When Cath moves to a rural Northumberland village to escape her husband’s betrayal and a life that no longer feels her own, she’s determined to embrace a fresh start. But the quiet charm of her new surroundings seems only to magnify the loneliness of being on her own for the first time.
On a whim, Cath suggests starting a supper club, transforming her garden shed into a cosy, twinkling haven where neighbours can gather. What begins as an effort to ease her solitude becomes something far greater – a circle of friends, each bringing their own stories, struggles, and laughter.
As bonds deepen over shared meals and mishaps, Cath discovers the healing power of community and dares to believe in love and joy again.
Family, friends, food, a glass of bubbly and, of course, a good book make me smile. I love writing emotional stories about love, loss, betrayal, and family, that explore how complex and yet beautiful love can be. I also like to write romantic comedy, letting the characters have a bit of flirty fun too! I believe in following your dreams and working hard towards them, which led me to Harper Impulse (Harper Collins) and a publishing deal (woop!) after many years of writing. Stunning Northumberland is my home – sandy beaches, castles and gorgeous countryside that have inspired my writing.
Cath is out finding herself again after catching her husband with another woman, she ended it with him and promptly moved out.
On the search for a new house Cath finds a lovely cottage in a small town named Tilldale. Alone and nervous Cath sets out to put herself out there again and make friends and she does so along the way in shape of a lovely little supper club consisting of herself, Andreas, Dan, Will and Nikki.
I adored following Cath on her journey to finding herself again. She’s a strong and beautiful woman that is incredibly relatable. Each character has their own story going on and it’s lovely to get an insight of their lives along with Cath’s
Maria, oh my heart just broke constantly because the feelings that come along with that…tears, a lot of them.
Oh and Shirley, she had me giggling away to myself because those fur babies age us a lot quicker than necessary, the little buggers.
Then there’s that twist a long the way, legit didn’t see that coming until certain things gave it away and damn, I loved every second of it.
Caroline Robert’s is a new to me author but I’ve quickly become addicted to this writing style and the way the words are put down on the page, they flowed so easily and I found myself breezing through it. The characters were brought to life so brilliantly that I could see exactly what each were doing. I can definitely see me reading more books from this author in the future.
If you’re a fan of
* Second Chance * Later in Life Romance * Small Town * Foodie Supper Clubs
This was a lovely comforting read set in beautiful Northumberland; the setting was beautifully described and I could almost imagine the sights and smells of the gorgeous countryside. Northumberland isn't somewhere I'm overly familiar with having never visited, in fact I only knew two things about it, Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island.
I really felt for Cath as she has had to start again through no fault of her own, but her marriage breakdown presents the perfect opportunity for a fresh start in a new part of the country. It felt to me as if Cath really embraced this opportunity by putting herself out there and becoming involved in the community. She misses cooking for other people so the idea of the Supper Club is absolutely perfect; what better way to meet new friends than through delicious food?
Speaking of delicious food, you'll be needing some snacks when you read this book as the food served at the Supper Club sounded mouth-watering; thankfully there's a handy section of recipes at the back of the book. Just like Will though, I'm not much of a cook, but I'd love to try some of the delicious dishes being served.
I'm a sucker for a book about second chances so I knew I'd enjoy this book; I also love the theme of community and friendship running throughout the book as Cath finds herself a wonderful new group of friends in the gorgeous village of Tilldale. It would appear that book two is coming out soon and it's a Christmas book so it's going straight on my festive TBR pile.
A sweet read which I thoroughly enjoyed. This was an interesting story which really captured my attention. A book you can read on the beach or by a swimming pool. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
It’s been ages since I’ve got lost in a Caroline Roberts book. This was some delicious reading. What an inspiring story about self discovery, friendship, community, family and love. Cath is such an inspirational characters, having to start over after a divorce, she not only has to navigate being single, but also the loss of her beloved job and early retirement plans. Cath chooses to do this by going back to a place she has happy childhood memories. Northumberland. What a stunning place, close to my heart also and the descriptions are simply beautiful.
