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No. 17 Curiosity Lane
We regret to inform you of the passing of your great-aunt, Matilda Hartley. As the sole beneficiary of her estate, you have inherited her business, No. 17 Curiosity Lane, Puffin Island…
Music journalist Fern Talbot has just inherited a dusty antique shop from a woman she never knew. Her plan is get in, sell it, and get out.
But when she discovers that her charming lodger, Daniel, is her train ride meet-cute, and a tantalising mystery wrapped up in a vintage wedding dress demands to be solved, Puffin Island quickly captures this devoted city girl’s heart…
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2026
About the author
Christie Barlow
34 books454 followersAuthor Girl - published by One More Chapter @HarperCollinsUK
Christie Barlow is the international bestselling author of twelve romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty's Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie's dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn't writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale's Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Twitter - @ChristieJBarlow
Facebook - Christie Barlow Author
Instagram - christie_barlow
www.christiebarlow.com
Christie Barlow is the international bestselling author of twelve romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty's Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie's dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn't writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale's Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Twitter - @ChristieJBarlow
Facebook - Christie Barlow Author
Instagram - christie_barlow
www.christiebarlow.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
We are back in the wondeeful Puffin Island.
Music journalist Fern Talbot inherits an antique shop from a relative she never knew,
Fern is after quick sale and getting back to London. Instead, she finds herself drawn into a mystery involving a vintage wedding dress left outside the shop with a message.
What a delightful to be back in the beautiful settings of Puffin Island, I absolutely loved this read and this might just be my favourite of the series.
Music journalist Fern Talbot inherits an antique shop from a relative she never knew,
Fern is after quick sale and getting back to London. Instead, she finds herself drawn into a mystery involving a vintage wedding dress left outside the shop with a message.
What a delightful to be back in the beautiful settings of Puffin Island, I absolutely loved this read and this might just be my favourite of the series.
February 28, 2026
It’s becoming a real treat to visit Puffin Island, and with this 5th visit, I was immediately enthralled. If you haven’t read any of the others in this series, you can enjoy each one as a standalone, so don’t worry if you want to dive straight in. Despite an impressive back catalogue, Christie Barlow’s writing remains fresh and engaging. The community that she is building on Puffin Island is warm and welcoming to the degree that I would love to visit.
This time, we meet Fern and Daniel. They are the epitome of opposites, so the first tingles of attraction were a most welcome signal for this mismatched couple. Their dynamic is perfectly described, and I was fully onboard with the journey to discover what their futures had in store.
Fern is a feisty, independent music journalist. She has already made her name in the industry, is completely focused on taking her career to the next level, and hopes to become an editor. Her choices on the romance front are less enviable, but she did have the support of a close childhood friend. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and was a little envious of her rock-and-roll lifestyle, despite the fact that I’m more built for comfort these days.
Daniel was more of an enigma. His background is revealed only in brief glimpses, but what we saw at first was lovely. He is kind, funny and loyal. His relationship with Fern’s great-aunt sounded genuine and particularly special. I loved how he was committed to revitalising the antique shop and fully embraced the mystery behind the vintage wedding dress.
This book fits perfectly into the series, and I truly enjoyed everything about it. Even the fact that it dipped a toe into the realms of cosy mystery. The delivery was terrific, and the references to characters from previous books added to the story's warmth. Of course, with the roosting puffins, there is a distinct sense of place, as their calls provide a gentle soundtrack.
I cannot recommend this series enough if you are in the market for a gentle romance with a side helping of mystery and a guaranteed happy-ever-after. It’s perfect!
This time, we meet Fern and Daniel. They are the epitome of opposites, so the first tingles of attraction were a most welcome signal for this mismatched couple. Their dynamic is perfectly described, and I was fully onboard with the journey to discover what their futures had in store.
Fern is a feisty, independent music journalist. She has already made her name in the industry, is completely focused on taking her career to the next level, and hopes to become an editor. Her choices on the romance front are less enviable, but she did have the support of a close childhood friend. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and was a little envious of her rock-and-roll lifestyle, despite the fact that I’m more built for comfort these days.
Daniel was more of an enigma. His background is revealed only in brief glimpses, but what we saw at first was lovely. He is kind, funny and loyal. His relationship with Fern’s great-aunt sounded genuine and particularly special. I loved how he was committed to revitalising the antique shop and fully embraced the mystery behind the vintage wedding dress.
This book fits perfectly into the series, and I truly enjoyed everything about it. Even the fact that it dipped a toe into the realms of cosy mystery. The delivery was terrific, and the references to characters from previous books added to the story's warmth. Of course, with the roosting puffins, there is a distinct sense of place, as their calls provide a gentle soundtrack.
I cannot recommend this series enough if you are in the market for a gentle romance with a side helping of mystery and a guaranteed happy-ever-after. It’s perfect!
April 5, 2026
This is book #5 in the Puffin Island series. I've read them all but this is undoubtedly my favourite so far. We meet Fern, a music journalist, who has just inherited an antique shop on Puffin Island that belonged to a Great Aunt she never knew about. The shop also came with a sitting tenant, Daniel, who had worked alongside her Great Aunt for the last few years. Fern's idea to sell up and carry on her life in London is put on hold when an old wedding dress is left at the shop leading her and Daniel on a journey to reveal a secret that's been hidden for years.
This was a great read. I love the Puffin Island books and it's always a pleasure to return to the picturesque island. The storyline was very addictive, firstly I was caught into the story of Fern's inheritance, then into her very lovely sitting tenant Daniel, and then the uncovering of an old family secret! The storyline flowed along so well, linking everything together as it went. I loved the old family secret and couldn't put the book down whilst Fern and Daniel were trying to work it all out!
This was such a delight to read. I loved the characters and it was nice to have some of the previous books characters back as well. The mystery was the best bit though, I loved how it all unraveled! Another fabulous read from this author, would definitely recommend!
This was a great read. I love the Puffin Island books and it's always a pleasure to return to the picturesque island. The storyline was very addictive, firstly I was caught into the story of Fern's inheritance, then into her very lovely sitting tenant Daniel, and then the uncovering of an old family secret! The storyline flowed along so well, linking everything together as it went. I loved the old family secret and couldn't put the book down whilst Fern and Daniel were trying to work it all out!
This was such a delight to read. I loved the characters and it was nice to have some of the previous books characters back as well. The mystery was the best bit though, I loved how it all unraveled! Another fabulous read from this author, would definitely recommend!
April 7, 2026
Entertaining story about lady who inherits an antique shop from an aunt she never knew that comes along with a co-owner who’s opposed to her selling it. Good mystery, also.
March 24, 2026
It was great to visit Puffin Island once again this time in the antiques shop with old and new characters that didn't disappoint, a story of secrets and lies with the back drop of an idyllic island that doesn't let you leave.
Waiting in anticipation for the next one!!
Waiting in anticipation for the next one!!
March 6, 2026
Total enjoyment
I loved the characters, the way the story unfolded and enjoyed the book from start to finish. I look forward to the next instalment of Puffin Island.
I loved the characters, the way the story unfolded and enjoyed the book from start to finish. I look forward to the next instalment of Puffin Island.
April 3, 2026
Curiosity
Having read all Christie Barlow’s Love heart lane series, I was happy to read another of her Puffin island series. With a mystery to solve everything falls into place with the help of history. A lovely read whilst on holiday in between book club books.
