Discover a gorgeously romantic, uplifting read from Jaimie Admans Praise for Jaimie
'This is Jaimie at her warm and whimsical best, a magical story to sweep you off your feet!' Bestselling author Tilly Tennant
'This beautiful story is perfect for those who need a sprinkle of fairy dust in their lives. Heartwarming, joyful, with some true laugh out loud parts. I can’t wait for more in the series.' Bestselling author, Rebecca Raisin
'A sparkling and enchanting romance sprinkled with love, laughter and a little bit of magic.' Bestselling author Holly Martin
Jaimie is a 32-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter, and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots. She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.
She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.
Dolly Lymford’s day goes from dreaming of opening a café to finding her boyfriend cheating with her best friend. Heartbroken, she purposefully borrows her now-ex-boyfriend’s campervan and sets out until the road ends.
Dolly arrives in Thimblenouth, a picture-perfect Yorkshire Dales village, and bumps into local builder Reece Sterling. Soon, she is planning on opening a pop-up café in her campervan and enjoying her time with Reece. As the season changes, Dolly wonders if she can stay back and make it her home.
The story comes in Dolly’s first-person POV in the present tense.
My Thoughts
This standalone book is more lighthearted and humorous than the Ever After Street Series. The sunshine in the title brings a whole lot of positive and vibrant vibes to the book. That said, it still deals with some sad (and painful) themes.
The book pretty much starts with the FMC finding her boyfriend and best friend cheating on her, so we don’t have to wait for it to happen. This leaves the rest of the book for her adventures and to meet the MMC.
The events, in reality, are heartbreaking, terrifying, and embarrassing. However, they are written with such a humorous tone that instead of feeling second-hand embarrassment, it allows the readers to laugh with the characters (not at them, with them). This could go either way, especially if you are looking for a somber tone, but it worked very well for me. I was laughing while urging the characters to go for it and prove themselves.
Of course, it is never silly laughs and mishaps. It is about people trying to be hopeful and finding happiness despite what they have gone through. It is about being brave enough to do something that terrifies us but is what we have wanted forever. It is about having someone support you for no reason except that everyone deserves to be shown basic kindness.
And most importantly, it is about community. I prefer small town and village settings to cities because of the community vibe. Sure, people are nosy. They can be loud, dramatic, and gossipy. However, they will also step up to help you just because they consider you one of their own. The three ladies in this one, with distinct personalities, show what old women from a small town can achieve when they want to.
The MMC is a darling. Like, the best! My latest book boyfriend. I forgot who the last one was, but never mind. He is the current one. ;) Such a sweet, funny, and good guy (with his own issues to deal with).
I was very much worried about an unwanted third-act breakup, but… it did not happen! Yippee! The story didn’t need it, so I was delighted to see it didn’t create unnecessary drama.
The romance is slow, sweet, and clean enough (only hugs and kisses). I always love these hugs, so yeah… add as many as you can, and I will read them slowly!
There are no villains as such, but that crappy ex-boyfriend (and best friend) could have gotten comeuppance in some form. I expected a bit more detail in that area. Also, as a standalone, this would have benefited from an epilogue.
To summarize, The Sunshine Teashop is heartwarming, funny, touching, hopeful, and beautiful. That’s a lot of adjectives, but I truly enjoyed this one.
The author’s next book will be out in Sep and is also a standalone (set in Scotland, yay!).
Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
I really liked this book. It is romantic, funny and emotional at the same time. The story begins when the main character catches her boyfriend with her best friend. After he throws her out, she takes his campervan and leaves without a plan, letting the road guide her.
I loved the cozy atmosphere and the journey of finding herself again. The book is not only about romance, but also about healing and new beginnings. It was an easy and enjoyable read that made me smile many times.
The Sunshine Teashop, by Jaimie Admans, is an absolutely delightful, feel-good story. This cozy, but humorous tale is easy to read, the banter is charming, the romance is heartwarming, and the characters are quirky and endearing. The setting will make you crave a visit to this small English village for some tea, a piece or two of cake, a hike, and an evening enjoying the popular quiz night. The two main characters are optimistic, kind, and have meaningful growth through their own personal hardships. The story is hopeful, uplifting and inspiring. I honestly loved everything about it and hated to see it end.
