A little slice of sunshine that will put a smile on your face.
While we get to reacquaint ourselves with some familiar faces, we focus on some new characters this time round. Marisa is grieving after the death of her grandfather, and finds herself in a rented cottage off the coast as she tries to come to terms with things.
Unable to leave the house, Marisa struggles to do anything. The huge Russian piano teacher who’s moved in next door doesn’t help matters, but he’s also grieving and - you know it’s coming - the book focuses on these two slowly adjusting, learning to deal with whatever is happening and finding themselves part of the world once more.
A true bit of escapism. Though things are bad,there’s a,ways a sense that just round the corner will be a better time.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me get my summer feel-good factor in early.

I really enjoyed the latest book in the Little Beach Street Bakery series.

The book focuses on Marisa, who has become agoraphobic during her deep grief following the death of her grandfather, and Alexei, a Russian piano teacher who both come to the island while dealing with their personal issues.

We also catch up with a host of familiar characters including Polly, Huckle and Reuben.

The book exudes all the warmth of her previous reads, it's like a really creamy ice cream on a hot summer's day! Also wonderful descriptions of food throughout the book basically left me feeling very hungry!

I would definitely recommend this, it's the perfect summer read - let's just hope we all get the opportunity to sit on a beach with it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

* contains spoilers *

Sunrise by the Sea is the 4th book in the Little Beach Street Bakery series of books by Jenny Colgan, again featuring Polly, Huckle, and Neil with the addition of Marisa, Alexei and two tiny humans. With Jenny being one of my favourite authors, and when I found out it was another book featuring Neil the puffin the excitement levels rose significantly, so I was thrilled to be approved for an eARC copy.

Whilst the book has its moments that make you stop and think and remember those you’ve lost, it also has laugh out loud moments and the combination of the two made for a great read. My favourite thing about Sunrise by the Sea was the relationship between Marisa and her nonna, the way their relationship progressed right until the end was so wonderful to read. I may of may not have shed a tear or two…

On a personal note, this book hit home in more ways than one. Marisa’s age, the representation of anxiety & depression, and the death of Marisa’s grandfather hit me particularly hard as I lost my grandad last year. It’s never easy reading about grief, but there were moments whilst reading this book that just made so much sense to me and made my grief feel less heavy (if that makes sense).

TW // death of a loved one, depression, agoraphobia, ophidiophobia

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review

Its been wonderful catching up with Polly, Huckle and Neil on Mount Polbearne, the causeway island off the Cornish coast.
This is pure comfort reading from Jenny Colgan, who I realise I've been reading and enjoying for over ten years!!
Introducing Marisa who is finding life a struggle, and when her beloved Nonno dies she withdraws further from the world, working from home, and moving to Mount Polbearne off the coast.
Loved the latest story from this island, it is brilliant as a stand alone aswell as part of a series.
Warm, easy reading, perfect for the beach or anytime read!!
Loved it !!!

So this is a weird one for me. I love Polly and her family and their lives, so that's good. But I really struggled with Marisa. I totally understand what Colgan is trying to do with her portrayal of her mental health issues, but it - combined with Polly's issues - made for a very downbeat book in a lot of ways. But the MH side of things did work out nicely - and although it was sad I liked the way that it was done. But all of this also mean that you didn't really have a lot of chance to get to know Marisa's love interest, so it was hard to see why they work together - or at least know that he's into her. So mixed for me - but I know it will work for other people - but it's just not as sunny and happy as the yellow cover would have you expect, and the blurb definitely downplays the sad side of things.

I am a big fan of Jenny Colgan's books. I was delighted to see that she had a new book out and it was part of the Little Beach Street Bakery series. After several years have passed it is good to catch up with Polly, Huckle and of course Neil the Puffin.
This can be read as a standalone novel, but it is best enjoyed with a little context from the previous books. The story of how Neil the Puffin met Polly and how the bakery was first opened retold in the first book.
This book introduces two new characters, Marissa and Alexei who become neighbours. They are both lovely and likeable characters, I especially love Alexei as he is so different to the usual male protagonists.
The themes covered in this book include Grief and Mental Health problems. It also focuses on loneliness and anxiety.
Despite this it is actually a heartwarming read with a lot of uplifting moments, hope and new opportunities. There is also some comedy, drama and Italian food. This is the type of book that you won't want to put down.
I really enjoyed reading this book, I loved revisiting Mount Polbearne. I hope that there might be another book in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