Having read all Christie Barlow’s Love heart lane series, I was happy to read another of her Puffin island series. With a mystery to solve everything falls into place with the help of history. A lovely read whilst on holiday in between book club books.
March 17, 2026
Another fabulous visit to Puffin Island!
March 17, 2026
How lucky are we that it has only been two months since the publication of The Café on the Coast, book four in Christie Barlow’s Puffin Island series and here we are again with another brilliant instalment. Clearly Christie knows readers can’t get enough of this series or in fact anything she writes and doesn’t keep us waiting that long. No.17 Curiosity Lane introduces us to Fern and Daniel and right from the get go I was completely sucked into their story and to be honest I found myself reading it as slowly as possible and savouring every chapter because I didn’t want it to end and to have to wait another few months for the next book.
Christie has a fabulous writing style that makes the reader feel at ease and comfortable with both the setting and the characters. I didn’t think I’d ever get over that there would be no more books in the Love Heart Lane series but bit by bit Puffin island is finding a special place in my heart. What I really love about the series is that there is always a mystery at the heart of the story. Gone are the days where I am happy to read storylines where the girl meets boy, there is a bit of angst and indecision and then boom they are together and living happily ever after. Here Christie gives her readers much more. Yes, there is romance here but I love the delving back into the past and the sleuthing that ensues and I think perhaps this aspect has made this book my favourite in the series so far.
Some of the characters do come into play once again but only occupy minor roles so it’s easy to follow along with this new storyline. Therefore new readers will embrace and enjoy this new story as easily as those who have been on the Puffin Island journey since the beginning. An intriguing opening which piques the readers interest provides the briefest of information regarding Matilda Hartley who led a rich and full life but yet there are still wounds that need to be healed. Matilda passes away and leaves No.17 Curiosity Lane, an antique/curiosities shop on Puffin Island, to her great niece Fern who is a music journalist living in London. Fern probably didn’t even know of her great aunt’s existence as Matilda had been estranged from her family but when she receives the news Fern knows she will have to travel to the island to see what exactly has been left to her and what she needs to do about it. For Fern this is totally out of her comfort zone and truthfully an inconvenience as she has plenty of work to do in London. She’s hoping to get on and off the island as quickly as possible without much fuss. But the island and the shop have much more in store for her than she initially bargained for and she soon finds her life turned upside down in the most unexpected but hopeful of ways.
Fern is someone who is minimalist and organised and works every hour she can. Having to deal with an inheritance she’d never wanted by a woman she had never known throws her life into disarray. She never flies by the seat of her pants preferring routine and consistency which is the total opposite of Daniel. She meets Daniel on the train and a connection is formed but he gets off at a different stop and that is it or so she thinks. For when she reaches the island and discovers the shop there is Daniel. A sitting tenant so to speak who had been Matilda’s apprentice. Daniel was a fabulous character who I felt really wore his heart on his sleeve. There was no messing about with him. He wasn’t afraid to express his feelings. That’s something that I really enjoyed about this book when it came to the romance element of things. There was none of this business of keeping things hidden and becoming frustrated. Yes, there were misunderstandings and various situations and plot points to work through, but it was all done out in the open and didn’t go on for chapters and chapters therefore being dragged out unnecessarily. Getting to the crux of certain issues quickly meant that other aspects of the story namely the mystery could come to the fore and the relationship element simmered perfectly alongside this.
Daniel is charming, stubborn, confident and is a brilliant example of life is for living not for worrying. He takes people for what they are not for what they have and is never motivated by money. All he cares about is people, community and doing the right thing and this is highlighted by his loyalty to Matilda and discovering the truth. Whereas Fern is not used to real relationships as is evident by her ‘relationship’ with superstar Jax. Her focus has always been on her career and keeping her distance from anything real but now acquiring this shop and in the process meeting Daniel maybe everything she thought and believed is about to be turned on its head and perhaps for the better?
The shop is certainly not what Fern had been expecting. It’s packed full of what she would term junk but which Daniel would beg to differ as Mirada and Daniel both believed that each item has a story to tell. It never turns a profit or rarely sells anything and all Fern can think about is selling it as quickly as possible and hightailing it back to her life in London. I could completely understand where Fern was coming from as she had no real connection to the island or the shop having never even laid eyes on Matilda. When an offer comes through from a mysterious buyer which would see the shop taken off her hands and a secure future financial wise for herself she doesn’t brush it off but considers it which really upsets Daniel. He thought they were getting to know one another, that there was a spark between the pair which could ignite into something much more. He knows he can’t let the shop go without a fight. He owes it to Matilda who after all took him in in his time of need. Fern agrees to give him a month to see can he make a go of things and from that point on things really pick up pace and a brilliant story starts to emerge and one that I was deeply invested in.
Alongside the more personal side of things that aptly develop and deepen between Fern and Daniel the mystery element of the book begins to emerge. An exquisite wedding dress left at the door of the shop with a note saying find the groom sparks a whole new storyline. Of course Fern can’t just forget about it and think it’s a random mistake and here is where Puffin Island starts getting under her skin as it does with everyone. She starts to feel pulled in two completely directions as she works with Daniel to discover the meaning behind the dress but yet at the same time her life in London is always knocking at the door asking to not be forgotten or cast aside rashly. I won’t say anything more re. the dress and the adventure that ensues. Suffice to say it forms a huge part of the book and as the layers are peeled back things start to become clear and the past is roaring wanting to be heard. A huge wrong/misdemeanour needs to be right and Fern and Daniel become ardent in their pursuit of honesty and justice. After all they owe it to Matilda and her legacy.
I don’t think I will ever tire of reading Christie’s books. My only complaint is that I wish the books came as quickly as I read them because quite honestly I’d be perfectly happy just reading this author’s books and nothing else. The sense of community, friendship and supportiveness build up throughout is fantastic. The reader feels as if they are a part of everything and you can visualise yourself on the island and are there every step of the way with Fern and Daniel as the work to solve the mystery of the wedding dress. I loved how the reader is kept guessing until the very end as to what exactly had happened in the past that finally needs to be made known in the present. It was all so carefully plotted and although I had a sneaking suspicion about one or two aspects of the plot I never fully hit the nail on the head. Without doubt Christie weaves feel good tales of a consistently high standard and at the risk of repeating myself from previous reviews that standard continues to rise with each book she writes. She knows what her readers want and delivers it in spades and long may it continue. Book six, The Clockmaker’s Cottage, will be published in June just in time for the summer months of holiday reading and I am already eagerly awaiting its publication.
Christie has a fabulous writing style that makes the reader feel at ease and comfortable with both the setting and the characters. I didn’t think I’d ever get over that there would be no more books in the Love Heart Lane series but bit by bit Puffin island is finding a special place in my heart. What I really love about the series is that there is always a mystery at the heart of the story. Gone are the days where I am happy to read storylines where the girl meets boy, there is a bit of angst and indecision and then boom they are together and living happily ever after. Here Christie gives her readers much more. Yes, there is romance here but I love the delving back into the past and the sleuthing that ensues and I think perhaps this aspect has made this book my favourite in the series so far.
