Summer Island is almost as good as the real thing! Catch me booking a flight to Norway as soon as travel is safe again.
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After a terrible breakup, Ninni retreats to her family’s house on a small island off the coast of Norway. Jack is heading to the same island to discover his family history. An adorable will they-won’t they plays out across gorgeous scenery, with a healthy side of delicious food.
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I’m a big fan of the scenery in this book. The beautiful beaches, gorgeous water, sailing trips, and island community sound absolutely stunning, and I’m definitely adding coastal Norway to my travel bucket list. Then, there’s the food! Jack is a chef, and both he and the islanders prepare delicious sounding meals throughout the book. You know the food is beautifully written when even a vegetarian’s mouth is watering!
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Ninni and Jack are both lovely and funny, and we get just as many scenes with them solo as we do together, which gives this novel a well-rounded feel. The friendship and community that we experience first through Ninni and later through Jack felt so real, and was truly heartwarming throughout the book. I think we’re all yearning a bit for that sense of community, especially right now, and this book certainly delivers.
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As we near the end, things start to happen very quickly. The ending wrapped up a little too quickly for me, and I would have loved a little more detail and fewer time skips. Overall, however, this is a fun summer beach read and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to escape to a gorgeous island for a few hours! I give Summer Island four out of five stars.
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Summer Island is available now. Thank you to @onemorechapterhc and @netgalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Although I’ve never visited Norway the author’s descriptions really brought it to life. conjuring up wonderful sights & scenery in my imaginations while reading.
I’m always a little hesitant reading books written outside of the UK as the Americanisms often used by authors put me off; however, this book was written perfectly.
A delightful story set in a wonderful environment with great, often funny, characters. The island sounds absolutely idyllic ... especially if accompanied by a dog.

It was a refreshing change to read a novel which was set in Norway in full Summer. Extended daylight hours and unexpected sunshine light up the story, making it an ideal summer read to escape into. Full of warmth and heart-warming tones, you can sense the community values which bind the islanders together. It is a relaxing read which you feel yourself settle into.

Jack strikes you as an outsider from the start. Certain members of his adopted family have never accepted him. As he arrives on the island, he seems to have been cast adrift from his life in London and he is a stranger despite his birth right. Ninni is totally at home on the island and has returned to it looking to heal her broken heart. It is fascinating to watch how the islanders react to them both. Friendship and family values run through the whole story. You glimpse some old traditions and customs and there is a real feeling of being rooted in a community which looks out for its members who don't even bother to lock their doors.

In short: a warm, relaxing read.

This was a sweet little romance. I was looking for a quick summer read, and this book worked for what I wanted. I loved the descriptions of the island in Norway. Usually these books are set in Italy or Greece, so it was fun to learn more about Norway! I do wish the characters were a bit more developed, but overall, I enjoyed it.

Jack and Ninni don’t get off to the best start. After he accidentally runs her off the road, that’s the last they think they will see one another. But fate has other ideas.

Jack has inherited land on An island off Norway. A world away from London. It just so happens that Ninni has a home there too. As Jack is unaccustomed to the Nordic lifestyle, Ninni becomes his guide.

This was a breezy romance that had me longing to run away to summer island.

It's not every day we come by a book set on a Norwegian island. And that was more than enough reason for me to pick this book. Telling that it lived up to my expectations will be an understatement. Suffice to say this is one of the most relaxing reads I had this year.
If Norway is half as beautiful as the books shows, it will be a shame not to visit it once. The place-names might be hard to pronounce, but the fun, laughter and the friendly faces Norway offers is going to mesmerise you from the beginning of the story. This could be the story of Jack and Ninni, but little summer island, you are the real hero. Anyone will need an ice-cold heart to leave that place.
A summer fling turning into something more, an English man finding his roots. . . 'Summer Island' is this and much more. Jack and Ninni are there on the island for different reasons, but both find a new purpose there. I loved the way the story progressed expertly linked with the life of the island community. Nosy neighbours and a dog with human intelligence just adds to the mirth.
What are you waiting for then? Stock up your fridge (warning: prepare to witness the slow and painful demise of your diet plans) before grabbing a copy. You will love it for sure!

This is a lovely, relaxing, contemporary romance which starts with an accident after driving on the wrong side of the road and ends with heartwarming romance and a baby whisperer!! I've incidentally learnt so much about Norway by reading this, now I really want to go visit there for myself!

Jack is an accomplished chef who never knew anything about his biological father but now he's going to learn about him, his antecedents and life style. There are plenty of surprises in store - from his new animals to his grandmother's journals, new foods, different customs and a tremendous sense of community support. Through the story of Jack's experiences I felt able to get to know Summer Island and the community which live there, especially Ninni who has returned there for the summer after being heartbroken. 

This is such a delightful story, one that helps you unwind from the stresses of your life and relax into the brilliant read. The author had such a lovely style of writing, it makes you feel like all is well in the world, despite our current realities and the dilemmas facing the characters. I understand this is her first published book and I'm so very impressed by it, I really can't wait to read more by her in future and hope at least some will be set in Norway again!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and finding it such a brilliant read.

Natalie Normann’s Summer Island is an utterly delightful romantic read that is sure to make you smile this summer.

Summer Island off the coast of Norway is a part of the world that should be as familiar to London chef Jack Greene as the back of his hand. Unfortunately for him, reality couldn’t be far different. He is a complete outsider to this community and now he is setting foot on Summer Island for the very first time and he is not at all sure of what reception he will get. How will the locals react to this stranger from London? Will they accept him? Or will his reticence end up keeping everyone else at bay? Is Jack about to make Summer Island his home? Or will he hop on the first flight back home?

