Once again, Jenny Colgan delivers a beautifully written homely novel that emerges you in the world of Mount Polbearne. I adored being able to revisit Polly and Huckle whilst gaining a new story.

I thought the portrayl of agoraphobia and anxiety was excellently executed. However, for me there was a little too much description that I found myself skim reading parts (purely personal preference).

I will always recommend Jenny's books to everyone as they are just like a warm blanket on the sofa.

The Beach Street Series by Jenny Colgan has been an all time favourite of mine for a long time and I was so pleased when I was authorised Sunrise by the Sea. It definitely isn't as good as Little Beach Street Bakery or Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery, but I still enjoyed it. I was confused at first, but it soon made sense! I love how you see lots more different characters as well as the original characters but I wasn't too keen on the expansion of the Island (without giving too much away). I got about 40% of the way through not being able to see what would happen but then i knew i was predicting it correctly.
An amazing feel good, easy summer read, perfect for the picnic in the park or beach.
Thank you for letting me read this ARC.
Loved! Loved! Loved!

Synopsis:-

In a quaint seaside resort, a charming bakery holds the key to another world….

Marisa Rosso is struggling, since the death of her beloved end father back home in Italy, she can’t seem to find her way out of her grief.

So when her flatmate offers her one of his uncle’s rentals on a tidy and remote island of the Cornish coast, Marisa jumps at the opportunity. Perhaps some solitude is just what she needs to combat her homesickness and rediscover her equilibrium.

But Mount Polbearne is a far cry from the sleepy little place she as imagining. Between her noisy neighbour and the hustle and bustle of a buy community, Marisa finds solitude is not so easy to come by. Especially when she finds herself somehow involved with a tiny local bakery desperately in need of one new zest to save it.

Review :-

I’m so glad to be given the opportunity by NetGalley for reviewing this book before it’s publication. I’m so excited to be back with the residents of the tiny Mount Polbearne, although set a few yers after the last time we visited, Im so happy to see that some of my much loved characters have made a comeback in Sunrise By The Sea.

Joining characters old and new, we visit through times of great crisis on the island, devastated to see the island hit by some of our ‘real world’ crisis right now but also we have been given the chance as a reader to escape reality a little and get lost amongst the pages of the beautiful book.

I have read quite a few Jenny Colgan books and always enjoyed them. I have not read any of this series though and although it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this novel at all I did feel that I was missing out by not knowing the back story. The author dealt really well with some quite emotional issues and grief and Marisa was a really lovely character and I really enjoyed reading her emotional journey from grief and anxiety to a better more fulfilled life. The Skype conversations between Marisa and her grandma were wonderfully written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this really enjoyable book.

First I want to say how much I enjoyed this book. The author approached a sensitive subject (anxiety) and wrote with both companion and understanding. Anxiety is more common than most people would know and something a lot of people have to deal with on a daily basis - myself included. Such a topic could have made a book depressing and maybe even boring but, this is not the case with Sunrise by the sea. In fact this book made me smile a lot and laugh out loud too. The Russian neighbour with his Taylor swift philosophy was one of the funniest conversations I have ever read (you will understand when you read the book). As well as following the story of Marisa this book is a return to Mount Polbearne and all the lovely characters we have met in previous stories. We return to the light house and the bakery and see how Reuben thinks a birthday party for an eight year old should be hosted! We also, get to catch up with Neil -the puffin and if that isn't enough to make you want to go out and buy the book then I'm not sure what could entice you!

There’s just something so comforting to me about a Jenny Colgan book and this one was no exception! I absolutely love the little beach street bakery series so returning to Mount Polbearne and seeing Polly and Huckle was like being reunited with old friends after a long while. This story isn’t just about Polly and Huckle though, it’s also about Marisa, who is struggling with anxiety and agoraphobia and Alexei, a piano teacher from Russia, who have both just moved to Mount Polbearne for different reasons.
Marisa has come as a way to be by herself in the middle of nowhere to hopefully start to recover after her Nonno passed away and Alexei is here after having his heartbroken by his ex-girlfriend.

Some things I loved:
•Slow burn - seeing Marisa and Alexei meet and get off on the wrong foot before starting to see each other in a different light.
•Marisa and her nonna - the skype calls and how they became so close throughout the book was really nice to read about.
•The setting - I loved being back in the bakery and lighthouse and just the community feel of Mount Polbearne.
•Feel good story and really likeable characters.
•Polly and Marisa’s storylines connecting and coming together.
•Neil the puffin.

I never seem to get bored of Jenny’s books, I always love returning to her characters and meeting new ones and I 100% recommend this if you’re looking for a feel good story!

Lockdown's over - Let's go on holiday!

Another delightful return to Polbearne and its beaches, bakeries and puffins.

