Sometimes I get in this mood where I need fluffy romance and.. then I actually need it. The feeling is not to be refused or ignored or whatever. So.. When it popped up again, I immediately jumped at the chance to pick up this fun-sounding book! A chef? Set in Norway? I was so curious about it!

Like I just said, this book is set in Norway and I don't think I've read many books set in that country so far? It added a lot to the story because the author included a ton of Norwegian things - food mentioned, customs, habits, explaining the culture and.. so much more. I was being immersed in all things Norway and loved it. Especially the way it got done! We simply get to know all these things through one of the main character's setting foot in Norway for the very first time because he inherited some land. Like.. It added something to this story that I feel.. I might miss in other romance books from now on? I don't know. We'll see, I guess, haha.

There's this short moment where Jack is.. pretty much being a Peeping Tom and thinking a certain phrase that's very much on the side of "objectifying women". The simple fact that I highlighted it and put a note in says plenty about how I felt at that time, I guess? Didn't really appreciate it and.. maybe that shouldn't have happened..

But, the main thing I think fell short is the lack of romantic or sexual tension. You know the way romance novels tend to build up to a first kiss or their 'first time'? I didn't feel that tension, or something akin to cuteness, at all while reading Summer Island and it's such a shame too! I feel like the author was trying and I would've enjoyed this one way better if she had succeeded..

3.5 / 5

If you're interested in Norwegian culture and want a romance to go with it, this might definitely be the book for you! And you might even get hungry, with one of the main characters being a chef and all..

I love reading romance novels that take us to a new location instead of the usual settings. In this very enjoyable read, we travel to a small Norwegian island where British chef, Jack Greene, has surprisingly inherited a farm and lots of land from a father he never knew. There he meets Ninni who appeals to him right away. He’s truly a fish out of water, but he’s also slowly becoming entranced with the people and culture of this little out-of-the-way island. And Ninni soon is returning his interest.

What is fun is learning about Norwegian culture, especially the food as Jack explores how to use food he is discovering. Jack and Ninni make an entertaining couple and the setting is lovely. The combination makes this a romance worth reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Summer Island is a wonderful, heartwarming story of a small island in Norway and its cast of inhabitants. The story focuses primarily on Ninni and Jack. Ninni has returned to the Island she grew up on to nurse her broken heart. Jack is a chef in England who just found out he inherited a farm on the same island. They meet and sparks fly. I truly enjoyed this adorable story. The setting is unique - I can't think of any other book I've read set on a Norwegian Island, the characters are a joy to read and the whole story felt like a big hug. I highly recommend this book to all romance readers!

Charming and delightful. A great addition to fiction collections where fluffy UK women's fiction is popular.

A light and summery read. Just what I needed!

One of the things I liked most was learning a bit more about Norwegian customs. And the island, of course! I felt like I could smell the sea... all these descriptions of the island and the life there brought back so many good memories.
I also liked Ninni and Jack, they are so different, but these differences make them complement each other.
I liked the story and enjoyed it a lot, although I wish we could have learnt more about Ninni and Jack, to get to know them better.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK / One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! It was light and sweet and a perfect summer read. I also really liked learning more about Norway and Norwegian customs.

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.

It's some very cute escapism when leaving our homes isn't entirely encouraged. I've also not read many books set in Norway so seeing some Norwegian culture was lovely.

Seeing some parts of Norway was lovely, for example the inclusion of Constitution Day.

I would have loved to see some recipes in the book, some traditional Norwegian dishes we can try would have really enhanced it. Especially when one of the main characters is a chef.

I really liked Jack, but I found it hard to warm to Ninni. Her choices weren't always sublime, and she was a little uptight and hard ro read at times.

A charming and uplifting romance that I found to be well written and enjoyable.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for letting me read and review this book.

I have to say, this was the perfect 'little get away' that we all need right now. I transported to the small island off the coast of Norway. The book takes place in the late spring, right before the summer tourists (even thought there are not a whole lot of them) start making their way to the island. The islanders that live there year round make up a wonderful little community and it feels like they are welcoming you with open arms.

The two main characters first meet by accident, as Jack hits Ninni as she is riding her bike to the bus station. They ending up running into each other again once they are both on the island, and do not click at first. In fact they are actually irritated with each other. But soon they start to come around to each other. The island is worried that Jack, who inherited his biological fathers farm and estate, is going to sell the land to developers and their island as they know it will disappear. Over the course of the book, Ninni shows him the sweet and welcoming charm of the island that convinces him to stay on the island. I found myself routing for the Jack and Ninni to find each other through the whole book.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a get away book with a happy and satisfying ending. My one complaint is that it is only a hair short of 300 pages, and i wish it was longer.

This book was so charming. I loved the romance set somewhere else from where I live, in this case, Norway. It left me feeling warm and fuzzy!

