I really enjoyed Ella's Ice Cream Summer (the first story in the Ice Cream Cafe series) so when I saw this book on Netgalley I jumped at the chance to read it! It's got a great link to the previous characters, but not enough that you have to have read the first one which is always nice. There were also little reminders throughout so that if, like me, you're a little bit forgetful we're reminded who is who etc. I hyped this book up a little in my mind and it lived up to my expectations! Dani was a lovely character to read about and following her journey (both weight loss and romantic) was hilarious and entertaining throughout. It was great to read about Appledore again and I hope there's another one coming soon! Thank you for the chance to read and review!

After ten years of running away Dani decides it is time to return to her home town of Appledore in Devon and get her life on track, the only trouble is the love of her life, Jude, who she ran away from still lives there....will he have the same hold over her or can she really move on

Her life has been littered with diets and now desperately needing to use weight she gets a job at the ice cream café where she worked as a teenager......could she have picked anywhere worse....how will she ever be able to lose the stones of weight when she is constantly after a sugar rush

Deciding to yet again join a gym....and go more than once......she meets Chris who agrees to become her personal trainer - can he finally make her break the cycle of rushing for the ice cream at every turn and really make her exercise properly

A lovely warm book - great for the summer - with lots of great characters definitely a light hearted beach read

This is book 2 in the series set in Appledore but you don't need to have read the first to enjoy this.
Dani is the main character in this book and you follow her ups and downs in life. Dani is constantly trying to loose weight through various methods, some of these little throwbacks are at the start to each chapter and are quite funny. Dani comfort eats and your diets until she makes a pledge to really get to grips with getting rid of the fat with the help of Chris at the local gym. Dani has a lot of issues that are uncovered throughout the book and there are times when you feel sorry for her and also times that you share a laugh with her but throughout it all she is a very likeable character.
I would like to thank netgalley and bookouture for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

nother super adventure down in Appledore, Devon! Once again the laughs kept coming and the characters were fabulous.

Dani, curvy (okay, a little overweight) and gorgeous has come home to Appledore from whence she fled twenty years ago. She is working at 'Caprioni's' Cafe making and selling ice-cream, not the best environment for someone trying to get their life in order and their eating on track before their looming fortieth birthday. With the encouragement of her best friend, Karla, she takes herself off to the local gym, only to find that she is a walking natural disaster as soon as she comes within 3 feet of any gym equipment. For the sake of his business and Dani's well being, gym owner and personal trainer, Chris offers to help Dani become a new woman and stick to her healthy lifestyle plan. What could possibly go wrong with this plan - surely Dani will soon be jogging, no running in the right direction.

It was so wonderful to get back to the world created in Ell's Ice-Cream Summer and find that none of them had lost any of their charms. Instead, I now had more characters to laugh out loud with and feel a wealth of emotions towards. This is another delightful story that I was happy to wile away time with - no housework, planning or preparation for me - just pages and pages of wonderful storytelling. Sue Watson is brilliant at making a location and her characters come to life.

Having loved Ella's ice cream summer I was wondering if the second book would be as good but I wasn't disappointed as Curves, kisses and chocolate Ice Cream was just as delicious as its predecessor!!

Dani was such a brilliant character!! She was so likeable and I could relate 💯 per cent with her struggles with emotional eating, self esteem and self confidence.

I loved how real the story was and how Dani overcomes her struggles to finally believe in her own self worth!

This book is a must read that will make you laugh, cry and give you a feel good feeling ! I personally could relate to The story and characters!

Sue Watson has a great understanding of human life and relationships and has become one of my favourite authors!! I cannot wait for her next book!! I recommend this book 💯 per cent!

Thank you to netgallery and the publisher for this brilliant read!!

1. Reading 📖📖

2. Anything the author Sue Watson writes

3. Icecream 🍦🍦 I own my own Italian Ice cream Parlour....

So it goes without saying if you put all these three loves together I am going to be in my element! Which I was the moment I tucked into this little delight...

Curves, kisses and chocolate Icecream is the second book in the Icecream cafe series by Sue, the first title is Ella's Icecream summer which I reviewed here a month or so ago...

image.jpeg

This can be read as a standalone but honestly folks if you love this genre these two are well worth devouring so go on treat yourself to them both- you definately won't regret it.In fact if you've never read a book by Sue Watson you NEED to. I love thrillers and crime related fiction but love a bit of fun and a light hearted read to distract me from a spine chilling serial killer now and again 😂😂 and when I do I need escapism and a giggle. Sue delivers these by the bucket load and this book is full of very funny moments, especially when Dani goes to the gym... Wow!!

