Sam's Fireside - Cosy Book Reviews & Recommendations

“Goodbyes were left unsaid, alongside a multitude of lingering regrets.” 💔 The Long Way Home is February's read for @hook.me.a.book and the #kindlecrushchallenge, and what a delightful book it was to finally read. Set between 1950s Paris 🇫🇷 and 2019 UK 🇬🇧, I loved the adventures Isla’s Mum got up to as a young girl working and living in Paris, and the investigative journey Isla and her granddaughter Charlie navigated back in the UK to finally uncover the answers she’d been searching for. 🔍✨ It’s rare to find a book with a main character in her sixties, but that’s exactly what we get here — and it was so refreshing 🤍 I especially loved watching Isla and her teenage granddaughter’s relationship grow, as Charlie slowly realises there’s more to life than her mobile phone. 📱💫 I’ll definitely be seeking out more books by Fanny Blake 📖 It was a heartwarming, easy read that I’d happily recommend. A very belated thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for the opportunit...

“Who needs friends when you’ve got books, fabulous felt-tips and a cool notepad, right? Much safer this way. Books over besties. Pens over pals.” 📚✏️🖍️ OMG, I loved this book! 😍 There were so many moments when I actually spat out my tea 😂☕ My 11-year-old granddaughter is going to love it! William is neurodivergent — his brain is wired differently from everyone else’s 🧠✨ — and he knows that. He’s learning how to manage it, although he does like his routines… and woe betide anyone who tries to mess with those! 😅⏰ He’s a bit like me, if I’m honest. 🙋‍♀️ William and Florence are hilarious 🤣 as they come up with idea after idea to split their dads up! 💡💥 William doesn’t want to share his dad with anyone else, and Florence is convinced that her mum and dad will get back together. 💔➡️❤️ Buy this for your son or daughter (but read it yourself too! 😉) and watch their faces as they read — I bet you anything they won’t be able to stop smiling. 😁📖 Thank you to Scholastic UK for the ...

'Still infuriatingly gorgeous, and still ridiculously off-limits.' Another winner from Chloe — I adored it. Hattie and Sam as best friends were brilliant, and honestly, they made the book for me. Every year they spend their birthdays together — Sam on New Year’s Eve and Hattie on New Year’s Day — and every year they have so much fun. Told over dual timelines, we travel back to when Hattie and Sam first met as teenagers at a party their parents were attending, as well as follow what they’re getting up to in the present day. Along with Priya and Sara, they make an awesome friendship group, and then, randomly, at a snowed-in cabin, Hattie’s cousin Dylan and Sam’s brother Freddie turn up too. Just what will happen between Hattie and Freddie — her old schoolgirl crush — remains to be seen. I read this while lounging on my balcony on a Mediterranean cruise, so while I was soaking up the sun, I was reading about snow and freezing conditions! 😂 Thank you to Chloe Ford and Aria for the...

'Today has been the draggiest day in the history of draggy days.' I didn’t want to read this book. Not because I thought I wouldn’t like it — I knew I’d adore it — but because it’s the last book in a series I’m not ready to say goodbye to. 😢 Jaimie Admans’ Ever After Street series is one of my most favourite series ever. It’s cute, cosy and funny, and every time I read one of the books, I feel like I’ve been wrapped up in a great big warm hug — no matter which one it is — and Dreams Come True at the Fairytale Museum is no exception. 💜 I love Lissa’s enthusiasm for the museum she’s so lucky to be in charge of. All she wants is for her visitors to experience the passion she feels, as her exhibits bring joy to children and adults alike. But what she wasn’t expecting was the devastating news that it all might be taken away from her. Enter Warren! Unfortunately, I didn’t like him from the beginning because I knew a Warren at school who was a complete idiot with a stupid name (sorr...

“Go and live out your best Hugh Grant fantasy.” Ohhhhh — Annie and Nate, I loved them so much! Although, Annie is a bit needy, right? It wasn’t just me who thought that? Come on, girl — it’s time to get out and explore a bit more; you can’t stay cooped up in a house with your besties forever! 😂 Falling for You is a cute, fast read (or listen!) that gave me all the autumnal, cozy vibes as I popped in my earbuds and strolled along the country lanes of Norfolk — chatting with the piggies and immersing myself in Annie’s hunt for Prince Charming after he disappears into the night without a backward glance. If you’re a fan of autumn, The Holiday, or anything starring Hugh Grant, grab yourself a copy of this one. You won’t be disappointed. Thank you to Libro.fm and Penguin Randomhouse Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review Falling for You by Emily Maple. About the Book I LOVE autumn. It’s my favourite season – the crisp October air, the smell of pumpkin-spiced lattes, wearing my b...

"Polly often wondered whether, if someone were to cut through Ward Hunt, they'd find 'greed' running through him like a stick of Blackpool rock." Published in the UK in 2024 as The Happiest Ever After, this book has a brand-new US title—The Accidental Rewrite—and it's out today! I absolutely adored listening to this. It was cute, sad, fun, and absolutely hilarious—I was giggling all the way through. Polly is awesome. She's put up with a lot, and now, finally, it's time for her to put herself first—though, of course, it doesn't quite go to plan. I love books with UK references, like Mrs Bucket (Bouquet), Kew Gardens, and sticks of rock! I even had to explain to a US friend what a stick of rock is (candy found in seaside towns throughout the UK). Pink mint is the best, by the way! Colleen Prendergast was brilliant narrating this one. With her gorgeous northern accent, her voice is still spinning through my head even as I write this review. I'm de...

