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Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
'A heartwarming, feel-good novel bursting with charm, humour and seaside sunshine' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY
Four women. Four loves. Four life-changing stories. At a little salon by the sea - on the windblown coast of 1980s Australia - four different women with intertwined lives will find themselves through love, heartbreak and learning to love again.
Lost love: Trudy, 57, owns Summertime Salon in the sun-soaked Central Coast town of Terrigal. She loves her job and her clients. Her colours, perms and Princess Di cuts bring joy and confidence to regulars and tourists alike. But since Laurie died, life hasn't been the same.
Love on the rocks: Anna, 42, brings her mother to Summertime Salon every Monday morning but never gets her own hair done. With two children and an absent husband, she doesn't have time for vanity. When Anna kicks Gary out, will she also rediscover the joys of caring for herself, starting with highlights?
Unrequited love: Hairdresser Evie, 33, has never had much luck with men. As a single mother, love is the last thing on her mind. Then, new hire Sam joins the salon - he's handsome and kind, and he and Evie hit it off immediately. But is their relationship all that it seems?
First love: Apprentice Josie, 19, is seeking independence. She's determined to make her own way in the world, especially when she meets sweet surfer and mechanic Brett, who she can't quite believe is silly over her. How long can she keep him a secret from her overprotective parents?
Uplifting and heartwarming, Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon follows four women on their journeys for love - in all its beautiful and bittersweet forms. Sophie Green is the bestselling author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society.
'Cosy, uplifting and entertaining, this is the perfect escape read' WOMAN'S DAY
'A cosy, comforting read' BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
'A great read. Relatable and realistic characters in a relatable setting with lovely interwoven yet independent story arcs' STARTS AT 60
Praise for Sophie's
'Uplifting' WOMAN'S DAY
'Delightful' BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
'A warm treat of a novel' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'Reading a Sophie Green book is the greatest escape' WHO MAGAZINE
'Fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY
'Reading this book was like snuggling beneath a warm beach towel after a bracing dip in the ocean' JOANNA NELL
Four women. Four loves. Four life-changing stories. At a little salon by the sea - on the windblown coast of 1980s Australia - four different women with intertwined lives will find themselves through love, heartbreak and learning to love again.
Lost love: Trudy, 57, owns Summertime Salon in the sun-soaked Central Coast town of Terrigal. She loves her job and her clients. Her colours, perms and Princess Di cuts bring joy and confidence to regulars and tourists alike. But since Laurie died, life hasn't been the same.
Love on the rocks: Anna, 42, brings her mother to Summertime Salon every Monday morning but never gets her own hair done. With two children and an absent husband, she doesn't have time for vanity. When Anna kicks Gary out, will she also rediscover the joys of caring for herself, starting with highlights?
Unrequited love: Hairdresser Evie, 33, has never had much luck with men. As a single mother, love is the last thing on her mind. Then, new hire Sam joins the salon - he's handsome and kind, and he and Evie hit it off immediately. But is their relationship all that it seems?
First love: Apprentice Josie, 19, is seeking independence. She's determined to make her own way in the world, especially when she meets sweet surfer and mechanic Brett, who she can't quite believe is silly over her. How long can she keep him a secret from her overprotective parents?
Uplifting and heartwarming, Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon follows four women on their journeys for love - in all its beautiful and bittersweet forms. Sophie Green is the bestselling author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society.
'Cosy, uplifting and entertaining, this is the perfect escape read' WOMAN'S DAY
'A cosy, comforting read' BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
'A great read. Relatable and realistic characters in a relatable setting with lovely interwoven yet independent story arcs' STARTS AT 60
Praise for Sophie's
'Uplifting' WOMAN'S DAY
'Delightful' BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
'A warm treat of a novel' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'Reading a Sophie Green book is the greatest escape' WHO MAGAZINE
'Fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY
'Reading this book was like snuggling beneath a warm beach towel after a bracing dip in the ocean' JOANNA NELL
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2025
54 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Green
33 books245 followersSophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 3, 2025
The book is set in Australia in a small coastal town called Terrigal which is not too far from where I live now. Four women are working in a hair salon in the 1980's. They are all at different stages of their lives and each one has a different love story to tell.
The book is a little slow in parts with a lot of self analysis but it gathers strength as we get to know the characters and want to see them happy. It is very nicely written and is my favourite of the books I have read by this author so far. Recommended to anyone who enjoys the occasional good cry with their reading. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The book is a little slow in parts with a lot of self analysis but it gathers strength as we get to know the characters and want to see them happy. It is very nicely written and is my favourite of the books I have read by this author so far. Recommended to anyone who enjoys the occasional good cry with their reading. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 16, 2025
Fifty seven year old Trudy was the owner of the Seaside Salon at Terrigal on the Central Coast of NSW. It was the 1980s and Lady Di hairstyles were all the rage. Trudy had lost her beloved Laurie two years prior and still grieved him deeply. But her family of clients and staff kept her going through the day - it was night times and Sundays that hit her hardest. Anna, forty two years old, took her mother Ingrid to Trudy once a week, while thoughts of her marriage and two children kept her occupied. She was angry at Gary never being there for her or the children, and trying to decide what to do. Thirty three year old Evie, Trudy's offsider in the salon, had seven year old Billy, a friendly relationship with Stevo, Billy's dad, but no romantic love of her own. And Josie, nineteen, Trudy's new apprentice, was a joy to be around. Although her home life with her parents was harsh, out of home Josie was a delight. What do these four women have in common apart from the salon?
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is another great read by Aussie author Sophie Green which I enjoyed. Set in the beautiful Central Coast, not far from where I live, and where I've been many times, it was extremely familiar and a delight to follow the characters' footsteps. My only issue was I feel there was a little too much "inner thought" happening. But other than that, the book was up there with Ms Green's usual heartfelt stories, and I have no hesitation in recommending this new one.
With thanks to NetGalley & Hachette AU for my digital ARC to read and review.
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is another great read by Aussie author Sophie Green which I enjoyed. Set in the beautiful Central Coast, not far from where I live, and where I've been many times, it was extremely familiar and a delight to follow the characters' footsteps. My only issue was I feel there was a little too much "inner thought" happening. But other than that, the book was up there with Ms Green's usual heartfelt stories, and I have no hesitation in recommending this new one.