Some of the characters do come into play once again but only occupy minor roles so it’s easy to follow along with this new storyline. Therefore new readers will embrace and enjoy this new story as easily as those who have been on the Puffin Island journey since the beginning. An intriguing opening which piques the readers interest provides the briefest of information regarding Matilda Hartley who led a rich and full life but yet there are still wounds that need to be healed. Matilda passes away and leaves No.17 Curiosity Lane, an antique/curiosities shop on Puffin Island, to her great niece Fern who is a music journalist living in London. Fern probably didn’t even know of her great aunt’s existence as Matilda had been estranged from her family but when she receives the news Fern knows she will have to travel to the island to see what exactly has been left to her and what she needs to do about it. For Fern this is totally out of her comfort zone and truthfully an inconvenience as she has plenty of work to do in London. She’s hoping to get on and off the island as quickly as possible without much fuss. But the island and the shop have much more in store for her than she initially bargained for and she soon finds her life turned upside down in the most unexpected but hopeful of ways.
Fern is someone who is minimalist and organised and works every hour she can. Having to deal with an inheritance she’d never wanted by a woman she had never known throws her life into disarray. She never flies by the seat of her pants preferring routine and consistency which is the total opposite of Daniel. She meets Daniel on the train and a connection is formed but he gets off at a different stop and that is it or so she thinks. For when she reaches the island and discovers the shop there is Daniel. A sitting tenant so to speak who had been Matilda’s apprentice. Daniel was a fabulous character who I felt really wore his heart on his sleeve. There was no messing about with him. He wasn’t afraid to express his feelings. That’s something that I really enjoyed about this book when it came to the romance element of things. There was none of this business of keeping things hidden and becoming frustrated. Yes, there were misunderstandings and various situations and plot points to work through, but it was all done out in the open and didn’t go on for chapters and chapters therefore being dragged out unnecessarily. Getting to the crux of certain issues quickly meant that other aspects of the story namely the mystery could come to the fore and the relationship element simmered perfectly alongside this.
Daniel is charming, stubborn, confident and is a brilliant example of life is for living not for worrying. He takes people for what they are not for what they have and is never motivated by money. All he cares about is people, community and doing the right thing and this is highlighted by his loyalty to Matilda and discovering the truth. Whereas Fern is not used to real relationships as is evident by her ‘relationship’ with superstar Jax. Her focus has always been on her career and keeping her distance from anything real but now acquiring this shop and in the process meeting Daniel maybe everything she thought and believed is about to be turned on its head and perhaps for the better?
The shop is certainly not what Fern had been expecting. It’s packed full of what she would term junk but which Daniel would beg to differ as Mirada and Daniel both believed that each item has a story to tell. It never turns a profit or rarely sells anything and all Fern can think about is selling it as quickly as possible and hightailing it back to her life in London. I could completely understand where Fern was coming from as she had no real connection to the island or the shop having never even laid eyes on Matilda. When an offer comes through from a mysterious buyer which would see the shop taken off her hands and a secure future financial wise for herself she doesn’t brush it off but considers it which really upsets Daniel. He thought they were getting to know one another, that there was a spark between the pair which could ignite into something much more. He knows he can’t let the shop go without a fight. He owes it to Matilda who after all took him in in his time of need. Fern agrees to give him a month to see can he make a go of things and from that point on things really pick up pace and a brilliant story starts to emerge and one that I was deeply invested in.
Alongside the more personal side of things that aptly develop and deepen between Fern and Daniel the mystery element of the book begins to emerge. An exquisite wedding dress left at the door of the shop with a note saying find the groom sparks a whole new storyline. Of course Fern can’t just forget about it and think it’s a random mistake and here is where Puffin Island starts getting under her skin as it does with everyone. She starts to feel pulled in two completely directions as she works with Daniel to discover the meaning behind the dress but yet at the same time her life in London is always knocking at the door asking to not be forgotten or cast aside rashly. I won’t say anything more re. the dress and the adventure that ensues. Suffice to say it forms a huge part of the book and as the layers are peeled back things start to become clear and the past is roaring wanting to be heard. A huge wrong/misdemeanour needs to be right and Fern and Daniel become ardent in their pursuit of honesty and justice. After all they owe it to Matilda and her legacy.
I don’t think I will ever tire of reading Christie’s books. My only complaint is that I wish the books came as quickly as I read them because quite honestly I’d be perfectly happy just reading this author’s books and nothing else. The sense of community, friendship and supportiveness build up throughout is fantastic. The reader feels as if they are a part of everything and you can visualise yourself on the island and are there every step of the way with Fern and Daniel as the work to solve the mystery of the wedding dress. I loved how the reader is kept guessing until the very end as to what exactly had happened in the past that finally needs to be made known in the present. It was all so carefully plotted and although I had a sneaking suspicion about one or two aspects of the plot I never fully hit the nail on the head. Without doubt Christie weaves feel good tales of a consistently high standard and at the risk of repeating myself from previous reviews that standard continues to rise with each book she writes. She knows what her readers want and delivers it in spades and long may it continue. Book six, The Clockmaker’s Cottage, will be published in June just in time for the summer months of holiday reading and I am already eagerly awaiting its publication.
December 31, 2025
Oh my, what am I going to say about this delightful book as it is so incredible! I loved it immensely and could not put it down until I finished it (in a day). I could relate to it on so many levels. With music and lyric writing being such a large part of my life, those elements in the story rang clear in my heart. This has to be my number one favourite read of this series. Each one gets better and better but No. 17 Curiosity Lane took me on such an exhilarating and nostalgic journey with all its amazing twists and turns, that I did not want it to end. I was completely won over and charmed by the characters Fern and Daniel (and the late great aunt Matilda, too). The attempt at solving the mystery at this novel’s core, kept me enthralled. Who owned the wedding dress and why was it left on the steps of the antique shop with a bizarre message included? The unveiling of this truth became a mesmerising journey! Thanks to Christie’s excellent writing skills, the story was well paced with a seamless flow. It was easy to fall under Puffin Island’s spell with its sincere community spirit, abundant wildlife and spectacular land and seascape. Who wouldn’t want to live there!
Fern Talbot is a music journalist living in London. She has an active social life, gets back stage passes to do interviews with famous bands and hangs out with the elite. Her long term best friend is always there for her, lives in the same building, works at the same job. One day though, Fern’s neat, orderly world gets turned upside down. She receives an unexpected message that she has inherited a business on Puffin Island from a great aunt she never knew. She is shocked as she did not know this woman existed. So why has she left her worldly goods to Fern?
The only way to get answers, is for Fern to head to Puffin island. She will learn what she can, see the property and sell it as quickly as possible. But fate has other ideas and another road she could choose. While on her journey there, she meets a cute guy on the train. They hit it off but she does not expect to see him again. But once she is on Puffin Island and in her newly obtained shop, she is stunned to find this fellow on the premises. What is that all about? She quickly learns he lives and works there. That certainly throws a spanner in the works. After an appointment with the lawyer, she discovers there’s a major fly in the anointment that could prevent her from selling her inheritance.
Daniel was good friends with Matilda and she always looked after him. And although he does not inherit the shop, he has a personal stake in it. This place means a great deal to him, so he manages to stall Fern from making a quick decision to sell the property. Together they devise a plan to see if they can make some earnings from all the ‘junk and treasures’ in the shop and it is a clever one! I won’t give away their method but the solution is sensational. This development plus the ongoing search for answers about Matilda’s younger life, will take them into all kinds of intriguing directions and knocking on a number of doors. All the while this is happening, they are building a relationship with each other that could easily lead to a romance.
