I really enjoyed my trip to Seashell Island and getting to know the Walters siblings.

All three of them are back on the island for the summer, they are all at crossroads in their lives and it was really enjoyable seeing how they dealt with their personal dilemmas while at the same time trying to get the Lighthouse B&B up and running again for the summer, after their parents have gone away for longer than anticipated.

Miranda, Leo and Juliet are all really different and have never really had the picture perfect family dynamic, but with their parents AWOL, it's up to them to band together and become a family again.

We see Leo attempting to be a better father to his kids Mia and Abbie. We see Juliet who has always sworn never to return to Seashell Island for any length of time, really starting to discover her childhood home in a new light. Whereas Miranda well she has just lost her job and fiancée, and is starting to realise that maybe she doesn't need to stay on the island forever and ever.

Add in one fabulous llama, a close knit community and a really good story, and you have an enjoyable summer read that had me smiling and just having a good time reading it.

Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A perfect summer read that allows us the escapism we all so desperately need right now.
I loved how the author brought the setting to life so vividly, I could imagine myself wandering along the beach and that to me truly highlights how fantastic the author is.
I loved the relationships between the Waters siblings, and seeing how their individual traits impacted the story was a joy to follow.
This book filled me with so much happiness, I found it impossible to put down!. A definite must read.

Unfortunately, I was slow in downloading this story and it was archived before I had the chance. I'm sure it is a wonderful read.

If you read one book this summer, make sure it is the fabulous Summer on Seashell Island by Sophie Pembroke. It’s the most wonderful read that gives everything you could possibly want from a book and much more. It’s one of the best books I have read in recent weeks and it’s clear from the brilliant storyline, the stunning setting and the interesting and varied characters that the author loved writing this book and wanted her readers to enjoy it just as much as she did. Right from page one I was transported away to Seashell Island and the story that unfolded over many brilliant chapters held me in its thrall right until the very last page. I came across a quote this morning saying that books take you away to another place even when you have to stay at home and this book certainly did that for me. The characters come alive off the pages each with their own problems they are trying to navigate their way through but what shines through is the love they have for each other as a family and also how much the island and their home place of the Lighthouse bed and breakfast actually means to them even if they don’t realise it all the time.

Ever since her family moved to Seashell Island, after some years of moving from place to place, Miranda Waters has called the island home. It’s her security blanket and she rarely if ever leaves it. It’s all she has known for so long and though her siblings Juliet and Leo fled the nest and went further out into the big bad world for Miranda this was not what she wanted. From the moment we are introduced to her with such a funny opening scene as she tries to capture a llama on the beach I knew I was in for a very good read with a character that I would really connect with. The instant glorious descriptions of the island had me clearly visualising everything in my head and this really helped to establish what a special place it was and how much it meant to Miranda. It’s full of community spirit and traditions although the number of holiday makers isn’t always what it once was. Such a picturesque, cosy and happy scene was built up of the blue skies, waves, sand, shops, promenade, the harbour, the cottages and of course lots of sun and ice cream. I just wanted the island to not be a work of fiction so that I could jump on a boat and get there.

Straight away I got the impression that Miranda was a person who liked routine and order and for things to be just so. She is strict and efficient, she strived to achieve perfection in all aspects of her life yet she was the one in the family who hadn’t branched out further than the confines of the island and there must have been a reason for that. Yes, everything can present itself as all fine and dandy but you just know that things won’t always be plain sailing for her. She has been with her fiancée Paul for years and years and he is another constant in her life. She enjoys her job running the holiday cottages for her father-in-law to be and it seems as if Miranda has everything planned out in her life and nothing should deviate from this. For her, life and things on the island should always remain the same as the island offers safety, security and reliability and things should happen in the proper order and at the proper time.

So when Paul is offered a job off the island this upsets her greatly and soon their long standing relationship is no more. Surely they could have a long distance relationship after being together so many years and especially seen as marriage was just around the corner. But perhaps this exposed the cracks in their relationship and this change and her newly single status, which the islanders blame entirely on her rather than Paul, will give her the kick she needs to step outside the box she has created for herself. Life has become too much of a series of obligations which have to be fulfilled for her in order to keep things calm and steady but now with Paul’s departure, combined with the fact her parents have left for a once in a life time trip to Australia setting in motion the possibility of the sale of the family lighthouse, Miranda is faced with a decision.