With thanks to NetGalley & Hachette AU for my digital ARC to read and review.
November 13, 2025
**4.5 stars**
Love this author's books, and this latest one is no exception. It's set in 1986, in an Australian beach town with a hairdressing salon the heart of the story. The character perspectives change between four women who are at different ages and stages of life. The owner of the salon, 57 year-old Trudy, is still grieving the loss of her husband two years earlier. 42 year-old Anna has had enough of her husband not being at home and kicks him out. 33 year-old single mum Evie isn't looking for love but falls head over heels with new salon hire Sam. 19 year-old Josie is seeking independence from her overprotective parents. I must admit that a couple of these characters irritated me with their thought process and actions, however it also felt very realistic; none of us are perfect. It is a bit of a bittersweet read as the women all go on a personal journey to find themselves.
Overall: fantastic read, highly recommend!
Love this author's books, and this latest one is no exception. It's set in 1986, in an Australian beach town with a hairdressing salon the heart of the story. The character perspectives change between four women who are at different ages and stages of life. The owner of the salon, 57 year-old Trudy, is still grieving the loss of her husband two years earlier. 42 year-old Anna has had enough of her husband not being at home and kicks him out. 33 year-old single mum Evie isn't looking for love but falls head over heels with new salon hire Sam. 19 year-old Josie is seeking independence from her overprotective parents. I must admit that a couple of these characters irritated me with their thought process and actions, however it also felt very realistic; none of us are perfect. It is a bit of a bittersweet read as the women all go on a personal journey to find themselves.
Overall: fantastic read, highly recommend!
August 29, 2025
Set in the 1980’s in the small seaside town of Terrigal on the Central Coast of NSW, Sophie Green brings to life four woman working at or connected to The Seaside Salon all different ages and all in different stages of their lives, come along to meet them all and journey through four months of their lives, will they find what they want?
Trudy is 57 and she owns the salon and has done for years, she is a beautiful person and has a knack of making people feel loved and beautiful but for Trudy she feels down at times since the loss of her husband Laurie he was the love of her life and is struggling at times without him.
Anna is 42 married to Gary and they have two young children, Troy and Renee, she is a stay at home mum who takes in sewing and also spends time with her mother Ingrid, Gary is a solicitor and has his own firm and he works long, long hours and is hardly ever home so she kicks him out, is it time to start looking after herself instead of putting everyone else first, maybe a visit to the Seaside Salon with her mother might help.
Evie is 33, a single mum to young Billy and one of the hairdressers at the salon, although she has a son and is friends with his father she has never felt that buzz of real love and when a new hairdresser Sam starts at the salon, Evie feels that he is the one that starts the buzzing for her he is so lovely and good to her but is there a chance of a relationship with Sam?
Josie is 19 and starts as an apprentice at the salon, her mother is very controlling and Evie wants so much to become independent with her own car now and the job this is her first step and then when she meets a young man Brett who loves surfing and he seems very interested in her as she is in him but she knows her parents will not be happy, is there a chance for Evie and Brett?
This is another beautiful story from MS Green, it is moving and emotional and will pull you in as you get to know these woman, feel their emotions, the setting is fabulous not too far from me and it is one that I highly recommend to any lover of a good heart-warming story.
Trudy is 57 and she owns the salon and has done for years, she is a beautiful person and has a knack of making people feel loved and beautiful but for Trudy she feels down at times since the loss of her husband Laurie he was the love of her life and is struggling at times without him.
Anna is 42 married to Gary and they have two young children, Troy and Renee, she is a stay at home mum who takes in sewing and also spends time with her mother Ingrid, Gary is a solicitor and has his own firm and he works long, long hours and is hardly ever home so she kicks him out, is it time to start looking after herself instead of putting everyone else first, maybe a visit to the Seaside Salon with her mother might help.
Evie is 33, a single mum to young Billy and one of the hairdressers at the salon, although she has a son and is friends with his father she has never felt that buzz of real love and when a new hairdresser Sam starts at the salon, Evie feels that he is the one that starts the buzzing for her he is so lovely and good to her but is there a chance of a relationship with Sam?
Josie is 19 and starts as an apprentice at the salon, her mother is very controlling and Evie wants so much to become independent with her own car now and the job this is her first step and then when she meets a young man Brett who loves surfing and he seems very interested in her as she is in him but she knows her parents will not be happy, is there a chance for Evie and Brett?
This is another beautiful story from MS Green, it is moving and emotional and will pull you in as you get to know these woman, feel their emotions, the setting is fabulous not too far from me and it is one that I highly recommend to any lover of a good heart-warming story.
October 25, 2025
Lessons In Love At The Seaside Salon is the seventh novel by best-selling Australian publisher and author, Sophie Green. Terrigal on the central coast of NSW is where Trudy has lived and worked for thirty years, attending to the hair-dressing needs of the locals and tourists in her Seaside Salon assisted by talented single mum, Evie. As an apprentice, Josie’s duties include sweeping and washing hair, but Trudy’s training soon has her doing more.
Each is currently single: Trudy has been widowed two years, is still consumed by grief and loneliness, and is beginning to realise that her life is small; Evie has seven-year-old Billy, but his father, while an attentive dad, she and Stevo don’t love each other, he doesn’t spark the love she’s longing for; with her over-protective parents constantly hovering, pretty Josie has never had a boyfriend, and yearns to be loved by someone who has chosen her.
And then there’s Anna. A seamstress, married, with two children, she’s fed up with her husband Gary’s absence. He spends long hours in his solicitor’s practice, “bringing home the bacon” yes, but leaving care of home and children to her. She catches fleeting glimpses of him outside his long work hours, while his son and daughter only see him on Sundays. She wonders “When did they stop treating each other as lovers, as confidants, as people, and start being cohabitants, parents, washers of clothes and payers of bills?”
Evie’s world is turned upside down when gorgeous and charming Sam, brother of a fellow she once dated, comes to work in the salon: she is felled by a huge crush and, even though her best friend tells her “Don’t confuse attention for affection”, she’s on the way to being smitten. Trudy watches it playing out with some concern.
