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The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery: the perfect small-town cosy romance to curl up with this autumn
Not yet published
Expected 8 Oct 26Louise Dearnley has spent her life editing perfectly neat love stories, where heartbreak leads to fresh starts, charming small businesses bloom, and happily-ever-afters are guaranteed.
But now in her forties, she's quit her job – and no, she doesn't want to talk about why – and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Starting over doesn't feel nearly so much fun in real life as it does in fiction.
It also doesn't help that her mother is convinced she's here to run the family bakery, especially as the locals can't get enough of Louise's legendary ginger cake and scrumptious scones. Between renovations, a quirky ex-stepdaughter (who's unexpectedly come to stay) and a gorgeous Italian who seems too good to be true, Louise's second chance begins to take shape.
After a lifetime spent polishing other people's happy endings, will Louise finally have one of her own?
But now in her forties, she's quit her job – and no, she doesn't want to talk about why – and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Starting over doesn't feel nearly so much fun in real life as it does in fiction.
It also doesn't help that her mother is convinced she's here to run the family bakery, especially as the locals can't get enough of Louise's legendary ginger cake and scrumptious scones. Between renovations, a quirky ex-stepdaughter (who's unexpectedly come to stay) and a gorgeous Italian who seems too good to be true, Louise's second chance begins to take shape.
After a lifetime spent polishing other people's happy endings, will Louise finally have one of her own?
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 8, 2026
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August 12, 2026
In this small town cosy romance, we follow Louise Dearnley who quit her job as editor and decides to run the family bakery. She returns to Applethwaite, the small town where she grew up. Her mother wants her to run the bakery, but Louise wants another concept. Oh, and there's a gorgeous Italian man who seems really interesting...
First of all, the writing style was really smooth. It really makes the story cosy and easy to read. If I could visit this bookshop bakery, I would definitely go there! The author really did a great job on making this visual.
For the characters and their relationships, I especially liked reading about Louise and her ex-stepdaughter Maddie. It just shows that even when things end, you can still have normal relationships with people who were sort of involved. I also liked that even if Louise is in her forties, she still able to start over again. Louise and Jack: it was nice to read about them getting closer and closer. But, I don't think it was really my kind of romance. It's just a preference thing.
Overall, I liked reading this book and would highly recommend it if you're into small town cosy romance books! It was a nice and fun read, but I wasn't totally blown away with the chemistry. I would want to read more of this author though because I loved the writing style! 3,5 stars!
Thank you Netgalley for this e-arc!
First of all, the writing style was really smooth. It really makes the story cosy and easy to read. If I could visit this bookshop bakery, I would definitely go there! The author really did a great job on making this visual.
For the characters and their relationships, I especially liked reading about Louise and her ex-stepdaughter Maddie. It just shows that even when things end, you can still have normal relationships with people who were sort of involved. I also liked that even if Louise is in her forties, she still able to start over again. Louise and Jack: it was nice to read about them getting closer and closer. But, I don't think it was really my kind of romance. It's just a preference thing.
Overall, I liked reading this book and would highly recommend it if you're into small town cosy romance books! It was a nice and fun read, but I wasn't totally blown away with the chemistry. I would want to read more of this author though because I loved the writing style! 3,5 stars!
Thank you Netgalley for this e-arc!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 stars
After reading The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery, my desires to own a cute little bookshop in a quaint English village are at an all time high! This book is the perfect cosy read for a rainy autumnal afternoon, preferably with a slice of cake (ginger or otherwise!).
Louise is back in her small hometown, Applethwaite in Yorkshire, after running away from a mistake she made in her editing job in London. She ends up deciding she will turn her mum’s bakery into a bookshop bakery with the help of handsome stranger Jack and her stepdaughter Maddie. I particularly liked Maddie and Louise’s relationship - the support they had for each other and their ideas was heartwarming and they clearly needed each other to move forward with their lives. I did like Louise and Jack’s relationship although some lines felt a bit cheesy (dot, dot, dot in particular). At times it felt a little repetitive why they couldn’t be together so I was glad when that was finally nipped in the bud!
Louise struggling with her life and not really knowing what to do in her early 40s hit quite close to home at times so it was uplifiting to see her life turn around. She was able to repair some relationships and focus on her new adventure. I’m looking forward to seeing where this series goes!
An easy to read book perfect for fans of: - Gilmore Girls - Cosy romance - All things bookish - Sweet treats - Found family
Thank you to the publisher Head of Zeus for sending me an ARC of this book.
May 13, 2026
Sometimes, the best kind of healing can be done surrounded by pastries and books. As someone who loves both baking and reading, this is something I can relate to with the female lead in this book, Louise.
After a divorce and leaving the job that she desperately loved, Louise feels lost and doesn’t know where to go next. This is how she ends up back in her home town of Applethwaite, where she soon finds herself thrust into the life of bakery owner surrounded by the antics of her caring mother, eager locals, her peppy stepdaughter and the tall, dark and deliciously accented Italian.
From the get-go, this book felt like a Hallmark movie put to page. It was so cozy and the vibes were immaculate all throughout. It left me yearning for my own cup of coffee and to take a stroll through their bookshop, because the space they created sounded so magical and interesting that it made me wish it actually existed somewhere for me to visit.