Dolly is getting ready to open up a tea shop with her best friend when she discovers that her boyfriend has been cheating on her. Taking off in his beloved campervan, she ends up in Thimblenouth in the Yorkshire Dales. There, she meets Reece Sterling and figures out her steps in life and career.
This was such a fun, sweet, quirky story set in the Yorkshire Dales. This was
- the funniest meet-cute - found family in a small town - comfort food and childhood memories - reinventing oneself - it's hopeful and inspiring - second chance romance
I really enjoyed the story, and I'm hoping there will be a sequel. I'd love to see where everyone ends up in the future. Parts of it felt unfinished, but that didn't get in the way of my loving the story or enjoying it. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After catching her boyfriend and best friend together, Dolly makes a life changing decision, which turned out to be the best she could have done. Meeting Reece just proved that. Tall, handsome and full of positivity, he swept Dolly of her feet and proved what kind of man he was, which earns him Dolly's love. With a dash of meddlesome, well meaning villagers and her desire to open a café of her own, Dolly finds herself and changes her life forever, with a bit of crime.
This is my first book by this author, and I have to say it was charming. It felt like a comforting hug of a book packed full of campervan life, Yorkshire countryside, tea, and sweet treats. With the perfect balance of emotional topics and laugh out loud moments. Recommended summer reading.
Loved this book and read it with a big smile on my face. Full of wonderful characters in a lovely community setting and full of fun, charm and romance.
Yayyy, a new book from Jaimie Admans!! I'm still sad that the Ever After Street series is finished, but it was wonderful to experience something new. And this feel-good, cosy small-town romance was perfect for the last couple of (mostly rainy) days :)
I loved Dolly's character development as she turned from a lost and insecure person into a strong and determined businesswoman. That was wonderful, especially in the end when she didn't let Jared intimidate her. Reece also had his own kind of journey. I could never have imagined the pain and loss he had and was still experiencing. I'm not sure that he'll ever really get over it, but his new role and the acceptance by the community will be a first step. Dolly and Reece are just sweet and perfect together – I enjoyed every interaction they had (even though I would never be as bold and obvious as they are 😂).
I generally love small-town romances, so this one was right up my alley. The community was lovely, and what they did in the end was really touching. I also quite enjoyed the setting; it felt like a summer holiday. I was especially happy when Dolly and Reece went for a walk to the waterfalls because it felt like I could see them for myself. On top of that, the campervan was such a lovely addition, and when they painted her yellow, I was really thrilled because it fits the whole story perfectly. Oh, and Dolly's baking also inspired me to try out some new recipes :)
The thing I've been thinking about the most was probably the logistics of the campervan. As my dad owns one, I have a rough understanding of the spatial limitations, and honestly, I can't really picture what the van would look like with a seating area, a bathroom cubicle, a kitchen area with even a small oven, and a sleeping area... How big exactly is this campervan? From the looks of it on the cover, it's not significantly bigger than my dad's campervan, and there all these things would never ever fit 😂 Jared must have done an exceptionally good job converting the campervan, and as there are many different types of campervans, Dolly probably owns a bigger model :)
This was a ray of sunshine, that was totally able to brighten up a cold and rainy day for me! It was a complete and utter joy to read, while I was at day 1 of Queens, waiting for the rain to stop and the tennis to start.
To say I managed to read the whole book before the majority of the tennis did begin, may give an idea as to how miserable the weather was that day! But thankfully i couldn't have found a better book to pass the time, if I had tried!
Even on the tube on the way there, I was trying my hardest to not completely and utterly laugh out loud, at various ridiculously funny moments that totally tickled my funny bone, and would have got me some rather odd stares!