Marisa arrives on the island seeking healing in the remote peace of the seashore. Her old life clearly not working for her as a quiet reclusive outsider fleeing the big city, she hopes to hide away and work in isolation. She picked the wrong place.as Polbearne and its residents seem determined to bring her out of her seashell.

Jenny perfectly encapsulates the moods and themes we have all experienced over the last year or so - loneliness, isolation, community spirit, triumphing over adversity, missing loved ones and relatives far away, even the dreaded Zoom calls - without resorting to the emerging cliche of lockdown lit making this a timeless novel that can be enjoyed for years to come.

With the warmth and cosiness of a big fluffy jumper or a well worn pair of slippers, Jenny gives us all what we need right now - feel good fiction at its finest!

Another very enjoyable return to the little Cornish island of Mount Polbearne, where we catch up with regulars and meet new additions, in this case Marisa and Alexei.

Marisa is trying to get past the death of her beloved Italian grandfather but really struggling with it. She is very depressed and barely able to leave the house, which is why she ends up on the island, hiding from the world and afraid of nearly everything. She is staying in a new holiday cottage, and her next-door neighbour is the new piano teacher on the island, Russian Alexei, who is also hiding out from a failed relationship.

We also get to meet up again with Polly, Huckle, the twins, and the fabulous Neil the puffin again. Polly and Huckle are struggling with finances as Huckle's honey isn't doing well and the bakery is the only source of income for them. But help comes in the form of Marisa as, when there is a disaster and everyone pulls together, she forces herself out to help and during it gets talking to Polly about the fabulous ovens in her bakery, and a new cooking direction is taken helping everyone, Polly with the finances and Marisa with her self-esteem and courage.

I loved the relationship Marisa formed with her grandmother over Skype, and the fact that they just left the connection on all the time and could see each other whenever they wanted! Her grandmother really helped Marisa, getting her back into her love of cooking.

This book is all about people pulling together in times of need, and facing your fears and overcoming them in Marisa's case. As usual with Jenny Colgan, a really lovely read.

This book is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed it overall. I liked Marisa, the main character, and was pleased to find how sensitively her anxiety and agoraphobia was dealt with. Loved the Skype scenes, as well as the way music was used to portray emotion, plus the addition of pizza to Polly's bakery. Polly and Huckle were great as always, and the twins were delightful. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another heartwarming story from Jenny Colgan and great to be back in the world of Polly and Huckle too
The focus of this book is Marisa, struggling with anxiety and agoraphobia, following the death of her grandfather.
Within the local community, Marisa finds friendship and courage.
A lovely story, I particularly enjoyed the relationship with Nonna.
Thanks for the ARC.

Absolutely love the cover on this book and all the Cornish seaside vibes however I struggled to gel with the characters. I realise this is part of a series and I haven’t read any other books by this author which might be why I couldn’t keep track of every initially

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review. I have read all of the previous books in this series, and this was like returning to an old friend! How I loved this book, Jenny’s writing really draws you in, and I just didn’t want to put it down, and was so sad when it ended. I loved the relationship that developed between Marissa and her grandmother, which was done with such love and sensitivity. I hope I get to meet this cast of characters again very soon. Thank you again Jenny for such a lovely story, 5 stars from me!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little,Brown Books for allowing me to read an advance copy in tpreturn for an honest review.

I could not put this book down! In fact, I stayed up through the night and early morning reading it. Like all of Jenny Colgan's books, it is absorbing, endearing, funny and uplifting..

Marisa is mired in grief, it has taken her over and left her broken and unable to function. The opportunity to escape the big city rat race, with it’s accompanying constant noise and busyness, for the relative quiet and seclusion of Mount Polberne in Cornwall comes at exactly the right time. And Marissa grabs it with both hands. Little does she know that the small tight knit community will work it’s magic on her and help bring about healing in unexpected ways.

This is an excellent read, that fans of Jenny. Colgan, Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde will love. I thoroughly recommend it.

I’ve read all of this series of books (and 99.9% of Jenny’s others.) Sunrise by the Sea follows the usual plot, it has to be said. Lonely, unhappy young woman moves to the island. Not entirely of her own choosing. Meets a cast of likeable, if slightly eccentric, local characters, including *a man*. Is he *the man* for her? Or will it be one of the others? There are often three possibles. A man who has some issues of his own to resolve, but still a wonderful manly man. Strong, capable and kind. Usually with huge hands that our heroine shivers to think of and what they might do to her. Tee hee.

She’s never blond or tall or has legs like a gazelle. She’s on the short side, freckled, curvy, with brown wavy hair and hips. She’s the girl next door. Ahem, Marissa.

