This book was exactly what I needed - cozy, comforting, and full of charm. If you're looking for a feel-good escape with a sprinkle of romance and a whole lot of baked goods, this one’s for you.

I really loved Betty as a main character. She’s got this quiet strength and vulnerability that made her so easy to root for. Her connection with her rescue Shetland pony, Pumpkin, was adorable and gave the story a wholesome, heartwarming touch. And let’s talk about Miles—the pastry chef with a knack for making irresistible croissants and getting under Betty’s skin. Their banter was delightful and the slow-burn tension between them had me smiling like a fool.

The St Aidan setting was beautifully described. It made me want to pack up and move to a little seaside town immediately. And while the storyline had its emotional beats (family drama, grief, healing), it was never heavy-handed. It balanced the sweet and the serious really well.

The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars for me is because there were a few moments that dragged just a touch, but honestly? I didn’t mind lingering in this world a bit longer. Between the cozy cottage, the mouthwatering pastries, and the blossoming romance, I felt like I was wrapped up in a warm blanket with a cup of tea in hand.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and authorJane Linfoot for this eARC

This book was… confusing.

It started out really well - Betty has to stay in her sisters cottage with her pony pumpkin for the foreseeable future but upon arriving she finds Miles, her brother-in-laws best friend, whom she hates, already there. Sounds promising!

Unfortunately that’s where the fun stops. Betty was supposed to be free-spirited and whimsey but just read as childish and annoying - what do you mean you are in your late 20s and you’ve never signed a contract?? Do you not have a bank account? Or for University? And Miles was just straight up inconsiderate and often times malicious.
Our two MCs had zero chemistry and the romance felt very forced and out of nowhere.
To add to it all everything seems so disjointed… It’s never really explained why Miles, who is rich, needs to stay in the cottage. Or why he basically abandoned his CEO position of a Fortune 500 company to… sell baked goods on a beach?
Then our MCs randomly start a shop together and there never is a Cozy Croissant Cafe in the story.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Well, there is NO CAFE in this book, and the living quarters and shops featured are not exactly cosy, but there are many croissants and it is an enjoyable read. We're in St Aiden, the small Cornish town Linfoot has set many books by now, and although it's a standalone read, I suspect readers who've read at least a few of the other books will appreciate the cameos from characters from those. Betty loses her home at an animal rescue and moves in to her sister and brother-in-law's immaculate holiday cottage in St Aiden, complete with her eccentric clothes and the rescue pony, Pumpkin. But what's this? Her brother-in-law has already let his friend Miles stay there?

Miles is buttoned up, Betty has millions of buttons flying free as she leaps around, writing in the sand and doing her freelance journalism, and they clash over keeping the cottage nice. But Betty has commitment issues and panics when she tries to sign up to rent a live/workspace in the town, and soon there's another reason they both have to cling onto possession of the cottage. I do agree with other reviewers that the turnaround is quite quick and the relationship jumps forward after only minimal issues where you'd expect more, but I enjoyed the details of Miles' baking, the bored 60-somethings of the town and exactly how they source items to sell in the shop they set up together. An ideal holiday read.

Blog review published 28 April: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/04/28/fun-light-reads-emily-henry-great-big-beautiful-life-and-jane-linfoot-the-cosy-croissant-cafe/

I had never read any books of this author before and realised this book forms part of a collection and it wasn’t as easy to read as a standalone and huge spoiler - there is no cafe. Yes there are croissants but it’s not really that kind of book. I found that there was too much about what the characters looked like rather than their personalities. I finished the book in a couple of days, fairly easy to read but there were characters who it seemed expected to know.

I enjoyed reading The Cosy Croissant Cafe by Jane Linfoot. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Jane Linfoot is one of my go-to authors for cosy escapist fiction, and 'The Cosy Croissant Cafe' did not disappoint - I only wish St Aidan's was real! Betty and Pumpkin (her shetland pony) move to St Aidan's when her job and accommodation come to an end. Her sister suggests she uses her 'bolthole', a one-bedroom former boathouse at the edge of the village. However, when she arrives, Betty finds it is already occupied by Miles, her brother-in-law's best friend. With her sister's marriage in trouble the boathouse becomes a bargaining chip, and Betty is forced to stay to protect her sister's stake in the property. Unable to move out, Betty has to keep an eye on Miles, and this leads to more than she could have imagined ... A fabulous weekend or holiday read. Thankyou to Netgalley for my ARC, this has not affected my review.

Betty is taking refuge in her career-oriented and successful older sister's holiday cottage. She expects her only companion to be Pumpkin, her Shetland pony, but shortly after she arrives, she finds Miles, someone she met at her sister's wedding, and they do not get on. It's a slow-burning, enemies-to-lovers romance with many humorous moments. There is an emphasis on food, especially pastries, with recipes at the end of the book. Characters from previous St Aidan books give the story its warmth and community spirit, and the banter between Betty and Miles keeps the simmering passion bubbling in their interactions. I like the Cornish setting, which makes it perfect escapism, the complex characters and the conflicted but satisfying romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Betty is offered her sisters cottage in St Aidan, a prefect place for Betty and her miniature pony Pumpkin while they are between homes. Only Betty isn’t the only one staying at the cottage. Can Betty and Miles get along after he snubbed her at her sisters wedding?

This is a perfect summer read, with 2 distinctly different main characters.

