The Saturday Place

by Alice Peterson

Three perfect strangers who help each other to believe in love again

Holly's husband died, and she's lonely. She needs to do something to save herself, quickly. Next thing she knows she's interviewing for a voluntary cooking job, surprised to be ambushed by a scruffy man who looks like he has a past.

Angus has messed up. He's lost the respect of his family and has none for himself. If it weren't for his brother and friend who run the café, he'd be sleeping on the streets. Angus is about ready to give up – until he meets Holly, who sparks something in him.

Then Lauren arrives from the homeless shelter. She came to London with nothing but an old train ticket, a teddy bear, and the clothes on her back. With no family, no home, no friends, she doesn't know what love is. People scare her. She's terrified of Angus and Holly. At first.

Each of them finds themselves in the Saturday café at a time when they need something to grab hold of. It might have to be each other…

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Chick Lit

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2024

About the author

At the age of eighteen Alice had been awarded a tennis scholarship to America when she experienced pain in her right hand. It was rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and she hasn’t picked up a tennis racket since, a sadness that shall always be with her. The theme of disability features in her fiction, but there is nothing gloomy about Alice or her work. Rather this gives her fiction the added dimension of true poignancy.

Reviews

[Elaine and Tess the Springer. I won’t be on GR for a bit. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read.

I really enjoyed this book tremendously. We see Holly, Angus and Lauren at their worst coming together and helping each other get their lives back on track. I would definitely recommend reading it.

[Courts · Rating 4 out of 5]

the saturday place review🩵💙
format:📖
dates: 08/03/2024 - 11/03/2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Saturday place focuses on Holly who is grieving the death of her husband and finds a voluntary role at a community kitchen helping those in need. Here she meets a lovely group of people all going through hard times in life and clicks with Angus and Lauren “Laurie”. Holly, Angus and Laurie become an odd trio but help each other in their time of need. Their story unfolds and it’s heart warming, emotional and gratifying.

This book honestly made me realise how often a lot of us take life for granted, we never know what is around the corner. it touched my heart and I will admit, cried a few times 🥹 loneliness comes in all shapes and sizes, just because someone seems happy doesn’t mean they truly are, people just become better at hiding it. I always knew that but this book made me realise how often it does happen and how many people hide things and go unnoticed.

Alice really hit us in the feels with all these quotes and sayings and honestly, they were placed beautifully in the book. They really stood out and these sorts of books aren’t usually my cup of tea but when I read the blurb I knew it was one I just had to read. It gave found family vibes especially with Angus and Holly to Lauren, they became her “parents” and support system. Even when they had their own demons to deal with, they made sure to still make time for one another and that’s just lovely in itself.

My only critique would be everyone got their happy ending explained in the book apart from Holly, but I can see what Alice was doing when finishing this book the way it ended. Although, I was rooting for Angus and Holly, it goes to show that although you meet the right person, it can be the wrong time and things just don’t work out. I do hope that they become good friends again but I’m sure they’ll be able to tackle whatever life throws at them.

I’d like to give massive thanks to @bedfordsq.publishers for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review - please check it out if you can. The book will be published on March 14th and is available from all major book shops💘

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

We meet Holly, whose husband has died. She finds herself volunteering at a local soup kitchen/cafe to take away the overwhelming sense of grief that she finds herself in. Here she meets many different people who become good friends to her, but in particular fellow volunteers, Angus and Lauren. They all have their own different problems and reasons for being there, but with each other's support there might just be a way for them to get through all these.

I absolutely loved this book!! It's been a while since I've read a book by this author, but I'll definitely be finding any I've missed. The storyline is just so lovely. Holly is a wonderful character who's going through a very hard time. To find the strength to go and volunteer was amazing and I loved how cooking the desserts in the cafe really brought the old Holly back! Angus is also an wonderful character, but he has different issues to Holly which are revealed slowly throughout the book. Lauren took a little bit more warming to, but as her story moves on and you get to hear what she has been through, you can't help but love her too. How the relationship between the three friends develops is lovely and whilst it's obvious where it's going, there are a few little twists in their stories which stops and makes you think about it all again.

