This is quintessential cosy at it's finest! I sped through this, literally in one sitting, as I had such a lovely time visiting Applethwaite and meeting all lovely characters. Louise is so relatable, and funny! So many of her interior conversations are ones I've had myself. I loved the relationship between Louise and Elizabeth, and also Louise and Maddy. I thought each character felt really distinct and grounded. Charming, is the word I'd use to describe this book. Also obsessed with the idea of a bookshop bakery!

The cover for this book is absolutely beautiful 😍
As soon as I seen it I new I wanted to read it and im so glad I did.
Such an easy read that keeps you wanting to read right till the end.
Such good characters and storyline.
Highly recommend
Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this book for an honest review

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a cozy, feel good read with a charming small town vibe.The bakery bookshop setting is warm and inviting, making it a nice book to relax with. I really liked Louise and her stepdaughter Maddie, they were warm and relatable.
Jennifer Page’s writing style is easy to read and relatable, which makes the story flow smoothly.

The romance was just okay for me and some parts were repetitive, the theme of starting over was still comforting. Overall, it’s a pleasant read, especially if you enjoy cozy stories and gentle pacing.

Thank you Netgalley and The Aria and Aries Team for advance readers copy.

Louise has spent her life editing books and then something happens and she leaves her job. She goes home to Applethwaite where her mum thinks she's back to take over the family bakery but she doesn't want that

Just a lovely book with love, cosiness, amazing characters. Jennifer always writes such a lovable stories!!

Really enjoyed reading this. A lovely, fluffy, fun friends to lovers romance. I absolutely love the idea of a bookshop bakery and the life size book nooks that you can sit in, need one in my garden.

Louise is torn between running the bakery she inherited or continuing to write stories. It's a small town romance, so of course she develops feelings quickly for Jack.

I enjoyed the Narnia references! I liked how Louise was always using her writer brain to create scenarios, but it was a bit much at times.

Overall it was a cozy romance and I enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

An enjoyable read with clearly drawn characters that you get to know well. Louise having suddenly abandoned her book editing job has come home to Yorkshire where her mother assumes she has come to take over the running of the family bakery business. Louise has different ideas and with the help of Jack, a handsome part Italian, and her stepdaughter Maddie from her failed marriage she sets about stting up The Sugar and Spice Bookshop.Bakery.

A really cosy feel good book. The bookshop bakery sounded absolutely amazing! I liked the characters and the community feel. Recommended.

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page is the definition of a warm, comforting cosy read and completely wrapped me up in its charming small-town atmosphere from the very first pages. Filled with delicious baked treats, emotional second chances, family dynamics, and bookish charm, this story felt like stepping into the perfect autumn Hallmark movie.

Louise Dearnley was such a relatable and refreshing main character. After years spent editing fictional happy endings, she suddenly finds herself back in her Yorkshire hometown trying to rebuild her own life after walking away from everything she once knew. Her journey felt realistic, emotional, and quietly inspiring as she slowly reconnects with herself, her family, and the community around her.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the atmosphere Jennifer Page creates. Applethwaite feels wonderfully alive with its quirky locals, cosy bakery setting, comforting scents of ginger cake and fresh scones, and the kind of small-town warmth that makes you wish the place was real. The combination of books and baking was absolutely irresistible and added such a comforting layer to the entire story.

The relationships throughout the book were beautifully done, especially the found-family elements and Louise’s connection with her unexpected ex-stepdaughter. The romance was sweet, gentle, and full of chemistry without overshadowing Louise’s personal growth journey. The gorgeous Italian love interest added just the right amount of charm and emotional depth to the story.

Overall, The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a heartfelt, uplifting, and wonderfully cosy read that perfectly balances romance, humour, healing, and community spirit. Fans of cosy fiction, second-chance stories, and small-town romances will absolutely adore this book. I already cannot wait to return to the world of the Bookshop Bakery series.

This is a glorious cosy read. There are misunderstandings, romance plus cake and books, what more could anyone need in a story?! I sat inside in the shade and read it one morning. It will be a wonderful curl up on the sofa read for a lot of people.