Trudy is beginning to realise that it might be time to not stay crystallised in amber because she’s not a fossil. She can let the two years stop her – because it’s not enough time to mourn her husband – or spur her. To stagnate no longer. To actually connect with someone else. To get out of her head. To live. To feel. Is she ready to keep company with Sol, her late husband’s bowls mate?
When young apprentice mechanic and avid surfer, Brett begins paying Josie attention, she’s excited, but also afraid of how her parents will react, perhaps rightly so. She can’t keep the fact that they are dating secret forever.
Anna brings her mother, Ingrid to weekly appointments at the Seaside Salon, but it’s not until she decides on a change of style for herself that the mother and daughter embark on some frank discussions about their lives. Ingrid’s advice, is not the advice Anna wanted to hear. Except that’s not really the nature of advice, is it – you can’t dictate what someone else wants to tell you.
Once again, Green gives her characters realistic challenges, insightful musings and sound advice: “life is too short to live badly if it can be avoided”. With popular culture references, food, fashion, social attitudes and news, the prevalence of smoking, and the terms of address (pet, darl) she easily evokes her era and setting. Moving and heart-warming.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia.
Each is currently single: Trudy has been widowed two years, is still consumed by grief and loneliness, and is beginning to realise that her life is small; Evie has seven-year-old Billy, but his father, while an attentive dad, she and Stevo don’t love each other, he doesn’t spark the love she’s longing for; with her over-protective parents constantly hovering, pretty Josie has never had a boyfriend, and yearns to be loved by someone who has chosen her.
And then there’s Anna. A seamstress, married, with two children, she’s fed up with her husband Gary’s absence. He spends long hours in his solicitor’s practice, “bringing home the bacon” yes, but leaving care of home and children to her. She catches fleeting glimpses of him outside his long work hours, while his son and daughter only see him on Sundays. She wonders “When did they stop treating each other as lovers, as confidants, as people, and start being cohabitants, parents, washers of clothes and payers of bills?”
Evie’s world is turned upside down when gorgeous and charming Sam, brother of a fellow she once dated, comes to work in the salon: she is felled by a huge crush and, even though her best friend tells her “Don’t confuse attention for affection”, she’s on the way to being smitten. Trudy watches it playing out with some concern.
Trudy is beginning to realise that it might be time to not stay crystallised in amber because she’s not a fossil. She can let the two years stop her – because it’s not enough time to mourn her husband – or spur her. To stagnate no longer. To actually connect with someone else. To get out of her head. To live. To feel. Is she ready to keep company with Sol, her late husband’s bowls mate?
When young apprentice mechanic and avid surfer, Brett begins paying Josie attention, she’s excited, but also afraid of how her parents will react, perhaps rightly so. She can’t keep the fact that they are dating secret forever.
Anna brings her mother, Ingrid to weekly appointments at the Seaside Salon, but it’s not until she decides on a change of style for herself that the mother and daughter embark on some frank discussions about their lives. Ingrid’s advice, is not the advice Anna wanted to hear. Except that’s not really the nature of advice, is it – you can’t dictate what someone else wants to tell you.
Once again, Green gives her characters realistic challenges, insightful musings and sound advice: “life is too short to live badly if it can be avoided”. With popular culture references, food, fashion, social attitudes and news, the prevalence of smoking, and the terms of address (pet, darl) she easily evokes her era and setting. Moving and heart-warming.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia.
August 12, 2025
Big thanks to Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
Highways of emotions criss cross through us all and many take detours and face road blocks.
Love is a cornerstone feeling for everyone and it does come in all shapes and forms.
Four women, four stages of life experience, four versions of love.
A heartwarming and scenic journey that each takes awaits.
All four women are connected by a salon by the seaside.
A place where staff and clients interact freely and openly.
The owner, Trudy is a matriarch of love and life experiences.
Losing her first love, husband Laurie and then navigating new love with Sol.
Challenged unexpectedly and unfairly leaving her with a hard conversation to have.
The other 3 ladies each have their experiences and relatable feelings.
Some are misguided, some secretly and some when they realise their own self worth.
A colourful cover with a long title needs no introduction and readers will indulge in this latest offering.
It’s a story that reflects love is indeed a battlefield but somethings are worth fighting for.
Highways of emotions criss cross through us all and many take detours and face road blocks.
Love is a cornerstone feeling for everyone and it does come in all shapes and forms.
Four women, four stages of life experience, four versions of love.
A heartwarming and scenic journey that each takes awaits.
All four women are connected by a salon by the seaside.
A place where staff and clients interact freely and openly.
The owner, Trudy is a matriarch of love and life experiences.
Losing her first love, husband Laurie and then navigating new love with Sol.
Challenged unexpectedly and unfairly leaving her with a hard conversation to have.
The other 3 ladies each have their experiences and relatable feelings.
Some are misguided, some secretly and some when they realise their own self worth.
A colourful cover with a long title needs no introduction and readers will indulge in this latest offering.
It’s a story that reflects love is indeed a battlefield but somethings are worth fighting for.
December 11, 2025
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🧡Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is the seventh release from much loved Australian contemporary novelist Sophie Green. Sophie is an author I've followed since her first novel's publication and I was lucky to finally meet her in May this year at the Rachael Johns Readers Retreat, which was an amazing experience for this mega fan! This tender novel is beautifully told through the voices of four different women, each at a different stage of life. What transpires as the narrative unspools is the importance of a local community hub as a site of interaction and connection in drawing people together. Gentle, connective and full of understanding this was a joyful read.
🧡With four contrasting voices at the helm of this novel it is easy to sympathise with not only one character but a number concurrently as Sophie Green spins a tale of life, love, laughter, hard experiences and good times. I naturally gravitated to Anna and her accompanying journey which spoke to me the most, but it was also easy to appreciate all that the other main cast members have to give. Each protagonist managed to change your life and world view in some way. However, what I valued the most was the way in which Sophie Green ensured that the lives of her cast members overlapped so the link was deep and authentic between them.
🧡A highlight of this book was the chance it offered the reader to be inserted straight into the best decade ever - the 1980’s. This time period is a decade that I adore with all my heart (I was born and grew up in the 1980’s). With my full interest in the time period established as soon as I opened this one, the storyline managed to grab me even more than I expected.