It was a delight to read, Dolly "borrows" her new ex's campervan, and takes it somewhere she hopes no one will notice her, and her initially lime green van. A hope that would have possibly been more likely had she not injured someone on her first night! Thankfully Reece is very easy going, and tries to look on the bright side of life - even when he has a tent pole in his leg!
I loved the dynamics between Reece and Dolly, and how he is able to keep her calm and stop her from catastrophising!
And Dolly is somehow able to bake in this campervan, and starts to make all sorts of retro bakes, which she is then encouraged to sell.
There is a lovely community in the village and I loved the trio of gossip's attempts to find out info about Reece from Dolly! They are relentless but in a good way!
This is another fantastic book from an author that always makes me smile. I couldn't get enough of this story, and I say it really did brighten up what could have been a truly boring day otherwise! I will though suggest have snacks while you are reading, as it could make you hungry - but perhaps after the first bit, as the descriptions around Dolly and Reece's first meeting may unsettle a stomach!
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
The Sunshine Teashop is a wonderfully feel-good story with an absolutely gorgeous setting, and lots of delicious-sounding cakes. I would say it also has one of most uniquely serendipitous encounters between two characters, which could have ended in an entirely different way altogether! Like a lot of fans of Jaimie Admans' books, I was sad when the Ever After Street series ended, but this standalone story was such a delight that it more than made up for it.
The story opens with Dolly suddenly losing everything in her life, and she makes a split-second (and somewhat mad) decision. It turns out that having your entire life up-ended can sometimes be the best thing to ever happen to you, as that decision completely changes her life for the better, allowing her the freedom to find herself in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.
Reece was an amazing love interest and everything that Dolly needed. The chemistry between them was undeniable, but there was also a really strong bond of friendship. The pair of them seemed to just 'get' each other and I loved watching them open up to each other and provide moral support when needed.
Of course one of the most important things in this book were the cakes! I loved Dolly's idea of a Nostalgia Café, and evoking happy memories with a slice of something delicious. It's true that food can transport you back in time, whether its a family recipe or something you had on a special holiday and Dolly just wants as many people to experience that as possible.
I know this is a standalone book, but I've got my fingers and toes crossed for a follow up in the future. I really want to revisit Thimblenouth and catch up with the locals, and see where life takes Reece and Dolly. I can easily say that this is Jaimie Admans at her best; although I have read and loved a lot of her books. I didn't even need to read the synopsis of this one; if Jaimie writes it I'll read it!
The Sunshine Teashop by Jaimie Admans was a complete joy to read, wrapping me up like a warm hug! As my very first book by this author, I am officially hooked on her storytelling style, and this definitely won't be my last.
The story kicks off with a hilarious, chaotic premise: Dolly discovers her boyfriend cheating, "borrows" his beloved campervan on impulse, and accidentally drives all the way to a picturesque village in the Yorkshire Dales. From that very first page, the book stands out as incredibly heartwarming and humorous. It manages to be romantic, funny, and deeply emotional all at the same time.
Here is why this story is a must-read:
Incredible Character Growth: I absolutely loved watching Dolly’s character development. She starts out as a lost and insecure person but evolves beautifully into a strong, determined businesswoman.
The Perfect Hero: Reece was an amazing love interest and truly everything that Dolly needed.
Undeniable Chemistry: The banter between the characters is incredibly charming, and the romantic sparks between Dolly and Reece were completely undeniable from the start!
A Heartwarming Setting: The local village community was so lovely. The cast of quirky, endearing characters completely stole my heart, and what they did for Dolly in the end was incredibly touching and brought tears to my eyes.
What I loved most was how perfectly balanced the story is. It touches on the real, raw pain of betrayal and rebuilding your life from scratch, but balances it beautifully with relentless optimism, humour, and the healing power of community.
If you are looking for an emotionally satisfying, joyful, and comforting contemporary romance filled with heart and the scent of freshly baked tea treats, do yourself a favour and pick this up! I cannot recommend it enough and will definitely be diving into the rest of Jaimie Adman's backlist!