I’m a sucker for this genre and it’s the kind of book I love reading before going to bed. This was cozy and relaxing and a wonderful way to end the day. The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery felt warm and comforting, with that easy small-town charm that makes everything feel a bit softer and more hopeful.

The fact this was set in Yorkshire made me love the book more! Very cosy vibes and what’s better than a bookshop and a bakery combined? Nothing! I can’t lie, my favourite part was when Louise finally stuck up for herself.

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page is an absolutely delightful cozy read. I loved the warm small town atmosphere and the mix of books, baking, and new beginnings. One of my favorite touches was the Book Nooks created by Maddie and Jack. Each tiny scene matching a book genre was so creative and adorable. It added a unique charm to the story.

The townspeople of Applethwaite are one of the sweetest parts of The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery. They’re warm, supportive, and full of personality, creating that cozy small town feeling where everyone knows each other’s quirks and shows up when it matters. They make the town feel alive, welcoming, and exactly the kind of place where you would want to spend time.

Finally, it is a sweet, uplifting book that I read in one sitting. Heartfelt without being heavy, comforting without being predictable, and full of bookish magic. A perfect pick for anyone who loves cozy fiction with both creativity and heart.

As a lover of baking, books and all things cozy this book called to me. I was so right to pick up this book, from the get go its giving cozy hallmark and I'm here for it. If your not really into the closed door, contemporary reads this definitely wont be for you, if you are buckle up and enjoy. Id suggest getting your favourite blankets, drink, maybe a snack and bunker down as you won't be able to put it down

read this book in one day.. How many of us would love to courage to do this. My dream job. Characters are real and you get so into the story and rooting of them to get the 'sheds' passed by planning. Although when I started this booked it seemed predictable it was a great read.

It was a very comforting reading indulging you in with an interesting plotline and lovely baked treats. Great building of the characters and loved the small town background.

This was stunning! I loved this so much, loved the setting and the main character! Gave me all the cosy feels! Thankyou so much for my copy!

This book is an absolute bit of me!!! So cozy and giving me all the autumn vibes. Romantic and lovely, you cannot beat it

I really liked this book. It felt...real and was written in a very clever way, different to books I have read before.
No spice to talk of, just a normal slow burn romance, like real life. I would like a JACK.
Recomend this book for a nice lite holiday read.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I really enjoyed Page's series set in Essendale, so I was excited to read her new book. Although I enjoyed the book a lot, liking the concept and Laura and her stepdaughter, I don't think it captured me as much as her previous books. I thought the premise behind her leaving her job, and Jack's storyline, seemed far-fetched. That said, it was an enjoyable escapist read, Mrs Anderson provided an interesting foil, and I would love to visit those book nooks.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read and review this book.

Bakery ✅️

Bookshop ✅️

Romance ✅️

This book has the perfect combination for me!

Without giving away too much, I love the idea of 'book nooks' and the Narnia/wardrobe part would be amazing. (I'm now tempted to re-read those books too).

I'd definitely recommend this if you enjoy some romance, cosiness and remembering how you felt as a child reading books etc.

This is a cute Hallmark movie, type romance romance where the female main character travels back to her small town in Yorkshire England, after an incident at her publishing company where she feels, she cannot go back. With the help of her stepdaughter, Maddie, and a love interest Jack, she fulfills her families, her towns and her own dreams.

There were two things that I didn’t really care for. One was how horrible every single teacher that Louise, the main character, had as a child. As a teacher myself for over two decades, and having my own children attend school it was disheartening to see and read about how awful these women were. I’m thankful that my children have always had supportive teachers with beautiful souls, and my goal in becoming a teacher was to be a voice for the voiceless. I know that there has to be a “villain“, but it seemed a tired trope.

Louise has fled her editing job in London and returned home to Applethwaite, Yorkshire. She just wants to kick her wounds and recover at home with her mum, but mum has other ideas: she wants Louise to reopen the family bakery. Whilst Louise is an excellent baker, she wants to run a bookshop, not a bakery!

