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The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach
A wildly romantic, escapist summer romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Eliza J Scott, guaranteed to make you feel like you’re on vacation already! 🏖️👣☀️💖 We need a bookseller for the Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach… apply here!
When Harper sees an ad for what must surely be the most idyllic job in the world, she’s almost tempted. But she can’t possibly leave her bookshop job in London, or her burgeoning career as a successful Bookstagram influencer… That is, until a casual remark about a debut author lands her in deep trouble.
So she applies. After all, now she’s got nothing to lose. Except maybe her heart, she realises, as she lands on the beautiful island of Ésperé in the Seychelles and finds herself seemingly surrounded by beautiful men. Including the hotel owner, moody but heartbreakingly-handsome Xavier.
But inter-staff relations are strictly forbidden. And Harper has enough on her plate, with a member of staff missing and a wily band of expats to contend with. Plus, she’s determined to make the bookshop and new start the success they deserve to be… Even if – under the blazing sunshine – the romance novel superfan in her can’t help but hope the boss of the hotel might not be quite the grump he seems…
The most romantic story you’ll read this year, with an unforgettable cast of characters that includes a giant tortoise living in a bookshop. Don’t miss it! 📚🐢🇸🇨
When Harper sees an ad for what must surely be the most idyllic job in the world, she’s almost tempted. But she can’t possibly leave her bookshop job in London, or her burgeoning career as a successful Bookstagram influencer… That is, until a casual remark about a debut author lands her in deep trouble.
So she applies. After all, now she’s got nothing to lose. Except maybe her heart, she realises, as she lands on the beautiful island of Ésperé in the Seychelles and finds herself seemingly surrounded by beautiful men. Including the hotel owner, moody but heartbreakingly-handsome Xavier.
But inter-staff relations are strictly forbidden. And Harper has enough on her plate, with a member of staff missing and a wily band of expats to contend with. Plus, she’s determined to make the bookshop and new start the success they deserve to be… Even if – under the blazing sunshine – the romance novel superfan in her can’t help but hope the boss of the hotel might not be quite the grump he seems…
The most romantic story you’ll read this year, with an unforgettable cast of characters that includes a giant tortoise living in a bookshop. Don’t miss it! 📚🐢🇸🇨
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 7, 2026
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May 22, 2026
A perfect, delightful, gorgeous, hilarious book.
London
Harper, 31 years-old, is a Bookstagrammer, has a great part time job as a bookseller at one of the most prestigious indie bookstores in the city, and lives with Lily, her best friend since they were little children.
She started live broadcasting, forgot she was live, while talking about the sensation debut book by Tia Ambore, Bang, Bang!, that she thought was AI written!
A scandal!
All her brand promotional were cancelled.
Got fired from the bookstore effetive immediately.
People outside the book community and the book ones unfollowing, threats online by internet trolls, and her boyfriend broke up with her in Instagram!
And she can't find another job.
She posts an apology to Tia and her book friends and deactivates her account.
Then she remembered the ad she stumbled upon for The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach.
She searches all over the internet to no avail.
But out of the blue she finds it.
The Last Chance Resort, the island of Esperé, Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean!
She sends the aplication, calls the number bellow and talks to the manager, Gus, that asks the most weird questions about books!
She's offer the job, that includes a suite and meals at the resort and a small wage.
Gets the necessary visa to work there and a week later she arrives.
Gus isn't there waiting for her as promised, but some hot flirtatious helicopter pilot, Michel, that would take her to the island.
Esperé, summer, to much heat and humidity, The Last Chance Resort.
She meets Xavier the owner, a moody, brooding, devastatingly handsome, hot, another perfectly sculpered man, meets his mother, some of the expats that live there, and is informed that Gus doesn't work there anymore and that she is the new manager.
Mariola head of staff relations, a loved and capable worker, will show her the resort, how things work and they will become friends.
She meets with Xavier, early the next morning, in a suit that hugs all at the right places.
Why is she so attracted to him?
He tells her Gus retired but that doesn't sound like the truth, and she promises to get to the bottom of it!
She should be happy because she has a job and was already promoted.
The resort is a tropical haven that Xavier has been renovating, including the bookshop that is in fact on the beach.
A white building with porthole like windows, the terrace has plush day beds in a neat row and further down the sand hammocks strung between palm trees!
But instead of admiring the gorgeous facade her eyes are drawn to him.
She's losing her marbles, that's it!
He's a romance novel hero that came to life!
The bookshop is beautiful but almost red on the sales and she already has some ideas how to bring people to it.
Her first visitor his Turt Vonnegut, 86 years-old, the biggest tortoise she has ever seen.
He misses Gus!
The staff is a bit scared of Xavier but she's always defying him, that he has too many rules, and so forth, even behind his back and every time he comes to the bookshop or sees him around, her heart races!
The resort is full of expats namely Brian, a cripto enthusiast, and with natural health products, the quirky and eccentric old ladies called The Three Lucys, and their senseless, hilarious bickering.
All of them are con artists at every game, scamming the guests, sometimes with the help of the staff, and they don't even know how that happened.
Everybody can see that Xavier and Harper are attracted to each other.
The bickering, the banter between them hilarious, and full of chemistry.
Harper being hilarious, being herself!
When he's relaxed and fun he's like another person!
He wants the staff to know all the activities the resort offers to be able to explain to the guests, and he goes with her on the glass- bottom boat tour and she's totally freaking out because she's deathly afraid of sharks, and he hugs her, good hugs, and the dialogues were once again extremely funny!!
Xavier never met anyone like her!
So much so that he breaks one of his rules, no relationships between staff members.
He kisses her, sparks flying, but then pretending it didn't happen.
He knows everything that happens in the island, but the gossips most of the times aren't true about him and what he's doing to keep the resort afloat, now being threatened by some unscrupulous investors.
Will Xavier be able to preserve The Last Chance Resort as ecofrienfly as possible?
Will we know why Xavier fired Gus, that was like a father figure to him?
Will there be a reveal about the Tia business AI scandal?
Will the bookshop becames a success?
And most important of all will there be an Harper and Xavier HEA?
Until the epilogue, one year later, and after it, many things will happen!!!.
London
Harper, 31 years-old, is a Bookstagrammer, has a great part time job as a bookseller at one of the most prestigious indie bookstores in the city, and lives with Lily, her best friend since they were little children.
She started live broadcasting, forgot she was live, while talking about the sensation debut book by Tia Ambore, Bang, Bang!, that she thought was AI written!
A scandal!
All her brand promotional were cancelled.
Got fired from the bookstore effetive immediately.
People outside the book community and the book ones unfollowing, threats online by internet trolls, and her boyfriend broke up with her in Instagram!
And she can't find another job.
She posts an apology to Tia and her book friends and deactivates her account.
Then she remembered the ad she stumbled upon for The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach.
She searches all over the internet to no avail.
But out of the blue she finds it.
The Last Chance Resort, the island of Esperé, Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean!
She sends the aplication, calls the number bellow and talks to the manager, Gus, that asks the most weird questions about books!
She's offer the job, that includes a suite and meals at the resort and a small wage.
Gets the necessary visa to work there and a week later she arrives.
Gus isn't there waiting for her as promised, but some hot flirtatious helicopter pilot, Michel, that would take her to the island.
Esperé, summer, to much heat and humidity, The Last Chance Resort.
She meets Xavier the owner, a moody, brooding, devastatingly handsome, hot, another perfectly sculpered man, meets his mother, some of the expats that live there, and is informed that Gus doesn't work there anymore and that she is the new manager.
Mariola head of staff relations, a loved and capable worker, will show her the resort, how things work and they will become friends.
She meets with Xavier, early the next morning, in a suit that hugs all at the right places.
Why is she so attracted to him?
He tells her Gus retired but that doesn't sound like the truth, and she promises to get to the bottom of it!
She should be happy because she has a job and was already promoted.
The resort is a tropical haven that Xavier has been renovating, including the bookshop that is in fact on the beach.
A white building with porthole like windows, the terrace has plush day beds in a neat row and further down the sand hammocks strung between palm trees!
