions.
This book does explore baby loss so if this is a very sensitive subject to you then I feel it's very much worth knowing, I found it handled in a very touching and important way, to raise awareness of the emotional impact this has.
I admired Jodie, she is in a mess, confused and I could feel her raw conflict throughout the story, and yet she's ultimately a positive person that trusts in herself and her capabilities.
Complex and different female friendships are explored in a very clever and interesting way, there's mistrust, jealousy, comparison but also pure kindness, empathy and a genuine representation of how the sisterhood can be the best and worst, but can bring out the best in ourselves.
The backdrop of the Isle of Wight and the beautiful house boat was a complete joy. I haven't visited in a long time but now feel it's somewhere I need to rediscover as an adult.

I have always been a huge fan of Carole Matthew's books, so I couldn't wait to read this...... and it certainly didnt disappoint!.

Jodie finds herself fleeing to the Isle of Wight to escape her difficult life in london. Seeking solitude and time to reflect, she finds herself being swept along by island life and mixing with a whole new group of people who change her life for the better.

Jodie has to make some difficult choices, and learn to live with one of the worst tragedies possible. Along the way she learns what is truly important, and where her heart really belongs.

The story is so beautifully written, you find yourself loving the characters immediately. It is simply perfection and one of those rare books that you wish never had to come to an end.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Carole Matthew's and Sphere for my ARC of this delightful book.

Jodie Jackson is leaving everything behind, her life in London, her job and her husband to stay on her brother’s houseboat. But if she’s expecting peace and quiet, she’s going to be disappointed. First, there’s the woman who cleans for her brother and then there’s the man on the boat next door. Ned is a woodcarver and while his work is noisy, his looks are definitely pleasing. Will her new neighbors be able to bring Jodie out of her shell, or will she return to her old life? Like a breath of fresh air after a long quarantine, this book made me long for summer and better days

Once again Carole Matthews proves why she tops the bestseller charts so often.

My favourites of Carole's are those set by the coast, somehow I just feel she captures the atmosphere of a stroll along a beach no matter what the weather. I could almost smell the sea as I soaked up the storyline between the residents of Cockleshell Bay.

Jodie has clearly been through the wars as she sets off across the channel on a cold, blustery ferry. I liked that we had no preconceived ideas of what those traumas might be at the start of the book and were introduced to them gradually, as were the other residents of the Isle of Wight town. It's almost as though Jodie couldn't bring herself to tell us until she was ready which I felt was really clever writing - it would have been so easy to just blurt it all out at the start, but this way I felt far more like one of the cast of characters getting to know Jodie as she rebuilt her confidence. After her initial desire to lock herself away and lick her wounds had begun to wear off, the beauty of the setting soon pulled Jodie out of her slump and she slowly began to get curious about the place she's staying. The descriptions of the area are absolutely gorgeous and had me yearning to travel to the coast - a feeling even more tormenting than usual as we are currently in lockdown.

My favourite character of all -even more than sexy Ned, surprisingly - was the wonderful Marilyn; loud, bright, in your face and take her as you find her I reckon everyone should have a friend like Marilyn. With her mixed metaphors and general quirkiness it wasn't long before Jodie couldn't help but thaw her initial frosty reception towards the cleaner that Jodie's brother Will had employed to keep an eye on the houseboat (and Jodie, unbeknown to him when he took her on).

The story flowed easily as Jodie took Marilyn's advice (can you do anything otherwise?!) and ventured out for a stroll on the beach, meeting locals who would eventually turn out to be just the people she needed around her. Ned's so laid back he's beyond horizontal and his easy manner lulled Jodie into his confidence, building their relationship on the trusting foundation she was desperate for. Local café owner Ida was a different story and the friction between the two took longer to thaw - with the help of living statue gorgeous George.

The story was perhaps a little predictable, but all the positives cancelled this way out. The humour Carole always manages to inject into her storytelling is there once again, and I almost fist pumped the air with pride at the way Jodie dealt with one of the issues which had caused her to run away. The other issue I felt was handled with respect and suitable sympathy, and was equally well written. Huge respect to a writer who can cover all these bases - and all in one book!

Sheer brilliance once again, Carole remains for me the Queen of Womens Fiction.

What a treat to read a book set in a different place; the Isle of Wight. We are introduced to Jodie Jackson, who is taking time away from her husband which we don't find out until later on the reason why. Ned, the woodcarver, who lives on the houseboat next door. Ida, who runs the beach cafe and Marilyn, the daily help on Jodie's brothers houseboat where she is staying. The characters weave a path through each others lives leading to a happy ending for two of them. Once again, Carole has penned a superb book.

Another fabulous read by Carole Matthews.

Jodie is having a personal crisis and unable to cope with things takes a break on her brother's houseboat on the Isle of Wight. The fully renovated houseboat sounded absolutely wonderful, nothing like I would imagine them to be, and really made me want a trip to stay on one!