With events at Fern’s London job, and her best friend constantly harping at her to sell, her focus on the shop is weakened. But Puffin island is working its magic, too. Causing her views to shift, and it seems cracks in her city life are starting to appear. What follows are shocking discoveries, unexpected betrayals and heartbreak. Some major plot twists occur that even Fern and Daniel are not expecting. And the mystery of the wedding dress begins to unfold like its elegant layers. And then there is Great Aunt Matilda and her complex life. The truth is released through some stunning plot twists! Everything comes together beautifully at the end—where justice is served and proper recognition established.
This is a magnificent and unforgettable uplifting story of romance and mystery that pulled on my heart strings. Once again, Puffin Island, transformed another life and took me on its wild ride to discovery. A must read. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to the One More Chapter and Netgalley for the ARC.
Fern Talbot is a music journalist living in London. She has an active social life, gets back stage passes to do interviews with famous bands and hangs out with the elite. Her long term best friend is always there for her, lives in the same building, works at the same job. One day though, Fern’s neat, orderly world gets turned upside down. She receives an unexpected message that she has inherited a business on Puffin Island from a great aunt she never knew. She is shocked as she did not know this woman existed. So why has she left her worldly goods to Fern?
The only way to get answers, is for Fern to head to Puffin island. She will learn what she can, see the property and sell it as quickly as possible. But fate has other ideas and another road she could choose. While on her journey there, she meets a cute guy on the train. They hit it off but she does not expect to see him again. But once she is on Puffin Island and in her newly obtained shop, she is stunned to find this fellow on the premises. What is that all about? She quickly learns he lives and works there. That certainly throws a spanner in the works. After an appointment with the lawyer, she discovers there’s a major fly in the anointment that could prevent her from selling her inheritance.
Daniel was good friends with Matilda and she always looked after him. And although he does not inherit the shop, he has a personal stake in it. This place means a great deal to him, so he manages to stall Fern from making a quick decision to sell the property. Together they devise a plan to see if they can make some earnings from all the ‘junk and treasures’ in the shop and it is a clever one! I won’t give away their method but the solution is sensational. This development plus the ongoing search for answers about Matilda’s younger life, will take them into all kinds of intriguing directions and knocking on a number of doors. All the while this is happening, they are building a relationship with each other that could easily lead to a romance.
With events at Fern’s London job, and her best friend constantly harping at her to sell, her focus on the shop is weakened. But Puffin island is working its magic, too. Causing her views to shift, and it seems cracks in her city life are starting to appear. What follows are shocking discoveries, unexpected betrayals and heartbreak. Some major plot twists occur that even Fern and Daniel are not expecting. And the mystery of the wedding dress begins to unfold like its elegant layers. And then there is Great Aunt Matilda and her complex life. The truth is released through some stunning plot twists! Everything comes together beautifully at the end—where justice is served and proper recognition established.
This is a magnificent and unforgettable uplifting story of romance and mystery that pulled on my heart strings. Once again, Puffin Island, transformed another life and took me on its wild ride to discovery. A must read. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to the One More Chapter and Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’ve loved every book in The Puffin Island series so far, but No. 17 Curiosity Lane might just be my favourite yet. It’s a heart warming, feel good read filled with laughs, romance, and characters readers will quickly come to love. The story follows Fern, a city journalist who unexpectedly inherits a quirky little shop on Puffin Island from a great aunt she didn’t even know existed. Her plan is simple: turn up, sell the place, and head straight back to her busy city life… except Puffin Island clearly didn’t get the memo.
The setting is a huge part of the charm. Puffin Island feels like the kind of place you’d secretly love to escape to, with its close knit community, familiar faces, and comforting sense that everyone looks out for one another. I completely fell in love with The Olde Curiosity Shop, a treasure trove of oddities and relics, brimming with history and hidden secrets.
The characters really bring the story to life. Fern is relatable and easy to root for as she’s forced to slow down and reconsider what she truly wants. Her romance with Daniel unfolds naturally and sweetly, growing alongside her connection to the island rather than overpowering the story. There’s also a lovely mystery involving a vintage wedding dress that adds intrigue and emotional depth.
As with every book in the series, the sense of community stands out. The islanders feel like family, and watching Fern gradually become part of that world is incredibly satisfying. The gentle pacing suits the cosy small-town feel perfectly.
Christie Barlow balances romance, self-discovery, and small town charm beautifully. Her warm easy writing style makes it feel like you’re right there in the story, and it’s clear how much love she pours into her characters and settings.
No. 17 Curiosity Lane is perfect for readers who love stories about second chances, unexpected inheritances, and finding home in the most surprising places. I finished it with a big smile, and a serious urge to move to Puffin Island. 🐧📚
The setting is a huge part of the charm. Puffin Island feels like the kind of place you’d secretly love to escape to, with its close knit community, familiar faces, and comforting sense that everyone looks out for one another. I completely fell in love with The Olde Curiosity Shop, a treasure trove of oddities and relics, brimming with history and hidden secrets.
The characters really bring the story to life. Fern is relatable and easy to root for as she’s forced to slow down and reconsider what she truly wants. Her romance with Daniel unfolds naturally and sweetly, growing alongside her connection to the island rather than overpowering the story. There’s also a lovely mystery involving a vintage wedding dress that adds intrigue and emotional depth.
As with every book in the series, the sense of community stands out. The islanders feel like family, and watching Fern gradually become part of that world is incredibly satisfying. The gentle pacing suits the cosy small-town feel perfectly.
Christie Barlow balances romance, self-discovery, and small town charm beautifully. Her warm easy writing style makes it feel like you’re right there in the story, and it’s clear how much love she pours into her characters and settings.
No. 17 Curiosity Lane is perfect for readers who love stories about second chances, unexpected inheritances, and finding home in the most surprising places. I finished it with a big smile, and a serious urge to move to Puffin Island. 🐧📚
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have read all the books in the Puffin Island series. It is based on an Island off the Northumbrian coast - is purely fictional and somewhere you where you could happily live. As I live on the North East coast I can imagine it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. I felt the last one stretched credibility with the creation of a fictional Royal Family. This book felt more real somehow and the characters seemed more relatable.
Talking of relations I did wonder about the familial relationship between the 2 main characters Fern and Daniel, although it was clear that Fern had been adopted and had no need to search her birth parents.
Fern inherited a dusty antique shop called No 17 Curiosity Lane on Puffin Island from Great Aunt Matilda of whom she had no knowledge. On the train journey from London who should be on her train but Daniel. He was a lifetime sitting tenant in the antique shop. What a coincidence!
Like all good romances they ended up sharing a bed with a pillow barricade (reminds me of my late Mum who did this very thing with my brother and his then girlfriend as it was the only way she could accommodate them) and a stuffed moose above their head.
A wedding dress left at the door with a mysterious note, a music box and the first pressing of a vinyl record leads to intrigue and mystery, sadness and fraud as well as lost friendships.
But Fern learns that her carefully ordered London journalistic life in music isn’t the be all and end all and that love can surface in unexpected places.
There are romantic scenes but these aren’t explicit or tawdry.
We made acquaintance with old characters, Clemmie and Betty, Puffin Pete, Amelia, Dilly and Becca. We also learnt some of the friendships between Dorothy, Edgar the solicitor and Great Aunt Matilda.
It’s obvious that Christie Barlow has an incredible imagination to think up all these tales and mysteries for the inhabitants of Puffin Island - though there can’t be many buildings left that we don’t know the history of by now. I sincerely hope there will be more to come. Pretty please.
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. I felt the last one stretched credibility with the creation of a fictional Royal Family. This book felt more real somehow and the characters seemed more relatable.