The idea to combine the two shops starts to become reality but of course is besieged by problems small and large. Not the least of which is the hunky half-Italian architect that she's fallen for, who made the most basic of errors on redeveloping the property for her...

We all need to know whether or not the Bookshop Bakery can go ahead and whether Louise and Jack can get it together.

I enjoyed reading this, but found the near constant reference to "if this was a romance novel ....." irritating. It stopped about 65% of the way through. I look forward to reading more of this series and investigating the Boardgame Cafe series.

An interesting look at noticing the difference between a novel and reality.
It's all spelled out in this cosy, warm story about honesty and moving on. I enjoyed reading it very much.

I've read all Jennifer Page's previous books - and loved them - but I can honestly say that in my opinion, this is the best yet!

I adored the humour and the way Louise looks at the world through the perspective of being an editor. The Geriatric Mean Girls - the GMG - were hilarious, as was Railway Andy. These comedy moments contrast beautifully with the more poignant parts of the story as Louise and Jack come to terms with past events and mistakes - and, of course, fall in love, chasing their happy ever after. This isn't just another cosy romance, though - there is plenty of spice as well as sugar in the Bookshop Bakery. I'm hoping this is part of a series and that the next book is all about Maddie, a really interesting character who deserves her own happy ending.

Enjoyed this! A few things did annoy me with a few of the characters - but I guess they were reflective of real life! Loved the "book nook" idea. Cute story.

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page is a cosy small-town romance set in Yorkshire. I loved the combination of books and baking, which are two of my favourite things.

Louise Dearnley has returned to her childhood home in Applethwaite after making a disastrous mistake in her high-flying publishing career.

Her mother wants her to reopen the family bakery, but Louise dreams of opening a bookshop. Eventually they compromise and the idea for a bookshop bakery is born… which then leads her to meet the hunky half-Italian architect, Jack.

There are lots of lovely comic moments that made me chuckle. I adored the “book-nooks” and I really need the recipe for that ginger cake!

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable cosy romance with warm autumn vibes.

When Louise goes home she just wants to open a bookshop, but her Mom wants her to carry on the family bakery. When her stepdaughter Maddie lands on her doorstep, she gets Louise on the road to realising her dreams. A great read, love and humour and cosy and fighting for what she wants to do

Cute comforting read, The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a warm hug of a book. Likeable characters, and a bookshop I would love to go to. Excited to read more from Jennifer Page

This book was gorgeous. It was the class of book about losing a job, licking your wounds and coming home to parents and finding what you were meant to be.
Louise was a book editor who loses her job and comes back home to live with her mum to lick her wounds only her mum thinks she has come home to be the third generation of bakers to run the village bakery. She tries to trick her into this but Louise meets to run a bookshop. Trouble is that Louise is an excellent baker. This book has all the feels, it has a gorgeous man, cake, friendship, scenery and books so it’s perfect.
I devoured this whilst on holiday and it was just a lovely read.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book. The bakery bookshop with the themed book nooks just felt so warming and cosy. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Louise and Maddie as their relationship as Step mum and daughter became more apparent.
The only little niggle I have is that at times, things were a bit drawn out and repetitive, but overall I really did like this book.

A delightful read.

Louise has given up her job as an editor after making, to her mind, a huge error with one of her author’s books. She has returned home to lick her wounds and decide what to do next. Her mother thinks she has returned to reopen the family bakery but Louise has her heart set on opening a bookshop.

Encouraged by her ex-stepdaughter, her mother and an attractive Italian called Jack, Louise starts to think she could have her dream and keep the locals happy by opening a bookshop and bakery combined.

A story of someone starting over again helped by the local community.

A feel good tale.

A sweet and heartwarming romance that left me smiling long after I finished. The characters were lovable, the chemistry felt genuine, and the cozy atmosphere made this a perfect comfort read.

