Really enjoyed reading books by Samantha Tonge. Story was good and characters were written well. Throughly enjoyed this book

This really is feel good fiction. Jenny's life comes crashing down on her head and she finds herself in a small village- with a small village of women in particular who help her, and themselves reset their attitudes and move forward.

Jenny has been living a wonderful life, but when it comes crashing down one day, she has to create a new life for herself and her daughter. It’s difficult and different at first, especially for her daughter April, but in time everything settles into place. Can Jenny and April find happiness after such a big life change?

It’s a great book, way more thought-provoking and deeper than I’d expected from the colorful cover. I loved how strong and determined Jenny was and how she made everything work despite the fact how her husband treated her. It had a great combination of serious topics and light hearted moments. A great read!

Good story. I related well to the characters and enjoyed the writing style.

The New Beginnings Coffee Club was created to gives it's owners just that - A New Beginning, but it is somewhere Jenny feels she would never need for that reason. She is wife to a gorgeous millionaire, lives in a mansion and has a wonderful daughter who is loving life at her privileged private school. However, her little dream isn't set to last when she very quickly loses everything and ends up drowning her sorrows with tea and coffee at The New Beginnings Coffee Club.

What begins as a friendly ear from the owners Noah & Elle turns into a place to stay and a job to get her back on her feet. It really is the second chance she needs, but feels she doesnt deserve. That been said, Jenny then throws herself into creating a new life for her and April. With no help from her ex, and a constant battle from April who is missing her old life - can it really all work out?

Samantha has done it again, she has created a wonderful venue to stop by for a chat with Noah & Elle. Noah and Elle are wonderful people, who have been through there own personal battles and just want to give people somewhere to visit when they need another chance. Noah is a sweet man who could answer any question you would possibly have about coffee. Elle makes for the perfect housemate, a lover of musicals and seeking a new BFF the team just work together so well.

The New Beginnings Coffee Club goes deeper than just a second chance read, it tackles some deeper issues which i didn't expect, but it does it in a wonderful way. It was heart warming and sweet, I loved watching the characters change and discover who they really were and for me that was my favourite thing, especially watching April change from a reality tv obsessed child who didnt want cake to someone miles away from that.

If you are after something soul warming then visit The New Beginnings Coffee Club

Jenny’s life as she knows it is about to end. After husband Zak drops a couple of big bombshells on her, she packs up and leaves with their 10-year-old daughter, April. The local coffee shop owner, Noah, offers her a job as well as a place to stay and Jenny strives to survive away from her pampered world.
As the title suggests, this story focuses on new beginnings – and not just for the main character, Jenny. The journeys of April and housemate Elle were also particularly endearing. In fact, I found the characters and story grew on me the more I read. All in all, a pleasant way to while away the day.

A feel good summer story. Although the storyline is unite predictable, this easy reading book is perfect fo a light holiday read. I read most of it whilst waiting to board a flight.

It was easy to request this book as Samantha Tonge always writes a story worth spending time with and this novel does not disappoint.

Jenny Marsters thought she had it all, well yes, she had to make some compromises along the way but it was so worth it for the return. She has the handsome husband, the beautiful bright daughter and the fabulous home. She entertains and smoozes with the best. Life is great, but she is about to find out that it is all an illusion.

After life becomes completely unraveled, Jenny finds herself moving with her ten-year-old daughter, April, into a shared apartment with her new bosses Noah and Ella. Suddenly everything is both simpler and far more complicated as she navigates how to froth milk for coffee and encourage her daughter that getting a little dirty is not a bad thing.

This is a charming story with quite a bit of grit underneath the surface. Jenny's relationships and her growth as a character make this a thoroughly engaging book as you totally barrack for her and hope that things are only going to get better for her and April. Ella and Noah are super friends and the whole village seems to become involved in Jenny's journey back to herself. No topic was taboo as the story evolved and I thought the issues that became uncovered were handled with a certain sensitivity. I was certainly drawn in and surprised by some of the moments that occurred. This book really shows that it's never too late to remember who you are and be that person again. One for the reading list.

Loved it. Brilliant summer read, definitely the book to take on a holiday.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is a feel good story and perfect for holiday reading. Jenny and her daughter April move into the local coffee shop cottage. She has split up with her cheating husband and has left a very large villa behind. Noah the owner of the coffee shop has given Jenny a job. Jenny and April share the cottage with him and Elle, Noah's friend who works in the coffee shop too. Jenny worries about April because she can't keep her in the style that they used to live in. Can she and her daughter find happiness? Read on.

Another great read from Samantha Tonge. Very enjoyable heartwarming story with lovely characters.

For a while I didn’t feel this book was especially chick-lit ish, despite the cover and the blurb. I can’t put my finger on why, but maybe it lacked a certain ‘cosiness’ which many books of this genre display. Gradually, thought, the tone and feel of the book changed for me, until, at the end, I felt the book reflected the cover and my expectations.
Reading about how Jenny discovered her real self was lovely and encouraging, and the message throughout the story (and emphasised at the end) was especially relevant I thought, when all of us are faced with pressures to conform and fit in. Ms Tonge deals with several issues (I’m not going to go into details because I HATE spoilers) with sensitivity and compassion.

Most of the characters develop throughout the course of the story, and discover things about themselves, and learn self-acceptance and acceptance of others.
The New Beginnings Coffee club is a tale of hope and of searching out the good things even when surrounded by the bad.
It also reaffirms the belief that money can’t buy happiness and that some things, like love, are priceless.