Talking of relations I did wonder about the familial relationship between the 2 main characters Fern and Daniel, although it was clear that Fern had been adopted and had no need to search her birth parents.
Fern inherited a dusty antique shop called No 17 Curiosity Lane on Puffin Island from Great Aunt Matilda of whom she had no knowledge. On the train journey from London who should be on her train but Daniel. He was a lifetime sitting tenant in the antique shop. What a coincidence!
Like all good romances they ended up sharing a bed with a pillow barricade (reminds me of my late Mum who did this very thing with my brother and his then girlfriend as it was the only way she could accommodate them) and a stuffed moose above their head.
A wedding dress left at the door with a mysterious note, a music box and the first pressing of a vinyl record leads to intrigue and mystery, sadness and fraud as well as lost friendships.
But Fern learns that her carefully ordered London journalistic life in music isn’t the be all and end all and that love can surface in unexpected places.
There are romantic scenes but these aren’t explicit or tawdry.
We made acquaintance with old characters, Clemmie and Betty, Puffin Pete, Amelia, Dilly and Becca. We also learnt some of the friendships between Dorothy, Edgar the solicitor and Great Aunt Matilda.
It’s obvious that Christie Barlow has an incredible imagination to think up all these tales and mysteries for the inhabitants of Puffin Island - though there can’t be many buildings left that we don’t know the history of by now. I sincerely hope there will be more to come. Pretty please.
February 28, 2026
Quick Summary: A romantically memorable wo-fi romance
My Review: No. 17 Curiosity Lane by Christie Barlow is book #5 in the Puffin Island series. It was released on 2/27/26.
About the Book: "We regret to inform you...
Music journalist Fern Talbot has just inherited a dusty antique shop from a woman she never knew.
...when she discovers that her charming lodger, Daniel, is her train ride meet-cute, and a tantalising mystery wrapped up in a vintage wedding dress demands to be solved, Puffin Island quickly captures this devoted city girl’s heart…"
In My Own Words: A career woman who is secretly dissatisfied with her life finds something she never expected in a place far from what she knew.
My Final Say: This novel was not short on textured characters, bittersweet memories, romantic nostalgia, found family connections, or love. It was a beautiful story, written with a voice and charm that completely captured my interest. I loved how it communicated what I will call a journey towards healing and refreshing.
I would highly recommend this as a featured book club read.
Other: Readers who enjoy cozy, heartwarming fiction with an air of mystery and found family aspects will love this book.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Format: 📱
Series: Yes
Cover: + (I prefer the newest cover version (presently on NetGalley. It is more inviting and seems to depict the coming mystery that readers will immerse themselves in as they read.)
Special Note: I absolutely love the title of this book. It was an immediate draw.
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I am grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to reading more novels in this series.
My Review: No. 17 Curiosity Lane by Christie Barlow is book #5 in the Puffin Island series. It was released on 2/27/26.
About the Book: "We regret to inform you...
Music journalist Fern Talbot has just inherited a dusty antique shop from a woman she never knew.
...when she discovers that her charming lodger, Daniel, is her train ride meet-cute, and a tantalising mystery wrapped up in a vintage wedding dress demands to be solved, Puffin Island quickly captures this devoted city girl’s heart…"
In My Own Words: A career woman who is secretly dissatisfied with her life finds something she never expected in a place far from what she knew.
My Final Say: This novel was not short on textured characters, bittersweet memories, romantic nostalgia, found family connections, or love. It was a beautiful story, written with a voice and charm that completely captured my interest. I loved how it communicated what I will call a journey towards healing and refreshing.
I would highly recommend this as a featured book club read.
Other: Readers who enjoy cozy, heartwarming fiction with an air of mystery and found family aspects will love this book.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Format: 📱
Series: Yes
Cover: + (I prefer the newest cover version (presently on NetGalley. It is more inviting and seems to depict the coming mystery that readers will immerse themselves in as they read.)
Special Note: I absolutely love the title of this book. It was an immediate draw.
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I am grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to reading more novels in this series.
January 11, 2026
I do love this series and it is safe to say that, with No. 17 Curiosity Lane, Christie Barlow has delivered again with not only a great little romantic interlude on the brilliant Puffin Island, but also a touch of mystery and subterfuge to boot. An unexpected inheritance, an hunky tennant and a secret that haunted former Curiosity Lane proprietor, Matilda Hartley, until the day she died.
The opening of this book really did draw me in. A touch of intrigue, a hint of regret and tantalising promise of what might be to come. WE don;t get to spend all that much time with Matilda Hartley, but what little time we do really does leave a mark and I was completely hooked and wanting to know more of the secret that clearly cause such division in her family. And learn we will, all courtesy of her great-niece, Fern, just as soon as she works out who her mystery never before heard of Great Aunt Matilda is. And where in the heck Puffin Island is too. An unexpected inheritance is one thing, but for a dedicated city girl and music journalist like Fern, owning a property in the middle of nowhere is a complication she doesn't need. And in the world of the ultimate meet cute, and the all too appealing puffin power, that Christie Barlow creates, we all know that one week on the island is going to be nowhere near enough.
I liked Fern. She's not your typical Puffin Island resident for sure, but for someone who started out so absolutely set on a less romantic, more carnal, rendezvous with a famous musician, it was nice to see the softer side of her emerge. You can picture the type, driven by career goals and never contemplating there might be another way. That is until she meets Daniel, and she uncovers the mysterious charms of her Matilda's eclectic collection at Curiosity Lane. When pushed, it is her curiosity (no pun) that wins out, and finding out the truth about her Matilda becomes a key focus. Her reactions to the situation felt natural, and I love the way in which Christie Barlow plays aorund with her natural attraction to Daniel along with the competing priority of her perfect London life and blossoming career.
Daniel is as far from Fern's glossy life as you can imagine, but that actually works really well here, a kind of opposites attract kind of set up that is fun to see played around with. There is one connection, in that Daniel is a musician, literally music to Fern's ears, and I really enjoyed how the characters use this, and viral social media tactics to really put Curiosity Lane on the map. But it is not the shop full or curios, not even Gerald the Gorilla, that is the real draw in this story. There is the mystery that Matilda wants Fern to solve, even though the clues are scarce and it seems unclear whether the people around them want to help, or hinder, the search. It's actually quite an emotional story, one with surprising connections but that feels so very on the money given the timing that part of Matilda's story is set and the motivations of some of the characters in the book.
This is another romantic, sometimes emotional, and often humorous tale of life on Puffin Island in a series that is growing stronger book by book. Fern and Daniel make a brilliant addition to the community and fans of the series will love it.
The opening of this book really did draw me in. A touch of intrigue, a hint of regret and tantalising promise of what might be to come. WE don;t get to spend all that much time with Matilda Hartley, but what little time we do really does leave a mark and I was completely hooked and wanting to know more of the secret that clearly cause such division in her family. And learn we will, all courtesy of her great-niece, Fern, just as soon as she works out who her mystery never before heard of Great Aunt Matilda is. And where in the heck Puffin Island is too. An unexpected inheritance is one thing, but for a dedicated city girl and music journalist like Fern, owning a property in the middle of nowhere is a complication she doesn't need. And in the world of the ultimate meet cute, and the all too appealing puffin power, that Christie Barlow creates, we all know that one week on the island is going to be nowhere near enough.