Taking out Holly, Angus and Lauren's stories, the idea of the cafe which caters for disadvantaged, homeless and lonely people is great. I loved the kitchen scenes, watching how each Saturday's meal came together and trying to work out what I would make from their ingredients!! Whilst the story focusses on the three main characters, there are some lovely supporting characters from the cafe, and friends and family of the three to bolster the storyline. It was an emotional read in parts, and whilst some parts did make me laugh, I did find myself wiping away the tears in the end. It was such a beautiful read, and whilst I would have liked a different ending, it was so heart-warming that you couldn't not like it! Would definitely recommend!

[bookswithstace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a gripping read, and after the first few chapters, I really struggled to put this one down!

I was hooked on Hollys story, and thought it was beautiful how despite her grieving the loss of her husband, she volunteered at a community food kitchen, where she met Angus and Lauren and formed a very unique trio with them.

Despite all of them going through tough times in their lives, they supported each other and kept showing up.

Such a beautiful read, that I didn’t want to end!

H I G H L I G H T S

☕️ The main characters were all so loveable
🫖 Found family
🥐 Beautiful writing style
🍵 Tearjerker
🥞 Friends for family ✨
🧃 Heartbreaking storylines for each character
🍰 The ending 🥺

[MP · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a warm hug that I didn't know I needed. It made me ugly cry and also laugh way too loud in the airplane 🤍

[Jasmine Peel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars⭐️ Enjoyed the premise and liked all the characters - a little different to my usual reads which I liked but I felt like my attention went up and down with this book, sometimes I wouldn’t want to put it down and others i just wanted to wrap things up.
Overall enjoyed but not a favourite of mine!

[Alicia🤍📖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will be released on 14th March 2024 thank you to Bedford publishers for sending it out to me it was such a great read I love it so much I just wish there was a little more for Holly at the end

[Poppy Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super wholesome! I haven’t been this invested in a book for a while but I could hardly bring myself to put it down! A must read, feel good yet relatable story of the ups and downs of life, love and loss.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was good to read a book that wasn’t just boy meets girl story .. it had a feel good factor about it and a really good ending too !! And had a bit of cooking thrown in too ha ha

[Keira Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book as beautiful. at first i found it kind of a slow start and hard to get into. i persevered however, and eventually found myself wanting to find out what happens in the end. i did find angus’ accident a bit random? maybe the author felt a twist was needed. i just didn’t find it sat right and it just didn’t feel particularly needed. other than that, i loved it.

[Senait Pirani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this SO BADLY, but the writing style just wasn’t for me. I love the story, the lessons, and the characters; I love a found family story so much.

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad that Alice Peterson is back!

[Camille Volckmar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wholesome

[Kendal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Mandy Cannar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one

[sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt all the feels and throughly enjoyed the journey alongside the characters

[Kasey Holbrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I would typically read but it was a sweet story

[Andy Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. I liked this. It has a little bit more depth to it than a standard romantic comedy. The characters are good, varied and interesting. The story is good with various twists and turns. I would recommend this.

[Irene Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!
This book made me laugh and cry

[Harps · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Alice Peterson book, I was instantly captured by the description and just as captured when I started reading it.

Holly, grieving from the loss of her husband comes across a voluntary role at a community kitchen helping those in need. Here she meets Angus and Laurie who both have had struggles they are working through.

Although a unlikely trio the story unfolds and it's heartwarming, alot of emotions and tears were shed!

A beautiful story, really enjoyed this one

Thanks to NetGalley for the download

[Kodie Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

[Elin Wildeboer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm convinced that reading this book will somehow make you a better person. One of the best books i've ever read. Love it so so much!

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda cheesy book but it was cute. I was probably more invested in the other two featured characters rather than the proper main character. It was wholesome, I wanted to finish it and find out how they all got on. So a solid 4 stars.

[Simone Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely uplifting book if you're looking for a light, cosy read.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute, easy book. It is about loss in all its many forms, gratitude, and those who help you recover along the way. It managed to stay lighthearted while dealing with some heavy topics. The three main characters are well developed and lovable. The side characters are very much that—side characters. Minimal development, and there just to move the story along. But, the story definitely would have been incomplete without them.

This would be a perfect cozy fireplace read or summer beach read. It takes little brain power and is definitely a feel good book.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a lovely read on so many different levels.

The premise of the Saturday Café was wonderful in itself, every town needs a cafe like this - a safe place to go, where there's no judgement and people genuinely want to be your friends, your found family.

It's one of those books that touches your heart, evokes your emotions and certainly makes you appreciate what you take for granted.

The characters are wonderful, their stories are real and if you've ever known someone in this situation, somewhat relatable.

