The Bookshop on the Shore: A Novel | 
pickDelightful. Not a book I would usually read but saw book shop on the cover and Scottish Highlands in the blurb.
It was a simple plot with my favourite type of ending. Well written , easy to read. Left me feeling uplifted. If I happen upon another of her books I‘ll definitely read it. I found this one in a Little Free Library.
pickLoved this book. Zoe is a down-on-her-luck single mom. Someone reaches out a hand to guide her to a possible way up, but it‘s in Scotland. Of course she has lots of misadventures but she perseveres. Even the romance I was hoping for was squeezed in. A very satisfying read.
Brought book 2 in the series instead of book 1 to my hair appointment……that is irritating.
pickDisclaimer* Jenny Colgan is an autobuy author for me. That being said, I can still read and review her books impartially. What another hug in a book from Jenny this read was. I found myself caught up in Zoe's plights immediately and loved Jenny's characters intertwine and we have some old favourites (Nina) popping up also. Her writing style is captivating and easy to read. A feel good,warm hearted, delightful read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
pickGreat book. Just love Jenny Colgan.
pickIt‘s been a crazy couple weeks, but we‘re finally on vacation. We traded our usual part of the Oregon Coast for another one. Time to relax and read and knit and walk on the beach!
bailedI truly, honestly hate to not finish a book but I read almost 1/2 of this and had to bail. I liked the first one in the series but the main character from that one turned simply unlikable to me in this one. And I liked the main character in this one but the story moved sooooo slooooow that I got to where I simply had no interest anymore how it ends. 🤷🏻♀️ I'm bummed. I like her books - just not this one. My TBR pile awaits - no time to waste. 🤓
May your Sunday be filled with lots of reading and snuggly faces. 😁❤️🐶🙃
pickThis is the second of Jenny Colgan‘s books I‘ve read, another tale of a book-lover moving to Scotland for a much needed fresh start, then finding love & community along the way.
I enjoyed it, but it felt darker & heavier than its predecessor (The Bookshop on the Corner) — dealing with elements of poverty, neglect & mental illness. Which wasn‘t what I expected, having hoped for something easy & cozy & bookish to read through the holidays.
1. I usually keep physical books, but if I really didn't like it, I'll find a Little Free Library that needs to be restocked. 😉
2. I really want to get my hands on the tagged book by Jenny Colgan. It's been on my TBR for ages, and I could do with something uplifting. And set in Scotland, swoon!
@Liatrek @Crinoline_Laphroaig Have you played?
Thanks for the tag, @Eggs! #TwoForTuesdayGiveaway @TheSpineView
bailed#unpopularopinion Life is too short for me to finish this book. I read 1/3 and asked myself why are you doing this to yourself? Young women complaining about how hard life is with pregnancies and young children 🥱 Normally I love books about bookstores, but in this case one third in and it was only mentioned at times. I should bail more books. That should be my new thing. I‘m just really bad at it.
so-soA sort-of-sequel to The Little Shop of Happily Ever Afters set on the shores of Loch Ness.
Escaping the treadmill of London living, Zoe (and her 4 year old son Hari, who doesn't speak) moves up to Loch Ness to take over a book van and to act as au pair to three troubled children. The bookshop aspect is secondary, the romance a bit underwritten and the Sound of Music parallel noted. On the whole not nearly as fluffy as the cover promises.
pickGood. Nice sort of sequel to the The Little Shop of Happy Ever After as it features a few of the characters introduced in that book. Can tell the author is a lover of books as it just shows through the story. Also like in true Jenny Colgan style it deals with heavier issues than the cover suggests such as mental health issues and self harm. I enjoyed the story even though the romance element felt a bit rushed at the end.
pickThis is light and fluffy like a good Victoria Sponge 🍰. A single mum moves to Scotland to run a mobile bookshop & work as a nanny in a run down Manor House with a grumpy (but obviously handsome!) bloke and his difficult kids. It‘s all very Sound of Music but charming and feel good which was just what I needed for my frazzled brain right now! 😆
pickThis book definitely tugged at my heartstrings a few times 🥺 but I am glad it ended as well as it did with happier characters!
The one bit that absolutely broke my heart was when Jaz did, what really was best for his sons happiness, and told Zoe to stay in Scotland with Hari. I completely understand not wanting to let your child stay far away from you but what a noble thing to do! (Even though Jaz came of to me as a deadbeat previously.)
Ended up changing audiobooks to something a bit lighter. Made quite a bit of progress wirh it yesterday #audiobook
On this world book day and recently passed Earth day is my attempt at a creative bookish post featuring my favorite bookish series and a tree in my backyard. What are your favorite books about books?
pickJenny Colgan strikes again. This is a feel good story and was another perfect read for a time when I'm not feeling well.