Change things in her own life or battle to save the lighthouse from no longer being in the family? I loved Miranda as a character. She wasn’t without her faults and was slowly coming to realise what they were and how she could work on them to improve her overall life situation. She needed to be more relaxed and at ease in her own skin and as a group of guests arrive to stay at the lighthouse might there be one amongst them who might hold the key to unlocking her true potential?

Alongside Miranda’s story is that of her sister Juliet and brother Leo. Often I find with books which have more than one main character that one or the others stories will not be as strong but here I thought each of the three siblings was given just the right amount of focus in the book without any of them overpowering the other. I loved how Juliet and Leo returned to the island, each harbouring their own problems, but slowly over time the island worked its magic for them to come to understand the important things in life. The family bonds were just amazing throughout the story without feeling forced or contrived. Yes they were all adults now and two had left the island for various reasons but it had a way of sucking you back in even though you had escaped and perhaps this was the point that change and acceptance might occur. The island was calling them back for many reasons but would they listen to what it and their various family members and friends had to say.

Juliet, the baby of the family, spent 18 years on the island but she felt stifled and overwhelmed. She felt there was nowhere to go and no opportunities. She left the island for the bright lights of London and in doing so broke Rory’s heart. Now she is returning with her tail between her legs and feels that she is being punished for what she did to Rory. Karma is coming back to bite her and as she arrives back, she is harbouring a secret that she is not quite ready to share with anyone. Will the island which suppressed and smothered her be the one place where she finds the answers and security she seeks, or will she once again flee when things get too tough?

Juliet was definitely one of the characters who totally transformed, and I think it even surprised Miranda and Leo. She took on the running of the guesthouse and the organisation of everything and in doing so it was like she was going back to her roots, exploring the island and finally appreciating what it had to offer. That maybe she had been too regimented in her opinions and that abruptly leaving Rory after making a promise was not the right thing to do. The way she had gone about it was all wrong. Juliet definitely needed to retreat and regroup and combined with an exciting and mysterious storyline surrounding the lighthouse Juliet was a character I watched closely in order to discover the final outcome for her.

Leo arrives back to the island to spend the summer with his two young girls. His ex-wife is away with her new partner, and this is perhaps the longest he has spent with his girls since his marriage broke up. But Leo was very frustrating, his mind was always on other things instead of focusing on his two wonderful children who were so brilliantly written and whom both offered such comedic moments alongside the infamous llama. Leo needed a good shake and to be told, listen here you really need to get your priorities straight. He was so caught up in work and trying to get decent internet that he was neglecting the good things in life. He was only on the island for the summer and should have been prepared to dedicate the time there to giving his girls a wonderful summer. In a way he needed to grow up and realise his parental responsibilities. Perhaps Christabel, a friend of Miranda’s who came to visit the island months ago and never left, will offer him some insights that he badly needs to see and hear.

No doubt about it, for me Summer on Seashell Island is a must read. It’s infused with warmth, humour and human understanding. It’s such a great book that you will be sad when you finish reading it and truly I never wanted it to end. I loved how everything panned out and the last quarter of the book really showed the value of team work, families and community spirit and a sense of we are all in this together and that a problem shared is a problem halved. Some books just really connect with you right from the beginning and you can’t wait to get further and further into the book to see what will happen and this was one of those books. You quickly become oblivious to everything around you and it only mattered that I needed to read this book as Sophie Pembroke nailed every aspect of it. I’m excited to see what she will being us in the future and the greedy side of me really hopes she will bring us a Christmas book this year. In the meantime, grab a copy of this mouth-watering holiday read as soon as you possibly can.

Miranda loves being on Seashell Island, in fact she’s scared to leave it and persuaded her fiancé to stay and work on the island rather than leave as he planned to. Things start to get strange when her parents don’t return from their holiday deciding to extend their trip, leaving their Lighthouse B&B in her care. She begins to realise that things are not as they seem when she finds the bookings book empty. Her brother Leo turns up with his two daughters in tow looking for Grandparental support that isn’t there, followed by her sister, who also seems to need them urgently for some reason. Fun and imaginative story, I’d love to visit. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Really good read. Would recommend to friends and family. I could sympathise with characters (important for any fiction novel!) and looked forward to picking it up and reading the next few chapters! Interesting plot line and a good ending. Will look out for more novels by the author. Thank you.