The Sunshine Teashop is the kind of story that feels like a warm scone straight from the oven—comforting, a little crumbly around the edges, and exactly what you need when life has knocked you sideways. Dolly’s disastrous day, beginning with dreams of opening a café and ending with the betrayal of both her boyfriend and her best friend, sets the tone perfectly: heartbreak wrapped in humour, and a heroine who deserves far better than the mess she’s been handed.
Her impulsive escape in the borrowed campervan leads her to Thimblenouth, a village so charming it feels like it’s been waiting for her. The slower pace, the endless cups of tea, the gentle kindness of strangers—it all creates a soft landing for someone who’s forgotten what it feels like to be cared for. And then there’s Reece, the handsome builder she literally collides with, who brings a steady warmth to Dolly’s chaos. Their connection grows with such ease, helped along by shared slices of lemon pie and the comforting scent of Dolly’s baking drifting from the campervan.
What I loved most is how Dolly rediscovers herself through small, tender moments—kneading dough, brewing tea, finding joy in simple routines. Her idea for a pop‑up café feels like the first spark of a life she might actually want, and Reece’s willingness to help gives the story a lovely undercurrent of hope. But the question of whether she can build a future on borrowed wheels adds just enough tension to keep the pages turning.
This is a story about fresh starts, village kindness, and the unexpected ways life can stitch itself back together when you least expect it. Warm, uplifting, and filled with sunshine and sweetness, The Sunshine Teashop is a perfect escape for anyone who loves cozy romances with heart.
With thanks to Jaimie Admans, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
A warm, uplifting romance that feels like sunshine in story form
This book, read in 1 day, left me with the biggest smile. There is such a gentle warmth running through this story, full of hope, kindness and those quiet moments that remind you how important it is to look out for one another. - As well as pervert sheep, grand theft auto and meeting by maiming!
Set in a charming Yorkshire village, the sense of place is absolutely lovely. It feels cosy, welcoming and full of heart, the kind of setting you wish you could step into for a cup of tea and a slice of cake. The themes of new beginnings and finding your own sunshine are woven beautifully throughout, giving the whole story an uplifting, comforting feel.
At the centre are Dolly and R double E C E, and I adored them both. Dolly is incredibly sweet and watching her grow in confidence and find her courage is such a rewarding journey. Reece, meanwhile, is an absolute gem. Smart, kind, handsome and with a love of cake and a naturally sunny outlook, he is quite possibly the perfect book boyfriend. The way he supports and sees the best in others makes him impossible not to love.
The romance itself is heartfelt, genuine and full of humorous and fun banter, developing in a way that feels natural and full of warmth rather than rushed or overdone. It fits perfectly with the tone of the story and the sense of community around them.
While this is said to be a standalone, I truly hope it is not the last we see of this village. There is so much more life and potential here, and I would happily return again and again.
The Sunshine Teashop by Jaimie Admans is a beautiful, feel-good read that leaves you feeling lighter and brighter. My thanks go to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Looking for your next "warm hug" in book form? Grab a cuppa and let’s talk about The Sunshine Teashop by Jaimie Admans! 🧁
📖 The Vibe: Imagine driving until the road ends and finding yourself in Thimblemouth, a Yorkshire Dales village so charming you’ll want to move there immediately. This book is the literary equivalent of a soft blanket and a perfectly baked scone. 🧁 The Plot (In a Nutshell): Dolly Lymford’s life just went up in smoke. Her dream of opening a café? Stalled. Her boyfriend? Caught kissing her best friend. 🚩 So, what’s a girl to do? Naturally, she "accidentally-on-purpose" borrows her ex’s campervan and heads north. When she literally bumps into Reece Sterling (a local builder who is as sweet as he is handsome), her luck starts to change. 🌟 Why You’ll Love It: * The Setting: Thimblemouth is pure magic. You can practically smell the fresh Yorkshire air. * The Treats: Warning: Do NOT read this while hungry. The descriptions of lemon pie and warm scones are elite. 🍋🥧 * The Romance: Dolly and Reece have that slow-burn, supportive energy that makes your heart melt. * The Theme: It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes you have to lose your way to find exactly where you belong. "A warm, uplifting story of fresh starts, village kindness, and finding love where you least expect it."