But instead of admiring the gorgeous facade her eyes are drawn to him.
She's losing her marbles, that's it!
He's a romance novel hero that came to life!
The bookshop is beautiful but almost red on the sales and she already has some ideas how to bring people to it.
Her first visitor his Turt Vonnegut, 86 years-old, the biggest tortoise she has ever seen.
He misses Gus!
The staff is a bit scared of Xavier but she's always defying him, that he has too many rules, and so forth, even behind his back and every time he comes to the bookshop or sees him around, her heart races!
The resort is full of expats namely Brian, a cripto enthusiast, and with natural health products, the quirky and eccentric old ladies called The Three Lucys, and their senseless, hilarious bickering.
All of them are con artists at every game, scamming the guests, sometimes with the help of the staff, and they don't even know how that happened.
Everybody can see that Xavier and Harper are attracted to each other.
The bickering, the banter between them hilarious, and full of chemistry.
Harper being hilarious, being herself!
When he's relaxed and fun he's like another person!
He wants the staff to know all the activities the resort offers to be able to explain to the guests, and he goes with her on the glass- bottom boat tour and she's totally freaking out because she's deathly afraid of sharks, and he hugs her, good hugs, and the dialogues were once again extremely funny!!
Xavier never met anyone like her!
So much so that he breaks one of his rules, no relationships between staff members.
He kisses her, sparks flying, but then pretending it didn't happen.
He knows everything that happens in the island, but the gossips most of the times aren't true about him and what he's doing to keep the resort afloat, now being threatened by some unscrupulous investors.
Will Xavier be able to preserve The Last Chance Resort as ecofrienfly as possible?
Will we know why Xavier fired Gus, that was like a father figure to him?
Will there be a reveal about the Tia business AI scandal?
Will the bookshop becames a success?
And most important of all will there be an Harper and Xavier HEA?
Until the epilogue, one year later, and after it, many things will happen!!!.
March 8, 2026
Harper has a life she loves in London—a bookstore job, a side hustle as a book influencer, and a fitness influencer boyfriend. But all that comes crashing down when she accidentally shares her doubts about a hot new romance novel...and suddenly the only job available to her is way, way out of town.
Now..you know those news article about, say, a job opening for a postal officer in the remote Orkneys where it's only possible to access the island at low tide and then only nine months out of the year? Or about jobs that are available in Antarctica? If you're the type of person to immediately read those articles and dream about applying, you know why I picked up this book. I might never apply for those jobs, but I'm definitely going to daydream about them.
So Harper finds herself in the Seychelles, surrounded by meddling expats and a few mysteries to solve: What happened to the former employee who is mysteriously gone? Is her new boss the unfeeling money-grabber that the other employees seem to think, or does he have a softer side? And who is behind that hot new romance novel that got Harper cancelled?
It's a fast read and a lively one. A lot of the characters are borderline caricatures, though I think this is intentional; the book leans hard into something a bit over the top, a bit determinedly zany.
He lets out a frustrated sigh. "Have you been fired a lot?"
I nod eagerly. "Yes, too many times to count." (loc. 2774*)
So yes, Harper is sometimes a lot. She knows she's a lot, which is endearing at times—she has no filter and doesn't care—and frustrating at others (sometimes I think my brain is mostly filters). Most of the her new friends/colleagues also lean toward "a lot", leaving me to think that I would probably not find the Last Chance Resort a relaxing place to be, but there would never be any shortage of drama to watch...good thing the cocktails are cheap. (Side note: "no dating coworkers" is not always a fair rule, but "no dating direct reports" should absolutely be a rule, because the risks are real.)
The premise of the book is of course the Bookstagram drama: A new cowboy romance is getting a lot of buzz, but Harper is sure that it's been written by AI, and when she (accidentally) airs her opinions, the trolls come for her. I guessed some of the mystery before I think I was meant to, but on the whole I wasn't really convinced...though I do find the discussion of AI-generated books (and the discourse around them, and what it can mean for an author to use AI...or to be accused of using AI) to be interesting and timely.
I think I'll go back to dreaming about a little post-office-come-cafe-come-library in the Shetlands that needs a new caretaker—you know, the kind of place where the mail only comes once a week, and the cafe and library are only open two days a week, and the rest of the time you can do some maintenance and go for long walks and read a lot. But this was a fun diversion.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.
Now..you know those news article about, say, a job opening for a postal officer in the remote Orkneys where it's only possible to access the island at low tide and then only nine months out of the year? Or about jobs that are available in Antarctica? If you're the type of person to immediately read those articles and dream about applying, you know why I picked up this book. I might never apply for those jobs, but I'm definitely going to daydream about them.
So Harper finds herself in the Seychelles, surrounded by meddling expats and a few mysteries to solve: What happened to the former employee who is mysteriously gone? Is her new boss the unfeeling money-grabber that the other employees seem to think, or does he have a softer side? And who is behind that hot new romance novel that got Harper cancelled?
It's a fast read and a lively one. A lot of the characters are borderline caricatures, though I think this is intentional; the book leans hard into something a bit over the top, a bit determinedly zany.
He lets out a frustrated sigh. "Have you been fired a lot?"
I nod eagerly. "Yes, too many times to count." (loc. 2774*)
So yes, Harper is sometimes a lot. She knows she's a lot, which is endearing at times—she has no filter and doesn't care—and frustrating at others (sometimes I think my brain is mostly filters). Most of the her new friends/colleagues also lean toward "a lot", leaving me to think that I would probably not find the Last Chance Resort a relaxing place to be, but there would never be any shortage of drama to watch...good thing the cocktails are cheap. (Side note: "no dating coworkers" is not always a fair rule, but "no dating direct reports" should absolutely be a rule, because the risks are real.)
The premise of the book is of course the Bookstagram drama: A new cowboy romance is getting a lot of buzz, but Harper is sure that it's been written by AI, and when she (accidentally) airs her opinions, the trolls come for her. I guessed some of the mystery before I think I was meant to, but on the whole I wasn't really convinced...though I do find the discussion of AI-generated books (and the discourse around them, and what it can mean for an author to use AI...or to be accused of using AI) to be interesting and timely.
I think I'll go back to dreaming about a little post-office-come-cafe-come-library in the Shetlands that needs a new caretaker—you know, the kind of place where the mail only comes once a week, and the cafe and library are only open two days a week, and the rest of the time you can do some maintenance and go for long walks and read a lot. But this was a fun diversion.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
really liked the Island, with the quirky people, all with their own special past. I liked the banter and the Snarky conversations. I liked the female main character , but at some times she got on my nerves so it was a love dislike ship. I really liked the male character, the strong alpha male but with a soft side. Most of all i loved the tortoise. A perfect summer read. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
February 13, 2026
This was another humour filled romance with an eclectic set of characters. As a booklover, I love stories that are centred around bookshops and those on coastal settings are extra special. So The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach by Rebecca Raisin held plenty of charm and magical moments that kept me enthralled.
Harper is a popular online book reviewer who runs into some serious issues with an opponent on social media. She voices her suspicions about a new author using AI to write her novel—a novel that becomes a best seller overnight. When Harper speaks up, many bad things happen to her. The whole nightmare gets out of hand so Harper decides to take a break and escape the conflict by leaving London and taking a job in a bookstore on a tropical island.
While there, she meets a number of intriguing people, including the owner of the hotel and an attraction begins. But Xavier has a tough rule: no romantic relationships can occur between staff. This rule gets challenged (and broken) more than once and Harper tries to show Xavier how controlling and ridiculous this commandment he created is. For practical reasons, keeping people apart is crazy. Especially on a small island, where there are a limited number of potentials available to date at the best of times. Imposing this limitation is a recipe for disaster.
This books contains lots of important messages and one is about the horrors of AI which, we, as writers and other creatives, have good reason to be upset about. I found when this theme bubbled up to the surface, the author made many great points about the hazards of this new age tool. In fact, applying it to the story's plot was a great idea, as it presents the potential issues in a realistic and relatable way.
