When life is in a rut and not going as planned find your happiness. In the is case Gina returns to Greece where she had the best of times on summer vacations. Finding herself and some new friends along the way was just what was needed. This was quite an entertaining read of when these two new found friends help Gina search for a long lost love and having some fun along the way.. thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

This is the perfect holiday read especially for fans of Shirley Valentine and Mamma Mia! It is light-hearted and funny but as soon as you meet the 'girls', you just want to keep reading til the end. I really enjoyed the epilogue as well so that you, as the reader, find out what happened beyond the holiday. It was the perfect way to finish this fabulous summer read! I really enjoyed it and I'd highly recommend it.

This is my first exposure to this author, and I have mixed feelings about this novel. There is much to like with a few significant caveats.

Gina Bennett’s marriage had been on life support for a few years when her husband declines to accompany her on a long-planned and longed-for trip to Kalosiros, a Greek island. Contrary to her usual accommodating manner, she surprises him by departing on the trip alone after they agree to a “temporary” separation. This beautiful island holds precious memories of summers spent with her mother and of Nico, her first love. Once she overcomes her initial anxiety of solo travel, Gina meets two women, DeeDee and Rosie, who quickly become supportive friends in her quest to reclaim her sense of self.

This is a lovely story of midlife second chances and the power of female friendships. I thoroughly enjoyed Gina’s adventure as she reclaims her self-respect and her talent as an artist. It becomes apparent that her husband’s need for control fostered a manipulative relationship that over time diminished Gina’s creativity and self-esteem. Everyone should have a friend like DeeDee – a wise elder whose zest for life was both calming and infectious.

This brings me to the caveats mentioned above. The character of Rosie was obnoxious. Her obsession with finding Nico in the spirit of romance was out of touch with Gina’s emotional and mental state of mind. It reflected immaturity rather than exuberance. The pacing felt uneven and the constant references to finding Nico became tedious and distracted from Gina’s challenge to define herself outside of a relationship. Lastly, while it holds a feel-good ending, the storyline felt predictable and tracked a little too closely to the movie Shirley Valentine.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

This lovely little romance is also about female friendship and finding the courage to leave behind a life that isn't working for you anymore. I found the descriptions enjoyable but the storyline dragged here and there for me, and some of the plot line was very predictable.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Gina is a 49 year old woman in the grip of perimenopause. She has been married for 27 years but her husband has eroded her confidence over the years almost completely. She has taken a cleaning job to pay for a holiday to Greece for them but when everything is booked, her husband gives her a last-minute excuse, so she flies on her own. On the island of Kalosiros (probably a stand-in for Kalogiros) she meets two other single travellers, Rosie, 50 and Deedee, 69. Together they enjoy sea, sand and sangria, bolstering Gina's confidence and looking for Nico, Gina's first love.

The descriptions of the scenery and the food and drink are evocative but the dialogue is a little clunky. The women cheerfully trample on the Bechdel test by discussing nothing but men.

This is a feel-good easy to read escapist romance and an uplifting beach read about friendship and second chances. This book is for middle-aged women who like Shirley Valentine and Mamma Mia! and who'd love to have a holiday romance of their own. The brightly-coloured cover is gorgeous.

3.5 stars

I absolutely love this authors books and I couldn’t wait to start this one and read it in one sitting.

Bring me sunshine is a fabulous story of the power of friendships, finding yourself and how it is never to late to start again and also tackles a lot of relatable issues such as menopause and coercive control bringing them out into the open.

Loved the characters in this book particularly Gina who is an inspiration for anyone thinking of going on holiday on their own and who with the help of her new friends started to grow in confidence again and is someone who I am sure a lot of people reading this story will be able to relate to and also highlighted how important friends are in our lives

Loved the beautiful descriptive writing of the scenery and the food as these made me feel like I was right beside Gina and her new friends

This story had Shirley Valentine vibes and has made me want to visit Greece after reading.

Can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

Gina is in a miserable marriage and when her husband tells her he can’t go on the holiday to Greece that she worked hard to pay for Gina decides to go alone to the place she used to visit with her Mum when she was younger. Colin, her Husband, says this may therefore be a good time to have a trial separation.
While there Gina meets up with Rosie and Deedee and the three enjoy drinking, eating and swimming. However this is the place where Gina met her first love and they are on a mission to see if they can locate Nico but will the mission be successful.
I devoured this book in a day, Alex’s descriptive writing of the Greek food, the scenery and the crystal clear sea was amazing., Greece is definitely now on my to visit list.
I found the fact that the book was also about older women, like myself, being/becoming positive in their bodies and realising they are found attractive, really made me smile, I loved the things mentioned like a grey whisker on the chin that Gina had to keep plucking, as so relatable and although this book was pure escapism in many ways, the touches of what life is really like made it feel anything is possible and that you need to be happy in life and not settle for something that no longer makes you happy.
Touching on subjects like the menopause and coercive control, along with lost love were part of the story, but I think, for me, this book highlighted friendships and how friends, old and new, can make a difference in life.
Alex’s writing is always top class and real page turners so I would highly recommend reading this book and being transported to sunny Greece, with the waves lapping gently, while you drink a few raspbouzos.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy of this book, with all opinions being purely my own.