I totally lapped up pop culture references, events of the era, cultural and social practices of the time. It was a huge walk down memory lane! This story definitely made a big impression on me as it took me right back to my childhood.
With themes of relationship pitfalls, life pressures, self love, care, relationships, parenting, families, loss, friendship, sisterhood, secrets, the past, romance, resilience and community, this is a life affirming tale from experienced novelist Sophie Green. The best thing about this tale and the others in the Sophie Green collection is that there is always a genuine sense of hope, warmth and a welcome home feeling that the audience experiences from the moment they commit themselves to a Sophie Green novel. This one is absolutely no exception to that rule. I fully enjoyed my time with Anna, Trudy, Evie and Josie, if only I could have a coffee with them in real life!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5 stars!
A very big extension of thanks to @sophiegreenbooks @hachetteaus and @benson_publicity
🧡Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is the seventh release from much loved Australian contemporary novelist Sophie Green. Sophie is an author I've followed since her first novel's publication and I was lucky to finally meet her in May this year at the Rachael Johns Readers Retreat, which was an amazing experience for this mega fan! This tender novel is beautifully told through the voices of four different women, each at a different stage of life. What transpires as the narrative unspools is the importance of a local community hub as a site of interaction and connection in drawing people together. Gentle, connective and full of understanding this was a joyful read.
🧡With four contrasting voices at the helm of this novel it is easy to sympathise with not only one character but a number concurrently as Sophie Green spins a tale of life, love, laughter, hard experiences and good times. I naturally gravitated to Anna and her accompanying journey which spoke to me the most, but it was also easy to appreciate all that the other main cast members have to give. Each protagonist managed to change your life and world view in some way. However, what I valued the most was the way in which Sophie Green ensured that the lives of her cast members overlapped so the link was deep and authentic between them.
🧡A highlight of this book was the chance it offered the reader to be inserted straight into the best decade ever - the 1980’s. This time period is a decade that I adore with all my heart (I was born and grew up in the 1980’s). With my full interest in the time period established as soon as I opened this one, the storyline managed to grab me even more than I expected.
I totally lapped up pop culture references, events of the era, cultural and social practices of the time. It was a huge walk down memory lane! This story definitely made a big impression on me as it took me right back to my childhood.
With themes of relationship pitfalls, life pressures, self love, care, relationships, parenting, families, loss, friendship, sisterhood, secrets, the past, romance, resilience and community, this is a life affirming tale from experienced novelist Sophie Green. The best thing about this tale and the others in the Sophie Green collection is that there is always a genuine sense of hope, warmth and a welcome home feeling that the audience experiences from the moment they commit themselves to a Sophie Green novel. This one is absolutely no exception to that rule. I fully enjoyed my time with Anna, Trudy, Evie and Josie, if only I could have a coffee with them in real life!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5 stars!
A very big extension of thanks to @sophiegreenbooks @hachetteaus and @benson_publicity
August 20, 2025
Set in a small coastal town called Terrigal, this beautiful book will take you back to the 80s where you will meet 4 remarkable women embarking on their own journey to self discovery, healing and love.
The book is narrated by all 4 women, allowing readers to get to know them on a personal level whilst providing them access to the characters struggles and self doubt. Trudy is a widow, Anna has kicked her husband out, Evie is a single mother looking for love and Josie falls in love for the first time.
Life has changed dramatically for the women and whilst they feel like they are alone in the world, they soon discover how powerful the female connection is. Their growth throughout the book is admirable and heartwarming, I guarantee you will be cheering them on as they face their struggles with the courage and support they didn’t think they had.
Sophie’s writing feels like a big warm hug. Her characters are loveable and authentic which made the story a joy to read. The detailed and beautiful description of the small town was calming and set the tone for scenes where the characters were reflecting and sitting in peace.
A wonderful book and one I highly recommend.
Thank you so much @hachetteaus @sophiegreenbooks and @benson_publicity for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The book is narrated by all 4 women, allowing readers to get to know them on a personal level whilst providing them access to the characters struggles and self doubt. Trudy is a widow, Anna has kicked her husband out, Evie is a single mother looking for love and Josie falls in love for the first time.
Life has changed dramatically for the women and whilst they feel like they are alone in the world, they soon discover how powerful the female connection is. Their growth throughout the book is admirable and heartwarming, I guarantee you will be cheering them on as they face their struggles with the courage and support they didn’t think they had.
Sophie’s writing feels like a big warm hug. Her characters are loveable and authentic which made the story a joy to read. The detailed and beautiful description of the small town was calming and set the tone for scenes where the characters were reflecting and sitting in peace.
A wonderful book and one I highly recommend.
Thank you so much @hachetteaus @sophiegreenbooks and @benson_publicity for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 20, 2025
Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review
Well, I have read a few Sophie Green stories in the past, and this was definitely my favourite.
There was nothing I didn't like about Love Lessons.
I enjoyed the setting, I enjoyed the time setting - helloooo, shoulder pads! - and I really enjoyed all the women's stories.
Four women at four different places in their lives, but all lacking... something in those lives. Whether it be love, respect, companionship, they are all missing.
I adored how their friendships formed. Loneliness creeps up on all of them, yet they find friends at the Seaside Salon, and their lives are all the better for it.
It was refreshing having a tale told back when, really, lives were a bit simpler. No phones, going out in the sunshine and fresh air was the best thing you would do in your spare time. No phones having our constant attention, just, living.
Trudy, Evie, Josie and Anna are so different in many ways, but are so similar in others. I enjoyed each and every one of their stories. All of these women are likable, and so, so relatable - no matter what stage of life you are at, you are going to connect to one of these women.
I look forward to what Sophie Green brings us next.
Well, I have read a few Sophie Green stories in the past, and this was definitely my favourite.
There was nothing I didn't like about Love Lessons.
I enjoyed the setting, I enjoyed the time setting - helloooo, shoulder pads! - and I really enjoyed all the women's stories.
Four women at four different places in their lives, but all lacking... something in those lives. Whether it be love, respect, companionship, they are all missing.