There are many other topics covered associated with relationships, too. A crime is committed and friends divide over it without knowing the real story behind what happened. Harper tries to intervene as peacemaker.
Another topic that caught my attention was how people deal with fears. The direct approach does not always work. In this case, it was about Harper riding in a glass bottom boat. For her it is a horrifying experience as she is deathly afraid of sharks and to see them swimming under her does not help her get over her fear: it enhances it. I can’t say I blame her as here in Australia we have lots of dangerous creatures in the water and on land!
And then there is Turt, the resident Aldabra giant turtle. His arrival in the seventies caused quite a stir when he wandered in to sun himself beside the pool! He hung around so long tourists thought he was a statue. Now he mostly stays close to the Barefoot Bookshop ‘soaking up the literary atmosphere’ and tunes in to the ‘lively literary debates.’ I was amazed with the facts shared about these tortoises and how they can live up to the ripe age of 190! So Turt has a few years yet to enjoy his life. Along with the Turtle, the three elderly ladies are a hoot! They offer a lot of surprises and lively conversation.
This is a cosy romantic story with lots of drama to keep the pages turning. If you have enjoyed Rebecca Raisin’s previous novels, you will love this one, too. Books, friendship, humour and unexpected love are some key ingredients served up on this delicious platter of surprise. The sparks between Harper and Xavier will have you cheering and secretly hoping these two get together. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the review copy.
Harper is a popular online book reviewer who runs into some serious issues with an opponent on social media. She voices her suspicions about a new author using AI to write her novel—a novel that becomes a best seller overnight. When Harper speaks up, many bad things happen to her. The whole nightmare gets out of hand so Harper decides to take a break and escape the conflict by leaving London and taking a job in a bookstore on a tropical island.
While there, she meets a number of intriguing people, including the owner of the hotel and an attraction begins. But Xavier has a tough rule: no romantic relationships can occur between staff. This rule gets challenged (and broken) more than once and Harper tries to show Xavier how controlling and ridiculous this commandment he created is. For practical reasons, keeping people apart is crazy. Especially on a small island, where there are a limited number of potentials available to date at the best of times. Imposing this limitation is a recipe for disaster.
This books contains lots of important messages and one is about the horrors of AI which, we, as writers and other creatives, have good reason to be upset about. I found when this theme bubbled up to the surface, the author made many great points about the hazards of this new age tool. In fact, applying it to the story's plot was a great idea, as it presents the potential issues in a realistic and relatable way.
There are many other topics covered associated with relationships, too. A crime is committed and friends divide over it without knowing the real story behind what happened. Harper tries to intervene as peacemaker.
Another topic that caught my attention was how people deal with fears. The direct approach does not always work. In this case, it was about Harper riding in a glass bottom boat. For her it is a horrifying experience as she is deathly afraid of sharks and to see them swimming under her does not help her get over her fear: it enhances it. I can’t say I blame her as here in Australia we have lots of dangerous creatures in the water and on land!
And then there is Turt, the resident Aldabra giant turtle. His arrival in the seventies caused quite a stir when he wandered in to sun himself beside the pool! He hung around so long tourists thought he was a statue. Now he mostly stays close to the Barefoot Bookshop ‘soaking up the literary atmosphere’ and tunes in to the ‘lively literary debates.’ I was amazed with the facts shared about these tortoises and how they can live up to the ripe age of 190! So Turt has a few years yet to enjoy his life. Along with the Turtle, the three elderly ladies are a hoot! They offer a lot of surprises and lively conversation.
This is a cosy romantic story with lots of drama to keep the pages turning. If you have enjoyed Rebecca Raisin’s previous novels, you will love this one, too. Books, friendship, humour and unexpected love are some key ingredients served up on this delicious platter of surprise. The sparks between Harper and Xavier will have you cheering and secretly hoping these two get together. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love Rebecca Raisin’s books, and this one had me hooked from page one. She delivers another story filled with fabulous settings and wonderfully drawn characters — the kind you instantly want to spend time with. Reading it felt like sinking into a warm bath: comforting, escapist, and utterly enjoyable. I already can’t wait for the next one.
Harper is utterly book mad. Not only does she work in a bookshop, she also runs a hugely successful book review podcast — the dream combination. But the first rule of podcasting should always be: make sure you’ve actually switched off the mic. When she finishes a book she’s convinced is AI generated, she says so out loud, believing the recording has ended. It hasn’t. The fallout is instant and brutal: she’s cancelled, fired from her day job, and her location is leaked online. A quick escape becomes essential. So, when she spots a job in a beachside bookshop — complete with a giant resident turtle — she applies on a whim, is hired almost immediately, and finds herself on a stunning island in the Seychelles. Except there’s a catch: she’s now the manager, because the previous one, Gus, has mysteriously vanished. The resort manager, Xavier, is grumpy, unpopular, and devastatingly handsome, and Harper can’t help being drawn to him despite herself. Can she survive the chaos she’s created? Who’s targeting her? What happened to Gus? And why is Xavier so prickly — and so disliked? It’s a deliciously escapist mystery romance, and you won’t want to put it down.
This was an absolute delight to read — full of charm, adventure, and that signature Rebecca Raisin blend of heart, humour, and gorgeous escapism. Harper’s journey is fun, messy, and wonderfully human, and the Seychelles setting adds a dreamy backdrop to all the chaos and clues. By the final chapters I was completely swept up in the mystery, the romance, and the joy of watching Harper find her feet again. A perfect feel good escape.
Harper is utterly book mad. Not only does she work in a bookshop, she also runs a hugely successful book review podcast — the dream combination. But the first rule of podcasting should always be: make sure you’ve actually switched off the mic. When she finishes a book she’s convinced is AI generated, she says so out loud, believing the recording has ended. It hasn’t. The fallout is instant and brutal: she’s cancelled, fired from her day job, and her location is leaked online. A quick escape becomes essential. So, when she spots a job in a beachside bookshop — complete with a giant resident turtle — she applies on a whim, is hired almost immediately, and finds herself on a stunning island in the Seychelles. Except there’s a catch: she’s now the manager, because the previous one, Gus, has mysteriously vanished. The resort manager, Xavier, is grumpy, unpopular, and devastatingly handsome, and Harper can’t help being drawn to him despite herself. Can she survive the chaos she’s created? Who’s targeting her? What happened to Gus? And why is Xavier so prickly — and so disliked? It’s a deliciously escapist mystery romance, and you won’t want to put it down.
This was an absolute delight to read — full of charm, adventure, and that signature Rebecca Raisin blend of heart, humour, and gorgeous escapism. Harper’s journey is fun, messy, and wonderfully human, and the Seychelles setting adds a dreamy backdrop to all the chaos and clues. By the final chapters I was completely swept up in the mystery, the romance, and the joy of watching Harper find her feet again. A perfect feel good escape.
April 6, 2026
I do enjoy a good book written by Rebecca Raisin and The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach was a great escape back to the beach for me. Harper is a burgeoning Bookstagram Influencer and works in a bookstore, both jobs she loves as she loves books. When filming for her blog, she talks to her friend about a book that is all the rage. She believes she has turned off the camera before she explains that she can't promote the book as she is sure it is written by AI and that the author is fake. But it is still live and her life blows up. She is fired from her job and eviscerated online. She had previously seen an ad to run a bookstore in a resort on the island of Ésperé in the Seychelles, so decides if she wants to live, and hide out a little, she applies and gets the job. When she arrives she finds out that things aren't what she thought. The resort is struggling financially, the bookstore is not making any money, and the employees are disgruntled at the way the son of the owner has returned and is making their lives difficult. Complications include handsome and desirable men, including the grumpy owner, but first she has work to do.