Totally loved this new book from one of my favourite authors!!! No disappointment here!! Transported to a sunny island for inspiration and love!!
Tremendous tale of awakening and finding yourself.
Gina is desperate for a longed for holiday to return to the Greek island of Kalosiros where she used to visit every year with her mum from childhood through to her teenage years until 19 when her mum became too sick. Will she meet up again with the people she knew so well in her past? The disappointment of her husband Colin letting her down at the last minute means she is staying in a gorgeous boutique hotel and enjoying a bit of luxury's, meeting some new friends and having a wonderful time!
Gina is learning to fly again!
Loved this book, like a huge warm hug!! Great writing, fabulous characters and a brilliant uplifting story. Sure to be a bestselling book this summer!!
Hugely enjoyed and highly recommended!!
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early read!!

Bring Me Sunshine is the latest book by Alex Brown and she takes us back to her feel good rom com that first introduced us to this author.

With cracks in their marriage Gina and husband Colin are due to go on a long awaited holiday to Greece but at the last minute Colin declares he is unable to go due to work commitments little did he expect that Gina would decide to still go on the holiday without him!

Gina finds herself wrapped up in happy cherished memories of her youth and with the help of her two new friend Deedee and Rosie she is on a mission to reconnect with her first love.

This is perfect easy holiday reading which I have devoured in a matter of hours as I lay around the pool. With a Shirley Temple vibe to the storyline this book is full of friendship, rediscovering youth and a touch of romance too wrapped up in a number of witty moments thanks to Gina and her friends.

This certainly had an appealing setting for a holiday read with the glorious sunkissed Greek setting and mouth-watering delights on offer.

Although a light and uplifting read this book also does explore toxic relationships too and shows the power of a strong supportive friendship in these situations. It shows us that as we grow older and we begin to doubt ourselves and put ourselves down there is always time to find that fire in your belly and know that your still that same girl inside it's time to let her out to play!

I have enjoyed all of Alex Brown’s previous books but I definitely prefer her lighter romance coms as they are pure escapism with lashing of hope and humour which is what I loved in this book.

My first Alex book, even though I do have some of her previous releases in my TBR pile, this one is set in the gorgeous Greek islands. Gina is a woman sick of her life, goes on a holiday by her side after her deadbeat husband pulls out for a 'work commimtment.' Cue running to Greece and looking for a long lost love whilst making new friends.

Well written but at times it felt like she was constantly putting herself down. Oh and Fernardo, that song just reminds me of Mamma Mia - Here We Go Again.

So many great reads out there today and this is top of my favourites list.
At last a midlife believable story, characters that are believable and written in a beautiful setting, great new friendships are made and just a wonderful uplifting book. More like this please

I am note sure how to review this . I think because it covered the menopause and brain fog I struggled to read it. I am giving it 5 stars as it is a good story and because I follow a lot of authors I realise reviews should be neutral . Hope that makes sense .Gina was struck in a bad marriage and she is brave enough to follow her dream and go on holiday . She goes back to where she use to go with her mum in Greece . Wow she meets new friends and old. Lots of funny bit and twists and a neat ending.

Gina,nearly 50 and married for 27yrs is working extra hours at her cleaning job saving money for her holiday to the Greek Island she used to holiday at with her mum years ago.
At the last minute her husband,Colin says he can't go as he has a work thing on. Gina is beside herself with rage. After being at the beck and call of Colin and his mother for years she may have to forget about her greek Island dream.
When one of her employers see her so upset she persuades Gina to go on holiday by herself and with the added attraction of looking for her childhood sweetheart Nico,Gina decides to go on holiday alone.

I really enjoyed this book. The two women that Gina met were very strong,sassy,funny ladies,the kind of friends everyone wants to have.
The descriptions of the Island took me right there, lying in the sun with a slight breeze blowing.
The food made me hungry and long to taste Greek Cuisine again.
This is a great holiday read and I can see myself reading it all over again while sitting in the sun by the sea.
Alex Brown never lets me down,her books are addictive.

What a fun story! This was a quick read, but it was so good. Set on a Greek island, Gina is rediscovering herself, friendships, a lost love and all that goes with starting over. This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last!

I loved this novel and read it in less than a day. Alex Brown instantly transports you to a sun-kissed Greek island as Gina returns to where she holidayed as a youth. After twenty seven years of marriage, she’s about to embark on a new solo adventure. I adored Gina’s character and how her friendship evolved with Deedee and Rosie. If you want a novel filled with hot Greek sun, bountiful descriptions of gorgeous food and breathtaking scenery, then this novel is for you. It’s a delicious tale of friendships, new beginnings and first love. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

This is a lovely warm feel good read set in Kalosiros, the setting of many happy holiday memories for Gina back in the days before her mum died. After saving for two years she’s all set to return with her husband when he pulls out of the trio at the last minute and she decides to go alone. Along with two other fabulous solo travellers she has a fortnight of finding herself again and trying to search for her first love. This has a beautiful setting, strong female characters who are a relatable age and is such an uplifting read which was exactly what I needed right now, it’s fantastic escapism and full of positivity.