Louise's life as an editor has blown up and she's ready to start over. When her idea of the bookshop bakery comes to life, she realizes dreams can come true. Full of hope, second chances and love, this story is a fun cozy read! Characters are interesting and well written. You feel like part of the story and the magic of the bookshop bakery

Louise has had her share of tribulations and decides to go home to familiar surroundings, hoping for a fresh start. As she works for the family bakery, she meets a possible love interest and has to deal with her ex stepdaughter coming to stay with her. This is a refreshing story about what happens when life is messy, but from the mess comes wonderful opportunities. The setting is perfectly cozy for a fall read, and the found family elements are wonderful to see.

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery was a delightful and heartwarming read that perfectly captured the cozy atmosphere readers look for in feel-good fiction. From the charming setting to the relatable characters, this story felt like spending an afternoon in a welcoming bookshop with a warm drink and a sweet treat nearby.

One of the highlights for me was the sense of community woven throughout the story. The author created a cast of characters that felt authentic and easy to connect with, making it enjoyable to follow their journeys and relationships. The book’s pacing allowed me to fully settle into the story and appreciate the small moments that made it special.

The setting was undoubtedly one of my favorite aspects. The combination of books, baking, friendship, and fresh beginnings created an inviting atmosphere that made me want to linger long after I finished reading. Readers who enjoy cozy fiction, women’s fiction, and uplifting stories will likely find a lot to love here.

While the story is gentler in tone and not driven by high drama, it succeeds in delivering comfort, hope, and a satisfying reading experience. Sometimes a book doesn’t need shocking twists or intense conflict to be memorable—it simply needs heart, and this one certainly has plenty of it.

Overall, The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a sweet, comforting read that celebrates community, second chances, and finding joy in unexpected places. I would happily recommend it to readers looking for an uplifting escape and a cozy story to curl up with.

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is exactly the kind of story that feels like stepping into a warm kitchen on a cold day — cosy, fragrant, and full of heart. Jennifer Page delivers a charming, quietly uplifting novel about starting over when life doesn’t go to plan, and I adored every minute of it.

Louise Dearnley is such a refreshing heroine: mid‑forties, bruised by life, and absolutely not in the mood to explain herself to anyone. Watching her return to Applethwaite — a village that’s equal parts nosy, nurturing, and utterly irresistible — is both funny and tender. The tension between wanting a fresh start and being pulled back into old expectations is beautifully handled, especially with her mother’s unwavering belief that Louise is destined to revive the family bakery.

The baking scenes are delightful (the ginger cake alone deserves its own fan club), but what really shines is the emotional layering. Louise’s unexpected bond with her quirky ex‑stepdaughter adds warmth and humour, and the arrival of a charming Italian love interest brings just the right amount of sparkle without ever feeling forced.

This is a story about second chances, but also about giving yourself permission to want more — more joy, more connection, more life. It’s gentle, heartfelt, and quietly empowering.

If you love cosy village settings, found family, and heroines who feel wonderfully real, this book is an absolute treat. A perfect curl‑up‑with‑a‑cuppa read.

With thanks to Jennifer Page, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

The main character Louise is an editor and quit her job after a mistake she made.
She goes back home temporarily to rethink her live but nothing goes as planned/hoped).
Soon also complications arrive, one after another.
The book is single POV from Louise and because of the books she edited her thoughts are connected to book tropes, but this didn't get irritating.
Instead the book reads like Louise is living inside a romance novel.

Protagonist Louise summed this book up by stating its You're got mail x Great British Bake off. The vibes are cosy, escapism with a romance between two people who struggle to tell the truth to avoid hurting those they love. A notion I can relate too.

The bookshop bakery is a dream concept and one I wish was real because I'd be visiting multiple times. Set in Yorkshire in a small town it had the sense f community I love and has the potential to explore more characters in future books. It was everything I needed to be to have space from reality, feel calm and believe in happy ever afters and empowerment when you're in the right place with the right people.