I liked the way we saw Cath navigating a new home and making friends, but also her loneliness, an issue so often ignored, Cath needs friends, connections, to feel useful. I love her budding friendships and it’s so touching how much she steps in to help with the shop when needed. The extra twist about a past relationship and the tale attached to it (I don’t want to give away spoilers) was very touching and heart wrenching, so beautifully written.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series, some of the meals created for the supper club really got my mouth watering, I can’t wait for a festive menu.
Enjoyable feel good with vibes of community and friendships. A very common story - woman moving and starting over after a divorce - with a "second chance at love"-trope, and a small town/country setting - it's perfectly enjoyable, but nothing groundbreaking or especially memorable. The cast/supporting characters are very well developed, believable and definitely lift the story as a whole. The whole supper club idea also worked very well, and didn't feel as formulaic and forced as I feared it might.
I absolutely adored The Second Chance Supper Club! This heartwarming story had everything I needed for the perfect lazy Sunday afternoon read: authentic characters, emotional depth, and a beautiful message about starting over.
The novel explores themes of marriage breakdown and loneliness with honesty and grace, while offering hope through the comforting rituals of food, friendship, and community. I especially loved how the Supper Club became a warm, welcoming space where people could reconnect and heal. It’s such a wonderful concept, and it really brought the characters, and the readers, together.
The characters felt so real and relatable, each carrying their own burdens but yet supporting rach other. Caroline Roberts has such a lovely way of writing that makes you feel like you’re right there in the kitchen, sharing laughter and stories.
I can't wait for the Christmas edition! I just know it'll be another cosy and uplifting treat!
What a wonderful visit to the beautiful village of Tilldale I've just had 🥰
Cath was a delightful main character, bravely scooping up the shattered pieces of her life and moving far from home to start afresh, and slowly piece herself back together.
Pushing herself to meet the locals and create new friendships worked wonders for Cath's confidence and soon put a spring back in her step, starting with hosting her first supper get-together as a single woman.
Before long the 'Supper Club' was a regular occurrence between Cath and her new found friends, full of fun, good food and laughter cementing their bonds and deepening their relationships.
As well as following Cath on her inspiring journey of starting over, and wading her way through the repercussions of divorce, another story slowly unravels alongside that had me full hope... but you'll have to read this book for yourself to find out that part 😉
A thoroughly enjoyable and charming read - thank you again @hqstories for sending me a proof copy ❤️
First of thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this beautiful book. It is a cosy, romantic read. It follows a woman in her 50’s, starting again in a new town, new home and trying to establish a new life on her own after the breakdown of her marriage of 30 years. Cath is a resilient woman, looking to find herself in a village she visited as a young person and later with her own family. Creating friendships along the way, whilst dealing with her feelings about loneliness and change. A lovely read for anyone wanting a feel good romance. #TheSecondChanceSupperClub #NetGalley
The Second Chance Supper Club by Caroline Roberts is a very charming contemporary novel about new beginnings. The novel is set in a small village in Northumberland as we follow the leading lady who is relocating from Leeds. We understand her fears of starting again but though the village is small, the welcome is huge. There are an eclectic mix of characters, with the village shop very much at the heart of the village. “That little shop is more than just a store, it’s a kind of community hub.” The young men who own the shop provide a warm welcome, and it is here that friendships begin. Characters drop in for more than groceries. For some, it is their lifeline, giving them conversation and care. The leading lady and man are in their fifties. They prove that growing older does not have to mean, slowing down. He is passionate about cycling. She misses her friends in Leeds. Following a divorce, she is brave enough to start the supper club which provides a camaraderie for a group of five as they share good food and lives. The leading lady was a wife and mother for nearly thirty years. Now it is time to re-discover herself. “Her life… had been so focused around Adam and Trevor, along with her teaching job and her pupils, that she’d lost sight of herself.” We see the importance of following your heart and dreams. A young girl feels pressurised by her parents to take the academic route in uni but all she really wants to do is catering. No matter how old we grow, we still feel the same on the inside. Feelings that one character had had in her teens are re-ignited, as the old flame had never really gone out. Where there are needs, they are met. When an elderly mother is in hospital, the supper club rallies round, supporting where it can. All the characters were wonderfully drawn. The reader really feels part of their lives. Our tastebuds were tempted by the delicious fayre on offer. I was pleased to see the inclusion of recipes at the back of the book. Caroline Roberts has written the most delightful tale. It is light-hearted and fun-filled, and will leave you smiling. The Second Chance Supper Club is the first book in a new series and I cannot wait for more, more, more!