I adored how their friendships formed. Loneliness creeps up on all of them, yet they find friends at the Seaside Salon, and their lives are all the better for it.
It was refreshing having a tale told back when, really, lives were a bit simpler. No phones, going out in the sunshine and fresh air was the best thing you would do in your spare time. No phones having our constant attention, just, living.
Trudy, Evie, Josie and Anna are so different in many ways, but are so similar in others. I enjoyed each and every one of their stories. All of these women are likable, and so, so relatable - no matter what stage of life you are at, you are going to connect to one of these women.
I look forward to what Sophie Green brings us next.
August 26, 2025
Loved it!
August 1, 2025
If you’re craving a story that wraps around you like a warm hug, Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is the book you need. With her trademark warmth and emotional insight, Sophie Green weaves a heartfelt tale of friendship, reinvention, and the quiet bravery it takes to begin again. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and it’s already secured a place as one of my favourites of the year. Cozy, uplifting, and brimming with charm — if Sophie Green writes it, it belongs on my shelf… and yours too. 💛📚
Read my full review over on Hundredacreofbooks.com
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
Read my full review over on Hundredacreofbooks.com
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
July 23, 2025
A heartwarming read that makes you feel like you’ve been wrapped in a cosy blanket.
Four women….four different ages….four very different lives….and the Seaside Salon brings them all together.
This story is told from the point of view of each of the main protagonists, Trudy, the owner of the salon, Anna, the daughter of one of the regulars, Evie, a single mum that works at the salon, and Josie, the new apprentice.
Each have their own challenges on personal and romantic fronts, with their age, circumstances and backgrounds not only shaping their decisions and actions, but also their confidence and sense of self.
I found the characters to be very believable and likeable, and enjoyed watching the relationships form and strengthen as the tale progressed.
The 1980’s Seaside Salon Central Coast setting makes for a fabulous location, giving the reader an opportunity to reminisce the fad hairstyles, tv dramas and the music of the era. It also lets us meet a host of other characters….the smooth stylist named Sam, the straight-talking Babs, gorgeous surfer Brett, and many others….catching up on the gossip, and sharing in a few laughs and giggles.
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is an incredible read that had me totally captivated and invested, something that Sophie has quite the skill in achieving for her readers.
Thank you Benson PR and Hachette Australia for my ARC and the opportunity to take part in this Bookstagram Tour.
Publication date | 30 July 2024
#lessonsinloveattheseasidesalon
#sophiegreen
#salonlovesandlaughs
#hachetteaustralia
Four women….four different ages….four very different lives….and the Seaside Salon brings them all together.
This story is told from the point of view of each of the main protagonists, Trudy, the owner of the salon, Anna, the daughter of one of the regulars, Evie, a single mum that works at the salon, and Josie, the new apprentice.
Each have their own challenges on personal and romantic fronts, with their age, circumstances and backgrounds not only shaping their decisions and actions, but also their confidence and sense of self.
I found the characters to be very believable and likeable, and enjoyed watching the relationships form and strengthen as the tale progressed.
The 1980’s Seaside Salon Central Coast setting makes for a fabulous location, giving the reader an opportunity to reminisce the fad hairstyles, tv dramas and the music of the era. It also lets us meet a host of other characters….the smooth stylist named Sam, the straight-talking Babs, gorgeous surfer Brett, and many others….catching up on the gossip, and sharing in a few laughs and giggles.
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is an incredible read that had me totally captivated and invested, something that Sophie has quite the skill in achieving for her readers.
Thank you Benson PR and Hachette Australia for my ARC and the opportunity to take part in this Bookstagram Tour.
Publication date | 30 July 2024
#lessonsinloveattheseasidesalon
#sophiegreen
#salonlovesandlaughs
#hachetteaustralia
September 20, 2025
Story of the lives of 4 women, each with their own issues and how they were resolved. A light and easy read. Recommended.
January 12, 2026
This book was set in Terrigal in 1986 - I was in year 11 and grew up just near there, so it was a nostalgia trip down memory lane! An easy holiday read that I really enjoyed.
January 12, 2026
This is a warm-hearted story of four women, all at different stages in their lives and their relationships with the men they love or loved. It is thoughtful, sad, funny, heart-wrenching and most of all, life-affirming. This novel reminds the reader that relationships are not easy, there’s more than one side to a story, and there are different kinds of love and connection which can bring us joy.
I really enjoyed this trip back to the 1980’s in Australia with the pop culture references and the simpler times. I believe anyone who grew up during the 1980’s or remembers the time, would really enjoy it.
I really enjoyed this trip back to the 1980’s in Australia with the pop culture references and the simpler times. I believe anyone who grew up during the 1980’s or remembers the time, would really enjoy it.
June 14, 2025
I absolutely loved Sophie’s books and this one hasn’t let me down
Such an easy enjoyable read
Such an easy enjoyable read
August 25, 2025
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is a beautiful and heartwarming book set in 1986 Australia. It centers around the Summertime Hair Salon in the seaside town of Terrigal. The salon is owned by Trudy and it is also where hairdresser Evie and apprentice Josie work. They have lots of regular clients and one of them is Anna’s mother, who she takes to the salon every Monday for an appointment.
It’s here where their four lives intertwine, each having their own journey they are facing in terms of love. The love of friendships, of first loves, of unrequited love, of lost love, of love in the rocks and the love of family.
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is so beautifully written and is my favourite Sophie Green book to date. It’s told with warmth and humour through each woman’s perspective. The character growth and their friendship blossomed as the story unfolded and you can’t help but be swept along on their rollercoaster of emotions.
I loved the nod to the 1980s with pop culture references, big hair and shoulder pads and how relatable each character was.
It’s here where their four lives intertwine, each having their own journey they are facing in terms of love. The love of friendships, of first loves, of unrequited love, of lost love, of love in the rocks and the love of family.
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon is so beautifully written and is my favourite Sophie Green book to date. It’s told with warmth and humour through each woman’s perspective. The character growth and their friendship blossomed as the story unfolded and you can’t help but be swept along on their rollercoaster of emotions.
I loved the nod to the 1980s with pop culture references, big hair and shoulder pads and how relatable each character was.