Day 17 of quarantine: The move to Texas is officially postponed. We'll be moving in with my mom for the foreseeable future due to our apartment lease ending & losing our jobs. I know these things are out of my control, but my type A/enneagram 7/ sagittarius self is taking this really hard.
I know this is getting hard for everyone. I'm sending love to all the littens & hoping you're all able to stay safe and healthy. 💕
Not my usual genre choice for audiobooks, or physical books for that matter, however need something soothing, cosseting and with a happy ending 💛
I would get to sell books out of a van in the Scottish highlands. 😍 SIGN. ME. UP. 📚
Same stuff, different day.
I finally downloaded the Overdrive app so I could get library books again. Ours shut down a little over a week ago, so the Kindle has been a life saver.
pickThis book was the brain candy I needed after wrapping up my previous book. I liked this book and enjoyed my literary escape to Scotland.
so-soI read this Jan 2-5 & gave it 3.5 ⭐️. Colgan‘s books are pure fluff. They are great to read when you want a book with some drama that you know will end in a happily ever after. I really liked the character of Zoe but found the pacing a bit off. That said it‘s not really about the bookshop.
pickWow. This book completely drew me in. I finished it & looked up to realise it was 7am & I hadn‘t moved from the same spot since I‘d started at midnight. Loved it so much I was completely overwhelmed with jealousy that these literary characters were in a perfect part of the Scottish highlands, and I wasn‘t.😩 if you love Scotland or any of Colgans other books, you‘ll love this one. 5⭐️ #LitsyAtoZ2020 #LetterB #PopSugar20 #WithAnMCInTheir20s 👇👇👇
I‘m starting off my #24B4Monday #readathon with something much lighter than my last book. Coz god knows I need cheering up after that! The 2nd book in Colgans “Scottish Bookshop” series, this follows single mum Zoe, struggling to live in a bleak London with a little boy that perfect in every way, except he doesn‘t speak. Her aunt suggests a job in Scotland but she‘s faced with a moody boss & a horde of wild children. Sounds like fun!
This week my anxiety has been very high and this quote from the author completely rang true for me. The protection of having a book to retreat to was invaluable.
pickI have several nanny books in the hopper this month and since my European-based books are prioritized atop my physical TBR, I finally read my first Jenny Colgan gem. This books really makes me want to visit the Scottish Highlands!
#ReadingEurope2020
so-soI chose this book because I needed something light and fluffy to get me through this year‘s Christmas party madness and, well, this wasn‘t quite that as it goes to darker places than I expected. I did enjoy listening to it a lot and there was some lovely stuff in it (loved the kids, some lovely passages) but Ramsay‘s treatment of the kids at the start makes it hard to warm up to him.
I‘m at my parents‘ this weekend. Yesterday there was a snowstorm and there wasn‘t any power for about 9 hours. Luckily I got to stay warm by the fireplace wrapped in a quilt with an excuse to read some of this enjoyable book!
pickA lovely addition to the Bookshop series. Some familiar characters and some entirely new make up the ensemble in this tale. Not so much about the books this time but a quietly earnest story of broken families and shattered hearts. I found myself reaching for this book at every opportunity.
pick#SoaringScores #CatchUp
Set in the Scottish Highlands with boats, hills & fog, I think this book works as a catch up for #LeavingPort #MistyMountains & #TheSkyeBoatSong 😉Finished early in the week. The usual Colgan sweet & a nice revisit to the characters from The Bookshop on the Corner with a new MC helping out Nina. I wasn‘t sure of Zoe at first but she won me over & I adored the two young boys Hari & Patrick. Not my favorite but easy & good.
My finished Creamy Vegan Potato-Leek Soup was lunch earlier, my blog post & delicious. The dehydrated potato flakes & coconut milk made it ultra thick & creamy. Perfect for lunches this week. Recipe link below. Jenny Colgan books are always nice to relax with on a Sunday afternoon.
so-soThis falls into the ok category for me. The story really dragged in places and I found my self skimming to get to the end. I did not like the father Ramsey and the there was no excuse for the neglect of his children. I was surprised that I didn‘t like Nina or Lennox characters in this book. I felt horrible for the children especially poor Mary. I don‘t know I guess it just wasn‘t what I expected.
It was a very odd concept- that you could become friends with someone simply by examining their bookshelves- but nevertheless Zoe believed it fervently. 😊😊😊 I think we all agree on Litsy this is very true ❤️
pickI know I can pretty much always turn to Jenny Colgan for a nice, feel good read. This one did not disappoint.
