I adore Bella Osborne’s books and this one is certainly off to a promising start! I’m really looking forward to part two and finding out what happens next to Nancy, Alice, Claudia, Freddie, Sir Richard (Uncle Dickie!) and Filip. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m hooked and already desperate for the next part! Great characters; loving Freddy (even though I shouldn’t) but bringing some humour to the story. Alice is sweet and I’m hoping Dom isn’t the love cheat we think he may be. Nancy seems hardworking and desperate for success, so looking forward to seeing what happens next.
Bella writes such wonderful stories, with themes and characters you take to heart. I feel we are eased in gently but are soon swept up with what is happening. Eager for more!

A great start to this 4-part novel. Based around Nancy, her flatmate Alice, and their jobs.

I just loved the characters and what they brought to the storyline. I can't wait to see Freddy’s turnaround. It's got to happen, hasn't it?

It was a fun, uplifting read that had me giggling and cringing in equal measures. I'm so looking forward to reading the next part

I really enjoyed An invitation to Seashell Bay it was such a fun and easy read and I really enjoyed Nancy as a character but my goodness did I have anxiety while everything just kept going wrong for her! Poor Nancy!

A great part one to the story and can't wait to see where it goes from here Nancy deserves the best!

Nancy sets out for possibly the most important meeting of her life full of confidence. A stolen laptop and spilt coffee later Nancy is bedraggled and decidedly on the back foot. Later Nancy is handed an unexpected lifeline. Hire socialite Freddy Astley-Davenport for 6 months as an assistant and she could save her business.
Unfortunately, even though he is in his late twenties, Freddy has never had a job before and he clearly doesn’t want one now. He’s rude, self-centred, and lazy. In order to get them both what they want Nancy is going to have to calm Freddy down and engage him in her business, but that will be easier said than done.
This is funny and warm and once you start reading you will not be able to stop.

A really sweet book with a gorgeous cover. I loved Nancy and Alice. I loved this book and will be checking out more from bella

Another corker from Bella Osborne, such interesting and fun characters, really hoping it will be a series. A struggling business and an unemployable posh boy makes a fun read. Can not wait for part two, to see how everything pans out. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

A good start to a novel, with some irritating characters that you want to read on and see how their awkward espèces are rubbed down. Potential romance was introduced and a few giggles too.

Wow, Bella Osborne has done it again! She has drawn me into the lives of two friends that are definitely going through some rough times. Nancy is trying to expand and save her business and somehow has gotten herself into a deal that she is not sure what it really is (blame that on bad phone connections). Alice is trying to make her way in a big city, working as a teacher’s assistant, after growing up in a small village and is not having the easiest time of navigating the path.

Part one is filled with laughter, cringe worthy scenes, some frustration and a wonderful bunch of unique characters (most of them very likeable). I cannot wait to read part two and find out more about their lives! This is part one of a four-part book. Usually, the entire book is published some time after all four parts, but I like to read in the four parts. It forces me to stop and think about what happened instead of rushing through a book to reach the conclusion.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

This book was an absolute joy to read, a hug in a book laced with humour.

Nancy and Alice house share. Nancy runs her own business which is struggling and is desperately seeking financial backing to prevent her business going under. A bad start to her selling pitch, accompanied by a misunderstood telephone conversation has landed Nancy with Freddie, an aristocratic young man, seeking a job but without the commitment.

Alice, a teaching assistant, loves the life in London, very different from where she grew up. She is keenly on the look out for a boyfriend and thinks she has met the man of her dreams in a nightclub....until he turns up at school to collect his daughter....

An absolute joy of a read, desperate to see how the story progresses.

I love a Bella Osborne novel. You know you’re guaranteed a great plot and wonderful likeable characters and An Invitation to Seashell Bay: Part 1 All Things Crafty is no exception. From the first chapter I fell in love with Nancy’s character. She’s warm and loveable and seems to be the unluckiest person - if it can go wrong for her it will. Part 1 sees Nancy, an ambitious businesswoman and Freddy, an irresponsible heir join forces with a deal that will turn both their lives upside down. I was immediately invested in this novel and the first ten chapters passed quickly, I can’t wait for part 2. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

How exciting - a new series from this author! This book is only a short read, being Part 1 of a 4-part serialisation, and whilst you are usually left on a bit of cliffhanger at the end of each part, I'm just about patient enough to wait for the next one! This new series starts off really well, and had me laughing my way through the pages! We meet Nancy and Alice - friends and housemates! Alice being a teaching assistant and Nancy is running her own business, All Things Crafty! Both women have a lot going on in their lives, and the chapters are split between both of them! I did love the chapters though where they're back home together, going over what was happening and trying to sort each other's problems out! They really do have a good relationship together, and seemed like really good friends.

The storyline was great and I was hooked from the very beginning! I knew what was going to happen following Nancy's run in at the coffee shop, and I loved where the storyline went after that. Freddy Astley-Davenport is just absolute class, and I already have a picture in my mind of what he looks like (I can see him in Made in Chelsea!!) The book's location begins in London so I'm definitely curious as to where the Seashell Bay reference comes in! Whilst I said I can be patient for the next instalment, after reading this part I am a little eager to get going with the rest of the story! Full of fun and laughs, this book is everything I would expect from this author!! Fab! Would definitely recommend! Roll on Part 2!!

Really fun story for roommates Nancy and Alice who live two quite different lives in London. Both are good characters and the story is fun. Be warned part 1 just sort of ends forcing you to buy another story to get to an resolution at all (which I hate hate hate). Otherwise a good start to a story.

I need part two like now!

I really enjoyed this first part, Freddy I found absolutely hilarious and has no idea of the real working world.

Also some fab LOL moments including a scene with a changing room.

I cannot wait to read the book in full and see how Feddy pans out with Nancy.

Another fab read from Bella Osbourne

An invitation to seashell bay part 1 drew me in from the start, I raced through the book eager to find out what was happening next!
Great characters in Nancy, long suffering business owner and the aristocratic troublesome Freddy! Can’t wait to see how their relationship plays out as the book progresses!
Lovely Alice house sharer and friend of Nancy I’m sure has lots more interest to add as the book progresses!
Excited with anticipation to read subsequent parts!
Thank you netgalley for this early read,

This is the first part of a new series by Bella Osborne. It is hilarious and the story is somewhat ridiculous but put together with a range of quirky it was a brilliantly funny read. My only complaint is that it finished too quickly so I hope part 2 is available soon as at this point I have no idea of the direction in which the story is going to turn.

I really do not want to spoil anything in this beginning few chapters of this book. So I am not going to say anything about what happens. I am however going to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait for the rest.

Once again Bella Osborne has come up with something special and I’m already desperate to read part 2. This one features two women: Nancy, a committed business woman, and Alice her teaching assistant lodger. Both are getting through life the best they can but face problems on the way- Alice has a crush on a parent of one of her class and Nancy has problems with Freddie. Freddie must be the most exasperating yet totally charming men ever to be created. His attempts at “working” are hilarious and if I was Nancy I probably would have killed him! I was so frustrated getting to the end of part 1 as I really want to know what is going to happen with Freddie, the contract with Sir Richard and Bonnie. Don’t keep me waiting long - please!

One thing you can count on with Bella Osborne books is that they are FABULOUS! Once I started this one that was it, I simply couldn't put it down. Read it all in one sitting. There is lots going on in this novella length book which is fabulous as it sets us up for lots of books to come in this series. Several times it had me laughing out loud as I imagined the going-ons. The perfect escapist read I can't wait to be back in Seashell Bay again shortly. I LOVE these characters!

Publish date 10 May 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.