I liked Fern. She's not your typical Puffin Island resident for sure, but for someone who started out so absolutely set on a less romantic, more carnal, rendezvous with a famous musician, it was nice to see the softer side of her emerge. You can picture the type, driven by career goals and never contemplating there might be another way. That is until she meets Daniel, and she uncovers the mysterious charms of her Matilda's eclectic collection at Curiosity Lane. When pushed, it is her curiosity (no pun) that wins out, and finding out the truth about her Matilda becomes a key focus. Her reactions to the situation felt natural, and I love the way in which Christie Barlow plays aorund with her natural attraction to Daniel along with the competing priority of her perfect London life and blossoming career.
Daniel is as far from Fern's glossy life as you can imagine, but that actually works really well here, a kind of opposites attract kind of set up that is fun to see played around with. There is one connection, in that Daniel is a musician, literally music to Fern's ears, and I really enjoyed how the characters use this, and viral social media tactics to really put Curiosity Lane on the map. But it is not the shop full or curios, not even Gerald the Gorilla, that is the real draw in this story. There is the mystery that Matilda wants Fern to solve, even though the clues are scarce and it seems unclear whether the people around them want to help, or hinder, the search. It's actually quite an emotional story, one with surprising connections but that feels so very on the money given the timing that part of Matilda's story is set and the motivations of some of the characters in the book.
This is another romantic, sometimes emotional, and often humorous tale of life on Puffin Island in a series that is growing stronger book by book. Fern and Daniel make a brilliant addition to the community and fans of the series will love it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Matilda Hartley, 85, is dying. For 60 years she has run her antique shop, No. 17 Curiosity Lane. She has decided to leave her shop to Fern Talbot, her sister’s grand child. Matilda’s family had turned their backs on her years ago.
Fern lives in London and loves music journalism. When she is notified of her inheritance, she cannot imagine leaving her London life for a shop full of dusty items. She decides to take a week off and head to Puffin Island where the shop is located. On the train, she sits next to a man with a guitar. He introduces himself as Daniel and says he is familiar with Puffin Island. When Fern enters the shop, she is surprised to see Daniel. He says that he has worked there for sometime now and loved Matilda. He also says he is the lodger. He doesn’t want her to sell the shop although it rarely has a sale. He encourages her to wait a month to see if he can get her to understand the draw of the shop. She agrees.
Unsure whether to sell the shop or not, she consults the solicitor who says that Daniel can stay in the shop indefinitely so anyone she sold it to would have to accept him as a lodger. Spending more time at the shop with all of its oddities, Fern and Daniel quickly spark an attraction. So, when clues come out about who Matilda really was and her background, there is a huge shock.
I adored yet another Puffin Island book. This story is really involved and kept me glued to my seat as I devoured it. Cannot wait for the next Puffin island release. Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Fern lives in London and loves music journalism. When she is notified of her inheritance, she cannot imagine leaving her London life for a shop full of dusty items. She decides to take a week off and head to Puffin Island where the shop is located. On the train, she sits next to a man with a guitar. He introduces himself as Daniel and says he is familiar with Puffin Island. When Fern enters the shop, she is surprised to see Daniel. He says that he has worked there for sometime now and loved Matilda. He also says he is the lodger. He doesn’t want her to sell the shop although it rarely has a sale. He encourages her to wait a month to see if he can get her to understand the draw of the shop. She agrees.
Unsure whether to sell the shop or not, she consults the solicitor who says that Daniel can stay in the shop indefinitely so anyone she sold it to would have to accept him as a lodger. Spending more time at the shop with all of its oddities, Fern and Daniel quickly spark an attraction. So, when clues come out about who Matilda really was and her background, there is a huge shock.
I adored yet another Puffin Island book. This story is really involved and kept me glued to my seat as I devoured it. Cannot wait for the next Puffin island release. Enjoy!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 20, 2026
Fern lives a big life in London writing for a music magazine. She can’t imagine doing anything else. When she finds out about her long-lost Aunt Matilda and the estate she has just inherited, she heads to Puffin Island to settle the estate and return home. Daniel is a bit of a dreamer. He lives at No 17 Curiosity Lane and worked for Matilda doing odd jobs. He misses Matilda but embraces the changes Fern brings with her. The two of them embark on the journey of cleaning out the antique shop and solving a mystery. They seem like opposites but maybe they are just what the other needed.
Both Fern and Daniel have lots of change to deal with in the story. I am going to try very hard to not give away any of the twists and turns of the story. This story is a small-town romance, opposites attract romance set in a seaside tourist town. There are secrets around every corner. I like that both Fern and Daniel had life altering secrets revealed. This story is filled with lots of cute moments meant to make readers smile. The mystery is very interesting. I figured out a piece of it fairly early but the twists kept coming. I love Daniel’s love for antiques and how he met Matilda. Their little backstory added nicely to book.
This book is a feel-good story about two people who meet under sad circumstances. They work together help each other through some hard times. If you are looking for a story that feels warm and comforting, give this a try. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.
Both Fern and Daniel have lots of change to deal with in the story. I am going to try very hard to not give away any of the twists and turns of the story. This story is a small-town romance, opposites attract romance set in a seaside tourist town. There are secrets around every corner. I like that both Fern and Daniel had life altering secrets revealed. This story is filled with lots of cute moments meant to make readers smile. The mystery is very interesting. I figured out a piece of it fairly early but the twists kept coming. I love Daniel’s love for antiques and how he met Matilda. Their little backstory added nicely to book.
This book is a feel-good story about two people who meet under sad circumstances. They work together help each other through some hard times. If you are looking for a story that feels warm and comforting, give this a try. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the 5th instalment in The Puffin Island series. The author has brought a new character to the Island, and she knows nothing about why she has inherited No. 17 Curiosity Lane, an antique shop by a relation she never knew.
Ferm never knew she was related to Matilda Hartley; it turns out that Matilda is her great Aunt. The antique shop is well overcrowded, a jumble, a mix, with various residents: a Gorilla, a Moose, and a sitting tenant. Fern soon understands that this dusty shop hasn't really made any money. But, being a "city girl", she thinks about just selling it. Daniel, the tenant, however, manages to persuade Fern to give him a month to turn things around.
The story is an absolute delight and sees some of the regulars making an appearance along wiht a mystery wedding dress. The dress is something that begins a search that goes back a long way. Getting to the truth behind the dress is something that involves chatting to locals, another way of getting to know people on the island!
Thsi is another fabulous story in this series and an absolute delight to read, I did get a feel for the ending, but not quite sure which way it would go and how the ending of the book would come. The regualrs to this series and her other books will enjoy this one, it is full of warmth, fun, friendships and discovering who is important in oyur life.
A gorgeous story that is part of a wonderful series and one that I would absolutely recommend.
Ferm never knew she was related to Matilda Hartley; it turns out that Matilda is her great Aunt. The antique shop is well overcrowded, a jumble, a mix, with various residents: a Gorilla, a Moose, and a sitting tenant. Fern soon understands that this dusty shop hasn't really made any money. But, being a "city girl", she thinks about just selling it. Daniel, the tenant, however, manages to persuade Fern to give him a month to turn things around.
The story is an absolute delight and sees some of the regulars making an appearance along wiht a mystery wedding dress. The dress is something that begins a search that goes back a long way. Getting to the truth behind the dress is something that involves chatting to locals, another way of getting to know people on the island!
Thsi is another fabulous story in this series and an absolute delight to read, I did get a feel for the ending, but not quite sure which way it would go and how the ending of the book would come. The regualrs to this series and her other books will enjoy this one, it is full of warmth, fun, friendships and discovering who is important in oyur life.