This ones has all of Sues signature wit and laugh out loud humour. It's packed full of feel good factor, is easy to read and is another heartwarming story guaranteed to leave you with a great big smile on your face!

Part if it's charm is it's such a relatable tale ( well for me at least) heading towards 40 loving the naughty treats but wanting to drop some weight and feel good, most women I'm sure can relate to this at some point in their lives... There's also a huge dollop of romance making it THE perfect summery read. Perfect for stretching out by the pool on holiday with or if your stuck in Blighty it's still perfect as its a gorgeous way to escape our changeable weather.

The only rule here that I must enforce is that you have the biggest Icecream you can find while you relax and enjoy the book and it must be guilt free! Life's too short!!

Charming, sweet and utterly, page turningly perfect ... A whooping great 5 🌟 from OK so there's 3 things I Love...

1. Reading 📖📖

2. Anything the author Sue Watson writes

3. Icecream 🍦🍦 I own my own Italian Ice cream Parlour....

So it goes without saying if you put all these three loves together I am going to be in my element! Which I was the moment I tucked into this little delight...

Curves, kisses and chocolate Icecream is the second book in the Icecream cafe series by Sue, the first title is Ella's Icecream summer which I reviewed here a month or so ago...

image.jpeg

This can be read as a standalone but honestly folks if you love this genre these two are well worth devouring so go on treat yourself to them both- you definately won't regret it.In fact if you've never read a book by Sue Watson you NEED to. I love thrillers and crime related fiction but love a bit of fun and a light hearted read to distract me from a spine chilling serial killer now and again 😂😂 and when I do I need escapism and a giggle. Sue delivers these by the bucket load and this book is full of very funny moments, especially when Dani goes to the gym... Wow!!

This ones has all of Sues signature wit and laugh out loud humour. It's packed full of feel good factor, is easy to read and is another heartwarming story guaranteed to leave you with a great big smile on your face!

Part if it's charm is it's such a relatable tale ( well for me at least) heading towards 40 loving the naughty treats but wanting to drop some weight and feel good, most women I'm sure can relate to this at some point in their lives... There's also a huge dollop of romance making it THE perfect summery read. Perfect for stretching out by the pool on holiday with or if your stuck in Blighty it's still perfect as its a gorgeous way to escape our changeable weather.

The only rule here that I must enforce is that you have the biggest Icecream you can find while you relax and enjoy the book and it must be guilt free! Life's too short!!

Charming, sweet and utterly, page turningly perfect ... A whooping great 5 🌟 from OK so there's 3 things I Love...

1. Reading 📖📖

2. Anything the author Sue Watson writes

3. Icecream 🍦🍦 I own my own Italian Ice cream Parlour....

So it goes without saying if you put all these three loves together I am going to be in my element! Which I was the moment I tucked into this little delight...

Curves, kisses and chocolate Icecream is the second book in the Icecream cafe series by Sue, the first title is Ella's Icecream summer which I reviewed here a month or so ago...

image.jpeg

This can be read as a standalone but honestly folks if you love this genre these two are well worth devouring so go on treat yourself to them both- you definately won't regret it.In fact if you've never read a book by Sue Watson you NEED to. I love thrillers and crime related fiction but love a bit of fun and a light hearted read to distract me from a spine chilling serial killer now and again 😂😂 and when I do I need escapism and a giggle. Sue delivers these by the bucket load and this book is full of very funny moments, especially when Dani goes to the gym... Wow!!

This ones has all of Sues signature wit and laugh out loud humour. It's packed full of feel good factor, is easy to read and is another heartwarming story guaranteed to leave you with a great big smile on your face!

Part if it's charm is it's such a relatable tale ( well for me at least) heading towards 40 loving the naughty treats but wanting to drop some weight and feel good, most women I'm sure can relate to this at some point in their lives... There's also a huge dollop of romance making it THE perfect summery read. Perfect for stretching out by the pool on holiday with or if your stuck in Blighty it's still perfect as its a gorgeous way to escape our changeable weather.

