The story of a mother of two trying to come to terms with the death of her husband doesn't sound like a great holiday read, but it is. Escaping to Dorset for the Summer with her children and working in a café is Laura's attempt to start living again. She experienced a very different world from her home in Manchester. A world full of interesting characters. The tears and laughter are never far away. Very enjoyable

A heart warming, enjoyable piece of chick lit. Can’t figure out the order in which the series should be read as I’m bit of a stickler for that usually. Not sure it matters with this series though. Can’t wait to read more of them. A grand bit of escapism.

A happy feel-good read. No great literary depth but some nice personal insights and the writer keeps the reader interested to the end. A relaxing summer read.

wonderful reading. Well written characters and an unusual story line. excellent holiday reading. I looked forward to picking it up to continue reading.

I loved this book from the start. It wrapped itself around you and drew you in. A perfect summer read. I can't wait until the next book in the series is released.

Absolutely loved this book!! Had me hooked from the beginning. It was heart warming & quite funny & I just adored the main character. Perfect weekend read.

In Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe, we meet Laura Walker, who hasn’t really known what to do with herself since her husband died two years ago. After responding to an advert to work in the Comfort Food Cafe,, she ends up lugging her children - Lizzie and Nate - and elderly dog Jimbo down to Dorset, for a summer that’ll etch itself on their memories forever.
Budbury turns out to be a village of characters - not least Cherie Moon, owner of said cafe. Everyone there has their story - most of the villagers are carrying around their own sadness, but yet the community brings them together. It is lovely.
It would be easy to underestimate this book (the bright cover, and innocuous title would have many dismissing it as silly chic lit) but do so at your peril. This is so much more than that. Yes, it is a delightful, cosy, heartwarming book, with perhaps a slightly predictable ending. But it’s also an honest book, a portrayal of the after effects of grief long after the funeral has happened, it’s gut wrenching and heartbreaking in parts, and makes you care so much for the characters it introduces you to.
Laura is so well written. She narrates the story, with a sense of practicality and humour that is reminiscent of a slightly more sensible Bridget Jones. But the effect of her loss can be seen in almost every sentence. She’s lost her confidence, she’s not sure of her footing, she’s so worried by whether she is doing okay by her children. From her conversations with her sister, and her interactions with the villagers, you can see how she used to be, and how living in Dorest returns her to the person she was before she was the woman whose husband dies. It’s clever writing, by an author who evidently understands people.
There are too many wonderful characters to mention, but I do particularly admire the way that Debbie Johnson unpacks all of their stories, bit by bit. It is subtly and gently done in a way that is wholly believable.
I loved this book. It is the book equivalent of comfort food. Five stars.

I Loved Loved LOVED this book! In fact I loved it so much that when I realised I only had the 1st and 4th in the series on Netgalley I went straight to Amazon and bought the 2nd and 3rd as well! The characters were all so loveable and I just wanted a happily ever after for everyone. It made me wish the cafe existed in real life so I could go have a hug with Cherie and eat some cake!

Superior chick-lit with interesting characters. It's obvious as soon as they meet who Laura's romantic interest will be. Good holiday read

I’ve read some of the newer Comfort Food Cafe books and was worried reading an earlier story wouldn’t seem right. However all these books have been written in such a way that they can be read standalone.
In this book we learn the story of Laura and what drove her, and her two children, to leave Manchester to work at the cafe In Budbury. We learn of her tragic story but also watch as she find happiness and a whole new family of friends, although with a few bumps on the way!
This was a beautiful book and perfect for reading in the summer sun. Thanks for sharing with me x

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it captured me from the offset. Getting to know the characters and then falling in love with each and every one of them was a pleasure and although some parts were predictable it was still a really great read. Cannot wait to read the next in the series.