My major qualm with the book, however, was the relationship between our female and male lead. There were multiple parts where I was left wishing for chemistry, wishing for that tension between the two of them to appear, and it would often get close but it would just be missing something to give it that final little push. Even as a slow burn relationship, there were just points where I think a little extra nudge could have elevated their relationship a little further and helped to sell readers on their connection.
All in all, it was a good read. If you’re a fan of cozy vibes, book-ish topics, and small town antics, I’d recommend picking this one up.
Thank you Netgalley and The Aria & Aries team for an advanced readers copy!
After a divorce and leaving the job that she desperately loved, Louise feels lost and doesn’t know where to go next. This is how she ends up back in her home town of Applethwaite, where she soon finds herself thrust into the life of bakery owner surrounded by the antics of her caring mother, eager locals, her peppy stepdaughter and the tall, dark and deliciously accented Italian.
From the get-go, this book felt like a Hallmark movie put to page. It was so cozy and the vibes were immaculate all throughout. It left me yearning for my own cup of coffee and to take a stroll through their bookshop, because the space they created sounded so magical and interesting that it made me wish it actually existed somewhere for me to visit.
My major qualm with the book, however, was the relationship between our female and male lead. There were multiple parts where I was left wishing for chemistry, wishing for that tension between the two of them to appear, and it would often get close but it would just be missing something to give it that final little push. Even as a slow burn relationship, there were just points where I think a little extra nudge could have elevated their relationship a little further and helped to sell readers on their connection.
All in all, it was a good read. If you’re a fan of cozy vibes, book-ish topics, and small town antics, I’d recommend picking this one up.
Thank you Netgalley and The Aria & Aries team for an advanced readers copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Books, cafe and a bakery in a quiet village. Sounds like my kind of heaven😍
That was what drew my into wanting to read this and then read then first page and the character is called, Louise!!!! That's my name😃 It's so rare that I see characters with the same name and with the setting, the character was living my dream🤣
We meet Louise in her forties, who is divorced and suddenly moved back to her childhood home after a disaster happens where she worked as an editor, editing stories. She doesn't want to talk about it at all.
Her mother thinks she has moved back to take over the bakery but Louise doesn't want to do that. She wants to work with books and thats it but doesn't want to upset her (or the village but mainly her mother) and carry on what her grandmother started. It is a very successful bakery.
As the story goes on we meet various sorts of people who either help her or try and bring her down.
What I loved: the setting, coming from a village myself I will always find comfort in that setting.
Madie, Louise's ex Step daughter that turns up unexpectedly. She was the only person to me that I wanted to read more about, she is quirky, and is a true 'follow or dreams' sort of person. She is the one holding this story together, I wanted to delve more into her life and see more of her creative side, the book looks honesly sound like true heaven, especially the children's one.
Would love a sequel for her?
I loved that this book reminds us that we always see all the bad things first and never see the good that can happen. We can overcome the obstacles that seem impossible.
Louise's English school teacher surprisingly I like because she felt like real. We have all have met people like her and technically she does redeem herself, okay, she doesn't apologise to Louise for how she treated her over the years but she had her reasons and made some good points like about planning permission for the book nooks and that the cafe is a success so why close. But the point she made of buying a book infront of everyone (after Louise announces she is gonna close the book part) and that made everyone else do it was what made me like her after.
Lastly, I liked that we kinda see someone start from the ground up with having a second chance at a kind of dream job and showing that not everything can be perfect but with the right people around you can make it successful.
What I didn't like:
I disliked how repetitive it was with the constant reminder that the ginger cake is a best seller (we get it) and because she has edited so many romance novels she kept saying "This is what would happen next in a romance novel". It was getting annoying and cliché as well as the romance wasn't for me. The reason, Louise and Jack don't have a spark to me. Like, I know opposites can go together but it just wasn't for me. I did like that Jack was a carpenter but absolutely hated that he lied to everyone about his job and then could have been the reason the book part of the cafe/bakery never opens.
Second, how Louise was annoyed by Madie turning up suddenly and then was sad when she left to start her job. Yes, maybe a phone call or text but it sounded like they were very close and yeah Louise felt guilty because Madie was about to do her exams when she left her ex husband and wasn't there to support her. It's lovely that Madie and Louise get on even after the divorce but I was getting mix signals from Louise because one moment she is complaining and then she doesn't want her to leave.
Finally, why didn't Louise just say something about Madie's boyfriend, parden my French but I wanted to kick his a**, most would say she will learn what he's really like but it was obvious she wasn't right for her and I think she knew that but wanted Louise to say something and support her.
I know mostly negative but for I did also enjoy it. This is the first time I have read any of the works the author has written so not familiar with how she writes so it could just be this story.
Thank you to the publisher for letting me read this ARC.
It is available to preorder and will be relseased 8th October 2026
That was what drew my into wanting to read this and then read then first page and the character is called, Louise!!!! That's my name😃 It's so rare that I see characters with the same name and with the setting, the character was living my dream🤣
We meet Louise in her forties, who is divorced and suddenly moved back to her childhood home after a disaster happens where she worked as an editor, editing stories. She doesn't want to talk about it at all.
Her mother thinks she has moved back to take over the bakery but Louise doesn't want to do that. She wants to work with books and thats it but doesn't want to upset her (or the village but mainly her mother) and carry on what her grandmother started. It is a very successful bakery.
As the story goes on we meet various sorts of people who either help her or try and bring her down.