A variety of stories combine to create new beginnings for several people at the enticing coffee club...

Another warm and engaging story from Samantha Tonge 4*

What can i say about this book. i adored it. It was everything i imagined it to be. Was a lovely feel good read and i was so sad when it ended

A wonderful read and one that had me turning the pages well into the small hours to find out what happened next. When your whole life as she knew it came crashing down around her, Jenny knew she needed to make a fresh start with her daughter. New beginnings, a completely new way of life, new friends and even new love come their way. Proving you don't need money to make you happy. Such a heartwarming page turner, I'd recommend it to anyone!

The New Beginnings Coffee Club sounded like the perfect summer read, just the thing to kick off the weeks of sunshine and cool drinks (frappuccinos, anyone?) ahead.

Sadly, once I started reading the book, I found that it lacked the spark I thought it might have after sampling the summary. It relies quite heavily on cliches of the genre: a wife, whose entire identity has become wrapped up in her husband and child, finds out her husband is cheating on her (with her "best friend" no less) and she must find the strength to create a new life for herself and her daughter.

Jenny, the protagonist and wife in question, was perplexing. She didn't come from money and while she's gotten used to certain comforts being married to a millionaire, her utter lack of sense regarding the real world astounded me. Surely she couldn't have forgotten everything in only ten years? What it's like to not pay hundreds or even thousands for silly little things? It was odd when compared to the fact that she was the only one between her and her husband that could see selling their mansion was the only way to make some dent in their near bankrupt state. She got slightly better over time, getting back to the fashion ideas she had as a college student, so that is something in the way of her development.

What I didn't like about her, even as we got toward the end of the book, was that she kept making excuses for Zak's behavior regarding her friend/housemate, Elle, and their own relationship. He says and does things that are reprehensible and yet Jenny makes excuse after excuse. I get that he is the father of her child, but that doesn't mean letting him get away with murder like this.

Aside from the problems I had with Jenny's character, I didn't get much of a sense of familiarity with many of the people that she came into contact with in the village: Noah (the new love interest), Martini (a grandmother whose grandchild makes friends with April), etc. The person I liked the most was Elle, whose story I found much more fascinating that Jenny's, to be honest. Something I noticed was that the gossip that is alluded to in the summary actually has next to nothing to do with Jenny at all and more to do with Elle and the revelation that she's transgender. It's strange that they make Elle's story about Jenny and how it affects her. It didn't rub me wrong in the moment, but thinking back on it I get an off feeling and don't care for how Elle's unwilling outing was used as a plot device.

The writing was a letdown as well. It didn't have anything special to offer, which saddened me, because good writing can make up for an awful lot in a substandard or bare bones plot, but I didn't get any of that here. This was, regrettably, not the summer escape read I thought it would be.

I truly loved this book lots of issues covered so well written and so out of the blue twists. Full review will be on www.hayleyreviews10.wordpress.com

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a great funny, witty and lovely book

I loved this book so much I read it twice! The premise is one which has been used a lot, and I was worried that this would mean the story wouldn't stand out. I couldn't have been more wrong. The way the author tells the story it most definitely stands out.

The storyline isn't as simple as you would first assume as the author takes all of the characters on their own journeys, each of which is extremely relevant to the overall storyline. Some of the back stories shocked me, but not in a bad way. I was more surprised because I honestly didn't see some of the twists coming. Those surprises throughout made this book an amazing read rather than simply a good read.

The characters are all written extremely well, the story is told in such a way that I was gripped throughout. The author is a favourite of mine and this story goes to show she continually produces books which will keep the reader wanting more.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

An ensemble story, bringing together the stories of Jenny, April, Noah, Elle and tangentially, Zak, the story starts with a bang and life-changing news for Jenny and her daughter April with her soon to be ex-husband Zak. Until the revelation that blew her life apart, Jenny thought she had no reasons to complain: she still loved her husband even though they married young, her daughter April was happy, if more than slightly mercenary and Kardashian obsessed, she had a nice house, money to do with as she pleased, and no great waves in her future. But, Zak changed all of that in an instant, and her own emotional devastation combined with her own belief that she was the subject of gossip, not to mention the need to support April AND keep her unaware of the wagging tongues is foremost in her mind. Of course, April is aware that things changed – she doesn’t have the pocket money for one, but her belief in her mother’s ability to make things right is refreshing.

Enter Noah and Elle, and their coffee shop with a job offer and a place to stay for both Jenny and April – and a softly accepting and kind manner that makes the best of a situation that isn’t ideal, and offers Jenny hope. Hope in he support and ears leant to her questions and stories, hope in the acceptance of April and her moments, and generally being kind all around……but they too, have secrets.

What a wonderful introduction to this author and her writing. The depth of emotion was palpable and each character’s personality was clearly displayed during their interactions with one another and in quieter moments. With the addition of simple quirks, likes and dislikes, each character comes alive and demands that you pay attention to them, coming to befriend them and care about their happiness and secrets. With revelation of those secrets, the story gains an unexpected depth, handing difficult moments and situations with care, providing insight into the characters’ actions, choices and just why some things took longer to reveal than others. Truly a testament to friendship and the supportive environment’s ability to offer options for growth and healing, this was a wonderful book and great introduction to the work of Samantha Tongue. For those readers who often ‘pooh-pooh’ the fluffiness of woman’s fiction, or wish for depth WITH a story that is just a bit different from the norm, this is the book for you.

I received an eArc copy of the ttle from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-92n”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>