A gorgeous story that is part of a wonderful series and one that I would absolutely recommend.
February 27, 2026
Fern lives in London with a successful career as a musical journalist when she suddenly discovers that she has inherited a shop from a Great Aunt that she's never met, No. 17 Curiosity Lane on Puffin Island. She decides to take a week's holiday and visit the shop with the intention of selling it, in the train on the way there she meets Daniel, who she instantly feels comfortable talking with, but when she arrives at the shop she discovers that he lives at the shop and has a lifetime tenancy. The shop is really struggling, but he begs her to give him a chance to prove that it can make money, but at the same time a mystery is to be uncovered when a wedding dress is left on the doorstep.
This is the latest in the series, but can be read as a standalone but, as ever, you would be missing some great books. I must admit that I'm not a fan of London and would much prefer a small community as found on Puffin Island. The shop also sounds like the kind of shop I would love to browse in and was impressed with how they started making a go of it. The mystery goes a lot deeper than I thought, going back over many years, and when the final reveal is made I hadn't seen that coming. Definitely recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
This is the latest in the series, but can be read as a standalone but, as ever, you would be missing some great books. I must admit that I'm not a fan of London and would much prefer a small community as found on Puffin Island. The shop also sounds like the kind of shop I would love to browse in and was impressed with how they started making a go of it. The mystery goes a lot deeper than I thought, going back over many years, and when the final reveal is made I hadn't seen that coming. Definitely recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Romance wrapped in a family mystery: delightful!🎼
4.5🌟stars
For me, this one may be the best in the Puffin Island series thus far. I loved the quirkiness of the antique shop and the objects nestled in its dusty chaos. The romance (warm, not steamy) had its challenges (like all good ones do in a spirited love story) and the mystery of Matilda, the former owner of the shop, had a twist or two that I really didn't expect.
Of the two main characters, upbeat Daniel was my favorite. Fern took some time to grow on me; I just couldn't get how her London lifestyle had such a seductive pull compared to Puffin Island and Daniel. Until...
Just one "note" didn't hit right for me and that was Nathaniel and how he succeeded all those years with major secrets still intact. I suppose the wider power imbalance between the sexes in the 1960's played a major role. But I really enjoyed the family mystery and its surprise revelations paired with the cozy quality of the romance. And, of course, those ubiquitous "mooing" puffins.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
4.5🌟stars
For me, this one may be the best in the Puffin Island series thus far. I loved the quirkiness of the antique shop and the objects nestled in its dusty chaos. The romance (warm, not steamy) had its challenges (like all good ones do in a spirited love story) and the mystery of Matilda, the former owner of the shop, had a twist or two that I really didn't expect.
Of the two main characters, upbeat Daniel was my favorite. Fern took some time to grow on me; I just couldn't get how her London lifestyle had such a seductive pull compared to Puffin Island and Daniel. Until...
Just one "note" didn't hit right for me and that was Nathaniel and how he succeeded all those years with major secrets still intact. I suppose the wider power imbalance between the sexes in the 1960's played a major role. But I really enjoyed the family mystery and its surprise revelations paired with the cozy quality of the romance. And, of course, those ubiquitous "mooing" puffins.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
March 4, 2026
No. 17 Curiosity Lane was a sweet, cosy romance with a touch of mystery woven through it. Fern, who’s used to the fast-paced life of London, is completely taken aback when she discovers she’s inherited an antique shop from an aunt she never even knew existed. She has no intention of staying on Puffin Island - but as we’ve learned from previous books in the series, Puffin Island has a way of drawing people in and making them feel at home.
I really loved Daniel’s confidence right from their very first meeting. There was an easy charm about him, and his dynamic with Fern was both fun and heartfelt. Watching their relationship develop as they worked side by side to breathe new life into the shop was a real highlight. The added mystery of the abandoned wedding dress left on their doorstep - who it belonged to and why it was left there - gave the story an extra layer of intrigue that kept things interesting.
Although this is the fifth book in the series, it felt more like a standalone to me. Familiar characters from earlier books do make appearances, but they didn’t feel as interconnected to the storyline as in previous instalments.
Overall, a charming, feel-good read with just the right mix of romance and mystery.
I really loved Daniel’s confidence right from their very first meeting. There was an easy charm about him, and his dynamic with Fern was both fun and heartfelt. Watching their relationship develop as they worked side by side to breathe new life into the shop was a real highlight. The added mystery of the abandoned wedding dress left on their doorstep - who it belonged to and why it was left there - gave the story an extra layer of intrigue that kept things interesting.
Although this is the fifth book in the series, it felt more like a standalone to me. Familiar characters from earlier books do make appearances, but they didn’t feel as interconnected to the storyline as in previous instalments.
Overall, a charming, feel-good read with just the right mix of romance and mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've literally just finished reading this book & I know that I'm going to have a book hangover because the location 'Puffin Island' 🏝 is an absolute dream & the characters are people you actually want in your real life!
Full of intrigue & mystery, you can't help but be drawn in & root for Fern & Daniel, not only for them (what a meet - cute though! 😍) but for their journey to uncover the truth!
The descriptions of the Curiosity Shop make it a character by itself & I for one would love to spend a day unearthing treasures there!
Ahhh this book has put a huge smile on my face! 💫
On a personal note 📝 this is a story made even more beautiful & special because it’s dedicated to my Mum, who sadly passed away last year. A huge thank you to Christie for this incredible gesture. It means the absolute world to me & I know my Mum would be so honoured. Thank you for the endless hours of joy your books gave her over the years. ❤️
I can't wait to read Book 6
The Clockmaker's Cottage coming 29th June 💫
Full of intrigue & mystery, you can't help but be drawn in & root for Fern & Daniel, not only for them (what a meet - cute though! 😍) but for their journey to uncover the truth!
The descriptions of the Curiosity Shop make it a character by itself & I for one would love to spend a day unearthing treasures there!
Ahhh this book has put a huge smile on my face! 💫
On a personal note 📝 this is a story made even more beautiful & special because it’s dedicated to my Mum, who sadly passed away last year. A huge thank you to Christie for this incredible gesture. It means the absolute world to me & I know my Mum would be so honoured. Thank you for the endless hours of joy your books gave her over the years. ❤️
I can't wait to read Book 6
The Clockmaker's Cottage coming 29th June 💫
April 28, 2026
This has been my favourite of the Puffin Island series so far! I loved it!!
Fern inherits an antique shop from a woman she knew nothing about, and her life is in London so her plan is to visit the shop, get it valued, sell up and them move on with her life as a music journalist! But the magic that is Puffin Island doesn't take long to get under her skin and she soon finds herself smitten with the island and more!
The shop itself doesn't have any customers, but is filled to the brim with weird and wonderful objects and is run by Daniel who also lives at the shop, allowed to stay there forever by her Aunt Matilda so this throws Ferns' plans into disarray. But he's convinced he can make her see the magic of the shops, and it helps that they hit it off immediately on the 'spark' front!
A mystery to Matilda's past soon lands on their doorstep and the intrigue that follows was fascinating and I loved how it pulled me in as a reader and I just wanted to visit the shop to join in the quest! Highly recommend!!
Fern inherits an antique shop from a woman she knew nothing about, and her life is in London so her plan is to visit the shop, get it valued, sell up and them move on with her life as a music journalist! But the magic that is Puffin Island doesn't take long to get under her skin and she soon finds herself smitten with the island and more!