☕ Final Verdict: If you loved The Great British Bake Off or any story about starting over in a quirky small town, this is a must-read. It’s cozy, funny, and deeply moving. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pair with: A large pot of Earl Grey and a thick slice of lemon drizzle cake. 🍰
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Welcome to Thimblenouth: where the kettle is always on and fresh starts and unexpected love are waiting.
Dolly Lymford is having one of those days…The kind that starts with dreams of opening a café… and ends with discovering your boyfriend kissing your best friend!
Heartbroken and with nowhere else to go, Dolly accidentally-on-purpose borrows her now-ex-boyfriend’s campervan and drives until the road runs out. This leads her to Thimblenouth, a picture-perfect Yorkshire Dales village where life moves more slowly and the kettle is always on.
After literally bumping into gorgeous local builder Reece Sterling, Dolly begins to feel something she hasn’t in a long time: safe. She also rediscovers her love of baking, filling the campervan with the scent of warm scones and freshly brewed tea. And Reece is always around to share a lemon pie or two...
When Dolly has an idea to open her own pop-up café, Reece is all too happy to help. And as the summer sun begins to warm everything it touches, Dolly wonders if she's finally found a place to call home... maybe even with Reece.
But can she really build a future on borrowed wheels?
My Opinion
Jaimie Admans is a must-read author with me and with delights like The Sunshine Teashop it is easy to see why. A heart-warming tale with some lovely characters. An uplifting read that was difficult to put down. A cosy and welcoming novel that I would highly recommend.
If you are looking for a story that begins with a sharp betrayal and one of the most unique "meet cutes" I’ve ever read—the FMC actually runs over the MMC—then this book is absolutely for you. The Sunshine Teashop by Jaimie Admans is a beautiful, second-chance romance that will leave you craving tea and a trip to the English countryside. I’m giving this a 4-star review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read this ARC. My opinions are entirely my own. The Review There is something so special about watching a story develop into a beautiful, cozy, small-town setting like Yorkshire. This book delivers a wonderful "found family" dynamic, centered around a charming campervan serving tea and cake. It is a story about finding true love and a second chance at a happy life, and I absolutely loved it. The only reason this isn't a 5-star read for me is that I simply wanted more from Reece and Dolly. I really felt like the story could have used one or two more chapters of their "happily ever after" to feel fully satisfied. The Good: The cozy atmosphere and the unique premise of a traveling teashop are sublime. The character growth and the way the community rallies together make for a perfect "hug in a book" feel. The Not-So-Good: [Spoiler Alert] While I loved how Reece came to Dolly’s defense with the van, I didn’t entirely appreciate him taking risks when she explicitly said she didn't want him to. Even though he was doing it for her and it turned out well in the end, it still felt a bit dismissive of her wishes
“You’ve got to be incredibly confident in your transport choices to drive a highlighter pen on wheels.” 🚗💛
I was worried about reading Jaimie’s new book because I loved her Ever After Street series so much, but I needn’t have worried—The Sunshine Teashop is every bit as good. It has a new vibe, new characters, and lots of huggy moments. 🤗
As the book starts, we’re in Kent. No offence to Kentish people, but I want my cute romance books to be set in the countryside or near the sea. 🌊🌿 So imagine my delight when Dolly ups and leaves for a gorgeous village in Yorkshire. 🏡 (Yes, I know the synopsis says this, but I don’t read them! 😆)
I was with Dolly every step of the way and loved how easily she immersed herself in village life. She had the little old ladies wrapped around her little finger—in a lovely, happy, friendly way—and, just as importantly, they had her back every step of the way. 💛 I did cringe a bit when she and her new-found builder friend, Reece, got out the paint rollers and brushes—that did not sit well with my OCD—but hey, needs must! 🎨😬
My favourite part was the nostalgic bakes Dolly loves making. 🧁 I’d forgotten half of them existed, and it’s such a lovely idea—to open a café serving all your childhood favourites. 🍰✨
Of course everything ends up lovely and cosy and utterly gorgeous and I know that this is supposed to be a standalone book but I really want to know what happens next please Jaimie. 📖💕
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Sunshine Teashop by Jaimie Admans. 💕📚
I have never met a Jaimie Admans book that didn’t make me smile. This book is as full of sunshine as it’s title promises.