It's my first read by Peterson and it's certainly not going to be my last if they're all as good as The Saturday Place.

[Jemma Bartholomew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this reasonably enough, some of it was very predictable, but there were a few pleasing light twists. I particularly liked that the main character, Holly, was CNBC (Childless Not By Choice), a demographic that is woefully underrepresented in fiction, and rarely depicted with sensitivity as it is here. The book tackled some big topics - grief and loss, childhood trauma and homelessness - with a sensitive light touch.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely touching read. A new author for me and one I will look out for again. This is the story of three very different people whose worlds gently collide at a time when they are all searching for something. Centred around Holly whose husband was killed in a road traffic accident 18 months ago and she has become somewhat reclusive. Beautifully written it’s a gentle read with some deep and insightful messages about loneliness, guilt, fear and friendship.

Briefly, Holly gets a job volunteering at Soul Food, a Saturday cafe catering for those in need. There she first meets Angus a heavy drinker who is separated from his wife and is also volunteering thanks to his brother and former university roommate. Despite his situation Angus is someone who is good at putting people at ease and they soon become friends. Shortly afterwards, 19-year-old Lauren, who is living at a homeless shelter, arrives to volunteer. Lauren is extremely shy and particularly wary around men. Holly and Angus managed to bring her out of herself and soon the three are spending time together.

I don’t want to say anymore for fear of spoilers, but suffice it to say these are three people who care for others and find strength in their friendship. I love how such a diverse group of people have been brought together by the author in what is an uplifting, and very enjoyable story. This isn’t my usual type of read, however, I was completely engrossed and one of the things I really love about this book, is that unlike a number of books I’ve read in this genre, the ending did come as a total surprise. A wonderful book with a heartwarming lesson about how easy it is to make a difference to someone less fortunate than yourself. Very enjoyable book.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I didn't appreciate fully, back then, that we can make plans, we can map out our lives, but often fate has other ideas.”


Holly has been adrift ever since the death of her beloved husband, Jamie. She is lonely and needs to find herself again, so she volunteers at Soul Food, a Saturday cafe that caters to those in need. It is there that she meets Angus and Lauren, two other lost souls looking to rebuild their lives again. The three of them become close and form an unlikely trio, helping each other learn to live and believe in love again. 


The Saturday Place is a gorgeous slice of life book full of heart, hope and healing. A story about how we may make plans but life has plans of its own that we can’t control. A story that reminds us of the importance of purpose, belonging, community and friendship. Alice Peterson explores topics such as grief, trauma and mental health with sensitivity and there’s a tender and compelling atmosphere that lingers over the pages. I lost myself in the story and didn’t want to put it down. 


“Sometimes it's important to remind myself how lucky I am”


I think a big part of what makes this book so special is the characters. Peterson has created a cast of realistic and relatable characters who it is impossible not to love. You will cry, laugh and rage with them. But most of all you will be rooting for them as they rebuild themselves and their lives among their heartache. It was inspiring and really makes you appreciate the things you have in life. 


Uplifting, emotional, endearing and delightful, The Saturday Place is a comforting story that will stay with me. Highly recommended. 

[Miss AG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be one of the best books I have read! Thank you so much for writing this, Alice! I absolutely loved it and felt like I really connected with a couple of the characters.

I’m not a big reader but I try to motivate myself into reading a few books a year. As we are approaching the end of the year, I thought I would fit in one last book for 2024. I thought I would be reading this up to the end of December, but I surprised myself by finishing it off in 3 weeks!

This book pulls at your heartstrings, it really does. It sends a big message out to everyone, to show how if you are in a very bad place, your life will change and you will start to feel happy again.

I loved Holly and felt so sorry for her. She couldn’t have children and then her husband died in a car crash. Nobody imagines this will ever happen to them and it just goes to show that we don’t know what direction our lives will take. Even though Holly had her dark days where she struggled with what had happened, she was still a very strong and admirable woman. She helped herself to get out of a rut.

I was so inspired by Soul Food and wish I could be a volunteer there too! This has actually got me thinking about doing some volunteering! What an amazing service Soul Food was, and not just for homeless people but also for the volunteers. It changed lives and gave people a purpose. Holly used to dread her lonely weekends and then Soul Food became a huge part of her life. This led her onto fitness sessions, new friendships and laughter, how wonderful!

I really thought Holly and Angus would end up together. I liked it how the ending was unpredictable.