The only rule here that I must enforce is that you have the biggest Icecream you can find while you relax and enjoy the book and it must be guilt free! Life's too short!!

Charming, sweet and utterly, page turningly perfect ... A whooping great 5 🌟 from OK so there's 3 things I Love...

1. Reading 📖📖

2. Anything the author Sue Watson writes

3. Icecream 🍦🍦 I own my own Italian Ice cream Parlour....

So it goes without saying if you put all these three loves together I am going to be in my element! Which I was the moment I tucked into this little delight...

Curves, kisses and chocolate Icecream is the second book in the Icecream cafe series by Sue, the first title is Ella's Icecream summer which I reviewed here a month or so ago...



This can be read as a standalone but honestly folks if you love this genre these two are well worth devouring so go on treat yourself to them both- you definately won't regret it.In fact if you've never read a book by Sue Watson you NEED to. I love thrillers and crime related fiction but love a bit of fun and a light hearted read to distract me from a spine chilling serial killer now and again 😂😂 and when I do I need escapism and a giggle. Sue delivers these by the bucket load and this book is full of very funny moments, especially when Dani goes to the gym... Wow!!

This ones has all of Sues signature wit and laugh out loud humour. It's packed full of feel good factor, is easy to read and is another heartwarming story guaranteed to leave you with a great big smile on your face!

Part if it's charm is it's such a relatable tale ( well for me at least) heading towards 40 loving the naughty treats but wanting to drop some weight and feel good, most women I'm sure can relate to this at some point in their lives... There's also a huge dollop of romance making it THE perfect summery read. Perfect for stretching out by the pool on holiday with or if your stuck in Blighty it's still perfect as its a gorgeous way to escape our changeable weather.

The only rule here that I must enforce is that you have the biggest Icecream you can find while you relax and enjoy the book and it must be guilt free! Life's too short!!

Charming, sweet and utterly, page turningly perfect ... A whooping great 5 🌟 from me!!!

5☆ Uplifting, Courageous, Very Funny,

This is the second book in the series and wow it was good.
 Although it is book 2, It can be comfortably read as a standalone book.

 The first book melted my heart the second has done exactly the same! I loved it!!

Curves, kisses and Chocolate ice cream, is a book about personal struggles and overcoming your demons, new beginnings, friendship, relationships, humour, scrumptious ice cream, fab characters.

Dani is the main character in the story.
Wow what a women!!
She is a character I can 100% relate too. Emotional eating, battling with self esteem, doubts, no self confidence... the list goes on.
But she is funny, determined, extremely likeable. My favourite character.

After countless attempts to change something finally clicks.....Dani enters a gym.... well I was laughing so hard I had tears! Everything that could go wrong....did go wrong... she got cramp.. fell off a treadmill ... the list goes on!!

Dani really doesn't have it easy. She is hiding from her past. Her past Ex's have left her not trusting of men.
Until she meets Chris at the gym!

He sees something in Dani.
At first I believed he was just be friending her as a way to help he's business and it mad me angry to think he was going to expose her vulnerability for personal gain.
But then I warmed to him.
Just as much as he warmed to Dani.
He captures her heart but can he keep it when her Ex turns up!

I loved seeing Dani grow as a person and her journey to get healthy.
My god we can relate to the endless pressure we put upon ourselves.

What I loved was how real the story was and how real Dani was.

Sue really did her research and opened up the raw emotions and the mask Dani wore.
The emotional eating when people tore into her unknowingly.  The effects comments have on people behind closed doors was bang on!!

I loved that each chapter had a little paragraph detailing that months diet plan. It made me laugh.

On a brighter note. Sue had me in tears of laughter with her witty writing and wicked sense of humour,  the banter between Dani and Chris. Her witty one liners.

I was very excited to see old faces. Especially the Nan. She is my all time favourite character.

Sue is definitely fast becoming one of my favourite Authors.
I love books that are very funny, but can be real at the same time and Sue captures the two perfectly!

This is the perfect feel good summer read, that will have you laughing out loud till the early hours, plus it has a scrumptious cover!


Would I recommend this book......100% ......YES!!!!

I can't wait for the next instainstalment.