“It’s not easy to say no to your ideal of success. But… sometimes your definition of success changes.” Crisp autumn mornings, with the smell of fresh apples on the trees, cinnamon buns in the bakery, and pumpkin spiced latte to top it all off. The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn gave me Gilmore Girls vibes, along with snippets of all the other autumn books I've devoured this year. I loved it.  The entire story is cute and heartfelt, romantic and full of humour. Ellie's ex-boyfriend is a complete knob-jockey who deserves to be pushed off the roof of the cute little inn. I'm so glad we didn't see a lot of him in the story. Pumpkin the pug was a huge hit, with me and with everyone who flocked to his Instagram account - there's just something about a dog in PJs! 😂 I felt that, despite living in the city for years, Ellie had a lot of personal growing-up to do, to realise that what she wants now, isn't necessarily the same as what she wanted when she was a kid. She found her...

'Why would anyone ever want to live a life without books?' Jessica! You made me cry. I rarely, if ever, cry at a book, but I shed a few tears towards the end of Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop. The entire book was gorgeous, from beginning to end. I adored Lily, I was charmed by Lars, and I adored all the book references. Yes please Jessica, will you write the Snow Dragon for us?! 💕 I learnt lots about the Icelandic traditions around Christmas time, it's so much fun to find out what other countries around the world do. I'm not sure about some of those things the Yule Lads got up to though, 🙈 but with a mother who eats naughty children, 😜 I can't say I'm surprised! They sort of reminded me of the Elf On The Shelf tradition! Both Lily and Lars have experienced loss and heartbreak throughout the years, but together they can come to terms and deal with everything. I was especially obsessed with the Paperback Pixie — what a magical idea! I even caught myself imag...

'I straightened and a cheese puff fell out of my shirt.' I loved the simplicity of this cover and when I was invited to listen to a copy by the lovely Hambright PR, I grabbed it with both ears! Penny and Ryder are adorable, even when Penny is stressing and Ryder is grumpy, and believe me - that happens a lot. As the title suggests, Ryder falls first, and slowly, but surely he persuades Penny that he will never hurt her, that she absolutely should take a chance on love and that they can have so much fun together.  This is a small-town romance that I listened to whilst working in my garden. It has all the super-sweet vibes of cute couples, community spirit and family loyalty. Mix all that up with a well-meaning but interfering Granny, and you've got a gorgeous summer read.  Thank you to That's What She Said Publishing and Hambright PR for the opportunity to listen to and review He Falls First by Jill Shalvis. About the Book No one is going to convince her to fall in love ...

' "Apple and cinnamon latte?" Dylan nodded. "Yep." He took a sip. "Oh, man, why have I suddenly developed a taste for sweet coffee?" ' Gorgeous, autumnal and a great big pumpkin spiced latte of cosiness with whipped cream on top! Those are just a few words to describe the first book in Victoria's brand-new series, Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow.  A smorgasbord of cuteness, pumpkins, community spirit and of course, love. Willow is determined to save her farm from the nasty developers. With help from all her friends, and a dark and handsome stranger, she attempts to create a pumpkin patch, along with all the bells and whistles beside it, to make enough money to ensure her farm becomes profitable.  As October approaches, both Willow and Dylan make discoveries about themselves, as well as each other, and perhaps they might realise that opposites can attract after all. This captivating and heartwarming story gives off huge Gilmore Girls vibes. I...

'Charlotte was alone in the jungle with a creep in Speedos'! I switched between reading and listening to this one, simply because I had so much stuff to do in the garden and I really wanted to finish it. It was gorgeous, in fact no, it was 'glorious'! Charlotte takes up the position of tortoise researcher on the remote island of Tuga, where you can only come and go when the island is 'open'. Even then, only if there is a boat with enough berths to take you. For half the year, the island is 'closed'. The storms are too frequent for it to be safe for any ship to dock safely in Tuga. So if you're there, you're stuck - no matter what happens! There are a lot of stories, interwoven into this book, each one unique in its own way, and I loved this. I enjoyed hearing about all the different characters and how they were surviving, living on such a small island, where everyone knows everyone else's business. I'm not sure if I'd like that, whe...

'The Wale who was the type of prince who would hand me his own sword to help me slay my dragons'. I adored this one. I have Yinka on my TBR, but I just haven't managed to get around to it yet. This one came up on Libro FM, and so I grabbed it.  Temi and Wale are as cute as. Annoying with their miscommunication, and there were so many times I wanted to grab both of them and shake them until eventually the words would pour out of them. 😂 Temi - just be honest for heaven's sake and Wale - you need to learn to listen, ask questions and not jump to conclusions! I loved that Temi names her glasses and puts on a different pair, depending on how she wants to feel/who she wants to be that day. What an inspiring idea! I appreciated Lizzie writing so openly about sexual harassment, racial discrimination and body image, and how positivity emanated from all the negativity as the book progressed.  Faith Alabi was an inspired choice for the narrator for The Re-Write. With her abilit...