I really enjoyed this book. Full of heart which is exactly what I expect from a Jenny Oliver book. I loved the treasure hunt aspect and what it had to say about friends and family

I’ve long been a Jenny Oliver fan – and not just because one of her back catalogue features my name as the main character (charity auction bid from my husband) Her summery books are always great fun – but somehow I’d been sent this on NetGalley and it had passed me by – but what a perfect book to read on my summer holiday, and if you like the sound of it, then it’s out already.

Here’s the blurb:

“The best kept secrets are waiting to be found.
With an air of faded splendour, Willoughby Hall was an idyllic childhood home to Ruben de Lacy. Gazing at it now, decades later, the memories are flooding back, and not all of them are welcome….
In a tumbledown cottage in Willoughby’s grounds, Dolly and Olive King lived with their eccentric explorer father. One of the last things he did was to lay a treasure hunt before he died, but when events took an unexpected turn, Dolly and Olive left Willoughby for good, never to complete it.
But when Ruben uncovers a secret message, hidden for decades, he knows he needs Olive and Dolly’s help. Can the three of them solve the treasure hunt, and will piecing together the clues help them understand what happened to their families that summer, all those years ago?”

This was a lovely, quick, fun read – I devoured it in a day!

It’s quite an ensemble piece and you’re invested in everyone’s lives. Whilst there is the standard summer romance you’d expect – it’s much more than that – looking at loads of different relationships. Siblings, parental, extended family, unexpected child, colleagues, childhood sweethearts etc etc – and all sat with the beautiful backdrop of Willoughby Hall.

The treasure hunt aspect was also fun – although I wouldn’t say as central as the blurb suggests – but still intriguing.

My only complaint is I want to find out what happens to the gang next!!

It’s only 99p on Kindle – and totally worth less than a cup of coffee.

Dolly and Olive are sisters who were friends with Ruben when they were younger and lived in a cottage on his families estate. After their mother had an affair with Rubens father and their dad left and subsequently died they had to leave everything and go to live with an aunt so lost touch
Years later the young daughter Ruben didn't know he had comes to stay and they come across a treasure hunt clue that Dolly and Olive's dad had left all those years ago so Ruben invites Dolly and Olive to come to stay to try and find the rest
Will this help bring them back together ?
A great read

One Lucky Summer By Jenny Oliver, a NetGalley read. This book is set mainly a Willoughby Hall, which was home to one of its characters Ruben de Lacey. Decades later Ruben returns after his fathers death. Dolly & Olive King lived in the grounds of Willoughby hall with their eccentric father who would had left a treasure hunt unfound around the grounds which now many years after his death the now adults go in search of. It’s hard to say how I felt about this book because it was simply ok. Not the greatest however by no means was it the worst. I don’t think I’ve read anything by this author before and this book wouldn’t make me read any more by her unfortunately. I found it incredibly slow and although the treasure hunt part was intriguing, that’s all it was, it didn’t get you hooked and the ending to it all was weak and rubbish. There is an array of characters all with their strengths and weaknesses, all dealing with a past that for them is very much present and undealt with and by taking part in this treasure hunt they deal with their past demons and memories. Although I wasn’t a fan of this book, it wasn’t unenjoyable enough for me to put down and give up on. Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me.

⭐️BOOK TOUR⭐️

So today (on very rainy and miserable un-summer like day!) is our turn on the #OneLuckySummer #BookTour

This book was sent to my by my book buddy Leanne and was a total mystery read - being honest it’s not a book I would have picked out by myself but it’s seems she’s good at this mystery read lark as I really enjoyed it and have gone on to read another book by this author since!

So back to the review; a romance book for me has to have more than just they meet and fall in love etc and this one had so much more. It’s a tale spilt into two halves that comes together perfectly at the end. It has plenty of twists and turns to keep you entertained and just the right amount of everything required for a book of this kind I thought.

The book is completely character driven and the author has this great way of making stereotypical characters who you actually love and although at times they could be selfish and unpleasant, all is easily forgotten as the story moves along and they soon come back into your good books.

Now my little niggles, it’s not much of one don’t worry, the treasure hunt. I loved the idea of this and loved going along with the characters to find the clues etc and perhaps I was expecting more than I should, but I just felt it all fell a little flat at the end. I expected much more from the last clue and it was kinda like ok so that’s that then. Just felt a little bit of a let down to me after the big build up throughout the book.