Thanks netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book for my review. A cute quick easy read, idyllic setting, friendly, helpful locals and a really cute pony, plus a little romance, all make this an enjoyable story.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

When Betty circumstances change, she comes to St Aiden, and the Boathouse cottage, with her pony Pumpkin to relax and rest.

On arrival she realises that someone else is already there, someone who she’s not see for a long time, and that is Miles. Betty’s doesn’t know what to do, or how she will live in the same place with him.

I loved the mix of characters and the food that made my mouth water.

It was interesting to see how Betty and Miles got on and worked together. I also loved Pumpkin.

I really liked this easy read, full of recipes and mouth watering croissants, don’t read if you’re hungry. 😂. Elizabeth has moved into her sisters house with her pony, but Tate a family friend is also there, they don’t like each other, but will his love of cooking change that. It’s a cozy quick read that’s got summer written all over it, beach’s, pony’s and bakery foods. Plus some lovely recipes at the back of the book to try, I can’t wait. A fun 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

This is my first encounter with Jane Linfoot's books, and I wasn't disappointed!

Right from the first page, this heartwarming book had me. You can't help love and connect the main character Betsy and, of course, her pony Punkin.

For the few hours I was reading this book, I definitely felt transported to the seaside town of St Aidan willing Betsy to have the courage to believe in herself and finally find a place to call home!

Apparently, this is the latest in a series of books where some of the characters from this book also appear in but not together. I can't wait to start reading the first; The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea.

My favourite quote is: "Sometimes the way to slay your dragons is to talk about them!"

This was such a cosy read that was perfect for a Sunday afternoon, it had great humour and love throughout.

Overall, The Cosy Croissant Club is an entertaining and well-written cozy mystery that fans of the genre will thoroughly enjoy. With its blend of intrigue, humour, and endearing characters, it's a perfect choice for a relaxing afternoon read.

I unfortunately had to dnf at 60%. The premise of the book sounded like such a fun romcom novel which is my go to book. The plot feels like it's not really progressing. It's very slow to start and is from the FMC point of the view. The FMC is not very likable and a bit annoying honestly. Every interaction between the leads felt forced. The book has such cute premise and I wish I could have loved it.

The Cozy Croissant Café follows the classic enemies-to-lovers trope with Betty and Miles at the heart of the story, told entirely from Betty’s perspective. After losing her home to developers, Betty moves into her sister’s cottage—with her trusty pony Pumpkin in tow—only to discover it’s already been promised to someone else: Miles, her sister’s husband’s best friend and someone she’s been harboring a serious grudge against since her sister’s wedding.

Betty is dealing with an event in her past that clearly affects how she interacts with the world—and with Miles, who ends up taking the brunt of her emotional defenses. While the premise had great potential for sparks to fly, I found that the chemistry between the two fell flat. The dry humor between them was fun at times, but their eventual connection felt more abrupt than believable. One moment they’re arguing, the next they’re kissing, and I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing in between.

Betty is quirky and bold, while Miles is buttoned-up and goal-focused—great ingredients for a dynamic pairing, but for me, the slow burn was too slow, and when things finally did heat up, it felt sudden and a little unearned. Honestly, I spent most of the book feeling more sympathy for Miles than for Betty.

I also struggled a bit with the supporting cast. There are clearly returning characters from previous books, and while I’m sure longtime fans will enjoy seeing them again, I found myself confused by who was who and what business they were tied to. Nicknames like “the mermaids” weren’t really explained, which left me feeling a little out of the loop.

All in all, this was a cozy, easy read with charming touches and light humor—but if you’re picking it up for a swoony romance, you might find it a bit underwhelming.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher, One More Chapter, for allowing me to read an advanced coyp of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pure escapism for heart and soul. The Cornwall cozy village, the characters, and the light hearted story was a pleasure to immerse myself at the end of the day. Totally not my kind of read- but it became one! I am also now reading her other stories in the series. Loved it!

The Cosy Croissant Café
by Jane Linfoot

When Betty's sister graciously offers her cottage in the picturesque village of St. Aidan’s, it seems like the perfect retreat for Betty and her beloved pony, Pumpkin. However, upon her arrival, Betty discovers she is not the only occupant of the quaint one-bedroom cottage. Miles, her brother-in-law's best friend, has also made himself at home.

Despite its charming setting, Betty struggles to maintain her focus for several reasons. Miles, with an almost playful inconsistency, insists on changing Betty's name, calling her everything from "Betsy" to "Betty Beth" and even "Betsy B." This constant alteration feels disconcerting as a reader. As a freelance writer, she is usually brimming with creative ideas, yet she finds herself inexplicably fixated on securing this one particular job and publication for her story—a task that seems to grow increasingly daunting.

The dynamic between Betty and Miles is notably dull; their conversations often drift into mundane territory, leaving little room for excitement or flirtation. The absence of chemistry is palpable, making their interactions feel more like an awkward arrangement than a blossoming romance. In this seemingly idyllic setting, Betty grapples with her aspirations and the unexpected presence of a companion who adds an air of tension rather than the anticipated warmth.

Loved this book told from Betty's perspective. She's staying at her sister's house throughout the summer but hasn't been told that her brother in laws friend Miles is staying as well! Miscommunication incoming they really don't seem to like each other very much. The baking touch was a fabulous idea and loved that we got the recipes at the end. Will be highly recommending this.