October 16, 2025
A warm-hearted celebration of connection, introspection, and seaside serenity.
Sophie Green’s Lessons on Love at the Seaside Salon swept me off my feet and straight into the chairs of Trudy, Evie, Josie, and Anna — four women whose personal journeys were tenderly unraveled with depth and grace. While it leans into a character-driven narrative with minimal plot, I found myself wholly invested in their growth and the nuanced ways they found happiness.
The seaside salon is a surprisingly perfect vessel for reflection and emotional intimacy. Though I’m not a regular hair salon visitor, I could absolutely see how such a setting — far removed from the hectic swirl of Sydney’s beaches — offered the tranquility needed for these characters to truly connect. Green paints their differing life stages and evolving dynamics with remarkable authenticity. Their interactions felt real, raw, and deeply relatable.
More than once I was moved to tears, needing a moment for my vision to clear before diving back in. Stories like this remind me of my own humanity — our flaws, longings, and moments of unexpected joy. And that ending? A gentle, powerful nudge to take time for ourselves, to reflect, and to dare to dream.
One motif that lingered with me was the recurring presence of pelicans — featured on the cover and woven into the story with quiet symbolism. Trudy and Sol admired their elegance and patience, perhaps seeing in them a mirror of the grace they were learning to cultivate in their own lives. Josie, on the other hand, expressed discomfort, referencing Storm Boy and its themes of vulnerability and loss. Pelicans, in many traditions, symbolize selflessness, nurturing, and renewal — qualities that resonate deeply with the arcs of these women. Their presence at The Entrance felt like a gentle reminder of the beauty in stillness, in waiting, in trusting the tides of life.
I couldn’t be happier with this read — it’s nourishing, honest, and beautifully grounding. And I especially loved the nod to nature and its serenity to help fuel moments of introspection and reflection.
Thank you very much to author Sophie Green and the publishers at Hachette Australia for an advanced proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Sophie Green’s Lessons on Love at the Seaside Salon swept me off my feet and straight into the chairs of Trudy, Evie, Josie, and Anna — four women whose personal journeys were tenderly unraveled with depth and grace. While it leans into a character-driven narrative with minimal plot, I found myself wholly invested in their growth and the nuanced ways they found happiness.
The seaside salon is a surprisingly perfect vessel for reflection and emotional intimacy. Though I’m not a regular hair salon visitor, I could absolutely see how such a setting — far removed from the hectic swirl of Sydney’s beaches — offered the tranquility needed for these characters to truly connect. Green paints their differing life stages and evolving dynamics with remarkable authenticity. Their interactions felt real, raw, and deeply relatable.
More than once I was moved to tears, needing a moment for my vision to clear before diving back in. Stories like this remind me of my own humanity — our flaws, longings, and moments of unexpected joy. And that ending? A gentle, powerful nudge to take time for ourselves, to reflect, and to dare to dream.
One motif that lingered with me was the recurring presence of pelicans — featured on the cover and woven into the story with quiet symbolism. Trudy and Sol admired their elegance and patience, perhaps seeing in them a mirror of the grace they were learning to cultivate in their own lives. Josie, on the other hand, expressed discomfort, referencing Storm Boy and its themes of vulnerability and loss. Pelicans, in many traditions, symbolize selflessness, nurturing, and renewal — qualities that resonate deeply with the arcs of these women. Their presence at The Entrance felt like a gentle reminder of the beauty in stillness, in waiting, in trusting the tides of life.
I couldn’t be happier with this read — it’s nourishing, honest, and beautifully grounding. And I especially loved the nod to nature and its serenity to help fuel moments of introspection and reflection.
Thank you very much to author Sophie Green and the publishers at Hachette Australia for an advanced proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ I did like the sweet characters and the 1980s setting. An easy and enjoyable read though not really a standout
September 27, 2025
I love Sophie Green. She always creates well developed characters. But this one lacked the connection between the female leads, that is usually so strong in her work. It wasn't bad, but I just didn't love it like her others. I will read more from this author.
September 5, 2025
Nice easy read. A bit predictable but still enjoyable.
September 15, 2025
Not the type of book I read but it was a nice yarn to envelop ion.
September 22, 2025
This was the fluffiest fluff, but pleasant. Some of the characters were slightly insufferable, but everything turned out nicely. Exactly what the title says.
September 29, 2025
A bit of a slow read. I had to push myself to finish it.
October 25, 2025
Lessons In Love At The Seaside Salon is the seventh novel by best-selling Australian publisher and author, Sophie Green. The audio version is narrated by Annabelle Tudor. Terrigal on the central coast of NSW is where Trudy has lived and worked for thirty years, attending to the hair-dressing needs of the locals and tourists in her Seaside Salon assisted by talented single mum, Evie. As an apprentice, Josie’s duties include sweeping and washing hair, but Trudy’s training soon has her doing more.
Each is currently single: Trudy has been widowed two years, is still consumed by grief and loneliness, and is beginning to realise that her life is small; Evie has seven-year-old Billy, but his father, while an attentive dad, she and Stevo don’t love each other, he doesn’t spark the love she’s longing for; with her over-protective parents constantly hovering, pretty Josie has never had a boyfriend, and yearns to be loved by someone who has chosen her.
And then there’s Anna. A seamstress, married, with two children, she’s fed up with her husband Gary’s absence. He spends long hours in his solicitor’s practice, “bringing home the bacon” yes, but leaving care of home and children to her. She catches fleeting glimpses of him outside his long work hours, while his son and daughter only see him on Sundays. She wonders “When did they stop treating each other as lovers, as confidants, as people, and start being cohabitants, parents, washers of clothes and payers of bills?”
Evie’s world is turned upside down when gorgeous and charming Sam, brother of a fellow she once dated, comes to work in the salon: she is felled by a huge crush and, even though her best friend tells her “Don’t confuse attention for affection”, she’s on the way to being smitten. Trudy watches it playing out with some concern.
Trudy is beginning to realise that it might be time to not stay crystallised in amber because she’s not a fossil. She can let the two years stop her – because it’s not enough time to mourn her husband – or spur her. To stagnate no longer. To actually connect with someone else. To get out of her head. To live. To feel. Is she ready to keep company with Sol, her late husband’s bowls mate?