Our heroine, Dolly, is a fugitive on the run from her old life, living in a camper van parked in an abandoned pub car park far away from home. After a rocky start she has found herself as an essential part of the local community. It sounds like an idyllic set up, especially when you add the attentions and kind always sunny nature of the builder hired to renovate the old pub. Unfortunately there is a huge catch. The camper van isn’t hers. When she found her ex and her best friend together in a compromising position he took no time at all to throw all her worldly goods out onto their front lawn in bin bags. His newly refurbished camper van was just sat there so with no where to go instead of panicking, spare keys in hand Dolly threw the bin bags in the back jumped in and drove off.
The book is full of fun, love and lots of laughter. The kindness of strangers and found family are central to the storyline. There is, of course, more than meets the eye to the kind “builder” who has all the answers to help Dolly move on and build a new life but none of his own. Keeping his cards close to his chest and with the sunniest disposition ever, we find out along with Dolly why he is both positive all the time but hides depths, full of sadness.
I loved the characters and beautiful setting. The laughter was much needed and the whole book a tonic to read.
A smashing new book by Jamie Admans and straight away I was immediately drawn into the storyline. Dolly had great plans for her new venture, a vintage tearoom, dreaming of the new cakes she was going to make, but when she catches her boyfriend with her best friend and business partner doing more than baking cakes, she understandably realises that her life will have to change, her business will have to change and more importantly her relationship will have to change. So with no ado she drives off in his most precious possession with the thoughts of leaving all the bad memories behind her, but how can she? What can she use to move well away? Well none other than his precious camper van. What happens next is hilarious as she travels up north trying to work out how not to be discovered. When she gets to her chosen destination she makes another drastic decision and a mistake, or is it? One that she is not sure she can get out of easily, including making friends with an unknown person, who exactly is he? Where exactly is she? What exactly is going on here? Will she be accepted into this close-knit community?
A lovely rom com story set in a lovely location where the characters are at first unknown then become a real part of the story. A happy ending and a five-star read. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this lovely book.
I’ve read loads of Jaimie Admans’ books and she has become one of my favourite romcom writers. I always know I’m going to get an amusing story, lovable characters, and a good old fashioned romance, and this one was no different. I just love them.
Dolly is at the lowest point in her life. Just when she thinks she’s finally starting the café of her dreams with her best friend, she catches said ‘best friend’ having an affair with her partner of many years. Instead of apologies she gets attacks, and then discovers it’s been going on for six months. When she gets home, she finds her things dumped on her boyfriend’s front lawn in bin bags — clearly thrown out of the window, judging by the broken crockery rattle. Homeless, car less and with all her worldly belongings in bags, she does the only thing she can think of: ‘borrow’ his pride and joy camper van and drive off. She ends up heading to the village she remembers from childhood, where she promptly runs over a very handsome builder in the pub car park. Reece seems almost too good to be true — but what exactly is he hiding?
I really enjoyed watching Dolly slowly rebuild her life in the little village, surrounded by kind strangers, second chances and a romance that’s as sweet as it is unexpected. Jaimie Admans balances the humour, heart and healing so well, and the whole story has that cosy, comforting feel she’s so good at. It’s another lovely romcom from her, and one I raced through, super quickly, with a smile on my face.
This story feels like having a relaxing break of tea (or iced coffee for my fellow Americans lol) and a sweet treat while gossiping with your friends.
The Sunshine Teashop immediately hooks you with drama. I was instantly rooting for our MC Dolly. The whole day she has is crazy and I could not wait to see how it played out. I don't want to give anything away, because there are so many fun and heartbreaking surprises in this story that I was literally laughing out loud and crying about. Dolly, Reese, and everyone else in Thimblenouth were just the right amount of quirky and loveable. The author does a good job of showing us that sometimes fate crashes into us (literally) and sometimes that fate is a positive man with ridiculous pajama pants.