What I loved: the setting, coming from a village myself I will always find comfort in that setting.
Madie, Louise's ex Step daughter that turns up unexpectedly. She was the only person to me that I wanted to read more about, she is quirky, and is a true 'follow or dreams' sort of person. She is the one holding this story together, I wanted to delve more into her life and see more of her creative side, the book looks honesly sound like true heaven, especially the children's one.
Would love a sequel for her?
I loved that this book reminds us that we always see all the bad things first and never see the good that can happen. We can overcome the obstacles that seem impossible.
Louise's English school teacher surprisingly I like because she felt like real. We have all have met people like her and technically she does redeem herself, okay, she doesn't apologise to Louise for how she treated her over the years but she had her reasons and made some good points like about planning permission for the book nooks and that the cafe is a success so why close. But the point she made of buying a book infront of everyone (after Louise announces she is gonna close the book part) and that made everyone else do it was what made me like her after.
Lastly, I liked that we kinda see someone start from the ground up with having a second chance at a kind of dream job and showing that not everything can be perfect but with the right people around you can make it successful.
What I didn't like:
I disliked how repetitive it was with the constant reminder that the ginger cake is a best seller (we get it) and because she has edited so many romance novels she kept saying "This is what would happen next in a romance novel". It was getting annoying and cliché as well as the romance wasn't for me. The reason, Louise and Jack don't have a spark to me. Like, I know opposites can go together but it just wasn't for me. I did like that Jack was a carpenter but absolutely hated that he lied to everyone about his job and then could have been the reason the book part of the cafe/bakery never opens.
Second, how Louise was annoyed by Madie turning up suddenly and then was sad when she left to start her job. Yes, maybe a phone call or text but it sounded like they were very close and yeah Louise felt guilty because Madie was about to do her exams when she left her ex husband and wasn't there to support her. It's lovely that Madie and Louise get on even after the divorce but I was getting mix signals from Louise because one moment she is complaining and then she doesn't want her to leave.
Finally, why didn't Louise just say something about Madie's boyfriend, parden my French but I wanted to kick his a**, most would say she will learn what he's really like but it was obvious she wasn't right for her and I think she knew that but wanted Louise to say something and support her.
I know mostly negative but for I did also enjoy it. This is the first time I have read any of the works the author has written so not familiar with how she writes so it could just be this story.
Thank you to the publisher for letting me read this ARC.
It is available to preorder and will be relseased 8th October 2026
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2026
Thank you Aria & Aries, Head of Zeus, and NetGalley for this ARC of The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery!
⭐️: 2.75/5
🌶️: 1/5
Tropes: Small town girl moves back home from the big city to take over a family business she didn’t want any part of, friends to lovers (with some steps between)
———————————————————————————————
The Plot/Writing/Characters
Is the book riddled with clichés? Yes. The fact that Louise is aware of most of them makes it slightly easier to digest. It’s a refreshing take for the first few chapters, but it got repetitive quickly.
Where the book started to lose me was with the “If this were a romance novel…,” “In romance novels…,” “In the romance novels I used to edit…,” and other variations of the phrase that grew old quickly. I understand it was her profession and her life, etc, but it’s very annoying, and boring, when work is someone’s entire personality.
Not to mention that I’ve been painfully aware of Louise’s feelings about not wanting to reopen the bakery and her shame over leaving her job. That has been made very clear. Multiple times. In every chapter. Not to mention backtracking every time she says “…the books she edits…edited…” and constantly referencing “the Sheila Penhaligon incident.” Maybe we can cool that off?
All of this fuss is over a dead fictional animal? Don’t get me wrong, an animal’s death always hits me harder than a human’s, but I was expecting something more gasp-worthy.
Not a critique about the book, just an annoyance with Elizabeth as a character. Mom’s interfering with their adult children’s’ lives and taking advantage of their closeness and kindness makes me want to vomit. What happened to leave and cleave? Pressuring and badgering someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself, and having other people piggyback to continue sowing doubt and hammer in the guilt, really grates my nerves.
What I don’t love about Louise, is that she’s a pot calling the kettle black. Getting upset at Jack for lying to her and his dad is not much different than not telling anyone why you left your job and not telling Maddie that you’re not having the grand opening she’s been working like a dog for. Lying by omission is lying all the same. Take the plank out of your own eye, as they say.
I do appreciate her standing up for herself against the GMGs and for pulling her head out of the sand to apologize to Jack. 👏🏼
Jack is like every other man out there. Prideful, and half of the decisions he makes are based on how his ego is doing that day. But he’s kind and good with his hands, so I’ll give him that.
Confusing Bits & Pieces
Twice in the first 50 pages the comparison between the wonderful smell of newly printed books and newborn babies is made. I did flip back to make sure I wasn’t remembering incorrectly, but alas, I wasn’t.
Am I missing something with Jack calling her Luisa or am I just dumb? She doesn’t mention it (that I can find) until after he’s already called her that multiple times and gives no explanation as to why. It was very confusing.
The Romance
Skipping straight to flirtation and dangerously close to romance right off the bat isn’t my favorite, but I can work with it since the book is a bit shorter. If a guy asked me suggestively about my fantasies within 5 minutes of meeting him, it would be a red flag. Thankfully, they take a small step back and scale down for a few chapters before it picks back up again.