Although this seems like a lovely romance on an island with books and a struggling bookstore to save, there is more than that. I liked Harper's character and her strength. She has her principles which is what got her in trouble in the first place. She is smart and comes up with a plan to save the bookstore for the resort as well as the islanders. She is open to learn new things and listens to others. Some of the secondary characters were very unlikable and at times nasty towards others, but as the story rolls out, their reasons, albeit wrong information, show that they aren't normally that way. Xavier is the owner's son, and he is a prickly, grumpy guy. He has been gone from the resort and recently returned wreaking havoc. He begins to change things and get strict with the employees, angering them. He shows a different side to Harper eventually, but who is the real Xavier. Serious issues around AI writing books, media/tech specialists/paid reviewers etc. all come into play with how easily the influencer world can be manipulated and ruined, dealing with a loved one who is seriously ill, environmental issues and development, rumours, and more all play a part in this story. It is a romance, so I knew all would work out eventually, but it was a good story getting to that point, and one that made me think. If you enjoy a romance that is set around bookstores and has some meat to it, then The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach may be right up your alley.
Although this seems like a lovely romance on an island with books and a struggling bookstore to save, there is more than that. I liked Harper's character and her strength. She has her principles which is what got her in trouble in the first place. She is smart and comes up with a plan to save the bookstore for the resort as well as the islanders. She is open to learn new things and listens to others. Some of the secondary characters were very unlikable and at times nasty towards others, but as the story rolls out, their reasons, albeit wrong information, show that they aren't normally that way. Xavier is the owner's son, and he is a prickly, grumpy guy. He has been gone from the resort and recently returned wreaking havoc. He begins to change things and get strict with the employees, angering them. He shows a different side to Harper eventually, but who is the real Xavier. Serious issues around AI writing books, media/tech specialists/paid reviewers etc. all come into play with how easily the influencer world can be manipulated and ruined, dealing with a loved one who is seriously ill, environmental issues and development, rumours, and more all play a part in this story. It is a romance, so I knew all would work out eventually, but it was a good story getting to that point, and one that made me think. If you enjoy a romance that is set around bookstores and has some meat to it, then The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach may be right up your alley.
March 14, 2026
Rebecca Raisin is my go to author. I love her books and this one especially. Great read.
February 22, 2026
Thank you to Boldwood Books for allowing me access to this fun book — I really appreciate it!
This was the perfect escapist read! It’s set in the Seychelles (which I’ve never been to but now want to visit BADLY) and follows a main character Harper fleeing scandal in London to take a job working at a bookshop near a resort in the Seychelles.
This was a fun read. I really liked Harper and all the secondary characters as well, especially the Lucys and the adorable tortoise, Turt Vonnegut. This is definitely more on the chick lit end, so while there is a romance, it doesn’t really take over the story. It’s more about the main character starting over and interacting with the characters she meets in the resort.
I really liked the commentary on AI as well. I am not a fan of AI and I liked that the book brought things to light about it.
The book is told in an interesting way, with instagram posts and such which made it a quick read and I liked the interactive elements.
The setting was gorgeous and so beautifully depicted as well.
I did find the final conflict a tad convenient and anticlimactic, but this was still a really fun and enjoyable read.
The cover is stunning as well! Lounging in a hammock between two palm trees and reading a book is basically my version of paradise. 🌴
This was the perfect escapist read! It’s set in the Seychelles (which I’ve never been to but now want to visit BADLY) and follows a main character Harper fleeing scandal in London to take a job working at a bookshop near a resort in the Seychelles.
This was a fun read. I really liked Harper and all the secondary characters as well, especially the Lucys and the adorable tortoise, Turt Vonnegut. This is definitely more on the chick lit end, so while there is a romance, it doesn’t really take over the story. It’s more about the main character starting over and interacting with the characters she meets in the resort.
I really liked the commentary on AI as well. I am not a fan of AI and I liked that the book brought things to light about it.
The book is told in an interesting way, with instagram posts and such which made it a quick read and I liked the interactive elements.
The setting was gorgeous and so beautifully depicted as well.
I did find the final conflict a tad convenient and anticlimactic, but this was still a really fun and enjoyable read.
The cover is stunning as well! Lounging in a hammock between two palm trees and reading a book is basically my version of paradise. 🌴
July 9, 2026
I liked it. Cute summer beach reading book.
March 9, 2026
Thank you to the author and love book tour for the copy of this book! This book is the perfect vacation read. The whole time I read it, I wished I was on a beach!! The main character has to start all over but what better way to start fresh than at a beautiful resort? She meets all sorts of interesting people, and a turtle. Her story of finding her footing once again is so beautiful.
June 22, 2026
Having read books from this author before they are normally fast paced, predictable but easy reading which is a bit of a palette cleanser between other books.
I found this one just very boring, it started off very slow and then changed to just slow.
I didn't vibe with any of the characters and couldn't wait to finish it.
I'm so pleased that I didn't buy the physical book and got it free on Amazon Prime for the Kindle.
I found this one just very boring, it started off very slow and then changed to just slow.
I didn't vibe with any of the characters and couldn't wait to finish it.
I'm so pleased that I didn't buy the physical book and got it free on Amazon Prime for the Kindle.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC REVIEW 📚
If there was ever a book I wanted to climb inside and permanently live in, it’s The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach.😍😍😍
Set on the breathtaking islands of Seychelles, this story released every ounce of serotonin my body was capable of producing.😍.Every chapter radiates warmth, escapism, and the kind of joy that only books can bring.🥺
You can feel, in every chapter, that this author is a true book lover and romance reader. The way books are spoken about, cherished, and portrayed, felt so deeply relatable and it made me fall more in love with the story.
Harper is impossible not to adore. Her love of books, the way she spills every thought that pops into her head with no filter 😂her beautifully unfiltered heart, and incapablity of leaving well enough alone, made her feel so real and so easy to love. Xavier comes across as your typical broody billionaire resort owner, but there's so much more to him that he doesn't often show. I loved his character growth, and his dynamic with Harper is fun, hilarious and adorable. (Those 'I'm sorry' gifts had me cackling!). Their grumpy/sunshine energy is irresistible, their banter is witty and funny, and the way their love unfolds is heart-felt and tugs on the heart strings in the best way.
I adored every single one of the Islanders. Their eccentric personalities, quirky banter, and the absolute mayhem they bring make the island feel alive and gave me such deep FOMO for a fictional world! The fact that they were all over 70 made it even more adorable! (These quirky seniors could give Danny Ocean a run for his money 🤣).
But what made this story truly special was its heart. Beneath the romance and charm is a beautiful story about belonging. About finding your people. About discovering that sometimes the place you’re meant to be finds you when you need it most.
This book made me laugh, made me smile until my cheeks hurt, and left my heart feeling so incredibly full.😍😌
A 10/10 read that felt like sunshine and healing in one.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and the author for a chance to be an early reader on this incredible story.
If there was ever a book I wanted to climb inside and permanently live in, it’s The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach.😍😍😍
Set on the breathtaking islands of Seychelles, this story released every ounce of serotonin my body was capable of producing.😍.Every chapter radiates warmth, escapism, and the kind of joy that only books can bring.🥺
You can feel, in every chapter, that this author is a true book lover and romance reader. The way books are spoken about, cherished, and portrayed, felt so deeply relatable and it made me fall more in love with the story.
Harper is impossible not to adore. Her love of books, the way she spills every thought that pops into her head with no filter 😂her beautifully unfiltered heart, and incapablity of leaving well enough alone, made her feel so real and so easy to love. Xavier comes across as your typical broody billionaire resort owner, but there's so much more to him that he doesn't often show. I loved his character growth, and his dynamic with Harper is fun, hilarious and adorable. (Those 'I'm sorry' gifts had me cackling!). Their grumpy/sunshine energy is irresistible, their banter is witty and funny, and the way their love unfolds is heart-felt and tugs on the heart strings in the best way.
I adored every single one of the Islanders. Their eccentric personalities, quirky banter, and the absolute mayhem they bring make the island feel alive and gave me such deep FOMO for a fictional world! The fact that they were all over 70 made it even more adorable! (These quirky seniors could give Danny Ocean a run for his money 🤣).
But what made this story truly special was its heart. Beneath the romance and charm is a beautiful story about belonging. About finding your people. About discovering that sometimes the place you’re meant to be finds you when you need it most.