Cath feels like her life is over after breaking up with her husband, selling their house and moving to a 2 bed cottage to start a new life alone. However she soon starts to make a new life for herself with some fab new friends and they decide to start a supper club. I loved seeing how Cath grew as she became more settled and made new friends. I really liked her as a character as I felt she showed her weaknesses as she felt tied to her ex husband and wanting to help her son. However she was strong willed and forged a new life for herself realising that the past is in the past. I enjoyed reading what meals were being served in the supper club and it was great to have the recipes at the end of the book. The ending was excellent and I loved the unexpected twist towards the end of the book which I didn’t see coming. A brilliant heartwarming 5 star read I would definitely recommend and I’m hoping for a sequel to see what happens next. Thanks to NetGalley, Caroline Roberts and HQ for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
It's been a while since I last read a Caroline Roberts book and I was very happy to see her back writing. And with this, its another glorious book from her.
And as I have come to expect from this author, there is plenty of delicious sounding food described, during each of the supper club meetings and even some recipes at the back of the book.
I loved getting to know Cath, as she starts to build a new life for herself in Northumberland. And I also love how food can bring people together, which is definitely a theme of this book.
Add in an adorable Westie, the owners of the village shop, a delectable widower, and the local whirlwind, you have the makings of a fabulous new social group.
I loved every second of this book, its warm hearted, tasty and I totally love all of the characters.
It was a joy to read and I look forward to hopefully coming across these characters again at some point in the future.
Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
A strong start to a new series — Cath has picked herself up and started her life all over again, after her husband of thirty years decided to trade her in for a newer model. Cath isn’t one to wallow in what-might-have-beens so she makes a new start in the Northumberland village of Tilldale, almost as far from Leeds as she can get. She knows the area from her childhood and her first love, Matty, so Cath’s sure she will love the village. But thirty years of history is a lot, so will village life be what she needs to heal a bruised heart? Or will her grumpy fellow villager Will put the brakes on any healing at all?
I enjoyed this gentle village life novel, and saw the romance from a hundred yards, as well as the other climactic event: this was written to the usual romance formula which hasn’t failed us yet. I think the second novel (Christmas at The Second Chance Supper Club, Oct 25) will tie up the loose ends, which is perhaps why this novel didn’t quite stick the landing. A good four stars but could have been five.
I’ve been waiting for ages for a new one from Caroline I simply adore her and yet again she does not disappoint! I was hooked with this one. The characters were all so loveable (minus Trevor the husband). Caroline writes with such descriptive, engaging language and set the scene perfectly.
I loved Caths character development and the joy she found within her community. It truly was a friendship story- I want to be part of her friendship group! It was well paced and before I knew it i was halfway through. There is a twist too in the book which I did not guess at all.
I am absolutely delighted to see another book following on from this one- Christmas as the Second Chance Club is out in October. I need to get back to these characters who feel like my friends! Get ready to be swept away in wholesome community, friendships and a budding romance.
A heartwarming story of hope, second chances and starting over. A sublime read!