Louise is very critical of romance for someone who talks about it so often. She has been quite vocal about her preference for romance novels instead of real life despite constantly fantasizing about Jack. Really setting us up for her own romance, but it’s a little much. The disbelief of the obvious is a cliché I could live without, and one I’m surprised Louise hasn’t pointed out herself.
⭐️: 2.75/5
🌶️: 1/5
Tropes: Small town girl moves back home from the big city to take over a family business she didn’t want any part of, friends to lovers (with some steps between)
———————————————————————————————
The Plot/Writing/Characters
Is the book riddled with clichés? Yes. The fact that Louise is aware of most of them makes it slightly easier to digest. It’s a refreshing take for the first few chapters, but it got repetitive quickly.
Where the book started to lose me was with the “If this were a romance novel…,” “In romance novels…,” “In the romance novels I used to edit…,” and other variations of the phrase that grew old quickly. I understand it was her profession and her life, etc, but it’s very annoying, and boring, when work is someone’s entire personality.
Not to mention that I’ve been painfully aware of Louise’s feelings about not wanting to reopen the bakery and her shame over leaving her job. That has been made very clear. Multiple times. In every chapter. Not to mention backtracking every time she says “…the books she edits…edited…” and constantly referencing “the Sheila Penhaligon incident.” Maybe we can cool that off?
All of this fuss is over a dead fictional animal? Don’t get me wrong, an animal’s death always hits me harder than a human’s, but I was expecting something more gasp-worthy.
Not a critique about the book, just an annoyance with Elizabeth as a character. Mom’s interfering with their adult children’s’ lives and taking advantage of their closeness and kindness makes me want to vomit. What happened to leave and cleave? Pressuring and badgering someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself, and having other people piggyback to continue sowing doubt and hammer in the guilt, really grates my nerves.
What I don’t love about Louise, is that she’s a pot calling the kettle black. Getting upset at Jack for lying to her and his dad is not much different than not telling anyone why you left your job and not telling Maddie that you’re not having the grand opening she’s been working like a dog for. Lying by omission is lying all the same. Take the plank out of your own eye, as they say.
I do appreciate her standing up for herself against the GMGs and for pulling her head out of the sand to apologize to Jack. 👏🏼
Jack is like every other man out there. Prideful, and half of the decisions he makes are based on how his ego is doing that day. But he’s kind and good with his hands, so I’ll give him that.
Confusing Bits & Pieces
Twice in the first 50 pages the comparison between the wonderful smell of newly printed books and newborn babies is made. I did flip back to make sure I wasn’t remembering incorrectly, but alas, I wasn’t.
Am I missing something with Jack calling her Luisa or am I just dumb? She doesn’t mention it (that I can find) until after he’s already called her that multiple times and gives no explanation as to why. It was very confusing.
The Romance
Skipping straight to flirtation and dangerously close to romance right off the bat isn’t my favorite, but I can work with it since the book is a bit shorter. If a guy asked me suggestively about my fantasies within 5 minutes of meeting him, it would be a red flag. Thankfully, they take a small step back and scale down for a few chapters before it picks back up again.
Louise is very critical of romance for someone who talks about it so often. She has been quite vocal about her preference for romance novels instead of real life despite constantly fantasizing about Jack. Really setting us up for her own romance, but it’s a little much. The disbelief of the obvious is a cliché I could live without, and one I’m surprised Louise hasn’t pointed out herself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have never been able to resist picking up any book set around a bookshop or a library. And "The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery" is my first book by Jennifer Page.
What I liked about the book
--> The setting—a bustling bakery turned bookshop bakery in the picturesque village of Applewaite— was charming, as expected.
--> The story was a reminder of how we tend to see things as being much worse than they actually are.
--> It is always good to see someone start over and make a success of their second chance. Things may not be as smooth sailing as we see in books and movies. Help may come from the most unexpected places. But if one persists with courage, things will eventually fall into place.
--> Louise feeling a tinge of annoyance at Madie's unannounced visit, and later, her anxiety over Madie's impending move to London made her real, flawed, and relatable.
What didn't work for me
SPOILER
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for sharing an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked about the book
--> The setting—a bustling bakery turned bookshop bakery in the picturesque village of Applewaite— was charming, as expected.
--> The story was a reminder of how we tend to see things as being much worse than they actually are.
--> It is always good to see someone start over and make a success of their second chance. Things may not be as smooth sailing as we see in books and movies. Help may come from the most unexpected places. But if one persists with courage, things will eventually fall into place.
--> Louise feeling a tinge of annoyance at Madie's unannounced visit, and later, her anxiety over Madie's impending move to London made her real, flawed, and relatable.
What didn't work for me
SPOILER
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for sharing an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Slow-paced and underwhelming, The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page is about a woman who returns to her small hometown to take over her family’s business, but with a bookish twist.
Summary: Louise Delaney leaves her editor job in her 40s after one of her books received backlash and retreats to her hometown, Applethwaite, to lick her wounds. Her mother expects her to take over the family bakery. After some initial resistance, she decides to turn it into a bookshop bakery.
Tropes/Genres:
• strangers to lovers
• family business
• small town
• contemporary romance
• set in Applethwaite, Yorkshire, UK
Review: I usually enjoy this author’s books, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark. While I enjoyed the concept of the bookshop bakery and how it was designed, the characters were difficult to connect with, the plot felt rather bland, and the ending was underwhelming.