I love this series and this fourth instalment was so enjoyable to read. It was moving, emotional, cute and heartwarming. Marisa was such a lovely character and I LOVED the representation of her grief, anxiety and mental health battles. I thought it was so well done and really respectful of the topics. Seeing the magic of Mount Polbearne slowly work on Marisa and her neighbour was beautiful.
I also LOVED seeing Polly, Huckle, Neil (the puffin) and their family again. They are such great characters and it was so lovely reading this book. I really recommend this series and love the community spirit which features in all of them. They are definitely books to cheer you up when you’re feeling down.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little brown book group UK for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Lovely summer read, I really enjoyed the book with thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me arc of this in exchange for the honest review

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I have long been a fan of Jenny Colgan and was absolutely delighted to receive a copy of this one. It's set in Mount Polbearne and we catch up with some favourite characters from The Beach Street Bakery - Polly, Huckle and my absolute favourite Neil the Puffin. This book though, focuses on two new characters Marisa and Alexei.

It's a delightful book and handles the issues of long grief and mental health sensitively.

Thanks also to Jenny for the "outro", thank you for setting this book in a non covid world!

It’s been lovely catching up with old friends in this series. Polly and Huckle are involved in the whole community as usual and it was wonderful seeing them in their new stage of life together. The introduction of Marissa and Alexei to the casting was brilliant and I loved Marissa from the very beginning. Jenny Colgan has handled the mental health issues sensitively and it was emotional seeing Marissa trying to handle the grief she was feeling following the loss of her grandfather.

This is a humorous romance from one of the queens of this genre, Jenny Colgan. I love the way her books do not just focus on the main romance, there are always lots of characters who are not just peripheral. I loved the continuing story of Polly and Huckle, and their twins Avery and Daisy were adorable. Not forgetting Neil, the puffin. A lovely light hearted story which should prove to be a big seller

The latest instalment of the Little Beach Street Bakery series, you won't need to have read the others to enjoy this. You might find you want to, in order to get the back story of Polly, Huckle their children and off course Neil the puffin who features more in the earlier books. Marissa is the main focus of this book, she has anxiety and is also struggling following the death of her grandfather. Thrown out of her home she moves to Cornwall, to the Little Beach Street community in an isolated converted beach hut with a loud Russian piano teacher as her neighbour. Jenny Colgan is a wonderful writer, she creates really lovely communities that are realistic but also sound really amazing to live in. There are regular characters and some interesting new ones which are all depicted well and will make you smile. Marissa's family are Italian and her Nonna, encourages her to cook again as part of her recovery, the description of the ingredients and the cooking, were very evocative. I could smell and taste the food, definitely not to be read when hungry! A lovely heartwarming tale.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC I'm exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliant book by Jenny Colgan!! It was so lovely to return to Mount Polbearne and catch up with some of my favourite characters from past visits. The story draws you in and keeps you hooked until the end. I loved the relationship between Marisa and her grandmother, and the fact it was through Skype made it fitting for the moment, where so many relationships are still depending on this while travel bans are in place.
I can’t wait for the next visit!

Absolutely loved this book. A truly lovely story with believable characters full of depth. You might think you know how it will work out, but then again, you could be wrong, or are you? Lighthearted and uplifting, a great one from Jenny Colgan.

4.5 stars rounded to 5
I love Jenny Colgan's books, I love this series and I love this story.
It's poignant, heartwarming, engrossing and highly entertaining.
I was happy to catch up with the characters and meet some new. They are well developed and quite realistic.
My only note is about Marisa's Italian family: they're from Imperia and the people in those are quite well know for being extremely so I have some doubt that they could very loud during a funeral but is one of those thing that are know if you are Italian born and bread.
Jenny Colgan is an excellent storyteller and I loved her empathy toward the characters and how well she describes their feeling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I’ve been a Jenny Colgan fan for more years than I can remember now, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Sunrise by the Sea.

This is the fourth book in a much loved series, and I was so pleased not to be disappointed. It’s set a few years after the previous story, and focusses partly on a couple of new characters.

When I started reading, I was absorbed immediately, and struggled to stop reading and orient myself in the real world when I had to do something else (eg eat a meal). Consequently, I finished it in less than 24 hours!

I really enjoyed Marisa and Alexei’s stories, and the way they oh-so-slowly interwove, and came to understand each other better. I loved seeing lots of my favourite characters, and the lovely location, again. Basically, I loved everything.

In short: Jenny Colgan has knocked it out of the park again. Enjoyable, warm romance. Just be warned, there are a few emotional bits, mental illness, two deaths. Oh, and a large snake makes a couple of brief appearances.