Cath is starting over in a place where she had happy holidays as a young person and later with her family. Now she is recovering from her husband's betrayal and the fact that her only son is making his way in life. At first, moving to rural Northumberland seems impulsive. Cath feels her loneliness acutely, but the village she has relocated to is nurturing, and soon she has a group of new friends who bond over food and conversation. I loved the warmth of this story, which is about starting over, new friendships and the chance of romance. The characters are complex and relatable, and Cath's new life is believable too. There is laughter and tears in this story, and plenty of conflict too. It's the friendship that develops and the gentle romance that makes this such a satisfying read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Thank you Caroline for another wonderful book. Cathy has recently moved into a cottage in Northumberland from Leeds following the breakdown of her marriage and she has fond memories of the area as she used to visit there with family when she was younger. Cath decides to start a supper club to make new friends and finds herself getting to know new people in the area including the owners of the local shop Dan and Andreas and Nikki along with Will who Cathy feels is familiar to her but she is unsure why. All is revealed throughout the book and I found both the storyline and characters were very good. I could certainly relate to Cath when her Son returns from travelling overseas and she finds her cosy cottage full of dirty washing and crockery everywhere! I have already preordered the next book in the series. There are also some brilliant recipes at the end of the book and the lemon posset I made was delicious.
I do enjoy a Caroline Roberts book but I'm afraid I found this one rather slow. I felt there was too many unneeded descriptive passages and for me the story didn't flow as well as her past books. I enjoyed the tale but found her ex husband very wishy washy as a character. One minute wanting her back and then going back to his girlfriend. He didn't seem to have much of a back bone. Will, I liked but he blew hot and cold. I loved the men from the deli and Maria, she seemed a lovely lady. So it was just a bit of a disappointment that it didn't gel with me.I I'm sure others will love this book and it's gentle pace and enjoy the countryside that it evokes.
I really enjoyed this book and devoured it in 2 days. At the start, I wasn't sure that I was enjoying it as much as the other books I've read by this author. However, that fear turned out to be unfounded as the story and the characters grew on me. By the end I was very much rooting for them all. I liked the shout out for Bonnie Garmus' Lessons in Chemistry via it being the book that Cath was reading. It did also make me reflect on making friends as an adult. Cath seemed to make friends so easily and I wish that found making new friends as an adult that easy. I also wish that I had my own Supper Club to attend, it sounds fab. Another lovely read from this author
I found this book extremely hard going and slow, it wasn't until a lot of chapters in that the story started to interest me...
The early chapters to me felt like the same thing was always being said and it didn't need to be... yes she's lonely, yes she is rebuilding her life.. we get that so why repeat it?
Once I got into the book it was an OK read for me..... it's a cosy romance book with friendships built and set around a supper club.
The ending just ended which I felt could of been more descriptive - I know there is a second book out so not sure how that evolve.
When Cath's marriage comes to an abrupt end, she makes the decision to move to Tindall, a countryside place that holds special memories for her of family holidays when she was a child, and her first true love and holiday romance when she was just 16. As she makes friends and there's herself into the local community, she is shocked to find that 'Matty' is still living locally, her holiday romance from over 30 years ago. Their brief romance didn't end well, and it seems he holds a grudge. Will this spoil her idyllic new life and force her back to Leeds? A truly lovely read, full of friendship, community and wonderful characters.
This book was like a warm, cosy blanket that wrapped itself around me and made me feel all snug and happy. It was a delightful, romantic read that was super easy to get lost in. The characters were so well-developed and the setting was absolutely gorgeous. And let me tell you, the food descriptions were to die for! I wouldn’t dare read this while I was hungry! It was a pure comfort read from beginning to end, filled with warmth, feel-good vibes, and a satisfying sense of contentment.
It’s been a long time since Caroline had any books out and I have eagerly awaited this one. I loved being back in Northumberland with a whole new gang of characters. I loved the descriptions of an area I know. Hopefully we’ll not wait so long for the next one.
I liked the gentle slow burn of the book but found myself irritated by the main character with her indecisiveness and pushing Will. But I liked all the other characters and hope they can be developed more in future books. Good for a lazy afternoons read
A nice comfort read set in the beautiful Northumberland countryside. A story about starting over and making new friends and enjoying the small things in life.
Lovely book, and some cracking recipes. I’m guessing Caroline Roberts is owned by a Westie or someone close to her is, she’s got the Westitude perfectly portrayed ❤️🐾