This book made me laugh, made me smile until my cheeks hurt, and left my heart feeling so incredibly full.😍😌
A 10/10 read that felt like sunshine and healing in one.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and the author for a chance to be an early reader on this incredible story.
March 3, 2026
This is a lovely summer romp based around everything I love, books, sunshine and holiday resorts.
When online “bookstagrammer”Harper is forced to leave her job, social media and life in England for calling out a book for being written by AI fortuitously she lands a dream job working for a bookshop in a dream holiday resort.
This gentle romance stars a plethora of characters who are all larger than life and make for some fabulous reading of their antics. One of the stars of the show is Turt, the bookshops very own tortoise.
The author injects such fun into the book that reading it is an absolute pleasure
When online “bookstagrammer”Harper is forced to leave her job, social media and life in England for calling out a book for being written by AI fortuitously she lands a dream job working for a bookshop in a dream holiday resort.
This gentle romance stars a plethora of characters who are all larger than life and make for some fabulous reading of their antics. One of the stars of the show is Turt, the bookshops very own tortoise.
The author injects such fun into the book that reading it is an absolute pleasure
June 18, 2026
Absolutely loved this book! Wanted a beach read and got a perfect beach read over the last few days. The story moves along quickly with a cast of characters perfect for the island setting. The FMC Harper is a busybody bookstagrammer who finds herself relocating after live review gone wrong. No spoilers, it was a great story with a terrific ending and conflict resolution. Several different tropes throughout and I appreciated how it never really slows down from page to page. Looking forward to other stories written by the author!
March 17, 2026
This was such a great read, the descriptions of the island and hotel make it come alive. I loved all the side characters they added so much to the story, most of them made me laugh a lot, I loved all the rumours flying around the island too. A little mystery added into the romance was great.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A lovely cosy escapist read. Loved the island storyline and found the AI/social media one quite thought provoking.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
March 1, 2026
A wildly romantic, escapist summer romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Eliza J Scott, guaranteed to make you feel like you’re on vacation already! 🏖️👣☀️💖
We need a bookseller for the Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach…
The most romantic story you’ll read this year, with an unforgettable cast of characters that includes a giant tortoise living in a bookshop.
We need a bookseller for the Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach…
The most romantic story you’ll read this year, with an unforgettable cast of characters that includes a giant tortoise living in a bookshop.
June 10, 2026
It's ok and probably an easy beach read
July 2, 2026
Sweet, light summer read. I audiobooked this one.
April 9, 2026
This book was a delight to read, light, funny, full of references and literary jokes (the Dunas🤣 was my favourite) bookstagram language, and a FMC living "THE DREAM." because who haven't dream about work in a Bookshop on the beach!
Harper is a successful bookstagrammer, a book lover that works in the industry and fan of romance novels, a "mistake" gets her canceled, so she decides to left London an apply for a job that is the dream job! to good to be true!?
Harper needs a place to hide, to heal, she ends up living on the Seychelles working in the Barefoot bookshop at the Last Chance Resort, where the inhabitants are quite peculiar personalities and the boss -Xavier- is this handsome alpha man just like in a romance novel.
I love Harper as an FMC; she is confident, with an vibrant personality, bold, dreamy, cheeky, funny, true to her convictions, with good friends supporting her, and she also knows how to be a good friend.
Let's be honest, in many romance books, the female protagonists don't know how to be good friends (egocèntrics). It's refreshing to see such genuine female relationships in books and Rebecca Raisin does a wonderfull job to start breaking those stereotypes of women who don't have friends or don't know how to be friends with other women, I LOVE THAT, so THANK YOU Rebecca for make such a refreshing FMC,
The romance between Xavier and Harper is so funny, full of flirting, attraction, and desire. It is a slow burn and feels so organic to the story. I love that Harper challenges Xavier, always pushing him out of his comfort zone, and that Xavier sees in Harper all the qualities she knows she has, values Harper's opinion and advice, and appreciates that it makes him a better person.
" Isn't it every bookworm's dream to kiss a gorgeous man among the shelves like this- surrounded by novels, fictional couples cheering us silently between pages? "
And something that I enjoy lots, all the bookstagram feelings, that many of us with book accounts can relate easily, there are so many quotes in this books that reflects the love and importance that the books and the bookstagram community has in our lifes, the friends that we find sharing our book Love.
Some of my favourite quotes:
" Reading is as essential to me as breathing and I've found a community that intrinsically understands the desire to be immersed in books"
"Books are a friend I can go to when the world grows dark"
"Reading is like time spent with an unconditional buddy- one who never judges but is always there for you, no matter what mistakes you've made"
Harper is a successful bookstagrammer, a book lover that works in the industry and fan of romance novels, a "mistake" gets her canceled, so she decides to left London an apply for a job that is the dream job! to good to be true!?
Harper needs a place to hide, to heal, she ends up living on the Seychelles working in the Barefoot bookshop at the Last Chance Resort, where the inhabitants are quite peculiar personalities and the boss -Xavier- is this handsome alpha man just like in a romance novel.
I love Harper as an FMC; she is confident, with an vibrant personality, bold, dreamy, cheeky, funny, true to her convictions, with good friends supporting her, and she also knows how to be a good friend.
Let's be honest, in many romance books, the female protagonists don't know how to be good friends (egocèntrics). It's refreshing to see such genuine female relationships in books and Rebecca Raisin does a wonderfull job to start breaking those stereotypes of women who don't have friends or don't know how to be friends with other women, I LOVE THAT, so THANK YOU Rebecca for make such a refreshing FMC,
The romance between Xavier and Harper is so funny, full of flirting, attraction, and desire. It is a slow burn and feels so organic to the story. I love that Harper challenges Xavier, always pushing him out of his comfort zone, and that Xavier sees in Harper all the qualities she knows she has, values Harper's opinion and advice, and appreciates that it makes him a better person.
" Isn't it every bookworm's dream to kiss a gorgeous man among the shelves like this- surrounded by novels, fictional couples cheering us silently between pages? "
And something that I enjoy lots, all the bookstagram feelings, that many of us with book accounts can relate easily, there are so many quotes in this books that reflects the love and importance that the books and the bookstagram community has in our lifes, the friends that we find sharing our book Love.
Some of my favourite quotes:
" Reading is as essential to me as breathing and I've found a community that intrinsically understands the desire to be immersed in books"
"Books are a friend I can go to when the world grows dark"
"Reading is like time spent with an unconditional buddy- one who never judges but is always there for you, no matter what mistakes you've made"
June 1, 2026
Diabolical. A book slating books written by AI whilst sounding (on audiobook) like something written by AI. Got to chapter 5. Will not waste my time on this. Not even worth a 1*.
March 7, 2026
I’ve loved previous books from this author, but I have to say I’ve fallen in love with this one.
From the characters, to the scenery, to the style of writing, everything is on point!
I absolutely loved the banter and dynamics between the characters, especially Harper and Xavier and also Michel. Harpers confidence to speak up and hold people accountable was refreshing and I loved the strong person she became to realise she is.
While talking of characters, just wait until you meet the three Lucys, they will certainly have you giggling! And Turt, oh my goodness, he is an absolute favourite!
This is such a fun book, yet there are so many important topics discussed throughout, but not in a heavy way. The use of the internet, not just over using it, but being too visible, giving away too much of your personal information. The controversial use of AI, the many ways in which in can be abused. There are also themes of friendships, trust and misunderstanding.
As the title suggests, books are an integral theme throughout. I loved how the author brought things like Bookstagram to life, the positives of it and the not so positive. I don’t want to give anything away, but it really resonated as the author described the book community, standing by one another, looking out for each other, giving support, but also how easily that can be fractured by those trying to make trouble.
The cover is absolutely beautiful and the last chapter was a perfect end to the story.
All in all, this is a definite must read! This author is already an automatic read for me, but if you are just discovering her books you are in for a treat.
From the characters, to the scenery, to the style of writing, everything is on point!
I absolutely loved the banter and dynamics between the characters, especially Harper and Xavier and also Michel. Harpers confidence to speak up and hold people accountable was refreshing and I loved the strong person she became to realise she is.