Louise can be frustrating and unrelatable. She often links events to bookish tropes, which can be quirky at the start, but it eventually started to be quite annoying. She also has a severe inability to communicate, acting like she has no personal will when she’s in her 40s. However, she does have a passion for literature and tries to help people, so she isn’t all that bad… just a bit immature.
The romance subplot was boring. Giacomo, mostly known as Jack, was a bit of a red flag, especially since the reveal of his real identity proved to be harmful towards Louise’s dreams. That being said, Louise was also a hypocrite because she lied a lot, yet she faulted Jack for being a liar. Those two are simply a disaster together, regardless of the sweet moments in the book, which felt a bit forced since they had little chemistry.
One good thing about this book was Louise and Maddie’s relationship. Maddie was Louise’s stepdaughter from her previous marriage. It was nice to see them maintain their relationship after the divorce. I also liked the realistic complexity of Louise’s feelings about Maddie being in Applethwaite. However, the resolution of Maddie’s relationship with her toxic boyfriend, Theo, was inconclusive. Along with the abrupt ending, this made the story feel incomplete.
While the writing was descriptive, the pacing was odd. Louise spent half the book hinting at the reason she quit her job and whining about how terrible what she did to Sheila Penhalington (the author) was, only for the reveal to be underwhelming. It felt very sanitised, like the author didn’t want to risk making her authors angry at Louise, which ironically contradicts Sheila’s message. Additionally, the ending of the story was sudden and didn’t feel satisfying. The premise was very promising, but it just didn’t play out as well.
Overall, I recommend this book to readers who enjoy the concept of a bookshop bakery with sheds decorated with different themes based on book genres. It’s certainly a place I’d love to visit! Just don’t hope much for the romance and focus more on the protagonist’s relationship with the community.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.
Summary: Louise Delaney leaves her editor job in her 40s after one of her books received backlash and retreats to her hometown, Applethwaite, to lick her wounds. Her mother expects her to take over the family bakery. After some initial resistance, she decides to turn it into a bookshop bakery.
Tropes/Genres:
• strangers to lovers
• family business
• small town
• contemporary romance
• set in Applethwaite, Yorkshire, UK
Review: I usually enjoy this author’s books, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark. While I enjoyed the concept of the bookshop bakery and how it was designed, the characters were difficult to connect with, the plot felt rather bland, and the ending was underwhelming.
Louise can be frustrating and unrelatable. She often links events to bookish tropes, which can be quirky at the start, but it eventually started to be quite annoying. She also has a severe inability to communicate, acting like she has no personal will when she’s in her 40s. However, she does have a passion for literature and tries to help people, so she isn’t all that bad… just a bit immature.
The romance subplot was boring. Giacomo, mostly known as Jack, was a bit of a red flag, especially since the reveal of his real identity proved to be harmful towards Louise’s dreams. That being said, Louise was also a hypocrite because she lied a lot, yet she faulted Jack for being a liar. Those two are simply a disaster together, regardless of the sweet moments in the book, which felt a bit forced since they had little chemistry.
One good thing about this book was Louise and Maddie’s relationship. Maddie was Louise’s stepdaughter from her previous marriage. It was nice to see them maintain their relationship after the divorce. I also liked the realistic complexity of Louise’s feelings about Maddie being in Applethwaite. However, the resolution of Maddie’s relationship with her toxic boyfriend, Theo, was inconclusive. Along with the abrupt ending, this made the story feel incomplete.
While the writing was descriptive, the pacing was odd. Louise spent half the book hinting at the reason she quit her job and whining about how terrible what she did to Sheila Penhalington (the author) was, only for the reveal to be underwhelming. It felt very sanitised, like the author didn’t want to risk making her authors angry at Louise, which ironically contradicts Sheila’s message. Additionally, the ending of the story was sudden and didn’t feel satisfying. The premise was very promising, but it just didn’t play out as well.
Overall, I recommend this book to readers who enjoy the concept of a bookshop bakery with sheds decorated with different themes based on book genres. It’s certainly a place I’d love to visit! Just don’t hope much for the romance and focus more on the protagonist’s relationship with the community.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.
August 3, 2026
I was really excited to pick up my first book by Jennifer Page! The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery sounded so up my street!
Louise has just quit her dream job as an editor and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Now she has to start over and it doesn’t help that her Mum is convinced she’s here to run the family bakery (as does the rest of the village!), but she has her heart set on running a bookshop. With renovations underway, a quirky ex-step daughter’s unexpected arrival and a gorgeous Italian who might be too good to be true, is Louise’s second chance at a happy ending finally coming true?..
A bookshop bakery?? What’s not to like!! This brings all of the lovely cosy small town vibes, will have you drooling over cake and wanting to start a fight with a mean old English teacher!
The setting is wonderful, I could really picture the bakery in a little cosy English village. I loved the concept of Louise starting over in life as a divorcee in her forties, it’s never too late to try something new and follow your dream.
I did chuckle when each day the villagers just continued to turn up to the bakery even though it was closed and demand coffee and cake (whilst just leaving random amounts of money on the side).
I particularly enjoyed them renovating the book store. Maddie, Louise’s step daughter did such a fantastic job at decorating each of the book nooks (I’m desperate to visit the Narnia one!) I really enjoyed what Maddie brought to the story (although she’s in dire need of ditching her boyfriend).