Amazing read. was a fun summer read. This book had something for everyone to enjoy. Would recommend this to all

I think that "Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice - Cream" is a story that many of the readers can relate too. I, for once, can. I've been struggling with my weight since I've become a mum - right after bringing the little one home I was so slender like never before and it stayed like this for some time but then the PND began, together with comfort eating and so the kilos started to pile and well, they don't want to go away, no matter what. I am not overweight, well, maybe a little, but I just don't feel well with me weight. And so I could SO completely understand Dani, and I could see all of the excuses that I am using to start better eating - it is always from the next Monday. So this is probably why I could so well connect with Dani - because I've been there, I've seen this. Sue Watson in a brilliant, sensitive way explains Dani's feelings about food and I could nod my head as I was so getting it.

Even though this book is second in the series, you can absolutely read it as a stand - alone. And personally I think that this story was much, much better than the previous one! Yes, we meet some of the characters from the previous book but those are only small vignettes, as the story really focuses on Dani and her battle with her weight and her weakness. This journey is full of funny and poignant moments, full of strength and weakness, showing all the ups and downs of trying to pull their socks up and feeling better. Not all have such a willpower that one word and decision is all they have to do - sadly.

With "Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice - Cream" we are back in Appledore, meeting Dani this time. She's left the town twenty years before, heartbroken, and now she's back - overweight, unhappy, desperate to become thinner for her fortieth birthday. However, working in the Ice - Cream Cafe doesn't help to keep her diets... What must happen that Dani sees what feeling good is really about? Is it really all about the weight?

I think Dani belongs to those characters that you can't not like. She is determined but also weak, and she often gives up only to start again the next day - such a well - known vicious circle! She's honest and she's maintaining a healthy distance from herself but she also often uses the humour against herself.

There is a brilliant feel to this story, and I think it's because Sue Watson has perfectly well blended together poignant and funny moments. Well, funny - they were funny for us but for sure not always for Dani! She is again your usual, normal woman, just like many of us, and Sue Watson can really write those characters. And it was truly Dani that has made this story - she was so lovely, bubbly and quirky, full of good intentions and with the right sense of humour and her favourite sport was coaching, and I immediately thought, my kind of girl! Talking too much, wearing her heart on her sleeve, here is our Dani. And it is great that at the end she's going to find balance - it's the most important thing, no matter if you're overweight or not.

Each chapter of the book starts with Dani mentioning her previous diet - there were many of them, and all failed but you have to read the reasons why they failed and why she was trying this particular diet at all - oh, this was brilliant and very, very amusing! And thanks to Sue Watson (not!) I am turning into a real ice - cream fan. I'm not so much into ice - creams but all the descriptions were so mouth - watering, all the different flavours sounded so, so good, I would love to try them!

Sue Watson's shows with her book that impossible is nothing for her - she has taken a very sensitive topic and managed to turn it into a great, honest, down - to - earth realistic story. She has got into Dani's head and translated for us all of her feelings and emotions, explaining why she doesn't feel comfortable in her own body and why she couldn't change it. So truly, under the funny, light - hearted topping, there is a lot of depth to this story and it has many, many layers.
The strength of this book lies not in the characters, or the humour, or twists and turns but in the fact that Sue Watson has decided to write about such sensitive topic and she brilliantly pulled it off, so hats off to her for this, and standing ovation from me personally. She writes about insecure women that aren't afraid to eventually and finally spread their wings, and it is always so inspiring. Her writing style is colourful, full of sharp humour, and vivid, easily bringing the events in the story to life.

So altogether, "Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice - Cream" was a very relatable story about a woman like many others trying to loose some weight, told in a sober, genuine, down - to - earth way with a lot of understanding and without patronising or offending someone. There are characters you can't help but root for, a lovely setting, even more lovely background of the Ice - Cream Cafe, nice weather and feel - good factor - what more do you need than this lovely, sweet and charming story? Recommended!

Dani is starting her life over. After a disappointing go in London, she has moved back to the seaside town of her childhood, Appledore, and back to the ice cream shop where she worked as a teenager. Back then, she was a little chubby and was bullied by the other girls in her class. She had to help with her alcoholic mother, and her father left and then died before Dani was even a teenager. To deal with all her anger and grief, Dani had turned to food. It was a habit she never broke. 

