This is one of those books that will have you packing your car and heading to a small town to find a new life. Sara has lost everything that was near and dear to her heart and is trying to escape into a small coastal town where she can nurse her wounds and be alone, but fate as it often happens has other plans and she is soon thrust into a new romantic relationship, a new job, and taking care of her brother's daughter.
I loved the descriptions of the house she rented and reading about her decorating the house and making it a home, the romance was sweet and I liked how there wasn't a third act breakup. I think the subplot with her niece was the weakest part of the book though, it really ended before the story really got started, but maybe there will be a sequel? Fingers crossed because this book was such a fun read!

Starting over for most of us is a difficult challenge, but if you have almost lost everything important in your life, it becomes a life-altering time. And this is how Sara is trying to lose herself in a totally new place after losing her boyfriend, father, restaurant business and her passion for cooking. But it is possible to find a way forward and reconnect with aspects of the past to make a new future. Heartwarming!

Sara has fallen into a deep depression. She has lost her treasured restaurant she spent her life building, her father passed away and her ex just married a beautiful woman half his age. Alone with nothing to do and no-one to care for Sara travels in her beat up old car until she finds a suitable landing space, preferably one where she can be isolated and wallow in peace. She stumbles upon Hills of Andrew, a quaint southern town with a storybook main street and the quiet ambiance she is searching for. Renting an adorable house with a gorgeous view, Sara slowly settles in. She finds a job at the town library and her world and fragile heart opens up in ways she never imagined. At middle age Sara did not think new friendships and the flutters of love were even a possibilty. Icing on the cake, though she is terrified of getting hurt again, Sara is surprisingly intrigued by a handsome neighbor who runs the local theater. This is a really easy, quiet, sweet story about starting over in every way. Sometimes you have to take risk to start anew, but it is well worth it. Thumbs up for me!

I love Dee Ernst's books and she's done it again with Sara Starting Over. There are no fireworks or dramatic storylines, just a hopeful story about a woman in her 50's who has suffered some big personal losses but picks herself up, makes a complete change of pace, and writes herself a brand new and sparkling chapter in the story of her life.

Sarafina is a well-established NYC chef reeling from some big blows. Her beloved Italian restaurant closed after a fire in the upstairs apartment. She emptied her savings trying to help her employees, then was told the building owner wouldn't allow her restaurant to reopen. Her 10 year relationship with a famous sports agent imploded when he found "the love of his life" and dumped her. Finally, she moved home to take care of her dying father. Now that he's gone, she's devastated on all levels, when, almost on a whim, she rents a somewhat rundown cottage for a year on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay with amazing views of the water. Initially knowing no one, and unable to even contemplate cooking again, within a very short time she finds herself with a job at the local library, two adorable kittens, a growing circle of acquaintances and friends, and a potential spark of attraction to her next door neighbor, a lifelong bachelor who runs the local theater. All of these changes slowly lead her back toward her kitchen and toward rediscovering the joy she once found in her passion for cooking.

I loved that this isn't some idealized view of small town living. There are warts that come with living in a community not necessarily open to change, but although they are not glossed over, they are also not dwelled upon and the tone is overall hopeful and forward looking. This is exactly the kind of romance that I love to read, a woman discovering not only a new love, but finding her way back to her own self. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Sarafina has lost her restaurant, her boyfriend and her father. she has to start over. this is about second chances in life. good read.

I have never read anything by this author but I can’t wait to read more books by Dee Ernst. This book shows that anyone can be down and out with life but new things can happen anytime. This book will leave you feeling good. The author did a great job with all of the characters and the story line. I definitely recommend reading this book.

Sara Starting Over follows the prevalent theme in many of Dee Ernst's novels...... women in their 50's and older beginning a new life after losses. Sara Castellano, the main character, has lost her live in boyfriend, her restaurant, her mother, when she was a young girl, and most recently, her father. She moves to small southern town, the Hills of Andrew. There, she meets a variety of new people and attempts to reinvent her life. Along this new path, she meets interesting people with their own insecurities and is able to come to terms with her losses and grief to find a different kind of happiness. I found the book to be uplifting, the characters were well developed, but at time the story dragged. All in all, I recommend reading Sara Starts Over. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I do not normally read contemporary fiction. I usually like mysteries and fantasy books of almost any kind. This particular book, because of it's title and the author's TikToks, I thought I would give it a go. I too am starting over at a "certain age". I needed a feel-good story where the herione goes through some "real" challenges after a tremendous loss and come out the other side. If not whole, at least being able to go on. Of course, finding a little romance later in life is not bad either. Everyone has to deal with some kind of family drama, trauma, misunderstandings, etc. This story made me laugh out loud, cry a little here and there and just smile at the end. Give it a go as it will be worth the read.

This is a charming story full of well-crafted and sometimes quirky characters set in Hills of Andrew, a small southern town. While the protagonist struggles with grief after sustaining three major losses in close succession, the overall tone is one of hope with new possibilities for fulfilling relationships by taking risks.

If you like foodie novels with realistic heroines and second chance themes, you will enjoy this book. The feel-good ending was a satisfying conclusion to a quick and entertaining read.

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.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I’m new to Dee Ernst and I very much enjoyed how this story was told. Sara was immediately likeable, and while we started a bit slow and didn’t get into the nitty gritty of her past, I was so invested in her getting to know her new surroundings. The plot was believable, but not boring, and the slow burn of romance throughout the book (not only for Sara!) was so heartwarming.

I am a long time fan of Dee Ernst and was thrilled to be able to early read Sara Starting Over. It's a story that immediately sucked me in and a book I did not want to put down.
Sarafina - or as she prefers - Sara leaves New York city after suffering so many disappointments. She settles in a small town where she meets a close knit community. Sara is able to find peace, contentment and friendship. Most of all she finds herself again.
I highly recommend this book especially for those who enjoy a seasoned heroine.
My thanks to #NetGalley for giving me a chance to early read Sara Starting Over for a fair and honest review.
Five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Sara Starting Over by Dee Ernst. Reading a book by Dee Ernst is like sitting down to a good cup of coffee with a cherished friend. Perfectly!