The shop itself doesn't have any customers, but is filled to the brim with weird and wonderful objects and is run by Daniel who also lives at the shop, allowed to stay there forever by her Aunt Matilda so this throws Ferns' plans into disarray. But he's convinced he can make her see the magic of the shops, and it helps that they hit it off immediately on the 'spark' front!
A mystery to Matilda's past soon lands on their doorstep and the intrigue that follows was fascinating and I loved how it pulled me in as a reader and I just wanted to visit the shop to join in the quest! Highly recommend!!
January 21, 2026
I love Christie’s books and this latest instalment in the Puffin Island series is no exception. I was totally hooked from page one and found myself saying ‘Just one more chapter’ Fern Talbot is a music journalist living in London, partying with the stars of the music industry and doing well for herself. When she inherits No 17 Curiosity Lane on Puffin Island on the death her great aunt Matilda Hartley to say she is surprised is an understatement. She never knew of her existence. On her journey to see the shop and find out more she meets Daniel. And there is an instant attraction. Then it turns out that he is the lodger at No 17! What follows is a gorgeous story about friendship, new beginnings, family and plenty of mystery. I really liked how this flowed and how the drama unfolded without being able to guess the outcome. Great characters, some nicer than others, the beautiful setting of Puffin Island and an engaging storyline this is a fabulous read
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a joy this was to read. Set on the notorious Puffin Island created by Christie Barlow in earlier novels. Fern a rising journalist in the musical world, inherit an old curiosity antique shop from a great aunt she never knew existed. Her world turns upside down - no more London gigs, late nights and partying until the early hours. The author writes a great novel, picking her characters who initially appear on opposing sides, but as the island takes hold of Fern, she takes the gamble and eventually gives up her posh London life. Together with Daniel, the sitting tenant in the shop, they unravel the various mysteries. Parts of this story are bleak when returning to the past, but the future looks very rosey.
A great page-turner, a good paced story, clear and uncluttered writing.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this ARC
A great page-turner, a good paced story, clear and uncluttered writing.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this ARC
February 2, 2026
I am loving the Puffin Bay series, can be read as a standalone too though. We follow Fern back to Puffin Bay as she has been her Aunts shop, when she gets there she finds out that Daniel who runs the antique business has a life long sitting tenancy. While there she sees if the business can work and one morning a mysterious wedding dress appears on the doorstep. Whose is it and why has it been left there? I found this book a delight to read, it leaves you smiling. Fern is an easy character to gel with and Daniel sounds divine. Both make this book work, I liked the mysterious part around the wedding dress and the detective skills to find out who it belongs to. Plus you can’t forget the map at the start, I think every good book needs one. 5 fantastic stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
February 27, 2026
I enjoyed this book. Initially I wasn’t too sure when I was introduced to squeaky stairs, mysteriously falling things and strange sounds. However I kept on and so pleased I did. Those strange inanimate objects became an important part of the fabric to the story of Matilda.
Fern suddenly inherits an antiques shop from a great aunt she didn’t know exists. Then there’s Daniel, I really liked him, and was drawn to his story straight away. Daniel has a great energy and I loved how he didn’t shy away from how he felt about Fern, it was refreshing.
Watching Fern debate whether to sell or stay as her old life kicks her while she’s down was interesting and I enjoyed seeing her emotionally grow and accept that Love can be enough. The added twists to the plot were a nice touch and really kept me engaged.
Great escapism reading.
Fern suddenly inherits an antiques shop from a great aunt she didn’t know exists. Then there’s Daniel, I really liked him, and was drawn to his story straight away. Daniel has a great energy and I loved how he didn’t shy away from how he felt about Fern, it was refreshing.
Watching Fern debate whether to sell or stay as her old life kicks her while she’s down was interesting and I enjoyed seeing her emotionally grow and accept that Love can be enough. The added twists to the plot were a nice touch and really kept me engaged.
Great escapism reading.
March 3, 2026
Fern, an ambitious music journalist based in London, receives an unexpected inheritance on Puffin Island. Not knowing what to expect, she travels to the north of England and discovers more than a rundown antique shop. Daniel lives above the antique shop and is mourning the loss of his friend. He is determined to honour her wishes and sets out to make Fern stay and save the shop. It's a lovely story, atmospheric and heartwarming with friendships, romance and a definite mystery to solve. It's the mystery that gives the story its heartbreaking poignancy. The resident characters of Puffin Island ensure there are plenty of humorous moments, as does the banter between Fern and Daniel. I enjoyed Fern's emotional journey, the evocative setting, gentle romance and the cosy mystery.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
February 27, 2026
No. 17 Curiosity Lane by Christie Lane was a book that filled me with so much emotion, many questions, friendships, new love, old mysteries that it was the perfect addition to the Puffin Island series.
Fern had a life she loved and then came the news that she had been left an antique shop by her aunt when she passed away. Not sure what she was getting, she headed to Puffin Island to take care of business so she could move on with her life.
This starts a new chapter in her life that will change how she sees things moving forward.
I enjoyed this book so much and was glad to be back to Puffin Island.
Thank you NetGalley, Christie Barlow and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the copy of No. 17 Curiosity Lane. This is my personal review.
Fern had a life she loved and then came the news that she had been left an antique shop by her aunt when she passed away. Not sure what she was getting, she headed to Puffin Island to take care of business so she could move on with her life.
This starts a new chapter in her life that will change how she sees things moving forward.
I enjoyed this book so much and was glad to be back to Puffin Island.
Thank you NetGalley, Christie Barlow and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the copy of No. 17 Curiosity Lane. This is my personal review.
March 2, 2026
Fern Daniel & 17 Curiosity Lane
This book was amazing I would never have guessed the man called Daniel that she met on the train & whose number she forgot to get would be sitting in a chair behind the counter in the shop she had inherited from her great aunt who she didn't know existed. I felt for both these 2 being flung together in a more junk than antique shop. Fern was shocked when she arrived and just wanted to stay long enough clear it out sell it. Walk away and bank the money. Fern couldn't work out why someone she didn't know existed would want to leave her a an antique shop full of junk. The story is so good I'm not giving any spoilers. I'm just going to say I think it's a must read. I really loved it 100%.
This book was amazing I would never have guessed the man called Daniel that she met on the train & whose number she forgot to get would be sitting in a chair behind the counter in the shop she had inherited from her great aunt who she didn't know existed. I felt for both these 2 being flung together in a more junk than antique shop. Fern was shocked when she arrived and just wanted to stay long enough clear it out sell it. Walk away and bank the money. Fern couldn't work out why someone she didn't know existed would want to leave her a an antique shop full of junk. The story is so good I'm not giving any spoilers. I'm just going to say I think it's a must read. I really loved it 100%.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of No 17 Curiosity Lane by Christie Barlow, published by Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter
How have I never read a book by this author before! This was excellent, such a fun lighthearted read with just a touch of drama and suspense. I loved the setting and characters were amazing. The author describes everything so well and I truly felt a connection to Fern and Daniel. This is such a heartwarming read.
I had no idea the book was part of a series and reads very well as a standalone. I want to read the first part of the series now
This author will be on my radar going forward.
How have I never read a book by this author before! This was excellent, such a fun lighthearted read with just a touch of drama and suspense. I loved the setting and characters were amazing. The author describes everything so well and I truly felt a connection to Fern and Daniel. This is such a heartwarming read.
I had no idea the book was part of a series and reads very well as a standalone. I want to read the first part of the series now
This author will be on my radar going forward.
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