However, as I say this was completely a minor thing in what was a really excellent, joyful and escapist read. Definitely recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

⏩for synopsis

With thanks to @hqstories stories for inviting us to be on this book tour!

This one is OUT NOW!!!

And if you want your own mystery read check out @leannes.mystery.reads 👏

-Emily

For #OneLuckySummer three childhood friends return to the large house & grounds where they grew up in Cornwall. Reunited for the first time in years, they set out to find the treasure hidden by the girls father when they were teenagers.

The hunt unites them, and forces them to face up to their shared past. There is some romance, a reluctant father trying to find his way with parenthood (and wanting to run from it) & mental healing.

I enjoyed this book, but it felt a little unfinished. Maybe I just expected a more dramatic ending, or maybe there will be a sequel? I’d recommend this as an easy beach read. Thank you to #NetGalley & the publisher for my free advance copy in return for an unbiased review.

Growing up in the picturesque Willoughby Manor wasn’t quite as perfect as others might have imagined for Ruben De Lacy. Despite it’s idyllic location, the only thing that seemed to keep him going throughout his childhood was the friendship he formed with Olive and Dolly, sisters who lived in a small cottage within the estate alongside their free spirited mother and rather eccentric father.

The three teenagers soon became inseparable, making memories and forming a connection that would last a lifetime – or so they thought. Now a fully grown adult, Ruben returns to the place he once called home and is greeted with a tirade of memories – not all of which are welcome ones – as he as he prepares to sell up. As he is clearing things away, he comes across a clue to a treasure hunt that has remained hidden for decades, and he knows just who he needs to help him solve this mystery.

He calls upon Dolly and Olive, and as the three estranged friends are once again reunited, they have to work together to uncover what was hidden all those years ago and finally uncover the secrets of their past. As they embark on the treasure hunt that Mr King had set up before he passed away, the connection they all shared comes back with a renowned strength, alongside a blossoming romance….but you will have to read the story to find out more about that!.

As soon as I pick up a book by Jenny Oliver I just know I am in for an absolute treat, and One Lucky Summer certainly goes above and beyond all of my expectations once again. This is far from being your typical romance, as there is humour and a lot of emotional depth entwined throughout the story, all of which – when combined provide us with an unforgettable story about love, loss, and the importance of friendship.

Each of the characters have their own hidden depths which are explored as the story progresses, allowing the reader to connect with them as individuals. All of them are well fleshed out and have realistic traits that have an impact on the narrative of the story throughout. With a truly delightful plot that flows effortlessly from beginning to end, this is an absolute must read for the summer!.

A perfect summer read, poignant and heartwarming. It's an engrossing read and I found it really entertaining.
The two sisters, the treasure hunts, the family secrets: I love all these aspects and think they are excellent.
The storytelling and the character development are very good.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Many thanks to HQ and Sian Baldwin for the opportunity to read a gifted copy of One Lucky Summer for my stop on the blog tour 🤗.

What better way to read One Lucky Summer than in the garden with the sun blazing down on you. What a gorgeous read. An absolutely perfect feel good read full of fun with an amazing treasure hunt, adventure and a plethora of great relationships.

This is one book I absolutely flew through, picking it up on a lunchtime and having it finished by the following morning.

I absolutely adored the treasure hunt that took place but what had me intrigued and kept me hooked was the treasure hunt serving as the perfect opportunity for the characters to face some ghosts from their past and come out the other side to have formed some marvellous new relationships - for siblings as well as for friends. There’s no better feeling than positivity.

There were some points within the book where I did have an uncertainty with some of the character’s behaviours but as I moved through and came to terms and understood why, those slight feelings of doubt fast overturned and the characters became ones I loved.

Overall, a smashing summer read to make you smile. What’s not to love? The only thing I want to know is when will the sequel be released because I am desperate to know what happens to the house and the newly sprung relationships.

Perfecto!

