Snowflakes over the Starfish Cafe is an emotional and exceptional book which will really pull at your heartstrings. Set in a beautiful location the stories of Hollie and Jake are told over several years and start proper to them meeting in the present day. Each have suffered trauma, loss, pain and need to find a way to trust again.

When Jake finds abandoned dog Mr Pickles it is almost fate that brings him into the Starfish Cafe.

Beautifully written story which had me in tears of happiness and sadness in equal measure. The characters of Hollie and Jake were well considered and their stories although devastating and extreme were believable and poignant. The way the story builds the tension is lovely and the descriptions of the coastal area and particularly the RNLI and their work was well set within the book.

Highly recommended and I understand that there will be a follow up which I look forward to reading.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another wonderful book from Jessica Redland. I’ve loved all her books I’ve read so far and this one was just as good. It started off quite sad and downbeat but, as I got through the pages it started to get happier and better and I ended up enjoying this sweet tale. The descriptions were right up there with her other books in this series and I could picture the town with the seafront and the cold winds. I’m certainly going to read Jessica’s other books when I can. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I didn't DNF this book, but I did start skimming at 54%. This book was honestly just way too darn depressing and heavy, and it didn't lighten up, ever. I was expecting a Hallmark Movie story, cheesy and making me smile, and instead it's trauma after trauma and death after death! Not to mention, the characters were overtly black and white. The good characters could do nothing wrong, but the bad characters/antagonists were so overtly evil it felt elementary and weak. Larissa, Serena, Craig, they were honestly unrealistically heinous. I could take the description of the family deaths, even though they were one right after the other, but I drew the line at the lengthy explanation of the dog's death. I'm happy that there was a happy ending, and the story did seem moving, but it was just too much for me. And way too long. The pacing felt very off, and it was hard to connect to the characters. I empathized for their pain, but that was it. There's no way for me as a reader to relate to that much trauma on top of the hyperbolic, toxic people in both Hollie and Jake's lives, so it was a real struggle.

However, this book has countless of 5-star reviews, so I just think it wasn't *my* cup of tea, but that won't stop it from being someone else's new favorite read. The descriptive language was fantastic, the imagery amazing. Hollie and Jake are both real in their emotional availability and vulnerability. So don't get me wrong, this book wasn't all bad, it just wasn't my favorite. I still urge everyone to give it a try, because they might connect to it in a way that I wasn't able to.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Leave it to Jessica Redland to whisk me away into this story. Hollie and Jake both captured my heart. I cried for them… sad tears and happy tears. I cheered for them as they faced trials and I finished the story with a smile. Definitely a must read for the early holiday season.

These holiday stories are a VIBE! Giving me allllll the good feelings and I am here for it. Loved this one!!!

Another warm and uplifting read by Jessica that I found plenty of escapism in. Jessica's books just seem to get better and better and this one I really enjoyed. Hollie has inherited her mother's cafe but Hollie is not happy herself and wants to find her happiness can a chance meeting bring someone special in to her life? Jake doesn't like to talk especially about something that happened in the past, but when he goes in to the starfish cafe, little does he realise the impact that meeting will have on his life. I think people will be able to relate to this story too. It is a story about love and life and finding happiness, I felt a warmth in my heart reading this story and I wanted Jake and Hollie to find their happy ever after, especially after all they have both been through. Such a wonderful read and one I would recommend, If you haven't read any books by Jessica, I would thoroughly recommend reading them as they are just so uplifting.

Fabulous festive read.
Such an enjoyable book, I loved watching Hollie build up her new life and connecting with Jake. It was an interesting story that kept me entertained throughout.

The wonderful Jessica Redland has yet again written another fantastic read.
This is a touching story about family relationships and friendships. It is a heart-warming love story of two damaged people who both have tragedies that they need to overcome. This is more than your average Christmas book.
Hollies life revolves around her mums cafe, her families values and ensuring that she makes her customers happy. She goes above and beyond for everyone but herself. Her heart has been hurt so much she protects it fiercely.
Jake dotes on his nanna and loves his job, helping others but something or someone is missing.
Enter one cold November evening when Jake finds Pickles a neglected dog on-the beach next to Hollies cafe He needs a safe haven with the dog and her cafe is this. Hollie loves dogs and immediately loves Pickles and Jakes easy on the eye too.
Pickles brings them together as friends but will there be more?.

What a beautiful story!!. I laughed, cried and cheered for Holly and Jake!. Having Pickle in there too just made the story complete!.
Jessica is a new author to me but boy is she as good as I was told!!!. To tell a tale so well that you are right there in that story takes a great author who can write it in such a way that you feel involved and are thinking about the decisions that we all have to make from time to time and sets you thinking about the story even after you've reluctantly put it down to sleep or work!!. It's a definite winner!!!!!.

Whitsborough Bay you will always have my heart.

I love Jessica's books. All the characters are like old friends and you just want to give them a big hug.

This is a beautiful love story tinged with incredible sadness and tragedy to two young people. My heart broke for both Hollie and Jake but it also skipped plenty of beats at all the beautiful moments within this book.

A well deserved ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hollie puts her all into the Starfish Café, trying to keep her mother's spirit alive as she grieves for her family.

Jake has never let anyone get close to him, especially since his tragic childhood left him without his parents.

A chance encounter involving a lost dog brings these two together. Can they overcome their own grief and find a new life?