While talking of characters, just wait until you meet the three Lucys, they will certainly have you giggling! And Turt, oh my goodness, he is an absolute favourite!
This is such a fun book, yet there are so many important topics discussed throughout, but not in a heavy way. The use of the internet, not just over using it, but being too visible, giving away too much of your personal information. The controversial use of AI, the many ways in which in can be abused. There are also themes of friendships, trust and misunderstanding.
As the title suggests, books are an integral theme throughout. I loved how the author brought things like Bookstagram to life, the positives of it and the not so positive. I don’t want to give anything away, but it really resonated as the author described the book community, standing by one another, looking out for each other, giving support, but also how easily that can be fractured by those trying to make trouble.
The cover is absolutely beautiful and the last chapter was a perfect end to the story.
All in all, this is a definite must read! This author is already an automatic read for me, but if you are just discovering her books you are in for a treat.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Two of my absolute favorite things in one book: a bookshop and a beach — honestly, could it get any better? I picked up Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach just as we’re leaving winter behind, and it felt like the perfect little escape. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity, because by the time I finished, I was fully imagining myself on that sunny, tropical shore.
I could really relate to Harper and her love of books — her passion for stories and for sharing them with others made her so easy to connect with. The atmosphere in this book is incredible — I could practically feel the warm sand under my feet and hear the waves while she settled into life on the island. And the story itself carried me along effortlessly. Harper is fun, relatable, and just the right amount of determined, while Xavier… well, let’s just say he’s a bit grumpy but utterly swoon-worthy.
I flew through it in one sitting, smiling at all the little moments, from the quirky island characters to the cozy bookshop scenes. It’s light, romantic, funny, and honestly made me wish I could teleport straight to Ésperé.
If you’re looking for a sunny, feel-good read that makes you forget winter even exists, this is it. 4.5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
I could really relate to Harper and her love of books — her passion for stories and for sharing them with others made her so easy to connect with. The atmosphere in this book is incredible — I could practically feel the warm sand under my feet and hear the waves while she settled into life on the island. And the story itself carried me along effortlessly. Harper is fun, relatable, and just the right amount of determined, while Xavier… well, let’s just say he’s a bit grumpy but utterly swoon-worthy.
I flew through it in one sitting, smiling at all the little moments, from the quirky island characters to the cozy bookshop scenes. It’s light, romantic, funny, and honestly made me wish I could teleport straight to Ésperé.
If you’re looking for a sunny, feel-good read that makes you forget winter even exists, this is it. 4.5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
March 19, 2026
This is set on an island that sounded idyllic with a cast of interesting characters, a bookshop on the beach and an Aldabra giant tortoise called Tort - loved it!
Harper works in a bookshop in London and has a side career as an online book reviewer, but after accidentally calling out a debut author as being AI and not written by a real person she is frozen out of the book community and loses her job, so needs a new direction. When she sees a job advert working on a small island in the Seychelles she jumps at the opportunity to get out of London for a while.
The island is owned by a mother and son, the mother wants things to stay mostly the same laid back way it's always been over the years, but the son is trying to streamline things and make the resort profitable, which they desperately need to keep going, so there are slight clashes of wills going on. There are a wonderful array of ex-pat characters who have retired to the island and live at the resort, always a bit cheeky and looking for mischief, and of course the giant tortoise who lives at the bookshop, but is missing his old pal who used to run the bookshop, another slight mystery.
Throw in a some romance for a couple of the characters and it all just adds up to a lovely summery beach read. Very enjoyable!
Harper works in a bookshop in London and has a side career as an online book reviewer, but after accidentally calling out a debut author as being AI and not written by a real person she is frozen out of the book community and loses her job, so needs a new direction. When she sees a job advert working on a small island in the Seychelles she jumps at the opportunity to get out of London for a while.
The island is owned by a mother and son, the mother wants things to stay mostly the same laid back way it's always been over the years, but the son is trying to streamline things and make the resort profitable, which they desperately need to keep going, so there are slight clashes of wills going on. There are a wonderful array of ex-pat characters who have retired to the island and live at the resort, always a bit cheeky and looking for mischief, and of course the giant tortoise who lives at the bookshop, but is missing his old pal who used to run the bookshop, another slight mystery.
Throw in a some romance for a couple of the characters and it all just adds up to a lovely summery beach read. Very enjoyable!
March 23, 2026
I liked the rural setting of an island but there wasn’t much of a plot, just lots of conversations and a main character trying to be funny. It somehow seems a bit juvenile and unrealistic for someone who has no other job to go ahead and offend the boss.
The other characters are also one dimensional. I guess I only liked the setting but the conflict of the eco-resort being in danger has been done too many times for this story to be refreshing and original. It feels like a story lacking in new ideas and just plonked onto a different setting, with no real descriptions of a proper place in the world. It could be anywhere in the world.
Next are the numerous grammatical errors throughout the book which disturbed me. Why couldn’t the author or editor be bothered to notice them?
I am sorry to have been disappointed in this book as I really did want to enjoy the story. I loved the cover and the idea of a bookshop on a beach but the characters and plot have let it down, in my personal opinion.
The other characters are also one dimensional. I guess I only liked the setting but the conflict of the eco-resort being in danger has been done too many times for this story to be refreshing and original. It feels like a story lacking in new ideas and just plonked onto a different setting, with no real descriptions of a proper place in the world. It could be anywhere in the world.
Next are the numerous grammatical errors throughout the book which disturbed me. Why couldn’t the author or editor be bothered to notice them?
I am sorry to have been disappointed in this book as I really did want to enjoy the story. I loved the cover and the idea of a bookshop on a beach but the characters and plot have let it down, in my personal opinion.
March 7, 2026
Rebecca Raisin’s The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach was one of those reads that I enjoyed while I was in it, yet when I closed the book, I was left with the odd feeling that something hadn’t quite clicked into place.
There’s a lot here to like. The setting is warm, bright, and escapist in exactly the way you’d hope from a book with a title like this. I’m always drawn to stories centred around books and bookshops anyway, so the premise immediately appealed to me, and Raisin certainly knows how to create an inviting atmosphere. I could easily picture the resort life, the gentle rhythm of island living, and the little interactions that give a place its sense of community.
At the same time, I often found myself wanting the story to move along a little more briskly. The narrative has a tendency to wander through long trains of thought and conversations that circle around the point rather than landing on it. There were several moments where Harper would be heading somewhere important, such as when Xavier had called her for a meeting and was already waiting. Yet, she’d meander across the resort chatting to various people along the way. Instead of building anticipation, those moments made me silently urge her to hurry up and get there already.
That same feeling carried over into the dynamic with the three Lucys. I struggled with those sections more than I expected to. Their conversations often felt like they went round in loops, discussing things from every possible angle without actually saying what they meant. After a while, it became a little frustrating, because I found myself wanting them to simply get to the point rather than talking in circles.
Despite that, I did enjoy the book overall. The tone is gentle and comforting, and there’s a warmth to Raisin’s writing that makes the world she creates easy to sink into. It’s very much the kind of story you read for the atmosphere and the characters rather than for a tightly driven plot, and in that sense it succeeds.
The ending, however, left me with a slightly strange feeling. I finished the book last night, but it didn’t quite feel as though I had actually reached the end. The main body of the story spends so much time lingering on thoughts and interactions that when the conclusion arrived, it felt surprisingly brief by comparison. I wouldn’t say it was rushed exactly, but the pacing shift made it feel a little abrupt, almost as though the final chapter arrived before the story had fully exhaled.
As this was an ARC, I’m also hoping the final published version received a thorough edit. Early copies always come with the understanding that there may be mistakes, but there were quite a few noticeable errors throughout. One moment that stood out in particular was being told twice about where the Seychellois language derived from, which felt like something that should have been caught during editing.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read with a lovely setting and a cosy premise, even if the pacing and structure didn’t always work for me. I’m glad I read it, but it’s one of those books that I liked more in theory than I fully connected with while turning the pages.