But now her fortieth birthday is approaching, and she wants a better life for herself. Despite the fact that she is living over and working in an ice cream shop, she is determined to lose weight and be healthier. Her first trip to the gym leads to embarrassment, injury, and a harried meeting with gym owner and personal trainer Chris. Her second trip doesn't fare much better, although the trip to the emergency room showed no lasting damage. Dani was about to stop there, but Chris wouldn't let her give up and offers his personal training expertise for free. 

As Dani faces her issues with food as well as her grief at all her childhood misfortunes, she finds that sometimes giving up ice cream binges and trying something difficult can come with perks you could never see coming. New friends, new recipes, and a new love helps her keep her eye on her goals and find a life of healing, good health, and lots of love. 

Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice Cream is a charming summer romance with laughs and love and ice cream (and yes, a recipe is included at the end). Sue Watson has created an idyllic town and a beloved ice cream shop in this second book in her Ice Cream Cafe Series (her first was Ella's Ice Cream Summer, also a delightful summer read), and in Dani she has written a strong woman with a big personality who lives her life with passion and creativity. This is the perfect book for reading on a beach, or for reading inside on a rainy day--or even a snowy day--when it's all about dreaming of the beach, of the sand and the sun and the surf. And the sundaes. 



Galleys for Curves, Kisses, and Chocolate Ice Cream were provided by Bookoutre through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.

Not as enjoyable as I thought it would be. Even tho her journey was great the story just slogged along.

I love Sue Watson's books - always a great storyline, laugh out loud moments, excellent characters and lovely settings.

I really enjoyed the first book in The Ice-Cream Cafe series so had high hopes for Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream. I wasn't disappointed. This book touched me as I too have always battled with my weight. I was rooting for Dani on her quest to lose weight. Dani is a lovely warm character who I identified with. I loved the supporting characters - Dani's lovely friend Karla and the lovely Chris.

I highly recommend this book and hope that there will be more books in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 27%

I am really sorry but this book isn't working for me. I enjoyed the previous book, Ella's Ice-Cream Summer, a lot but this one can't live up to my expectations.

I liked the fact that we have an overweight character with Dani, who is struggling to lose weight. As I am overweight myself I do understand her struggles, pressuring herself and trying to resist those glorious food temptations. But her constant whining and acting like a child really got on my nerves and was simply boring. Some people might find things funny but unfortunately it wasn't my humour at all.

This is the first book I have read by Sue Watson but I can absolutely guarantee that it won’t be the last one I read. I have heard lots of good things about Sue from other bloggers, authors and readers. When I was offered the chance to participate in the blog tour for ‘Curves, Kisses & Chocolate Ice-Cream’, it seemed the ideal opportunity to acquaint myself with Sue’s work.

As I always say, I don’t want to write too much about the storyline as I have a nasty habit of giving away far too much about books I have enjoyed (oops). Well I totally and absolutely flipping loved this book but more about that later. The synopsis says it all really. Ten years ago Dani fled Appledore with a broken heart and a lot of broken dreams. Only now does she feel strong enough to try to put her past behind her and to return to the scene of heartbreak, Appledore. Dani gets herself a job working in the new look ‘Ice Cream Cafe’, which has certainly changed since she lived in Appledore. Dani is still nursing a broken heart and everywhere she turns in Appledore, there seems to be a reminder of her ‘lost love’ Jude, although she does have the gorgeous sounding, personal trainer Chris to keep her occupied. The temptation to break her diet is everywhere. Jude makes a reappearance (boo hiss) at Dani’s birthday party and history threatens to repeat itself. Is Dani going to get the body she so dreams of having? Will Dani be able to deal with the past which threatens to spoil her future? Will Dani’s birthday party go with a bang? Will Dani get back with Jude or is she destined to be with someone else? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves. You won’t regret it.