Escapism at high level, an engrossing and entertaining read.
I liked the plot, the characters and the lovely setting.
I think it's a perfect summer read and I recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I really enjoyed this book. A real family drama. I enjoyed being on the Island with the Waters siblings and seeing how being together for the first summer in years changed their outlook on life

Great book! Kept reading until I had finished as I didn't want to put it down. I have been reccomending to all my fiends! My sister has begun reading it and is now as hooked as I am 🤣 I honestly can't wait to see what else this author has to offer!

Loved it !! I could not put this down, it was addictive reading and made me laugh so much, which let’s face it we all need at the moment. Great relatable characters, especially as siblings under the same roof after years away. I loved all the different POVs , done very well. A fun summer read.

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

This was a fabulous book, I read it in a day. Three siblings all hit criseses in their lives and return home to the comfort of their parents at the Lighthouse B&B. When they all arrive they discover their parents are still on holiday. The siblings pull together to keep the B&B going along with sorting out the criseses that brought them there. The characters were well written and you found yourself really rooting for each of them to reach their HEA. Also have to say I loved Lucifer..

This is a book I definitely recommend.

I don't believe I've ever read a novel by this author but I was looking forward to giving it a go. The cover is simple but pretty and it caught my eye. I love the little Lucy (Lucifer) the llama which makes an appearance! It's really summery and I adore the bright colours.

So, the story follows three main characters. The three siblings - Miranda, who is the eldest, Leo, and Juliet who is the youngest. Each 'chapter' focuses on a different sibling and talks about what their thoughts and feelings are. The three siblings have been through an equally horrible amount of heartache, all for different reasons.

At first I felt really sorry for Miranda, because the way the author described it, it was like neither of her siblings liked her because she was so set in her ways. Yes, she did have a couple of annoying tendencies but when you scratch away at the surface you get to see why she is the way she is and why she likes things a certain way. I think I connected to Juliet's story the most though. I was just so intrigued as to what she was going to do that I was looking forward to reading her part of the story. It was Leo that fascinated me the least, maybe because of his male character, I'm not so sure.

The location of this novel sounded beautiful, a small island just off the Welsh coast that is usually brimming with tourists in the summer months, however in recent years there seemed to be a dip in visitors and the three family members have to find out what is happening exactly with their parents Lighthouse B&B. I loved reading about all three siblings and how, nearer the end of the book, they all came together and realised how important family is.

Overall, a really enjoyable and lighthearted novel. I really enjoyed it and shall be looking out for more novels by this author in future. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

What an absoloutely gorgeous book! I have to thank Orion Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this wonderful story before publication date, in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from the start, invested in the lives of the three Waters siblings as they all traverse their own paths and problems in their lives. The three of them are all very different from each other, but as they all put their heads together they’re able to help each other overcome their worries and obstacles which was so lovely to read.

I loved that all of the siblings were so different, yet so alike with their inability to discuss their problems with each other initially. Their parents are like the glue that holds them all together, but with their parents absent the siblings have to come together as one in order to help each other and to solve other problems and mysteries left behind by their parents.

This book was truly heartwarming and had me smiling so many times; both because of the humour, and because of the beautiful way that the characters develop as individuals and also how their relationships with each other blossom. Through listening to each other and not judging, but also giving each other a push when needed, each one of the siblings finds the support that they need to change their lives for the better.

To top it all off the setting was gorgeous. The writing drew me in immediately and whisked me away to the glorious Seashell Island, off the coast of Wales,making me wish it was a real place that I could visit; although after a bit of research I did find an island called Shell Island in Wales. Think beautiful beaches, sunshine, ice cream, fish and chips and fresh air,all on a small and friendly island. A lovely setting for a holiday, as well as for a heartwarming story about love and family.

My full review is on my blog

ARC from netgalley in return for review.

Miranda has never left home, why would she when everything she needs in in her home town. Her fiancee, who she has been with for all her life is the son of her boss, and after their marriage it's expected that he'll give her the family business since she's already all but running it already. Yet after a series of unexpected events she finds herself homeless, jobless and back at her parents B&B while they are away travelling.

Her siblings both escaped their home as soon as they could but are experiencing challenges of their own, little sister Juliet decides that the solution to her problems is to go home, back to the Island she escaped 10 years earlier, back to her parents where she hopes they can help her find her way.

Middle child brother Leo is coming to the Island for the summer with his two daughters as his ex-wife is off on an extended honeymoon, he's relying on his parents to help with childcare while he attempts to run his business remotely.