We are all Louise. You do the thing, you're scared you screwed up the thing even though you didn't really, then you realize everything is fine and you shouldn't have panicked in the first place. This was a fun read, and I loved the main relationship even though I honestly wasn't fond of Jack. He was like a puppet! If this were a series to continue, I'd love to learn more about Anna. She seems so sweet. Loved it all! Loved Maddie and her art gallery dreams especially. Art, books, coffee, pastries... my kind of book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was such a cute and cosy read set in Yorkshire and felt very familiar with little villages close to me and I really enjoyed this book. The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery follows the story of Louise who moves back home to Applethwaite following a fallout with her job and her mum believes she has come home to run the family bakery but Louise has very different ideas.

I loved the character of Louise and it was such a refreshing change to read a slightly older FMC who was starting her life over. I also loved the MMC Jack who was so lovable but so flawed as well. All of the side characters play important roles and provided light humour throughout.

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery had a little bit of crime sprinkled throughout and had very similar vibes to the Pumpkin Spice Cafe which I loved. This is the perfect read for cosy autumn evenings!

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a cosy, feel-good romance that blends small-town reinvention with the comforting appeal of books, baking, and second chances.

Set in the Yorkshire village of Applethwaite, the novel follows Louise Dearnley, a former romance editor who returns home after a major life shift and finds herself pulled back into the rhythms—and expectations—of her past. What begins as an attempt to quietly reset her life quickly turns into something far more complicated when family ties, community pressure, and unexpected relationships start to reshape her future.

One of the book’s strongest features is its central concept: a bookshop bakery. It’s an intentionally idealised space, but it works well within the tone of the novel. The bakery becomes both a literal and emotional centre, where personal history, nostalgia, and new beginnings all overlap. The descriptions of baking—especially the signature ginger cake and scones—are used effectively to reinforce the warmth and sensory comfort the story aims to deliver.

Louise as a protagonist is grounded and relatable in a very contemporary way. Her career editing romance fiction adds a meta-layer to the story, allowing the novel to gently comment on the difference between curated happy endings on the page and the messier reality of real life. Her reluctance to fully explain her past decisions creates a slow-burn emotional arc that unfolds gradually as she reconnects with Applethwaite.

The supporting cast leans into familiar cosy fiction archetypes but remains engaging: a determined mother with strong opinions about legacy, a quirky quasi-family dynamic with a young relative in transition, and a romantic interest who introduces both charm and uncertainty. The “gorgeous Italian” love interest in particular fits the genre’s expectation of escapist romance, though the story is more focused on emotional rebuilding than dramatic romance twists.

Where the novel works especially well is in its tone. It is deliberately soft-edged, prioritising comfort, community, and gradual healing over conflict or high-stakes drama. Readers who enjoy series like *Gilmore Girls* or gentle rural romance fiction will likely find the atmosphere familiar and satisfying.

If there is a limitation, it’s that the plot follows well-trodden cosy romance pathways: return to hometown, reluctant reinvention, community embrace, and a carefully timed romantic arc. However, the predictability is part of its appeal—this is a story designed to feel reassuring rather than surprising.

Overall, this is a warm, immersive comfort read that leans into its cosy identity without apology. It’s about rebuilding a life that feels genuinely yours, surrounded by books, baked goods, and people who slowly become a chosen family.

This was super cosy and so adorable. I loved the sorry and the characters were really likeable. I’d read this author again.

I liked the writing style of this book! Louise, the Female main character, is a book editor and I enjoyed the unique touch of her playing out different stories in her head! I thought she was honest and relatable and felt refreshingly different from the 'classic' leading lady.

The leading man didn't quite hook me in though. I felt he was a bit rigid and I couldn't really get over the fact he had lied to his Dad for so long and then his dad just accepted it without question. The forced-proximity relationship between the two characters felt a bit forced at times but then there were cozy, romantic moments. The main star of the show was Millie, she kept the book light-hearted and a fun read. The descriptions in the book were vivd and I could just imagine each book nook.

Now if only I had a slice of ginger cake from the bookshop bakery to enjoy with my tea!