Today I bring you my review as part of the blog tour for this lovely book and a big thank you to @hqstories and @netgalley for the #gifted copy. From the cover I was expecting a cute little romance story but this book was so much more than that. It followed the story of sisters Olive and Dolly and their relationship both in the past and in the current day. Olive felt protective of Dolly and Dolly just felt smothered. It tells how the treasure hunt makes them come together and face up to the past. Then in comes Ruben and I initially really disliked him and his cockiness but then spent my time rooting for him as he took steps to learn how to be a father to Zadie. I think both Zadie and Fox were my absolute favourite characters and I really loved their positivity. This book really showed the progression of all the characters and it all linked up so well. This book was a lovely read and it will not be my last from this author. I definitely recommend this one before the Summer is over!

Ruben de Lacy is back at his childhood home Willoughby Hall and desperately trying to find WiFi signal to get in touch with the estate agent to sell it, yet he can manage to upload vanity pictures in his Barbour to Instagram. Thanks to said Insta picture the mother of his child manages to find out where he is to drop their daughter Zadie off while she goes away on honeymoon (which had totally slipped his mind, even though he says otherwise).

Over breakfast water starts coming in through the ceiling so in a desperate attempt to be as good as Barry, the new stepdad, he decides to fix it. Cue a falling off ladder in the rain on to a garden ornament. The remains of which leads to the discovery of a blue plastic box.

It seems the treasure hunt is back on, he just needs his old hunting friends Dolly and Olive there to play too.

This is a charming and beautifully tender story of reflection and reconnecting that manages to also be full of adventure and humour. I loved all of the characters, even the selfish Ruben managed to redeem himself. They all have things going on in their lives and a past that needs resolving and with the help of the treasure hunt, Zadie and a wily black cat they may just find what they need.

This book was a pleasant surprise and blew away my expectations. I was anticipating a book that was more leaning towards romance and summer relationships, but this was more about family dynamics that are exposed as a result of this unusual treasure hunt. My first read from Oliver and I was not disappointed.

With the introduction of Willoughby Hall, I was prepared for lengthy discussions about Ruben’s inheritance. However, when he and his daughter, Zadie, discover a clue, old family friends reunite for a final treasure hunt. Initially I was confused about the purpose of this trail, but Oliver uses this as a method of bringing together Dolly and Olive, now estranged sisters who had lived in the grounds of Willoughby Hall. Therefore, over the course of the novel not only do we see the characters trying to decipher the clues, but how Dolly, Olive and Ruben interacted when they were children.

I liked how Oliver developed the different characters. Whilst Olive is very protective of her sister, it is clear that Dolly feels smothered. Circumstances lead to Olive and Dolly moving to London, leaving Ruben behind when they were teenagers. However, the consequence of this meant that Olive stepped up to a more mothering role and Ruben fell into the privileged De Lacy lifestyle. Therefore, when the three reunite as adults, you can see how their past has shaped them in present day: Olive is quite stand-offish and formal; Dolly has a tendency to rebel against anything; Ruben has fallen in to the cliché of a bachelor lifestyle. As you can see, they are all very contrasting people and the dynamics are challenged even further with Zadie, Dolly and Olive’s aunt, and Dolly’s work colleague.

I thought the treasure hunt would take more precedence in this story, although my excitement increased as the plot developed! Instead, the writer uses the trail as a frame for the drama existing between the three characters. Despite this, the treasure hunt gives clues that were so abstract, I had no idea how the characters would reach the answers! As they explore the grounds surrounding Willoughby Hall, the writer vividly describes the setting outside. It sounded rather idyllic and full of nature and I could truly picture Ruben, Dolly and Olive running around during their childhoods.

This was a surprising read and it grew on me as the story developed. Providing something a little bit different, this narrative certainly allowed some escapism and had me yearning to join the characters as they explored Willoughby and their pasts together.

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book sounded interesting from the very beginning. It was a quick, easy read and if you are looking for an entertaining read then this is a great book for you! I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

In this story we meet Ruben & Zadie as Zadie arrives to spend the summer with her Dad, straight away we get an insight as to the strain of their relationship as Ruben struggles to get to know his daughter. Whilst out exploring they discover a plastic box that had been left behind many years ago from a treasure hunt that never happened. This unlocks the door to some long forgotten memories as Ruben reaches out to the sisters that the treasure hunt was designed for.

During the first half of the story we get to meet everyone who is going to play a vital role in the story and get an insight into their life styles all these years on and their personalities. The summer that happened many years ago changed everyone's life unimaginably and now is time for them all to put those thoughts and feelings to bed so they can move on with their lives.