I absolutely, totally and utterly loved the character of Dani for many reasons- some of which I am not going to go into on a blog. Those who know me well will realise why if they read the book. Anyway back to Dani. She is one funny, realistic and down to earth girl. We learn that she has been bullied through school and that after having had it drummed into her for years and years that she is a worthless, fat ugly blob who spoils everything, Dani believes it herself. She puts herself down with so many comments but I think that her thinking is that if she makes negative comments about herself, then she gets in there first so that nobody else can. We learn rather a lot about Dani’s home life too which was far from ideal. All this helps to explain why she is how she is. Dani can’t see what everybody else can see. Dani is a kind, friendly, warm, generous, funny and a good friend to all. It’s true that Dani is rather impatient and she wants the supermodel/ think look like yesterday but as her friend Karla reminds her- these things take time and there is no overnight solution. I loved Dani’s sessions at the gym. Anybody who has been to the gym has fallen off one piece of equipment at one time or another injuring themselves and most will be able to empathise with Dani’s reluctance to go to the gym. I loved the little anecdotes and life lessons which popped up every so often throughout the book. One such quote is that Dani ‘has to confront the past before it threatens her future’. A lot of people will certainly make use of that pearl of wisdom. I also loved the character of Karla, who is Dani’s best friend and who also handily happens to be a psychologist. She loves Dani dearly and supports her in everything she does but Karla is also realistic and is ready to give Dani a reality check when she feels it is necessary. Chris sounds adorable and if every man who works in a gym is as good looking as Chris sounds, then I would never be away from the place.

In my opinion, ‘Curves, Kisses & Chocolate Ice-Cream’ is extremely well written with the perfect mix of love, real life, drama, tear jerking moments and moments where you just want to leap into the pages of the book and give Dani a hug. I really did feel that I had been on a rollercoaster of emotions after I had finished reading this book with all the highs, lows and laughs in between. I became addicted to reading this book and it was almost as if it became glued to my hand as it came everywhere with me. I was reading so quickly that the pages almost began to turn themselves and before I knew it I had finished the book, which I was pleased about (because I knew how the story ended) but not pleased about (because I wanted the story to go on and on). Bookworms will understand exactly what I mean by this. ‘Curves, Kisses & Chocolate Ice-Cream’ is the second book in the ‘Ice Cream Cafe’ series but it can also be read as a standalone.

In short and just in case you haven’t gathered by now, I absolutely, well and truly, flipping LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book and I so hope that the series featuring the Ice Cream Café is going to continue on and on. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for the characters. I would definitely recommend this book to others and I can’t wait to dive into Sue’s other books, which I just know are going to be just as good as this one. I easily award ‘Curves, Kisses & Chocolate Ice-Cream’ 5* out of 5* but I would award it more stars if I could because I enjoyed it so much.

It took me a little bit to get into this book. I wish I had read the first one to have the background knowledge, although this could be a stand only move!. Some parts are refreshing hilarious that had me laughing out loud, the main character Dani has her dream job, working at an ice cream shop, however she is overweight and has struggled with her weight her whole life. Pick this book up and follow Dani and her story you won't be sorry

This is the second book in a series about The Ice Cream Cafe, an ice cream parlour in the seaside Devon village of Appledore. I really enjoyed the first book (Ella's Ice Cream Summer), and was looking forward to returning to the cafe and its characters. Although part of a series, either of these books could easily be read as a standalone story.



In this book, we meet a few new characters in addition to renewing our acquaintance with others. The central person here is Dani, who, like Ella in the first book, is returning to Appledore after a long absence. There is a mystery to Dani's sudden departure from the village twenty years before that unravels as the story proceeds. Dani has returned to take up the position of assistant manager of the ice cream cafe, an unfortunate job I thought for someone who is constantly trying to lose weight. The 16 chapters of the book are named after diets that Dani has tried, usually in an effort to catch the eye of or hold on to a member of the opposite sex. However, when she decides to lose weight for her own satisfaction, she turns to exercise and we meet lovely gym owner Mike and follow the trials and tribulations of Dani's task.



I think many readers would recognise Dani's problem of trying one diet after another, returning to bad eating habits as each one fails to have the desired effect. You certainly couldn't criticise Dani's perseverance and determination, but I found her a little annoying at times. Having said that, she is also the source of a great deal of humour, as are a couple of the others working in the cafe.



I would have to say that I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first in the series. However, on its own it lives up to its subtitle - a feel-good holiday romance, and, as such, a good one to pack away for holiday reading.

This is a fun book that had me laughing out loud in some places, but the laughs are definitely balanced with the struggles of the main character, Dani, as she struggles to lose some weight, and A LOT of emotional baggage in the process. The main struggle is that Dani has been comforting herself with food for almost her entire life. There are a lot of loose ends - the loss of her father at a young age, then the loss of her mother, and she still has not gotten over the heartbreak of her first love.