When young apprentice mechanic and avid surfer, Brett begins paying Josie attention, she’s excited, but also afraid of how her parents will react, perhaps rightly so. She can’t keep the fact that they are dating secret forever.
Anna brings her mother, Ingrid to weekly appointments at the Seaside Salon, but it’s not until she decides on a change of style for herself that the mother and daughter embark on some frank discussions about their lives. Ingrid’s advice, is not the advice Anna wanted to hear. Except that’s not really the nature of advice, is it – you can’t dictate what someone else wants to tell you.
Once again, Green gives her characters realistic challenges, insightful musings and sound advice: “life is too short to live badly if it can be avoided”. With popular culture references, food, fashion, social attitudes and news, the prevalence of smoking, and the terms of address (pet, darl) she easily evokes her era and setting. Moving and heart-warming.
Each is currently single: Trudy has been widowed two years, is still consumed by grief and loneliness, and is beginning to realise that her life is small; Evie has seven-year-old Billy, but his father, while an attentive dad, she and Stevo don’t love each other, he doesn’t spark the love she’s longing for; with her over-protective parents constantly hovering, pretty Josie has never had a boyfriend, and yearns to be loved by someone who has chosen her.
And then there’s Anna. A seamstress, married, with two children, she’s fed up with her husband Gary’s absence. He spends long hours in his solicitor’s practice, “bringing home the bacon” yes, but leaving care of home and children to her. She catches fleeting glimpses of him outside his long work hours, while his son and daughter only see him on Sundays. She wonders “When did they stop treating each other as lovers, as confidants, as people, and start being cohabitants, parents, washers of clothes and payers of bills?”
Evie’s world is turned upside down when gorgeous and charming Sam, brother of a fellow she once dated, comes to work in the salon: she is felled by a huge crush and, even though her best friend tells her “Don’t confuse attention for affection”, she’s on the way to being smitten. Trudy watches it playing out with some concern.
Trudy is beginning to realise that it might be time to not stay crystallised in amber because she’s not a fossil. She can let the two years stop her – because it’s not enough time to mourn her husband – or spur her. To stagnate no longer. To actually connect with someone else. To get out of her head. To live. To feel. Is she ready to keep company with Sol, her late husband’s bowls mate?
When young apprentice mechanic and avid surfer, Brett begins paying Josie attention, she’s excited, but also afraid of how her parents will react, perhaps rightly so. She can’t keep the fact that they are dating secret forever.
Anna brings her mother, Ingrid to weekly appointments at the Seaside Salon, but it’s not until she decides on a change of style for herself that the mother and daughter embark on some frank discussions about their lives. Ingrid’s advice, is not the advice Anna wanted to hear. Except that’s not really the nature of advice, is it – you can’t dictate what someone else wants to tell you.
Once again, Green gives her characters realistic challenges, insightful musings and sound advice: “life is too short to live badly if it can be avoided”. With popular culture references, food, fashion, social attitudes and news, the prevalence of smoking, and the terms of address (pet, darl) she easily evokes her era and setting. Moving and heart-warming.
August 23, 2025
Four women. Four loves. Four life-changing stories. On the windblown coast of 1980s Australia - Trudy, 57, owns Summertime Salon in the sun-soaked Central Coast town of Terrigal, but since Laurie died, life hasn't been the same. Anna, 42, brings her mother to Summertime Salon every Monday morning but never gets her own hair done. As she kicks Gary out, will she also rediscover the joys of caring for herself? Hairdresser Evie, 33, has never had much luck with men. Then, new hire Sam joins the salon. Apprentice Josie, 19, is seeking independence, especially when she meets sweet surfer and mechanic Brett, who she can't quite believe is silly over her.
This was another soul-calming, therapeutic story from Sophie Green! I knew going in that I’d be swept away in no time, and I wasn’t wrong.
Despite of the number of characters involved (which initially made me keep flipping back to the synopsis to remember who was who), I ended up loving all of them. In the beginning, Anna was the one I most related to, being of a similar age to me. However, Trudy stole my heart and Evie grew on me in no time. Josie brought the innocent, coming-of-age vibe that balanced out these multi-generational characters.
The plot was unfolding nicely. It was very easy to follow, and kept me hooked as I was invested in the characters. I think it’s really smart to portray the four women at four different life stages because most women can relate to them in different ways. I also adored the 80s setting, and the between-chapter reminders of the events that happened in the time period.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a comfort escapism while taking a closer look at women’s challenges at different ages!
(Thanks to Benson Publicity and Hachette Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
This was another soul-calming, therapeutic story from Sophie Green! I knew going in that I’d be swept away in no time, and I wasn’t wrong.
Despite of the number of characters involved (which initially made me keep flipping back to the synopsis to remember who was who), I ended up loving all of them. In the beginning, Anna was the one I most related to, being of a similar age to me. However, Trudy stole my heart and Evie grew on me in no time. Josie brought the innocent, coming-of-age vibe that balanced out these multi-generational characters.
The plot was unfolding nicely. It was very easy to follow, and kept me hooked as I was invested in the characters. I think it’s really smart to portray the four women at four different life stages because most women can relate to them in different ways. I also adored the 80s setting, and the between-chapter reminders of the events that happened in the time period.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a comfort escapism while taking a closer look at women’s challenges at different ages!
(Thanks to Benson Publicity and Hachette Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
July 30, 2025
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon was such a warm and cosy read and I am so grateful to Sophie Green and Hachette for providing me with an ARC copy of this book!
I love how this book whisks the reader straight back to the 80’s. Who doesn’t love the 80’s??? The fashion, the music, the massive hair, the shoulder pads… the whole vibe! It follows the lives of four different women who are linked with Summertime Salon.
Trudy, the owner, who is dealing with the loss of her husband. Anna, who is finding that her marriage is not where she hoped it would be. Evie, who has worked at the Salon for years, is yet to find that elusive feeling of love and Josie, the youngest, who is the new apprentice, who is hoping to find herself in this new experience.
I enjoyed how this read follows and explores women of different ages and generations.
I particularly loved the relationships and the sisterhood that is portrayed and developed within the pages of this heart-warming and cosy book.