Apologies for any incoherence in this review. I have the flu.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Oh, this book has made my summer!
Such a lovely read. It’s like meeting up with close friends you’ve not seen for a long time and enjoying becoming re-acquainted with them: catching up on everything that has happened to them since the last time you saw them, and revelling in being back in their company (especially a certain puffin).
It could be read as a stand alone novel as it primarily focusses on two new characters. However, you will enjoy it so much more when read as part of the series so you can fall in love with the residents of Mount Polbearne ... and Neil, who will steal your heart.

I've been a fan of Jenny Colgan novels for many years now, and have many fond memories of reading them in my younger days. As I have matured, then so have the themes, especially in Sunrise by the Sea. Although there is an underlying romantic will they won't they storyline, the main narrative concentrates on mental health. Marisa moves to Cornwall to try and help herself with her mental health issues. What unfolds in the story is not a light-hearted easy fix, in fact it is described in beautiful accurate detail. As the reader, you can not help but feel empathy for Marisa, and her steps forward and back on her road to recovery. This is an uplifting heartwarming read still though.

This book …. Wow! I can’t even put into words the feelings this book made me feel. Marisa is a character that I think everyone can identify with at some point. Circumstances may be changed but peoples feelings are the same and identifiable. Feeling lost, lonely, scared, unworthy and trapped. Not everyone can claw their way back, but what was really interesting in this book was that even the characters that on the surface looked as if they were happy and had it all together, we’re still struggling and trying to keep going. Marisa drew strength from these people but was totally unaware of the strength she gave to them. It was beautiful.
Another thing I really liked about this book was the new friendship bond of Marisa and her grandmother, I loved how they bonded over Skype, how her grandmother sent her a care package of food which ultimately bridged a gap with her and Alexei but I also liked how they kept the Skype connection open and just existed together. It was such a touching thing, they were hundreds of miles apart but still together.
Alexei is a huge bear like yeti character that you simply can’t help falling a little but for, another great example of not judging a book by its cover. He is so kind and caring and he helps Marisa so much without him even realising, whilst dealing with his own feelings of unworthiness and heartbreak. Watching their friendship and relationship grow was beautiful you could see each of them getting a little bit brighter each time they were together.

This was my first book by Jenny Colgan and I read this as a stand-alone but I not only enjoyed the characters but the setting too and I will be reading the other books in the series too. This was a fantastic read about love, friendship and hope and brought a tear to my eye more than once.

I am a great fan of Jenny Colgan’s writing and was very happy to find a new story from her set on the island of Mount Polbearne and featuring many of the inhabitants I have got to know and love from her Beach Street Bakery stories, of course including Neil the puffin. Although the setting and cast will be familiar to many readers, the book can easily be read as a standalone as the story centres on two newcomers to the island as well as providing updates on the lives of recurring characters. As I anticipated, I was quickly drawn into this tale and rapidly found myself lost in the island setting.



At the beginning of the story we meet Marisa, who has been profoundly affected by her grandfather’s death to the extent that she has become a virtual recluse. A friend suggests that a move to the island of Mount Polbearne, joined to the Cornish coast by a tidal causeway, might provide a tranquil environment where she can recover. However, her new home is far from peaceful. The thin walls do nothing to block out the noise from her Russian piano teacher neighbour Alexei, another newcomer to the island. There is also plenty of noise from other inhabitants and tourists. Just when it seems that her move is not helping her find a way out of her grief, an emergency on the island forces her to emerge from her isolation. Her cooking prowess proves to be just what the community needs and ultimately leads her to the island bakery and a way in which she can help to save it from closure.



I laughed, cried and cheered my way through this book. Marisa’s tale was so compelling and Jenny Colgan’s writing brought her to life so successfully that I could feel her pain as she struggled with extreme grief. I felt sure that she was going to be OK when she got to Mount Polbearne and the welcoming people there, but her accommodation and her difficult neighbour just seemed to add another problematic dimension to her struggle with life. I loved her relationship with her grandmother in Italy. Thank goodness for Skype that allowed them to cook together and exchange banter. Alexei was also an interesting character, not always likeable, but struggling to find his way. I have loved all the stories set on this island and revolving around the bakery; other fans will be glad to know that there is plenty involvement of the familiar characters in this story, including Polly, Huckle and Reuben. This is a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend to other readers, even if you are not familiar with the series. Tissues may well be required for the tears, whether of sorrow or laughter.