I rated this story five stars for the fact I couldn't put this book down and my only complaint was that it wasn't longer! I would suggest this book to people who love romance stories that don't focus on spice, but rather the kick your feet because it is just too cute moments. It gave me a little of the Bridget Jone's Diaries vibes, but cuter and less angst.
Thank you NetGalley and everyone involved in letting me read this book for an honest review. The Sunshine Teashop definitely made me a fan of the author, and I cannot wait to read the other stories.
This gorgeous book is pure joy. I read it while feeling a little under the weather, and it gave me a tremendous lift. Even the name, The Sunshine Teashop sounds lovely and it certainly is. Jaimie Admans never fails to bring a smile to my face with her gorgeous books, and I can highly recommend them all.
After a somewhat humiliating breakup, Dolly finds herself miles from London, homeless, jobless, and at the wheel of a technically stolen campervan. That may not sound like the premise for a joyful story, but Jaimie Admans is the author, so I knew everything would work out.
I really liked Dolly, despite her pretty rubbish run of luck; she managed to find the positives in her days. I’m not sure I would have adapted to ‘van life’ as easily as she did, but it certainly got me thinking about the potential for a life on the open road. I would, however, need my van to be as well-equipped as ‘Campervan’.
I must admit that I had my suspicions about Reece from the start, but that didn’t spoil anything for me. In fact, it gave me great satisfaction to be proved right. However, I have now added him to my list of book boyfriends because he was just lovely.
As I have come to expect from Jaimie’s books, this is an ensemble piece. Community and friendship always figure strongly in her stories, and the residents of Thimblenouth rose to the challenge beautifully. There are no spoilers from me, just a promise that this book will tick all your boxes if you are looking for a gorgeous romance with plenty of giggles and some of the loveliest characters around.
I thought I might miss the rather special magic of Ever After Street - but I really didn't, not for a moment. When Dolly's life falls apart and her boyfriend throws her and everything she owns out of their shared home, she's really desperate - so much so that she "borrows" his campervan (his particular pride and joy) and heads for the Yorkshire village where she remembers happy times when she was young. And there she runs into (literally...) Reece, working (very slowly...) on turning the long-closed village pub into a home. He has an eccentric taste in pyjama bottoms, and quite a few big secrets behind his always cheerful exterior - but his kindness give Dolly the confidence to move on from her wrecked life and begin to make a real success of a new business. The community of Thimblenouth - many of them quirky and eccentric, but exactly what she needs - play their parts in the story too, as Dolly's friendship with Reece becomes something deeper as they support each other. There's plenty of humour as the story develops, but lots of poignancy too - the perfect emotional touch, as always. A really lovely story, and the whole book was an absolute delight - very highly recommended.
Dolly's dream of opening a cafe is coming true Today's the day she has lots to do. However discovering her boyfriend with her best friend Wasn't how those dreams were supposed to end.
Returning home to find her belongings in bags thrown outside No boyfriend, no best friend and no home besides. Not sure what to do, she spots the camper van key She'll borrow it now, not sure where her future will be.
Heartbroken she returns to a happy holiday place Sure that there she'll not be in disgrace. However, parking up at the local inn that night She gives herself and another a dreadful fright!
The Inn is closed but Reece, the builder, is on site. It is him she awoke - and injured - that night. But his positive attitude and saying she can stay Means decisions can be made another day.
Together these two get along from the start They inspire each other and both play a part. Get ready for the villagers joining in, too, What could unfold, maybe a tea brew?
A gorgeous read with lots going on for them all, A village where friendship and romance come to call. A delightful story, so brilliantly told, too, No wonder i highly recommend it to you!
For my copy of this fabulous book I say thank you As I share with you this, my honest review.