The four main ladies in Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon are so relatable and their
stories and experiences of love - depicted at their specific stage in their lives - did bring feelings of nostalgia for me, particularly with the younger women.
I was incredibly emotionally invested in this read and the journeys of these four women. I will definitely be adding more of Sophie Green’s books to my shelves!
I love how this book whisks the reader straight back to the 80’s. Who doesn’t love the 80’s??? The fashion, the music, the massive hair, the shoulder pads… the whole vibe! It follows the lives of four different women who are linked with Summertime Salon.
Trudy, the owner, who is dealing with the loss of her husband. Anna, who is finding that her marriage is not where she hoped it would be. Evie, who has worked at the Salon for years, is yet to find that elusive feeling of love and Josie, the youngest, who is the new apprentice, who is hoping to find herself in this new experience.
I enjoyed how this read follows and explores women of different ages and generations.
I particularly loved the relationships and the sisterhood that is portrayed and developed within the pages of this heart-warming and cosy book.
The four main ladies in Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon are so relatable and their
stories and experiences of love - depicted at their specific stage in their lives - did bring feelings of nostalgia for me, particularly with the younger women.
I was incredibly emotionally invested in this read and the journeys of these four women. I will definitely be adding more of Sophie Green’s books to my shelves!
August 28, 2025
A charming, comforting, heartfelt, seaside story that follows four women, with their own individual stories of love.
There’s Trudy with her lost love, Anna with her rocky love, Evie with her unreciprocated love and Josie with her first love.
Each of their stories bring heartache, loss and challenges, but also of love, growth and happiness.
The characters are all well-rounded and each one bought a sense of familiarity- I saw a little bit of myself in each of them, as well as many people that I know.
I loved the positive messaging around surrounding yourself with supportive and positive people, that strained relationships can be repaired, with open communication and honesty and that you don’t have to give up.
Sophie has also popped in pages with lists of facts from various months, during 1986 and I found this to be a nice nostalgic touch too.
Thank-you so much Sophie, @hachetteaus and @benson_publicity for have me be part of this exciting Book Tour and for my gifted copy, in exchange for an honest review ❤️
I have 3 other books by Sophie on my TBR and I look forward to getting to these when I’m in need of some comfort.
Publication Date - 30th July, 2025.
There’s Trudy with her lost love, Anna with her rocky love, Evie with her unreciprocated love and Josie with her first love.
Each of their stories bring heartache, loss and challenges, but also of love, growth and happiness.
The characters are all well-rounded and each one bought a sense of familiarity- I saw a little bit of myself in each of them, as well as many people that I know.
I loved the positive messaging around surrounding yourself with supportive and positive people, that strained relationships can be repaired, with open communication and honesty and that you don’t have to give up.
Sophie has also popped in pages with lists of facts from various months, during 1986 and I found this to be a nice nostalgic touch too.
Thank-you so much Sophie, @hachetteaus and @benson_publicity for have me be part of this exciting Book Tour and for my gifted copy, in exchange for an honest review ❤️
I have 3 other books by Sophie on my TBR and I look forward to getting to these when I’m in need of some comfort.
Publication Date - 30th July, 2025.
January 13, 2026
I love Sophie Green, she has written some of the most gorgeous, feel-good Austrealian novels about female friendships. This one was set in the 1980s which was great. It's nice to go back in time and I loved the little updates at the start of each month about what happened in for example, June 1986.
Unfortunately, overall the story was a little flat. Still nice and very well-meaning but lacked the pace of her previous novels and just not as interesting. 3 of 4 main characters were amazing, I did find it hard to warm to Evie, she came across as a bit whiny, she needed more dialogue with the other characters because her internal monologues were a bit much. Trudy, on the other hand, was just incredible! Everyone needs a Trudy in their life. I also loved the relationship that developed between Anna and her Mum, Ingrid. Josie was also brilliant and I loved watching her grow in confidence and finally stand up to her Mother.
I highly recommend Sophie Green as an author but don't read this one first if you haven't read any of her others. This one is the weakest.
Side note - how cute are her book covers! They are always gorgeous!
Unfortunately, overall the story was a little flat. Still nice and very well-meaning but lacked the pace of her previous novels and just not as interesting. 3 of 4 main characters were amazing, I did find it hard to warm to Evie, she came across as a bit whiny, she needed more dialogue with the other characters because her internal monologues were a bit much. Trudy, on the other hand, was just incredible! Everyone needs a Trudy in their life. I also loved the relationship that developed between Anna and her Mum, Ingrid. Josie was also brilliant and I loved watching her grow in confidence and finally stand up to her Mother.
I highly recommend Sophie Green as an author but don't read this one first if you haven't read any of her others. This one is the weakest.
Side note - how cute are her book covers! They are always gorgeous!
July 22, 2025
This was such a heartwarming and comforting read. I absolutely loved the women this story followed—each one had their own journey, their own challenges, and I was equally invested in all of them.
The story centers around four women—Trudy, Anna, Evie, and Josie—connected by the charming seaside salon in their small coastal town in 1980s Queensland.
Trudy in her 50s, runs the salon and is still mourning the loss of her husband. Anna, a tired mum and wife. Evie is a single mum who’s wary of love. Josie just 19, is trying to find her own way.
The relationships in this book are what really stood out. Whether it was the quiet support, the honest conversations, these characters felt real and layered. Their friendships were so central to the story—uplifting, complicated, and always deeply rooted in care.
This book is such cozy read
If you love stories about second chances, healing, friendship, and finding your place again (or for the first time), this one is absolutely worth picking up.
The story centers around four women—Trudy, Anna, Evie, and Josie—connected by the charming seaside salon in their small coastal town in 1980s Queensland.
Trudy in her 50s, runs the salon and is still mourning the loss of her husband. Anna, a tired mum and wife. Evie is a single mum who’s wary of love. Josie just 19, is trying to find her own way.
The relationships in this book are what really stood out. Whether it was the quiet support, the honest conversations, these characters felt real and layered. Their friendships were so central to the story—uplifting, complicated, and always deeply rooted in care.
This book is such cozy read
If you love stories about second chances, healing, friendship, and finding your place again (or for the first time), this one is absolutely worth picking up.
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