The romance between Louise and Jack was sweet and although I was rooting for them, I would have liked a little bit more chemistry, as at times it felt a little bit clunky.
Unfortunately what didn’t work for me was the amount of repetition, particularly surrounding her ginger cake, quitting her job and who the characters were. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the big reveal for why Louise had left her job, it felt very built up for what it was.
I’d like to see Maddie get her own book next to resolve her romance (we need to see her with Tom!). Overall a sweet and fun small town romance that you can cosy up to this autumn!
If you love the Gilmore Girls and Virgin River small town cosy vibes, a second chance romance, allll the sweet treats, and all the meddling village folk, then I think you’ll really enjoy this one!
Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer Page and Aria for providing an eARC, and Head of Zeus for providing a physical ARC - The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery publishes October 8th.
Louise has just quit her dream job as an editor and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Now she has to start over and it doesn’t help that her Mum is convinced she’s here to run the family bakery (as does the rest of the village!), but she has her heart set on running a bookshop. With renovations underway, a quirky ex-step daughter’s unexpected arrival and a gorgeous Italian who might be too good to be true, is Louise’s second chance at a happy ending finally coming true?..
A bookshop bakery?? What’s not to like!! This brings all of the lovely cosy small town vibes, will have you drooling over cake and wanting to start a fight with a mean old English teacher!
The setting is wonderful, I could really picture the bakery in a little cosy English village. I loved the concept of Louise starting over in life as a divorcee in her forties, it’s never too late to try something new and follow your dream.
I did chuckle when each day the villagers just continued to turn up to the bakery even though it was closed and demand coffee and cake (whilst just leaving random amounts of money on the side).
I particularly enjoyed them renovating the book store. Maddie, Louise’s step daughter did such a fantastic job at decorating each of the book nooks (I’m desperate to visit the Narnia one!) I really enjoyed what Maddie brought to the story (although she’s in dire need of ditching her boyfriend).
The romance between Louise and Jack was sweet and although I was rooting for them, I would have liked a little bit more chemistry, as at times it felt a little bit clunky.
Unfortunately what didn’t work for me was the amount of repetition, particularly surrounding her ginger cake, quitting her job and who the characters were. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the big reveal for why Louise had left her job, it felt very built up for what it was.
I’d like to see Maddie get her own book next to resolve her romance (we need to see her with Tom!). Overall a sweet and fun small town romance that you can cosy up to this autumn!
If you love the Gilmore Girls and Virgin River small town cosy vibes, a second chance romance, allll the sweet treats, and all the meddling village folk, then I think you’ll really enjoy this one!
Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer Page and Aria for providing an eARC, and Head of Zeus for providing a physical ARC - The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery publishes October 8th.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I, too, would like to quit my job, move home to argue with my mother, and have a gorgeous Italian man magically fulfill my dreams. 😩
Thank you NetGalley for my Advanced Readers Copy!
⭐️ 2.75/5 ⭐️
What immediately drew me in was the cover and title! I’m a sucker for the cozy bookshop/ cafe vibes and this book definitely delivered!
What I enjoyed:
- very low stakes, at times it did feel like there was an attempt to make it higher stakes but it remained fairly low (no need to get mad!)
- There was something about it that made me look forward to continuing the story! I think it was the cozy vibes but I always came back for more
- Adulting: Our main character is 41 years old! Hallelujah! It is refreshing to read about a grown woman instead of a twenty-something child crying over spilled iced coffee (like me 🤣)
What didn’t work for me:
- Cliche City! Every single romance trope is crammed in here. Sure, the main character is self-aware enough to point them out, but… it’s a bit much.
- The “romance” is a little superficial for me. It doesn’t feel like they really delve into it so it’s hard to “root” for.
- The “drama”, of why the main character has left her original profession is made into this huge thing when it was practically nothing.
This book introduces Louise, a 41 year old book lover who recently left her career to come home. Her grand plan? Absolutely not taking over the family business. Too bad her mother completely lacks the ability to process that piece of information. 😮💨
But fear not! Right on cue, a handsome Italian man spawns into the plot, ready to magically fulfill all her bookshop dreams! Because of course he is 💁🏼♀️
If your favorite hobby is checking off every single romance cliché on a bingo card, this gentle parade of tropes is calling your name! The stakes here are so wonderfully low they are practically napping.
However, if you are like me and prefer your stories without a cozy avalanche of predictable clichés, you might want to bookmark a different book. 😅
.
The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page
Release Date:
October 8, 2026
.
Read my reviews on:
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Thank you NetGalley for my Advanced Readers Copy!
⭐️ 2.75/5 ⭐️
What immediately drew me in was the cover and title! I’m a sucker for the cozy bookshop/ cafe vibes and this book definitely delivered!
What I enjoyed:
- very low stakes, at times it did feel like there was an attempt to make it higher stakes but it remained fairly low (no need to get mad!)
- There was something about it that made me look forward to continuing the story! I think it was the cozy vibes but I always came back for more
- Adulting: Our main character is 41 years old! Hallelujah! It is refreshing to read about a grown woman instead of a twenty-something child crying over spilled iced coffee (like me 🤣)
What didn’t work for me:
- Cliche City! Every single romance trope is crammed in here. Sure, the main character is self-aware enough to point them out, but… it’s a bit much.
- The “romance” is a little superficial for me. It doesn’t feel like they really delve into it so it’s hard to “root” for.