I found the second half of the book gained momentum really quickly and the raw emotions start to become evident as difficult conversations take place. The treasure hunt plays a key role throughout this story and we got to learn more about everyone as they worked to find clues and learn more about eachother.

Another great read from an author I always enjoy, this book made me laugh amongst all of the underlying emotion of the story. A great story about turning lemons into lemonade.

A crumbling house full of faded glory and painful memories is what greets Ruben when he returns to his childhood home the last time before he sells it. He's a father, but this is not something he excels at, so forgetting he is looking after his daughter for two weeks is nothing new. When they discover the first clue to a treasure hunt, his childhood and teenage memories come flooding back and make him contact Dolly and Olive, his two fellow treasure hunters.

Olive has settled for comfort and doesn't realise it until her lover leaves her for someone else. Ruben's request stirs up old memories but is she brave enough to face them. Dolly is driven and dangerous. When she's suspended from the job she loves with her annoying partner, an invitation back to her childhood is the best on offer.

This is an emotional and entertaining story. The soul-searching, acceptance and forgiveness unfold in a heartwarming way. It examines relationships, family, first love and friendships. There is gentle romance for the two couples and the building of a daughter and father bond. The characters are easy to empathise with, even Ruben, as his past is revealed. There is mystery, secrets and tragedy revealed in a story full of sensory imagery and believable emotions.

A charming Summer read with engaging characters.

I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

What a fabulous book by Jenny Oliver. It follows the story of 2 sisters - Olive and Dolly and how they face their past to move on with their future. All done by following a treasure hunt looking for a long hidden treasure placed by the girls' father. Will the adventure bring them together to face their demons?
So well written and different - I absolutely loved this.
Would highly recommend.

From the cover of the book I was expecting a light hearted romantic comedy and a good read, however although this was indeed a good read it was much more emotional and heart searching than I was anticipating.

We meet our main characters, Reuben, Olive and Dolly who grew up together in the grounds of Reuben’s wealthy parents home where Olive and Dolly lived in the grounds with their angst ridden mum and madcap adventurer dad.

Many years have passed since their childhood and at the start of this book when we see Reuben agreeing reluctantly to look after his daughter who he has no idea how to parent while his ex goes in her honeymoon. Reuben is very selfish, thinks he is still young and handsome and is ill at ease with quirky teenage girls! Olive has just been dumped by her boring boyfriend and wonders how her life has become so boring too; then we meet Dolly who has just been suspended from her police job for recklessness. In the past the trio loved solving treasure hunts set by Olive and Dolly’s dad and when a final one they never finished comes to light all three find themselves together where they were when all of their lives fell apart all those years ago.

This is a really well told story and the characters make you want to hear more. I went from initially hating Reuben to then cheering him on in his attempts to be a decent dad and finding out more about the very complex relationships between him, Olive and Dolly told from all of their perspectives made for a page turner of a book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely summer read. One I will be recommending.

Ruben, Olive and Dolly meet again at Willoughby Hall to complete a treasure hunt set in motion by Olive and Dolly’s father before he died and their lives imploded.

The treasure hunt allows them to rebuild relationships and build new ones. It also allows the sisters to reset their relationship and find a way to move forward.

A delightful read.

Sweet and fun, One Lucky Summer is the perfect summer read!

The main characters are Ruben de Lacy, newly lord of the manor, and chalk-and-cheese sisters Olive and Dotty. The three are childhood friends suddenly drawn back together again at Ruben's home as they explore the grounds in search of clues from a long-forgotten treasure hunt.

The story is told in two halves - firstly following Ruben and Olive, and secondly following Dotty and Fox. It's clear from the start that both couples should end up together, but through the emotional highs and lows of revisiting their past, will they be able to forge futures together?

This is a highly enjoyable read. It's well-paced, unputdownable, and excellently written. From the diverse array of characters to the rich descriptions of the setting, there's plenty to keep you engaged and turning page after page. I was just sad to see it end so soon! There's so much potential in these vivid characters and I would love to see a sequel or spin-off revisiting Ruben, Olive, Dotty, Fox, eccentric Aunt Marge, or young Zadie.

Packed full of nostalgia and lighthearted fun, One Lucky Summer is a real treat.

An easy to read, lighthearted story perfect for a summer’s day. I loved the treasure hunt element that brought old friends together and memories to the forefront. The descriptions of the old house and grounds beautifully brought to life.