Cover Image: Sunrise by the Sea

Sunrise by the Sea

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Was this review helpful?

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Sunrise by the Sea is the fourth book in The Little Beach Street Bakery series but it’s the first one I’ve read; I thought it worked perfectly well as a standalone although I now want to catch up with the rest of the series because I enjoyed it so much.

I’m a big fan of Jenny Colgan’s work and I love her writing — it’s always easy to read, entertaining and witty and this book is no exception. The characters are well-developed and likeable and I adored the seaside setting.

Sunrise by the Sea is a lovely read, a fun story of family and friendship.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely love Jenny Colgan books and was delighted to get an early copy of her newest book Sunrise By The Sea. As expected, I was not disappointed and simply could not put the book down once I started! Another triumph from Colgan and eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC

Was this review helpful?

Beautiful book. Idyllic location. It was described to perfection by the author. She has a way with words. Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book

Was this review helpful?

My 'Jenny Colgan' shelf is overflowing but I couldn't resist adding another - 'Sunrise by the Sea' is surely going to be another classic Jenny Colgan book as it has everything you could want: escapism, love, family and humour.

Was this review helpful?

I love Jenny Colgan's writing style. I've read a few books of hers and we get on so well each time we meet. I am also a big fan of books set by the beach or seaside, so this was for sure a hit for me as soon as I heard about it.

Mount Polbearne is now one of my favourite fictional places, and I wish I could visit there. It's such a quaint and cosy village, and I especially love the idea of the isolation at high tide.

The tension between Polly and the Russian piano teacher Alexi was wonderfully written, and I think Polly's agoraphobia was well researched and well written.

Was this review helpful?

I have read several of Jenny Colgan's books and I have enjoyed them all, however I though 'Sunrise by the Sea' was particularly well-crafted. It touches on a number of important topics so goes well beyond many other 'chick lits' I have read, as it encourages the reader to consider and empathise. A great book for a holiday read or a cosy day at home. Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC copy, however this has not affected my review.

Was this review helpful?

This series is one of them.

I tend to pick up books by Jenny Colgan when I’m low as I know that reading them will smother me in good warm feelings (which… have been much needed the past 18 months).

This story focuses on a character new to the Island… as well as featuring those who we now and love. Maria is dealing with the grief after the death of her Grandfather and is struggling to get her life back on track. Her next door neighbour is a huge Russian Piano teacher who is also working through some things…. And just like that you want them to work though things together – I did that happy wiggle reaction to them a bit like when winnie the pooh eats honey with a knife and fork.

All things said, I loved it. It truly hit every target I had laid out for it. Thank you Jenny. You’re a wonder.

Was this review helpful?

Before I started reading this I wasn’t aware that it was book 4 in the Beach Street Bakery series - despite having the first couple of these sat on my book shelf at home! However, I was still able to enjoy and follow the storyline with ease - although after reading this I do want to read the others as I’m sure there’s an interesting story of how Polly and Huckle got together… and I also want to know more about Neil 🙊

Mount Polbearne sounds like one of those places you only read about in books that are cut off from the surrounding islands and villages at hide tide once or twice a day - I bet it’s often a nightmare but I’d love to visit somewhere like that one day. And if there’s a bakery there like Polly’s then I’m definitely up for the trip!

Even though Polly isn’t the main character in this book you still manage to get a real sense of her character, she seems like such a warm person who manages to keep a calm front despite juggling many balls at once. There’s also something special about waking up to the smell of freshly cooked bread in a morning and I got this sense so much from this book, I have to say I found myself carb loading quite a chunk while reading this.

This was also largely due to Marisa, who is the main character, and her nonna, who come up with some absolutely mouth watering recipes. They really will have you reaching for a plate and leave you wanting to whisk off to your nearest Italian!

I could go on for ages so I’ll stop there and let you read the book yourself but be ready to read this with a hungry belly and an open heart. You may also need your tissues fairly close by…

Was this review helpful?

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Was this review helpful?

An easy read, although probably best to read the series in order to get the true flavour of the book.

Was this review helpful?

Given I rarely look at a Jenny Colgan blurb before I start reading as having read all her books I know she is a safe bet of an author that I love, I was over the moon to discover we are back in Mount Polbearne for this book, and that Polly, Huckle and Neil the puffin are all still well and present.

And although initially I did think they were perhaps the main focus of the book, they are present the whole time and we do get chapters focusing on them, but the main character is Marisa who is new to the area.

And Marisa is struggling with life generally at the moment since the death of her Nonno, and her ex landlord decided he doesn't want someone who has lost their way living with him, so suggests she moves to these rather out of the way cottages in Mount Polbearne, and with no other options she does just that.