There were a few things that really didn't sit well with me - at one point Dani tries to go to the gym, but can't actually reach her feet to tie her shoes. She also says she is around "three stone" overweight, which you could take to be roughly 40-50 lbs overweight. I don't think that is really overweight enough that you would struggle with being able to reach your feet to tie your shoes (especially as she is doing so sitting down). The other thing is that at the beginning, Dani really seemed whiny about her weight, and I wasn't sure how much more I was going to be able to take of it, but I am glad I pushed through and kept reading, because she does change her outlook (and the woe-is-me attitude goes away with it).

Dani manages to pull herself and her life together, and stops blaming her past on her situation. All in all, a fun read. I had not read the first book in the series, but I don't think you really need to in order to enjoy this book.

Sue Watson is my new feel-good go-to author. She will definitely give you a good laugh. She gives readers endearing characters that people can relate to. Though I adore Ella more, I admire Dani’s determination in reaching her goal. I can totally relate to her struggle with losing weight and even more struggle in trying to stay away from food. Her journey to a healthier body is hilarious and yet it mirrored what some people are going through in real life. She tried all diet plan imaginable to no avail. As much as I can relate to her weight problem, I can’t stand her constant whining about it. It’s just too much. Still, I like Dani’s character growth from whiny to a determined and confident woman who’ve learned a lot along her weight loss journey. And since it is set in Appledore, the funny women of the cafe, Ella, Roberta, Gina, and Sue, are present, too. Add Karla, Dani’s super supportive best friend, and we’re in for one hilarious read.

But Dani won’t just make you laugh, she will also inspire you to be a better person and feel good about yourself. Despite what she’s been through growing up, her positive attitude is contagious. And though I didn’t head out to the gym after reading this, I sure cut down my sweet intake and try to do some exercise at home everyday. I admire her determination and hard work to achieve her goal. On the other note, her romantic past is somewhat predictable but the secret she’s been keeping is quite surprising but it helped me understand why Dani resorted to binge eating.

I also like how there’s more romance incorporated into the story and how it materialized between the characters. It is not overly romantic, more like easy and natural. Another thing is how each chapter is titled with the diet Dani has tried over the years along with her diet journal entry and they sure are all chuckle-worthy.

Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream may be a funny book but underneath the witty lines lies a sensitive issue that a lot of people faced in today’s society. It may be taken lightly in the book but it doesn’t make things less honest. If anything, it made things more realistic. The struggle of not being comfortable with your own body is real and so is the pressure and insecurity that goes along with it. Writing it in a cheerful manner highlight the positivity that it’s trying to convey. Props to Miss Watson.

To sum it up, this is one excellent mouth-watering treat and is a perfect summer read, what with all the ice-cream talk. A laugh-out-loud and heartwarming story that a lot of people can relate to. If you enjoyed Ella’s Ice-Cream Summer, I’m sure you will like this one, too. Don’t forget to grab an ice-cream, though, as it will leave you craving for one.

Super cute read - just straight chick lit, which is my favorite in the summer. There is nothing more relaxing that floating in the pool reading a story that you know will end up on a good note. It's a great way to relax after a long week of work.

Dani ran away from her hometown years ago, leaving all memories of her alcoholic mother and cruel boyfriend behind. But she hasn't found happiness anywhere else so she decides to return to the town she loves.

With her birthday fast approaching, Dani decides to make some changes. She is tired of being a fat girl working in an ice cream shop, wondering what everyone is thinking about her. So she sets a goal to slim down before her birthday party, hopefully making her ex-boyfriend rue the day he gave her up.

Dani joins a local gym and promptly embarasses herself multiple times. But she keeps going, supported by the gym's owner and trainer. Dani keeps up her self-deprecating humor, but Chris sees through it and refuses to let her make fun of herself.

As Dani begins to make diet changes, her confidence grows, even though she makes a ill advised interview with a local journalist who has her pose for some awkward photos that show just how much she likes ice cream......

Her birthday has arrived, and the ex-boyfriend is around, showing interest in rekindling their relationship, but now Dani isn't sure that her goals are the same.

Watching Dani's journey, surrounded by her eccentric but loving tribe made for a very good weekend. I laughed a little, cheered on her fitness journey and enjoyed her happy ending.

I really tried to finish this book but I found the writing style harsh and the character very annoying. I really wanted to like it because the story seemed interesting but I couldn't enjoy no matter how much I read.