- The “drama”, of why the main character has left her original profession is made into this huge thing when it was practically nothing.
This book introduces Louise, a 41 year old book lover who recently left her career to come home. Her grand plan? Absolutely not taking over the family business. Too bad her mother completely lacks the ability to process that piece of information. 😮💨
But fear not! Right on cue, a handsome Italian man spawns into the plot, ready to magically fulfill all her bookshop dreams! Because of course he is 💁🏼♀️
If your favorite hobby is checking off every single romance cliché on a bingo card, this gentle parade of tropes is calling your name! The stakes here are so wonderfully low they are practically napping.
However, if you are like me and prefer your stories without a cozy avalanche of predictable clichés, you might want to bookmark a different book. 😅
.
The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page
Release Date:
October 8, 2026
.
Read my reviews on:
https://www.instagram.com/deutschemau...
Pagebound
https://pagebound.co/users/deutschemaus
Fable
https://fable.co/fabler/deutschemausi...
StoryGraph
https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Once I started this book, I could not put it down. Louise runs from her editorial job after making a mistake which might possibly have ruined one of her favourite authors' careers. Back to her home in Applethwaite, Yorkshire, back to her mum. But instead of her old bedroom, it's the apartment above the bakery her mum and grandmother had run.
When the electricity goes off, she has an encounter with a Jack, a gorgeous half-Italian, half-Yorkshireman, who is living nearby to help his father after his heart attack.
Louise's mum thinks she's home to run the bakery, but Louise wants to open a bookshop. Baking is a pastime for Louise, and she's very good at it. It's charming how devious her mother is, arranging for her friends to meet at the bakery when Louise has baked. Soon the village starts turning up for coffee and ginger cake or scones.
When her ex step-daughter Maddie turns up to stay and soon the idea of a bookshop and bakery is a compromise to Louise's dreams.
Everyone thinks Jack is an architect, but he just says he creates buildings. So when Louise asks him to help her with the expansion of the bakery, she expects an open glass conservatory with shelves, but he says she ought to go bohemian and have sheds with different themes. After initially hating the idea, Louise has to apologise when Maddie does beautiful drawings and calls them book nooks.
After a series of incidents, Louise thinks they are related to the mistake she made with the book she edited, but only one was, which she learns about when she goes to apologise to the author involved.
When Maddie gets a job in London, she's excited to be near her boyfriend, but Louise thinks he's no good for her. Then Jack says he's going back to London as his father has told everyone he's an architect and Jack doesn't want to embarrass him.
At the grand opening, three of her authors come along with the whole village, and it's a hit, but afterwards nobody buys books. When her arch-nemesis, her old English teacher, hears her about to quit the book side, she makes a point of buying a book and the rest of the village follow suit.
Jack talks to his father, and eventually he moves back to Yorkshire; Maddie makes him a website for his new business.
It's a lovely, heart-warming story that will both want you to go to a bookshop like that, especially the children's nook and to try one or more of the delicious cakes.
When the electricity goes off, she has an encounter with a Jack, a gorgeous half-Italian, half-Yorkshireman, who is living nearby to help his father after his heart attack.
Louise's mum thinks she's home to run the bakery, but Louise wants to open a bookshop. Baking is a pastime for Louise, and she's very good at it. It's charming how devious her mother is, arranging for her friends to meet at the bakery when Louise has baked. Soon the village starts turning up for coffee and ginger cake or scones.
When her ex step-daughter Maddie turns up to stay and soon the idea of a bookshop and bakery is a compromise to Louise's dreams.
Everyone thinks Jack is an architect, but he just says he creates buildings. So when Louise asks him to help her with the expansion of the bakery, she expects an open glass conservatory with shelves, but he says she ought to go bohemian and have sheds with different themes. After initially hating the idea, Louise has to apologise when Maddie does beautiful drawings and calls them book nooks.
After a series of incidents, Louise thinks they are related to the mistake she made with the book she edited, but only one was, which she learns about when she goes to apologise to the author involved.
When Maddie gets a job in London, she's excited to be near her boyfriend, but Louise thinks he's no good for her. Then Jack says he's going back to London as his father has told everyone he's an architect and Jack doesn't want to embarrass him.
At the grand opening, three of her authors come along with the whole village, and it's a hit, but afterwards nobody buys books. When her arch-nemesis, her old English teacher, hears her about to quit the book side, she makes a point of buying a book and the rest of the village follow suit.
Jack talks to his father, and eventually he moves back to Yorkshire; Maddie makes him a website for his new business.
It's a lovely, heart-warming story that will both want you to go to a bookshop like that, especially the children's nook and to try one or more of the delicious cakes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is marketed as book 1 in the 'Bookshop Bakery' series, so that's promising.
I do own Jennifer's Board Game Café series but haven't actually read them yet so this was my first look at her writing. And what more do you want than a bookshop and bakery? I've always loved the idea of opening a bookshop/bakery set up, but mine always comes with a florist too.
I read this during the 907th horrendous heatwave of the year, but I think it'll be perfect for the best time of the year, as an autumnal or wintery read. It's practically begging to be read under a blanket, in front of the fire, with a hot cup of tea in your hands. (Can you tell I hate summer but love the cold months?)
It has a truly beautiful cover.