There’s a lot here to like. The setting is warm, bright, and escapist in exactly the way you’d hope from a book with a title like this. I’m always drawn to stories centred around books and bookshops anyway, so the premise immediately appealed to me, and Raisin certainly knows how to create an inviting atmosphere. I could easily picture the resort life, the gentle rhythm of island living, and the little interactions that give a place its sense of community.
At the same time, I often found myself wanting the story to move along a little more briskly. The narrative has a tendency to wander through long trains of thought and conversations that circle around the point rather than landing on it. There were several moments where Harper would be heading somewhere important, such as when Xavier had called her for a meeting and was already waiting. Yet, she’d meander across the resort chatting to various people along the way. Instead of building anticipation, those moments made me silently urge her to hurry up and get there already.
That same feeling carried over into the dynamic with the three Lucys. I struggled with those sections more than I expected to. Their conversations often felt like they went round in loops, discussing things from every possible angle without actually saying what they meant. After a while, it became a little frustrating, because I found myself wanting them to simply get to the point rather than talking in circles.
Despite that, I did enjoy the book overall. The tone is gentle and comforting, and there’s a warmth to Raisin’s writing that makes the world she creates easy to sink into. It’s very much the kind of story you read for the atmosphere and the characters rather than for a tightly driven plot, and in that sense it succeeds.
The ending, however, left me with a slightly strange feeling. I finished the book last night, but it didn’t quite feel as though I had actually reached the end. The main body of the story spends so much time lingering on thoughts and interactions that when the conclusion arrived, it felt surprisingly brief by comparison. I wouldn’t say it was rushed exactly, but the pacing shift made it feel a little abrupt, almost as though the final chapter arrived before the story had fully exhaled.
As this was an ARC, I’m also hoping the final published version received a thorough edit. Early copies always come with the understanding that there may be mistakes, but there were quite a few noticeable errors throughout. One moment that stood out in particular was being told twice about where the Seychellois language derived from, which felt like something that should have been caught during editing.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read with a lovely setting and a cosy premise, even if the pacing and structure didn’t always work for me. I’m glad I read it, but it’s one of those books that I liked more in theory than I fully connected with while turning the pages.
March 27, 2026
Originally posted on Dreaming With Open Eyes
Sun, secrets, and a second chance—where books and love collide beneath the Seychelles sky.
📚 Bookish heroine | 👩🏻💻 Bookstagram scandal about AI book | 💼 Workplace / 🔥 Slow-burn romance | 🌊🏝️ Beach Read & 📖 perfect escapism | 🌍 London & Seychelles
When Harper, a London bookseller and rising Bookstagram influencer, spots an ad for the dream job—running the Barefoot Bookshop on the beach in the Seychelles—it feels impossible to leave her life behind. But after a Bookstagram scandal involving a debut author turns her world upside down, she takes the leap.
On the idyllic island of Ésperé, Harper is determined to rebuild her reputation and make the struggling bookshop a success. What she doesn’t plan for? A missing staff member, a mysterious expat community, and the hotel’s brooding (and very off-limits) owner, Xavier. Under the blazing sun, Harper must decide whether this fresh start could mean risking her heart, too.
As a Bookstagrammer and romance lover myself, this story couldn’t have been more up my alley. I’ve read many books by Rebecca Raisin and adored so many of them but purely based on the premise, this one might be one of my absolute favorites. Maybe because it feels so current, touching on present-day themes like online influence, AI controversy, and public backlash in the book world.
I know many readers will say this, but honestly, where can I sign up to work in a beachside bookshop? Surely this is the perfect job for any book lover? The setting is pure escapism. The Seychelles island atmosphere is so vivid and dreamy that I now desperately want to visit. You can practically feel the sand between your toes and the ocean breeze while reading.
What I especially loved is that, at least to me, the romance didn’t overpower the story. It simmered in the background while Harper’s personal growth, the mystery about the AI author/book, the bookshop’s revival, and the island’s residents took center stage. The cast of characters is wonderfully fun, quirky, and lovable. Each adding warmth and humor to the story.
And can we talk about the mystery? I was completely intrigued by Tia and kept turning the pages to uncover the truth. That extra layer of suspense added depth beyond the romantic storyline and kept me fully invested.
Overall, this book is sunshine in paperback form: heartwarming, escapist, and filled with bookish charm. If you love stories about fresh starts, beachside settings, and a little grumpy-meets-sunshine tension, this one absolutely belongs on your summer TBR.
I kindly received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Boldwood Books.
Sun, secrets, and a second chance—where books and love collide beneath the Seychelles sky.
📚 Bookish heroine | 👩🏻💻 Bookstagram scandal about AI book | 💼 Workplace / 🔥 Slow-burn romance | 🌊🏝️ Beach Read & 📖 perfect escapism | 🌍 London & Seychelles
When Harper, a London bookseller and rising Bookstagram influencer, spots an ad for the dream job—running the Barefoot Bookshop on the beach in the Seychelles—it feels impossible to leave her life behind. But after a Bookstagram scandal involving a debut author turns her world upside down, she takes the leap.
On the idyllic island of Ésperé, Harper is determined to rebuild her reputation and make the struggling bookshop a success. What she doesn’t plan for? A missing staff member, a mysterious expat community, and the hotel’s brooding (and very off-limits) owner, Xavier. Under the blazing sun, Harper must decide whether this fresh start could mean risking her heart, too.
As a Bookstagrammer and romance lover myself, this story couldn’t have been more up my alley. I’ve read many books by Rebecca Raisin and adored so many of them but purely based on the premise, this one might be one of my absolute favorites. Maybe because it feels so current, touching on present-day themes like online influence, AI controversy, and public backlash in the book world.
I know many readers will say this, but honestly, where can I sign up to work in a beachside bookshop? Surely this is the perfect job for any book lover? The setting is pure escapism. The Seychelles island atmosphere is so vivid and dreamy that I now desperately want to visit. You can practically feel the sand between your toes and the ocean breeze while reading.
What I especially loved is that, at least to me, the romance didn’t overpower the story. It simmered in the background while Harper’s personal growth, the mystery about the AI author/book, the bookshop’s revival, and the island’s residents took center stage. The cast of characters is wonderfully fun, quirky, and lovable. Each adding warmth and humor to the story.
And can we talk about the mystery? I was completely intrigued by Tia and kept turning the pages to uncover the truth. That extra layer of suspense added depth beyond the romantic storyline and kept me fully invested.
Overall, this book is sunshine in paperback form: heartwarming, escapist, and filled with bookish charm. If you love stories about fresh starts, beachside settings, and a little grumpy-meets-sunshine tension, this one absolutely belongs on your summer TBR.
I kindly received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Boldwood Books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
OMG this has to be one of my most favourite Rebecca Raisin novels of all time.
We start with a bookstagrammer, Harper, who is undecided whether she should call out the newly hyped debut author for clearly having an AI generated book, but then fails to turn off her live feed, while discussing just that topic with her best friend.
Queue cancel culture kicking in very fast, but at the same time to me it's a very key point, especially given I started reading this a day after I saw an article in real life about someone who released over 200 AI generated novels last year. This is such a real and contemporary issue affecting not just authors but all creatives at the moment, so was delighted to see it tackled in this book.
And then in order for Harper to escape her regular life, especially given she loses her job as a result of her comments, she applies for and gets the job as a Barefoot bookseller in the Seychelles, at a very luxurious resort.
And this is where the book hits me with the other elements I am always going to love, an exotic destination, a book shop, some incredibly hot guys, a rather unusual bookshop pet, and some incredibly wacky ex-pats.
Harper is expecting to be working with Gus, but he no longer appears to be there, and no one is willing to give her a straight answer. She also keeps having run ins with the hotel owner Xavier, and is always unsure whether she should like him or not, based on what she hears around the hotel.
The expats seem to rule the resort, and are a rather motley crew, all vastly entertaining in their own ways, as are the other staff, although given Harper is a newbie and outsider, they aren't sure whether to trust her or not. And thus it is hard to know or believe some of the stories they tell.
What is for sure is there are lots of small mysteries occurring and it's fun trying to guess just what is going on.