Likeable and sympathetic characters, gentle humour, gorgeous descriptions of place and especially food (I read the first Beach Street Bakery book at the time of publication and have never bought bread since. I’ve made a loaf, or two, every single week since. I’ve also reread it a few times. I love Polly, the bakery and all the bread descriptions so much. And yes, I’ve been making sourdough for years. Way before the Lockdown frenzy! Thanks for baking mojo Jenny.) There are daft plot points, such as a family really living in a fully operational lighthouse with young twins and a puffin called Neil?! Some events tend to be signposted ahead, but all in all this is a typical Jenny Colgan book. I love her warm and fuzzy stories, where she’s also not afraid to include people with problems and storylines about real issues too. .

I’m curious as to how people with personal experience of agoraphobia and anxiety will receive this story. It all seems so neatly resolved

I kept thinking this was maybe written during Lockdown, a few things gave it away such as: isolation, loneliness, missing family, hugs and other physical contact, the Skype storyline (I really loved that! I wish I had someone to cook along with in that particular location, who would teach me how to cook those dishes authentically! That part of the book was extremely touching.) I’m glad it is not a story set during this weird scary time. It’s been so nice to get away from real life, unless you are affected by any of the issues raised, or have a phobia of snakes that is ....

It feels as if there will certainly be more instalments from the island. And I’m already waiting for the next in the series. Recipes next time too, please Jenny?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I loved Marisa as a character, there’s so much to her and she’s wonderfully likeable and relatable.
The story is captivating and an absolute pleasure to read.

When she is given the opportunity to move to a remote tidal island off the Cornish Coast, Marisa Rossi decides some peace and quiet might be just what she needs.

Since the death of her beloved grandfather back in Italy, she's been struggling to find a way out of her grief. Perhaps this will be the perfect place for her to recuperate.

But Mount Polbearne is a far cry from the sleepy little place she was imagining. Between her noisy piano-teaching Russian neighbour and the hustle and bustle of a busy community, Marisa finds solitude is not so easy to come by. Especially when she finds herself somehow involved with a tiny local bakery desperately in need of some new zest to save it . . .

Thank you to Sphere and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! This was returning to a series that I had previously enjoyed and returning to it was like seeing old friends for the first time in years, a happy place you didn't know you needed.

The description of Marisa's mental health was so touching, you could see her become more relaxed and less hit by demons through the book, almost like the storm cloud was actually lifting from over her head.

The way that Alexei was written was so accurate but every time he said the word 'thinkink' I could hear it in my head, it made me laugh every time!

This is a series I hope we will return to again and again, A definite 5 star review from me!

I have enjoyed previous books in the Little Beach Street Bakery series so I was looking forward to reading this book. I did however find at a couple of points that there were parts referenced in the book I had not read, so I wished I had read that one beforehand. I do however very much feel you can read the book as a stand alone book as explanation is given.

The story covered some difficult subjects, but in a sensitive way. I feel it is particularly a good reminder that whilst we all experience grief, we deal with this in our own different ways. I found myself drawn to the characters and wanted to keep reading to see what would happen to the two main characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Absolutely loved this book.

It was lovely to catch up with Polly and Huckle as well as their new additions....

There was some lovely new characters to meet. I felt for Marisa, who has a anxiety disorder and also Alexei whose love isn’t reciprocated.

Jenny’s writing, her description of places, people and food, is simply amazing, You feel like visiting the places a d meeting the characters and taste the amazing food.

Highly Recommend It.

Another fabulous book from Jenny Colgan following the life of Polly and her fellow residents in the sleepy seaside village of Mount Polbearne.
Jenny introduces a few new characters in this latest novel in the series which takes us to Italy as well.
As usual, Jenny's book has a real feel good factor. She brings the setting to life and her characters are interesting and believable.
I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

#sweet #seasidelife #easyread #sunrisebythesea #jennycolgan

Jenny Colgan is back on top-form her latest story with Sunrise by the Sea, which I loved and was quickly drawn into the story. It is a sweet tale about dealing with the loss of someone you loved while trying to cope with the world. It is a really well-written story, Jenny's writing is light and easy but with plenty of depth and is very descriptive too. This made me feel part of the characters lives and I enjoyed reading about their highs and lows. It is heartwarming and funny too, which just adds to the overall enjoyment.

The characters are all really good, well written, well-formed and very likeable. I loved Marisa, she had me rooting for her from the beginning, she came to life on the page and I was with her every step of the way. Her new neighbours, Alexei, is a piano teacher and a big bear of a man.. He was wonderful and I liked him from the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and finding out their stories and seeing where they would go.

It was lovely, too, catching up with characters from the previous books and finding out what was happening in their lives too. Polly and Huckle are of course front and centre in this book, along with the other villagers, the eccentric Rueben and of course Neil the Puffin; you couldn't have the story without Neil in it!

Sunrise by the Sea is the fourth book in the Little Beach Street Bakery series and it was a joy to revisit these characters and meet the new ones too. Although you could read it on its own, I would suggest reading the other three first. I highly recommend this lovely story to curl up with and enjoy.