In this emotional new cozy romance novel from Jaimie Admans, readers join Dolly Lymford on a particularly bad day -- the day she discovers her boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend. Heartbroken and alone, Dolly accidentally-on-purpose borrows his campervan and just drives away, eventually ending up in Thimblenouth in the Yorkshire Dales. Literally bumping into local builder Reece Sterling, Dolly starts to feel safe in the cozy, slower pace of life and rediscovers her love of baking. When she decides to set up a pop-up cafe out of the van, Reece is happy to help, and slowly but surely the village and this friendship (or something more) with Reece makes Dolly wonder if she’s finally found a place to call home. The characters are well-written and complex, and the evolving relationship between Dolly and Reece really pulls readers into the story. The emotional beats are absolutely fantastic, and fans of cozy rural romances will love the charming nature of Thimblenouth and the ways the community comes together. The side characters help bring the village and the conflicts in the story to life, while the tropes add depth to Dolly and Reece’s relationship in this entertaining and whimsical new rom-com.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
When I see a Jaimie Admans book pop up, I automatically want to read it. Her books are romantic but not in a sickly-sweet way.
In this book, Dolly catches her boyfriend "in the act" so to speak, and takes off in his campervan, ending up very far from home. She runs into (or over, take your pick, lol) Reece, who is renovating an old pub. These two are both dealing with emotional baggage but the connections they make with each other is so lovely :) I really wanted one of those hugs, too!
Along the way, Dolly meets three local gossips who turn out to be a fount of knowledge and slowly Dolly works out what she really wants from life. Lucky for her, she is an amazing baker and since there is no bakery locally, she sets out to do some baking, from her little campervan.
Everything is not tied up with a neat little bow, the characters really have to work hard to get through the rubbish and my heart was in my mouth a couple of times, but the author deftly navigates all the twists and turns beautifully.
Looking forward to reading more about these two in the future!
Almost from the minute you meet Dolly, you realise that she is an impulsive and likeable character. She finds herself living in the quirky little camper van and finds that the village that she has remembered from her childhood has changed on the surface. However, the villagers are desperate to rediscover the community events that used to occur. Both Dolly and Reece have visited the village in the past and it is a link for both of them to a happier past. Reece seems to be a man of mystery and you do realise that he has issues in his life that he is avoiding talking about. The delightful yellow camper van becomes a symbol of the unrelenting happiness to be found by always looking on the bright side. There is a lot of humour to be found in Dolly's situation as she tries to sort out a life for herself. Reece seems to treat her with kindness and tolerance despite the way they meet which is so different to the way Dolly is treated by her ex-boyfriend. Fast paced and warm, the story entertains. In short: take a risk Thanks to the publisher
I must say that it was a good book, even though — as you might see my rating, it wasn’t a book for me.
The writing was great, everything ran smoothly and it managed to keep me interested enough to finish the book. I liked both main characters, that’s an advantage too. The romantic relationship between them progressed slowly and naturally, I’ve enjoyed it.
My main problem is that I was a bit bored, but as I said, it might have not been a book for me.
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley.
spoilers: h - broke up with her cheating bf in the beginning, he cheated on her with her best friend H - divorcee (couple of years), he also got cheated on, he had a son who died 2,5 years ago, his ex wife got married again —no ow drama/a bit of om drama in the form of her ex appearing in the 3rd act, trying to make some trouble for her, but the mmc deals with it —no 3rd act breakup/separation/cheating/sharing —no spice
One of the funniest books I have ever read! Written in such a way to make you laugh and the storyline itself is also another cue for more humour! It's the first book I have read from the author but I'm now looking up more from her!
I live near the Yorkshire Dales which made the book even better as I could picture the village and the people! The storyline itself was very accurate with more and more pubs disappearing and old time residents fearing and not wanting new people moving in seeing them as a threat (sadly many do come and not try keep with village life or turn houses into holiday homes).
I warmed to both the main characters and found myself wanting to give them both a big hug!
I was sad when the book came to an end and would love there to be a follow up to find out what happened to the pub.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and author for allowing me to read and review a preview copy.