Harper is a fabulous character herself, and I love how she inserts herself into everything, and often doesn't think before she speaks. You are never really sure if the next thing she says will land her in even bigger hot water or not!
I loved every single word of this book. I had a complete blast reading it, and enjoying just about everything. It's an absolutely fabulous summery read, that it's just a shame I hadn't kept it to enjoy on a holiday somewhere hot!
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
We start with a bookstagrammer, Harper, who is undecided whether she should call out the newly hyped debut author for clearly having an AI generated book, but then fails to turn off her live feed, while discussing just that topic with her best friend.
Queue cancel culture kicking in very fast, but at the same time to me it's a very key point, especially given I started reading this a day after I saw an article in real life about someone who released over 200 AI generated novels last year. This is such a real and contemporary issue affecting not just authors but all creatives at the moment, so was delighted to see it tackled in this book.
And then in order for Harper to escape her regular life, especially given she loses her job as a result of her comments, she applies for and gets the job as a Barefoot bookseller in the Seychelles, at a very luxurious resort.
And this is where the book hits me with the other elements I am always going to love, an exotic destination, a book shop, some incredibly hot guys, a rather unusual bookshop pet, and some incredibly wacky ex-pats.
Harper is expecting to be working with Gus, but he no longer appears to be there, and no one is willing to give her a straight answer. She also keeps having run ins with the hotel owner Xavier, and is always unsure whether she should like him or not, based on what she hears around the hotel.
The expats seem to rule the resort, and are a rather motley crew, all vastly entertaining in their own ways, as are the other staff, although given Harper is a newbie and outsider, they aren't sure whether to trust her or not. And thus it is hard to know or believe some of the stories they tell.
What is for sure is there are lots of small mysteries occurring and it's fun trying to guess just what is going on.
Harper is a fabulous character herself, and I love how she inserts herself into everything, and often doesn't think before she speaks. You are never really sure if the next thing she says will land her in even bigger hot water or not!
I loved every single word of this book. I had a complete blast reading it, and enjoying just about everything. It's an absolutely fabulous summery read, that it's just a shame I hadn't kept it to enjoy on a holiday somewhere hot!
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
March 18, 2026
Thank you Rebecca Raisin for such a fun read to start off the upcoming warmer months! The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach put me in such the vacation mindset and really had me looking forward to planning a vacation this summer! My favorite parts of The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach were- all the characters were well written and they each had such different personalities, the banter in this book is so good, not just the two main characters but ALL of the characters. I was laughing out loud so many times. I loved all the referencing to all the bookish things and current events going on right now in 2025/2026. I feel as if I could truly see this book playing out in person right in front of me. I love that Harper takes no crap from Xavier, although he's her boss. I truly enjoyed this book, I highly recommend!
Harper is such a likable, witty and vibrant character, although at times doesn't make the best decisions. Which is exactly why she ends up on a secluded resort, The Last Chance Resort, in the gorgeous island of Seychelles. Harper is tasked with the upkeep of the resorts and islands only remaining bookshop. The Barefoot Bookshop has the most relaxing and welcoming feels with doors opening straight onto the beach and hammocks hanging under the most perfect palm trees to get lost in a book. With reading on the decline in 2026, Harper must find new ways of attracting guests into their bookshop, but all ideas must be ran past the owner of the resort....Xavier, a steadfast businessman. A businessman who is hoping to renovate the entire resorted to appease to a new crowd and draw more business. Unfortunately while doing so, he starts upsetting some of the locals with his new changes. While Xavier and Harper start spending more time together , can she convince Xavier to lessen the changes he wants to make to this already perfect paradise. Can she make Xavier see the locals point of views and be more sympathetic? While Xavier does have a hard shell....he does also have a gooey center, but only for Harper...
4/5 Stars
-Fun Banter
-Comedic
-Found Family
-Vacation setting
-Laugh Out Loud Funny
Thank you Net Galley, Boldwood Books, and Rebecca Raisin for an opportunity to read this book as an ARC for an honest review.
Harper is such a likable, witty and vibrant character, although at times doesn't make the best decisions. Which is exactly why she ends up on a secluded resort, The Last Chance Resort, in the gorgeous island of Seychelles. Harper is tasked with the upkeep of the resorts and islands only remaining bookshop. The Barefoot Bookshop has the most relaxing and welcoming feels with doors opening straight onto the beach and hammocks hanging under the most perfect palm trees to get lost in a book. With reading on the decline in 2026, Harper must find new ways of attracting guests into their bookshop, but all ideas must be ran past the owner of the resort....Xavier, a steadfast businessman. A businessman who is hoping to renovate the entire resorted to appease to a new crowd and draw more business. Unfortunately while doing so, he starts upsetting some of the locals with his new changes. While Xavier and Harper start spending more time together , can she convince Xavier to lessen the changes he wants to make to this already perfect paradise. Can she make Xavier see the locals point of views and be more sympathetic? While Xavier does have a hard shell....he does also have a gooey center, but only for Harper...
4/5 Stars
-Fun Banter
-Comedic
-Found Family
-Vacation setting
-Laugh Out Loud Funny
Thank you Net Galley, Boldwood Books, and Rebecca Raisin for an opportunity to read this book as an ARC for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
Initially I was drawn to this by its vibrant cover. Then the title, who wouldn't love a beach front bookshop. It just sounds magical, and we quickly discover that it is!
We start off in London, with Harper, a bookseller with a super popular bookstagram account. I haven't read many books that talk about bookstagram and I thought that it was really cool to include it here. Harper reads a book that screams AI writing, and she swithers over what to do with her thoughts. This is such an interesting idea, but something that in this technologically advanced world is a real concern for many and the situation that Harper finds herself in is an unenviable one. Of course we don't want to read AI books, but would you be brave enough to share your thoughts online just in case it was in fact a human author. I am not sure I would be! Of course when Harpers views are unintentionally exposed, we see a really hurtful result and the dark side of the internet comes to the fore. I really felt for Harper, how scary and upsetting reading nasty things about yourself online would be. It really exposed the fears of many of the online world.
Harper escapes to a dream island in the Indian ocean for a bookshop job, but when she lands she gets more than she bargained for with quirky characters, secrets galore, oh and don't forget the Aldabra tortoise that lives at the bookshop!
The setting of the Seychellois island was described beautifully and just felt full of magic. I loved learning about the habitat, the nature and culture of this beautiful part of the world.
Of course there is humour and hijinks throughout alongside the serious topics addressed from start to end. Oh and an electric chemistry that sparks a sweet romance.
The story is resolved, and we see a happy ending epilogue set a few months later, exactly the kind of ending I love in this genre.
This is a really enjoyable read that will have you dreaming of a summer vacation, and of course the books you will take with you!
We start off in London, with Harper, a bookseller with a super popular bookstagram account. I haven't read many books that talk about bookstagram and I thought that it was really cool to include it here. Harper reads a book that screams AI writing, and she swithers over what to do with her thoughts. This is such an interesting idea, but something that in this technologically advanced world is a real concern for many and the situation that Harper finds herself in is an unenviable one. Of course we don't want to read AI books, but would you be brave enough to share your thoughts online just in case it was in fact a human author. I am not sure I would be! Of course when Harpers views are unintentionally exposed, we see a really hurtful result and the dark side of the internet comes to the fore. I really felt for Harper, how scary and upsetting reading nasty things about yourself online would be. It really exposed the fears of many of the online world.
Harper escapes to a dream island in the Indian ocean for a bookshop job, but when she lands she gets more than she bargained for with quirky characters, secrets galore, oh and don't forget the Aldabra tortoise that lives at the bookshop!
The setting of the Seychellois island was described beautifully and just felt full of magic. I loved learning about the habitat, the nature and culture of this beautiful part of the world.
Of course there is humour and hijinks throughout alongside the serious topics addressed from start to end. Oh and an electric chemistry that sparks a sweet romance.
The story is resolved, and we see a happy ending epilogue set a few months later, exactly the kind of ending I love in this genre.
This is a really enjoyable read that will have you dreaming of a summer vacation, and of course the books you will take with you!
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