Whilst there she meets her cleaner Marilyn (loud/bright/always happy/very funny) who works for her brother, Bill, keeping everything in order, and whilst she tries to get rid of her initially she grows to really love her. She also makes friends with her next door neighbour, Ned, a wood sculptor, and the local cafe owner Ida. Ida and Ned are great friends, but nothing more even though Ida would like it to be. Ned is a lovely character and Jodie and him get closer as time goes on, with various trips to the Isle of Wight's attractions during one of Ned's business trips, and they all go to a festival where Ned showcases his woodworking skills, along with playing in a band.

During this time Jodie slowly starts to heal, emotionally-wise, but eventually has to sort out her private life when her husband turns up on her doorstep and persuades her to come back home. Luckily enough he shows his true colours pretty quickly and even though Jodie has tried to heal her marriage it's obviously not working and instead of trying to make everything work because she feels she has to make that effort, she decides that she's had enough and wants to change her life and be happy.

I have to say I've never really thought about staying on a houseboat before, but I would definitely be interested in the high-end one Jodie was staying on, and again I've never visited the Isle of Wight or gone to a festival. But reading about all this has made me want to do every one of them now! A really great read, funny and very emotional, with a wonderful ending.

My thanks to Netgalley for my copy of Sunny Days and Sea Breezes, another great book from Carole Matthews.

Some might think that this author's books (and there are many) belong in the chick lit genre but to my mind they are more chic lit. Yes, there's always a romance that works out in the end but Ms Matthews' characters are always individual and so true to life that you care deeply for their outcomes. Her research is always spot on so you feel and acknowledge the authenticity of situations the cast find themselves in, and they can be pretty diverse. She is not a careless author either, she pays great attention to detail.

I finished reading this book yesterday and I am still missing the various characters to differing degrees. I particularly loved Marilyn who it would have been so easy to have gone totally overboard in detailing her eccentricity but Ms Matthews always knows the limits of the liberties she takes. I especially loved Marilyn's random use of emojis which always made me snigger.

All in all another success from Carole Matthews.

I love Carole Matthews books and this didn’t disappoint. It is mainly set on a houseboat overlooking a harbour, the sea and a beach. It was great to escape to somewhere so picturesque with a story that was enjoyable.
Thanks to Carole Matthews and Netgalley for the early e book copy.

I love all Carole Matthews books, this one was even more fabulous.
Jodie feels the need to escape her life, so borrows her brother, Bill's, newly refurbished boat, Sunny Days, on the Isle of Wight, where she meets Marilyn a well meaning vivacious woman who's been looking after the boat and Jodie.
Then add in a very attractive artist, Ned, her next door neighbour.
It's not long until Jodie puts her hectic life in London behind her and starts enjoying the freedom living by the sea gives her, with Ned helping her along the way.
But what has she left behind? Life catches up with her soon enough, can she make the right choice for her?

Such a escapist experience can not recommend this enough.

Fantastic descriptive book from the start making you wonder why the lead character needs time away. It is so easy to read a Carole Matthews book, I have read many. Thank you for allowing me to read this one.

OMG I absolutely loved this story.
Such a lovely uplifting story of sad times and love.
Every word transported me to the Isle of Wight, a place I used to go every year for a 2 week holiday with my family. It has made me realise I have to go back.
I couldn't put this book down and although desperate to get to the end, sad when I actually finished it.
A truly wonderful story

Quite a fan of carole matthews so ofcourse decided to read and review this book. Love all the descriptions of the island and definitely sets the scene. Storyline is ok however some of the characters are quite irritating and the plot was lacking in places.

Jodie goes to the Isle of Wight to escape her husband Chris. Gradually Jodie regains her confidence with the help of Marilyn and her funny sayings and insistence Jodie wears brighter clothes. Ned, the wood sculpturer, from next door also gains Jodie's attention and she joins him for yoga on the beach. Soon friendship and then romance happens. However, Chris returns and Jodie decides to face her past and try again. However, when she learns Dell, her best friend, and Chris have been having an affair then she returns to the Isle of Wight and into the waiting arms of Ned. I loved the setting and the romance. A lovely book by Carole Matthews. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Another entertaining light read from Carole Matthews. A bit predictable in places and a couple of irritating moments but a good read nonetheless. Most of the characters are delightful especially Marilyn, I'd love to meet her, she's just brilliant. Brilliant descriptions made me yearn for a visit to the coast and a laid back lifestyle, I could imagine both the settings and characters and almost smell and hear things as well. An escapism read for when you most need it.

What a lovely story this turned out to be. It did take me a little while to get into it but once I did I found it hard to put down. With a few twists in the story that although I did work them out, they still added an edge of excitement to this well-written romance. Set mostly on the Isle of Wight, Carole Matthews conjured up the sights and smells of the island perfectly, if I shut my eyes I could nearly hear the seagulls. Thoroughly enjoyable.

The sign of a well-written character is when you empathise with them and I really did in the story. The characters were all very likeable and I really felt for Jodie and so wanted her to be happy. I just loved Marilyn with her daft sayings and loud clothing choices, she did make me smile. As for Ned...well what can I say, I loved Ned.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable story, the perfect summer read. Even if the weather is bad it will transport you to the seaside.