The Cafe by the Sea

A Novel

By: Jenny Colgan

Narrated by: Sarah Barron

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

The beloved author of The Bookshop on the Corner returns with a sparkling, sunny, soulful new novel perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand.

Years ago, Flora fled the quiet Scottish island where she grew up - and she hasn't looked back. What would have done on Mure? It's a place where everyone has known her all her life, where no one will let her forget the past. In bright, bustling London, she can be anonymous, ambitious...and hopelessly in love with her boss. But when fate brings Flora back to the island, she's suddenly swept once more into life with her brothers - all strapping, loud, and seemingly incapable of basic housework - and her father. Yet even amid the chaos of their reunion, Flora discovers a passion for cooking - and find herself restoring dusty little pink-fronted shop on the harbour: a café by the sea.

But with the seasons changing, Flora must come to terms with past mistakes - and work out exactly where her future lies....

Funny and heartfelt, The Café by the Sea is a delightful summertime novel that puts a modern twist on the classic Seven Brides for Seven Brothers story.

©2017 Jenny Colgan (P)2017 ISIS Publishing Ltd

review

Loved this book, captured me at all times, can not wait to listen to more books from this author .

LOVED this book!

I absolutely LOVED this book! The narrator does an excellent job. She's spot on with the accent. I look forward to more!

good.

I had trouble getting through it. I don't think jt was the story. it could have been my ferile boys screaming like banshee around my house due to covid. im going to read it again and I hope its a series as there are some character issues that seem to be leading up to more stories..... we shall see.

A good balance.

I wouldn’t call this a romance as much as a good story about a woman forced into returning home after a uncomfortable absence. The situation makes her evaluate her priorities in life. Mixed through this two men catch her attention and that also makes her think about who she is and what she deserves out of life.

Cute little love/family story

Fun listen of an area so very different from the norm. Relations between family members with a touch of getting over the loss of a key member. Cute coming in to her own situation for the key character.

The Setting is Perfect

Ms. Colgan paints a wonderful picture of this remote island, and it gives her a place for her well designed characters to live and play. The novel has a good pace and is extremely well written. Ms. Barron narrates the story beautifully and for me, who added a lot to the story with the accents she gave to the characters. It is a great story with a masterful setting that is well told. Where I had trouble, others might not, but I just couldn't follow the symbolism or the story arc. I don't want to give anything away but when something is so well written I expect some deeper lessons and it is there but for me I saw contradictions in what I thought were themes and it felt like keeping a simple romance was more important that the themes but that makes it a less interesting story. The novel also builds to a point and then becomes a romantic movie from weekend television, it doesn't have a lot of surprises though I'm sure it helps make it an easy listen. It is a good book, maybe the writing built my hopes up but I was disappointed that there wasn't more to the final third of the book.

Great story telling

I love how Jenny Colgan developes characters and stories. I can visualize her landscapes and characters by her lovely descriptions. Her story telling makes me want the stories to last and continue so I can follow the characters...a modern day Jane Austin

Love to this book!

I wish I knew where this island was. or if it even exists. it sounds so beautiful and friendly I would love to go there. a very comforting and pleasing book.

Love Jenny Colgan!

After finding one of her books in a neighborhood take/leave a book, I have become a fan. This was my second book by this Author. I very much enjoyed it! The great narration made this book much more fun than if I had read in a book format. Please keep writing books Mrs. Colgan!

Took a chance

Ever so glad I did. This was a very enjoyable book. Detailed descriptions of the location and people. You could almost smell the sea, hear the birds, taste the food. I’ll be looking for more from this author and narrator.