Ninni Toft, Jack’s nearest neighbour, has come to Summer Island to heal from a broken heart. A spirited, fun-loving and kind-hearted woman, Ninni has long learned that she doesn’t need material things or lots of cash to be happy. The best things in life are free. But can she teach Jack this? As the two begin to spend more and more time together, Ninni begins to show Jack the joys of island life and the importance of belonging and of feeling part of a community.

For the first time in a very long while, Jack feels like he has found a place he can call home. But with his career in London and his heart in Summer Island, which one will he choose? Will he make a new life for himself in Summer Island? Or will the lure of the bright lights of London prove impossible to resist?

Natalie Normann’s Summer Island is an engaging and enjoyable tale about finding yourself, taking chances and falling in love that is simply irresistible. Natalie Normann writes with great humour and heart and she has penned a charming love story that tickles the funny bone and tugs at the heartstrings and one that has made me add her name to my must-read list.

A terrific tale sure to appeal to fans of Holly Martin and Jane Linfoot, Natalie Norman’s Summer Island is romantic escapism par excellence.

An Enjoyable Read

I really enjoyed Summer Island by Natalie Normann, it is an easy read that gave me an escape from the same four walls, whilst shielding in lockdown. The story is of coming home, even if you don’t know it, where new adventures await. I loved the practical Ninnie and the passionate Jack and the quirky cast of secondary characters.
A cosy, comforting read set in Norway, the perfect escape in these strange times.
My thanks to the author, Netgalley and One More Chapter for allowing me to read and review this wonderful story

, it was just such a wonderful summer read. I am excited to read more from Natalie Normann, in the future

A good way to beat the wanderlust blues during covid. Hero and heroine are strong without being annoying, and the setting was the perfect way to cool off mentally during the recent heatwave.

Had to DNF this one as it was really difficult to get into. The writing style was a bit too direct for my taste. I made it a third of the way though the book and didn't feel invested in the characters or the main dramatic tension at all. I did like the descriptions of the area and food, as well as the fact it was a summer romance set somewhere other than France or Italy, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to keep me interested.

It’s no secret that I love Norway. I visited Bergen and the surrounding area in 2018 for my Silver Wedding Anniversary, because it was the one place in the world I really wanted to go. The only way I can describe how I felt when I was there was that it felt like I’d come home, and I’ve spent pretty much every moment since wishing I could go back! We drove more than 300 miles that long weekend, and at one point were driving onto some of the tiny islands off the coast. This, I think, probably helped me to visualise the setting for this wonderful book, but Natalie Normann’s descriptive powers really helped make me feel like I was there, watching the story unfold.

This book is Natalie Normann’s first novel written in English, although she has been writing books in her native Norwegian for many years. We are so accustomed to the genre of ‘Nordic Noir’ and the darkness from within the pages of those books, that it was so refreshing to have this book evoke such a feeling of summer, of warm breezes and sunlight glinting on the water. I was completely transported there from the comfort of my armchair.

I loved the growing romance between Jack and Ninni, which was a lovely slow burn, complemented by the slower life on the island, and I liked the sense of community on the island. I really enjoyed the glimpses into Norwegian traditions, and the descriptions of fresh Norwegian dishes, they made me so hungry. I also adored the slowness of life on the island, where time passed in a peaceful way, rather than the hustle and bustle of city life.

I did not want this book to end, it was just such a wonderful summer read. I am excited to read more from Natalie Normann, and I am thrilled to see that her next book, Christmas Island will be published by One More Chapter later this year!

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book to read from NetGalley.

I didn't realise until the end that the author actually grew up in Norway!

Jack finds out he has inherited a farm on an island off of Norway and relies on the help of his closest neighbour quite a bit as he learns to understand island life. Then he has to make a choice whether to go back or move forward, and Ninni also has decisions to make.

I enjoyed the environmental references and spending time in the close knit community, who initially view Jack as the enemy!

A lovely will they/won't they love story.

I read this for a blog tour.

This was a sweet love story, not only between Jack and Ninni, but also between the residents and their island, a place Jack falls in love with too.

The traditions and food lure him in, along with the people. It was interesting to learn more about Norway along with Jack.

I really enjoyed this gentle, romantic story, the perfect balm to my lockdown easing worries, a place where everyone feels safe and at home, carefree. Lovely.

A cute and fun read, a great way to while away a few hours and put a smile upon your face. Some great humour and sweet characters. It’s a predictable read, but it’s a nice enough story and enjoyable still.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I struggled to get into this and found it hard to relate to main character which made it hard to enjoy it unfortunately

Strong Scandinavian flavour: summer romance or serious connection?🌅

🌊Summer Island served up what I had hoped for - a romance with characters heavily influenced by the rustic, Norwegian island setting. Traditional foods, festivals and land and seascapes that made me want to join them there, rain or shine! With two lead characters recovering from disappointment the angst level was still pretty low-key. The secondary characters on the island and group social activities gave it a tight-knit community feel. Overall I found the book positive, a little educational about living a more self sustaining life in a coastal, rural setting, and good reading.😊

Thanks to publisher Harper Collins/One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

It's a fun read and I liked the well rounded characters, the plot that flows, the humour and the great setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Reeling from the break up of her relationship with Karl, Norwegian Ninni escapes to her family cottage on a small isolated island. There she meets English chef Jack, who’s inherited a farmstead on the island from the father he never knew. Will he settle in Norway, or sell up and return to his life in London?

This was a gentle story, without any great plot twists or surprises, but a pleasant read nonetheless. What really makes it worthwhile is the level of detail in the description of Norwegian food, lifestyles and the countryside around Haugesund. The island sounds like a lovely place to visit, in spite of the weather, and the clear blue waters feel so inviting. The characters had personalities and were ones you could relate to.

A good summer holiday read.