And thankfully that turns out to be the best decision of her life, although it is slow progress to come to that decision.

Moving in on the same day as her, into the neighbouring cottage is a Russian piano teacher and let's just say the cottages aren't sound proofed!

I really enjoyed seeing Marisa develop and grow over the book and to see Alexei's back story too. It was completely gripping and I was hooked on finding out what would happen next to them.

Whether you are new to Jenny Colgan's books or have read previous in this series, it can easily be read as a standalone, as the main focal characters are brand new!

Top notch storytelling as ever, and a pleasure to read, this is Jenny Colgan at her finest.

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

Was this review helpful?

How excited I was to read the book number 4 of the Little Beach Street Bakery series by the lovely author Jenny Colgan!!! And oh how I loved that book! First of all I wouldl like to say than even though it's better to read the first 3 books in the series to better enjoy the atmosphere of this book, it's not a must! You can perfectly understand the story without having read the 3 first books.
This book in particular is about agoraphobia and grieving, but also about financial problems, family and friendship. There is even a bit of romance! This book was really unique and I absolutely loved reading it! I really like Jenny Colgan's writing style! I warmly recommand the series but also this particular book! You can go ahead and buy this book with closed eyes!

Was this review helpful?

I was so happy, excited and very much looking forward to a return to The Little Beach Street Bakery, would have loved more Neil the Puffin than I got, but can’t be too greedy. This story has that requisite Jenny magical formula of romance and drama, Jenny deals with mental health issues in this book so well and sensitively. I really do recommend this series highly these are books for the soul

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

Was this review helpful?

Marissa is grieving and moves into a remote rental to try and keep to herself and lock out the outside world. She is horrified when her neighbour turns out to be a piano teacher with pupils turning up at all times. There are some amusing exchanges between them.
She becomes involved with trying to help the local bakery which helps her try to overcome her agrophobia. It's lovely to return to some well loved familiar characters from this series.
A wonderful read

Was this review helpful?

Lovely to see the return of the Little Beach Street Bakery
Although a new story, which can be read as stand alone, it was nice to meet with some old characters such as Polly, Huckle and Neil.
It tells the story of Marisa, so overcome with grief over the death of her beloved Italian grandfather, she cannot function in her job or life properly and becomes somewhat of a recluse.
Hiding away, she gradually rebuilds her life with the help of skyping her elderly Italian grandmother, her gradual friendship with Polly at the bakery, and the huge but gentle Russian piano teacher next door.
A heartwarming and lovely read.

Was this review helpful?

Oh how I have missed Mount Polbearne! I was SO excited that this latest book was set in one of my favourite fictional places. We get to see characters from other books such as Polly (but don’t worry if you haven’t read previous books as this won’t affect reading this as a standalone). Marisa Rossi sadly loses her Grandfather and spirals into a place where she cannot function and her solution to this issue is to move to Mount Polbearne which should give her the peace and space she needs to grieve. She didn’t count on a noisy piano teacher Alexei from Russia as her new neighbour.

Polly and her husband Huckle are having financial problems with their bakery and we get to catch up on their lives. When disaster strikes Marisa manages to become involved in the solution to fixing Polly’s problems. As such Polly unwittingly manages to help Marisa deal with her grief and build her confidence once again. These Plobearne books are pure escapism and are books that I think I could read over and over again and still enjoy just as much. Another brilliant book that delivers pure escapism at its finest.

Was this review helpful?

Sunrise by the Sea by Jenny Colgan was a fab, fab book, read in one sitting I could not put it down. This is book four in the Little Beach Street Bakery and it was so lovely to revisit the previous characters and meet a few new ones along the way. I have yet to read a book by Jenny that I have not devoured really quickly and this was no exception. Already anticipating her next one.....

Was this review helpful?

I have been a fan of Jenny Colgan's work since the 1990s and, I'm pleased to say, this book didn't disappoint. It was full of humour, romance and, some very moving moments. It was nice to see how characters from older books in the series are getting on. When you read one of Jenny Colgan's books, you feel as if you're taking a step into somebody else's life. You actually become a bit invested in how life is turning out for the characters, further down the line!
I'd recommend this to anybody who loves a bit of romance with some humour thrown in for good measure!

Was this review helpful?

The latest book in the Little Beach Street Bakery series did not disappoint. A few new characters are brought into the mix and the serious issues if anxiety and grief are central themes and are really well written.

Polly and her bakery are, as ever, part of the story and her family and some other characters from the previous books are included in the story too.

Another great read by Jenny Colgan and I can't wait to read 'The Christmas Bookshop' release coming out soon!

Was this review helpful?