This is the first book in the Comfort Food Café series. In it we meet Laura Walker, who after losing her husband decided to up sticks and take her children Nate and Lizzie and Jimbo the dog off to Dorset in the hope that she can rebuild her life and give herself some purpose, whilst getting the kids to be kids again.
There are certainly some characters in amongst the residents of Budbury. The biggest of all has to be Cherie Moon the owner of the Café. You get the sense right from the start that she doesn’t follow normal conventions but she seems to hold the community together and treats each customer as though they are special, knowing all the exact likes of her “regulars”.
Laura is constantly full of self-doubt, never sure she has done the right thing but as time goes on and she becomes part of the community, she relaxes and starts to have fun. She even starts up a relationship with the local vet Matt.
I would have loved to have learnt more about the past of Edie May, a resident of Budbury pushing 90 who would often sit in the café just minding her own business. She would always take home a portion of food for her fiancé. You do get to find out he died in the war, but you can’t be sure if she does this just out of loneliness and a way to keep his memory alive or if there is something more.
Her daughter Lizzie seems intent on documenting every little thing on Instagram which causes some amusement for Laura’s sister but embarrassment for Laura. Nate manages to find the male role models he craves in Farmer Frank and Surfer Sam.
I can honestly say that I loved this book. I found myself laughing out loud at parts - let’s just say people need to be careful how they pack car roof boxes. There were also moments that made me want to cry but that’s because I am a big marshmallow when it comes to animals. One thing is certain that if the Comfort Food Café really existed then it is just the quirky sort of place I could see myself visiting… any place that has a doggy crèche gets a big thumbs up in my book. Debbie Johnson has managed to create a charming setting in Budbury and has somehow managed to make it seem very real and I am looking forward to reading all the books in the series to see what else I can find out about the characters.

I loved this book. This is the first time I've read anything from this author and it definitely won't be the last. I loved the storyline it made me laugh and cry and I feel in love with all the characters. Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book

A lovely book that makes you feel good and it's really heartwarming. It's cute and funny and really entertaining.
I loved the style of writing, the characters and the settings.
Recommended.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley

I adored this book. A strongly painted protagonist in the first person, Laura, who is trying to rebuild her life two years after her husband dies unexpectedly at the age of 35, with a teenaged daughter full of angst and pain and a preteen son torn between grief and wanting to play.
They upend their life in Manchester for a summer in Dorset on the coast, with Laura working at the Comfort Food Café for Cherie, a bright and welcoming character full of quirks.
I loved the journey of all of the characters as they are embraced by this community on the coast. I could picture the seaside and the café, and also Laura’s slow awakening from the numbing experience of grief.
A perfect summertime read – engaging and easy to read, but with plenty to ponder.

Not my usual read however, once I got into it, I enjoyed reading about Laura, her family and their trials and tribulations. It was very heart ❤ warming and I shall be looking for more of Debbie 's books to read on my Kindle. Enjoyable holiday reading 📚 relaxing in the sun 🌞 .

This story is about a 35 year old called Laura. She has 2 children who are 12 and 14. Laura’s husband died 2 years ago and she’s desperately trying to rebuild her family and get her life back.

She applies for a temporary summer job at the Comfort Food Cafe..,

This book was difficult to get into initially as the author flooded the first chapters with the quirky thoughts of Laura. I found this quite tedious and struggled to keep reading.

After they arrive in Budbury the story picked up and I enjoyed reading about the Dorset retreat. The love interest Matt was a charming character I only wish that their relationship could have been more exciting to read about. All in all it’s a good read, not a great read.

I hadn’t known this book was a part of a series till I looked it up on Goodreads. Definitely a cozy read for me. How to pick up the pieces again after a life-altering event? Pack up and head elsewhere for the summer.

Laura and the kids’ characterisation were really relatable to me. At times, I felt there was way too much detail in every sentence. If I don’t read it somewhere quiet, the prose seemed cumbersome. Then there is Laura’s potential love interest Matt which I hoped for more backstory but didn’t quite happen till the end of the book.

He isn’t much of a talker so keep an eye out for his actions (wishing there were more) but I think the author didn’t want him to overshadow the main plot of this book. Perhaps there would be more exciting moments in book #2?

Overall an enjoyable book for a laid-back weekend.

We follow Laura, a widow and her two children Lizzie & Nate, and the dog Jimbo as they take a six week working holiday to Dorset. Laura has landed herself a job working in the Comfort Food Cafe after writing a long letter from the heart to the owner Cherie. Cherie hasn't given Laura the job out of pity, but because she knows she'll fit right in.

This is a story about how a family can come together after their terrible loss two years previously, to make new friends, new memories and find themselves as they live in the beautiful county of Dorset for one summer.

This was a lovely book, the letter sent by Laura was a great opening to the novel. I watched the family grow and change over the six weeks they were there. It had laughter and tears, be it with flying bras or long lost relatives visiting.

Most of the book centres on the cafe and the visiting locals, each being a unique character wanting comfort for a different reason at the cafe, be it a burnt bacon sandwich, a slice of cake for a loved one or space for a yoga class.

Some of the situation, from the moment Laura meets Matt you can see where that is headed, is a little predictable, but still made it an enjoyable read.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

Really good read. A really good book to curl up with. Likeable characters, good plot and magical setting. Debbie Johnson knows how to write really good books and I hope that she writes many more.