It was initially the cover of this book that drew me toward it. It conjures romance and so I couldn't wait to get started on the novel.

Told from the point of view of both Hollie and Jake, I immediately felt so much empathy and emotion for these two characters. They have both been through so much and I really just wanted to hug them.
These two are at the heart of this novel.

There is a real sense of community within this book. The supporting characters were all lovely although there was one I really wanted to scream at. If you read it (which I hope you will,) you'll soon know which one I mean.

The setting for this book was so beautifully written and I could imagine myself in this town, sat at the café, looking out over the water. It made me feel a little nostalgic for home (as I grew up on the south coast.)

There is a large theme of grief and loss through this book but it is tackled with care, warmth and humour.

Overall though, there's a promise of hope. There were moments where I laughed, cried and felt incredibly uplifted. I found it hard to leave Hollie and Jake to the point where I read it in pretty much one sitting.

Snowflakes over the Starfish Café was an uplifting, inspirational novel. It's a perfect escape. I loved it. This is the kind of book I'd love to be able to write one day. 

(Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.)

A heart-warming romance. Bouncing between the lives of the two main characters takes a little getting used to, but it is worth the effort. I am eager to read more by this author.

Snowflakes Over the Starfish Cafe - Jessica Redland

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Welcome to The Starfish Café - where you will find stunning views, delicious food and lifelong friendships.

Two broken hearts.

Since she inherited The Starfish Café, Hollie has poured her heart into the business, striving to keep her mother's traditions and warm-hearted spirit alive. But behind closed doors Hollie is searching for true happiness as she grieves the tragic loss of her family who were once the beating heart of the café...

This is a touching story about family relationships and friendships. It is a heart-warming love story of two damaged people who both have tragedies that they need to overcome. This is more than your average Christmas book.

A well-written slow paced book brimming with emotion, delightful characters and a wonderful community spirit. Jessica will take you on a rollercoaster ride with this book. Perfect for anyone that is in need of that uplifting read.

Rating 4/5

‘With courage, nothing is impossible’
Snowflakes over the Starfish cafe is a wonderful, warm, emotional story about family, grief and hope.
The dual point of view narrative for Jake and Hollie’s stories flow effortlessly and as always with Jessica Redland’s books, are written so sensitively.
The coastline and scenery is so vividly described and I’d love to join Hollie on one of her beach combing trips.
I was so pleased to read this is the start of a new series and can’t wait to read the next instalment.

Loved this book. Jessica Redland is such a fabulous author, I have loved every book I have read so far of hers.

This book made me smile, cry, gasp and swoon. It's a romantically funny book absolutely packed full of loveliness and if that's not enough there's Christmas thrown in too and oh my I love it all.

I absolutely loved the characters that visited the cafe, Hollie and Jack's stories were so incredible.

Pure escapism!!
A wonderful read, great story of loss, grief and finding yourself again. Fab characters and seaside town. Perfect for a cosy snuggle down this winter!
Hollie was born over Christmas so has her Christmas name as a result. She works in a cafe baking and is crafty when at home - she never seems to need lots of sleep!!
Jake was brought up by his grandmother, and is a nurse at the local hospital in A&E. No spoilers here!!
I did struggle with the first couple of chapters but was then hooked! Drawn into a land of scones and seals!
Recommended winter reading.
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read

🌊Putting some love & joy back into the 🎄Christmas season😍

I loved this! It's a moving story with great characters, including an adorable shih tzu named Mr. Pickles that inadvertently brings together two grieving and lonely thirty-something residents of small Whitsborough Bay.

Jessica Redland really writes wonderful characters who've coped with hard times. Cafe owner Hollie and nurse Jake have both suffered great loss and yet they're not bitter or selfish; they seem to embrace the positive and serve others even while they hide their grief. They are both lovely, complex characters and it was easy to get wrapped up in their romance.

It's ironic that Hollie, from a Christmas-crazy family, finds the season so depressing and traumatic. The story is told by alternating past years with the present to reveal bit by bit why Hollie so dislikes the Christmas season and why Jake can't let go of the tragic events that took his family.

An excellent, sweet romance with all the feels and a lovely cast of supporting characters, sprinkled with a few bad eggs like Jake's obsessed sister and Hollie's erstwhile fiance Craig.

I've been reading the author's romances for a few years now and never met one I did not like. Still, this is, IMO, one of her better ones.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This is a lovely story of love and of loss and how it tempers our lives and our choices.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a wonderful tale this is. I couldn't put it down.

A story of two heartbroken, lost souls who have lived within just a short distance, their lives connected - although they weren't aware.

One of the very best things about 2021 for me has been discovering Jessica Redland's books and this is my favourite so far!

Thoroughly recommended.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another brilliant book from Jessica.

Hollie inherits The Starfish Cafe from her mom and has kept as many of her mom’s traditions as she can. She is still grieving the loss and of her family following a accident at sea and doesn’t want to let anyone get close.
Jake finds a dog wandering around on the beach and ends up in her cafe to see if she knows who the dogs owner is. The dogs owner has recently gone into a care home and can no longer look after him and her family decide they don’t want him either so Jake and Hollie decide to share ownership of the dog between Jake’s shifts as a nurse and the cafe.
There friendship blossoms slowly and they find themselves falling for each other. Can they put all the hurt from the past behind them and move forward together or will the past break them apart.