Cozy corner books

Book title: Welcome to Seabreeze farm

Author: Jo Bartlett

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book in a sentence: An easy, romantic palate cleanser perfect for animal lovers and those drawn to the sea!

The back of the book says:

Unhappy with life in London, and with her love life a complete disaster, Ellie Chapman desperately needs a change. So when she learns she’s inherited a farmhouse perched high up on the cliffs above the English Channel, it feels like the perfect escape.

But ramshackle and dilapidated, and ruled by the world’s naughtiest donkey, Seabreeze Farm is not as picture
perfect as Ellie imagined. And then there’s brooding local vet Ben Hastings, who seems to make it his mission to make life on the farm even harder for Ellie!

With money tight, Ellie slowly rebuilds the tired old farmhouse. And as the farm comes to life under Ellie’s care, Ellie’s spark returns too. Because as every day passes, Ellie begins to realise that there is something special about Seabreeze Farm, and there’s no other place she’d rather be.

My thoughts: After a running period of intense thrillers, I really needed a bit of escapist romance and this book just called out to me. Romantic fiction is my guilty pleasure and I loved the sounds of the blurb.

The book follows Ellie, who is unexpectedly let go from her corporate banking job and soon inherits her Aunt Hilary’s coastal farm. Moving in with her mum, Karen, we follow her journey as she begins renovating the farm and rebuilding her life.

I loved all the characters (except Rupert, if you’ve read the book… you know!), but I thought the romantic relationship between Ben and Ellie was a bit rushed, which meant I couldn’t completely invest in their relationship. I enjoyed Karen’s subplot more as I felt that element of the story was crafted better.

The animals were a cute bonus and Gerald the donkey was a character in himself!

What I liked…

The characters and the setting: Jo Bartlett creates a lovable cast, and the seaside farm setting adds to the cosy, escapist feel. You can’t help but root for them – and also for a certain character’s downfall!!

What I didn’t like…

How short it was: It was originally published as two short novellas, which explains why it’s only 258 pages, but I think this lets the book down slightly as it makes some elements of the story feel rushed.

I think you’d like this book if…

You enjoy low/no spice, feel-good romance or you’re looking for a comforting palate cleanser between heavier stories!

Welcome to Seabreeze farm