But their parents have had secret plans of their own which the three siblings discover could change everything they know and feel comfortable with.

Main characters aside I'm afraid the star of the show was Lucifer the lady Llama, Lucy for short. We meet her early in the book and she's easily the simplest and most lovable character of the extended cast.

Lovely, easy summer read.

I really enjoyed this story about 3 siblings who all find themselves at different crossroads in life, and decide to come home. They don’t have the best relationship but over the course of the summer they will find themselves getting closer, growing up, re-evaluating life and making decisions they never thought they would make. There is a wee bit of romance but the story is really about the growth of these three siblings. Read it in one sitting.

Miranda has never wanted to leave her home, Juliet couldn't wait to get away and Leo is a workaholic whose ex-wife has left him with his daughters whilst she is on honeymoon for the summer. All three are on seashell island and head to their parent's lighthouse B&B to get support from their mum and dad for their different personal problems. However, mum and dad haven't come back from their holiday of a lifetime and so the siblings must pull together and work out what they really want as well as sorting out the B&B and the end of summer festival.
As it is told from the different points of view of the three siblings it is easy to relate to the three characters and see their perspectives. I loved the characters of Abby and Mia and Lucy the llama. There were other great characters such as the wonderful Owain and Christabel and Rory.
This is a story of self-discovery and each character takes their own journey to sort out their own life and I loved each and every one. The community wasn't idealised and this was great and although Seashell Island was lovely it was great to see the drawbacks too. There is only one thing I hated - getting to the last page. I so wanted to hear more about these characters and even the epilogue didn't suffice.

If i had to find one word to describe this book i think I'd say satisfying. It has twists and turns, relationship mayhem, quite a few laughs and leaves you with a lovely warm feeling. Sophie is a new author for me but she has an easy style where you quickly relate to the characters. Moving from one to the orher adds to the suspense. It's a pretty perfect summer read.

Loved this book from the very beginning, it just draws you in. How the three siblings who have gone their separate ways to explore love and life elsewhere. But there is always a pull to Seashell island where they grew up surrounded by love, gossip and hurt. Life changes, bring them back together and through changes unforeseen they begin a whole new chapter. The siblings were easy to relate to as was the way everyone on the island knew everyone and all there business (no secrets) lol.. I recommend anyone who likes Heidi Swann, Caroline Roberts, Jessica Redland this book is definitely worth a read. Really hope there is a follow up book

This is an ideal lockdown read with a feel good factor. It's an easy read & I finished it in 2 sittings. This is the first book I've read by this author & I will be looking out for more titles to read. I thought the characters were well thought out with interesting backgrounds and the location sounded ideal for the storyline.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The story of Miranda, Leo and Juliet.
Miranda has always lived in the island and never ever left.
When Paul, Miranda’s fiancé tells her he’s leaving her as he’s been offered a job off the island, she’s gobsmacked as she thought they would be setting a date for the wedding. The locals all want to know why she left him as that’s how he’s made it look. She decides to leave her job working for his dad and move back home.
Juliet, who after finding out she’s pregnant with her boss’s baby and him telling her he’s going back to his wife and wants nothing to do with it, she feels lost, and unsure what to do next as she’s left her job. She decides to go back home.
Leo - after his wife remarries and goes on honeymoon, he’s left with the children and decides to go home, thinking mom dad will look after them while he does his work.
Miranda comes back to the lighthouse to find that not many guests are booked in for the summer. Then her mom phones her with news that they’re not coming home the next day.
Leo turns up and is surprised to see Miranda there and even more surprised to hear that his parents aren’t coming home, worried now as to who’ll look after the children.
Juliet also arrives home, surprised to see both her siblings there.
They decide to keep the B&B running and Juliet offers to run it, with help from Leo and Miranda.
During the story, each sibling has secrets/issues that they deal with or work out how to balance out, with help from locals.
After a family meeting where each one lays their cards on the table, voicing their concerns, fears, secrets and Miranda shocking her siblings in saying that she wants to leave the island, they then decide to organise the festival with the help of locals, contacts Juliet has and Owain - the band leader currently living at the B&B.
Unexpectedly their parents arrive to surprise them and they catch up with what’s been happening in their absence.
After the festival, each person leaves, back to their jobs/touring/seeing the world, leaving Juliet to run the lighthouse as she wants to. Each one informing her that they’ll be back.

Enjoyed reading this book. Recommend it.