This book sounded super cute when I read the blurb for the first time. A Chef with no restaurant foes off to a Norwegian island because his previously unknown dad died and left all of his things to him. A complete stranger from this islander becomes his tour guide and makes him realize things he hadn't in his life. Sounds good, right?

I thought so too. This book overall was normal, I mean, I kept reading but nothing was truly surprising. The main issue was caused because of miscommunication, and it annoyed me more than anything else. Characters, PLEASE TALK TO EACH OTHER, jeez.

By the end of the book I found myself rolling my eyes more often than not.

I raced through this book in two days and absolutely loved it. The romance between the two characters was fab and had me truly rooting for them, willing them on to have their happy ever after. The scenes where Ninni teaches Jack to row and their dash to the vet were so romantic, I adored them and that ending, embedded in the reality of life, that is true romance right there! The author has many strengths but for me the richness of the community was outstanding. I love how all the characters were drawn, how they interact with each other, and how she creates a setting that I defy any reader not to want to visit immediately. I never thought I would want to plant potatoes on a Norwegian Island, but now I do. I learnt a thing or two as well, which is always a lovely upside to a good novel. This book was cosy, feelgood heaven – so much so I have already pre-ordered the next in the series. Highly recommended.

An absolutely brilliant read. I read it one evening. I loved the description of the Norwegian island and all the yummy food the author wrote about. The ending was perfect.The visit to the english equilvent of Mothercare made me laugh. Everyone should read this book

I thought this was a very sweet story. I loved all the main characters and especially, Frick, the adorable dog! It was set in Norway and I loved learning about Norwegian customs. It may have been a bit predictable, but I found it very enjoyable.

Summer Island is a cute romance set in a tiny Norwegian Island called Haraldsgata. This is the first time I have read a book set in Norway that is not a thriller but a nice and breezy romance. Nice job by the author to bring out the charm of the country. It was yummy reading about the mouth-watering food recipes and the colorful culture that keep the folk lively. Natalie Normann draws a elegant picture of life in a small community and togetherness in this tender, feel-good love story. It was just the book escape I needed right now and had a great time reading about farming, cattle breeding, and cooking and how people look after each other's needs without giving away their culture and traditions. Highly recommend if you're looking to while away your time and wish to teleport to the beautiful landscapes of Norway. You could almost smell the snacks and food that makes you crave for them! 

Many thanks to One More Chapter for providing me an early proof of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a nice summer read. I enjoyed the escape to a tiny Norwegian island, and wouldn't mind escaping there myself. It was a pretty standard read, as far as plot development goes. Somewhat predictable, but the ending also wrapped up rather suddenly. Still a good read if you want a short vacation to somewhere else!

Jack, an English chef, travels to Norway where his birth father has left him his farm. There he meets the vivacious Ninni and her nosy neighbors who want to know what the heck some stranger is doing in their town.

While the transplanted Englishman into a cozy Norwegian community aspect was interesting and charming, this story, overall, was quite underwhelming. There is a simplicity to the storytelling that gives off that quaint, small-town vibe. But the writing was mostly bland. For a character-driven story, Norman’s characters are extremely two-dimensional. I truly did not like Ninni since the beginning. She is unreasonably temperamental and the choices she makes near the end of the book made no sense at all. The story’s resolution is dissatisfying—a rushed happy ending. A cute but lamely executed summer romance. I do agree with other reviewers that it’s refreshing to read a foreign romance in someplace less predictable than France or Italy.

A fun and perfect summer read. I enjoyed hearing a book about the beauty of Norway, the culture and customs, and a light-hearted book about this beautiful country. Most books about Norway tend to be nordic noir, so this was a delight. The cover is also perfect.

In this book Ninni is going home to the island she left with her dog Frikk, after losing the so called love of her life Karl after a shocking truth came to light about him.



Meanwhile Jack turns up on the island unsure what to expect after finding out he's been left a farm house and land amongst other things from his once absent father who's passed leaving his London job to go and sort out the place.



I loved the book, however fellow vegetarians be warned there's a lot of talk of sea food and farming animals which I skipped a couple pages through! However the story of the two main characters was fiery and blossomed as the story went on after their rough meeting!



Ninni had a huge decision to make that alters her life and so did Jack for his work life but the ending just wow I was left wanting more a New author I'll be watching out for more from for sure!



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Summer Island had everything I wanted from a novel: romance, escapism, good humour and Frikk the dog.

Set in Norway, the author provides the reader with a rich description of the life and customs that make a Summer in Norway seem truly spectacular. By introducing a small collective of sub characters, you truly get a sense of an islands community mentality. I almost yearned to be Norwegian while reading this heartwarming beauty.

I really enjoyed getting to know Jack and Ninns and I am delighted that there will be a follow up later this year.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.