I really liked Louise as a main character. It's not exactly the same but she's a book editor and I'm a freelance editor who has worked on books. She also enjoys baking - albeit for her own rather than in a professional sense - and I adore baking. I can't cook but I can bake, so I definitely felt a kinship to her and was so hoping everything would work out. Her mum on the other hand...she took a wee while to win me over. I understand why she was the way she was but I didn't like her to begin with for reasons I won't spoil. There's also an older woman from Louise's past - again I won't spoil it - who I really didn't like, although that is the way she's written. She was so childish and got under my skin.
When you get one of these happily-ever-after romance type books, you expect everything is going to be perfect but life isn't perfect. SO I like that she's added obstacles and things that the every day reader will be able to identify with.
I loved the romance storyline; it is that proper warming love story that you only get in novels. And who doesn't want a dashing Italian man to come to your rescue.
I had read a number of hard-hitting, intense, emotional books before this so it was lovely t be able to curl up with a book that doesn't ask too much of me, and it is just so cosy and heartwarming and effortless to read and really did put a smile on my face.
It doesn't necessarily warrant a direct sequel (although it does say it's the first in a bookshop-related series) I would be keen to revisit these particular characters in the future.
Is it predictable? Yes. Did I care? No. Did I love it still? Abso-bloomin-lutely!
This is marketed as book 1 in the 'Bookshop Bakery' series, so that's promising.
I do own Jennifer's Board Game Café series but haven't actually read them yet so this was my first look at her writing. And what more do you want than a bookshop and bakery? I've always loved the idea of opening a bookshop/bakery set up, but mine always comes with a florist too.
I read this during the 907th horrendous heatwave of the year, but I think it'll be perfect for the best time of the year, as an autumnal or wintery read. It's practically begging to be read under a blanket, in front of the fire, with a hot cup of tea in your hands. (Can you tell I hate summer but love the cold months?)
It has a truly beautiful cover.
I really liked Louise as a main character. It's not exactly the same but she's a book editor and I'm a freelance editor who has worked on books. She also enjoys baking - albeit for her own rather than in a professional sense - and I adore baking. I can't cook but I can bake, so I definitely felt a kinship to her and was so hoping everything would work out. Her mum on the other hand...she took a wee while to win me over. I understand why she was the way she was but I didn't like her to begin with for reasons I won't spoil. There's also an older woman from Louise's past - again I won't spoil it - who I really didn't like, although that is the way she's written. She was so childish and got under my skin.
When you get one of these happily-ever-after romance type books, you expect everything is going to be perfect but life isn't perfect. SO I like that she's added obstacles and things that the every day reader will be able to identify with.
I loved the romance storyline; it is that proper warming love story that you only get in novels. And who doesn't want a dashing Italian man to come to your rescue.
I had read a number of hard-hitting, intense, emotional books before this so it was lovely t be able to curl up with a book that doesn't ask too much of me, and it is just so cosy and heartwarming and effortless to read and really did put a smile on my face.
It doesn't necessarily warrant a direct sequel (although it does say it's the first in a bookshop-related series) I would be keen to revisit these particular characters in the future.
Is it predictable? Yes. Did I care? No. Did I love it still? Abso-bloomin-lutely!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love the concept of a Bookshop Bakery (and I've frequented a few) but sadly I didn't love this book. The premise is that after successful editor Louise makes an error with a manuscript belonging to one of her most successful authors, she is horrified and mortified, quitting her job and escaping to the small village where she grew up. At 41, she has to figure out how to restart her life; so many of us can relate on many levels. The village is home to a bakery run for two generations by her family--started by her grandmother and continued by her mother. Louise's mother is ready to pass on the running of the bakery to her daughter, but it's not a job her daughter has ever wanted. Despite the fact that she is an exceptional baker, she ran home merely to hide out 'til she could handle the shame of her errors and figure out what she should do next. Baking is a hobby for her and running a bakery is not her employment goal. After Louise returns home, there are all the expected encounters in her path: a hunky Anglo Italian architect, geriatric mean girl former school teachers, along with the unexpected arrival of her early twenties former step-daughter.
Louise is lost and confused but I couldn't figure out who she is. Despite having lived in London for many years, she seems naive, easily thrown by even minor upsets. She supposed to be smart and capable but most of the time she's flighty and inclined to playing out romance novel tropes in her head, while blaming her inner voice for being an editor. Elizabeth, Louise's mother, is also unsteady. At first she's a seasoned business owner who is happy to see her daughter and wants to interpret her presence as an indication that Louise is home to take over the bakery, which Elizabeth cannot manage solo after losing an employee. Along the way, however, she's occasionally a senseless ninny, occasionally a sex-hungry man-seeker, and basically not maternal in any way. The most fully realized character seems to be Maddie, Louise's ex-stepdaughter. The reader gets a great sense of who she is as well as the relationship between Louise and her.
I really wanted to like this book. The best part, for me, is the design concept the characters come up with for the bookshop bakery. I'd love to visit a space like that, curl up in a nook and munch on ginger cake while reading a new book. I wish the story had more creative elements like that. I would have enjoyed it more. It's a 2.5 stars for me.
Louise is lost and confused but I couldn't figure out who she is. Despite having lived in London for many years, she seems naive, easily thrown by even minor upsets. She supposed to be smart and capable but most of the time she's flighty and inclined to playing out romance novel tropes in her head, while blaming her inner voice for being an editor. Elizabeth, Louise's mother, is also unsteady. At first she's a seasoned business owner who is happy to see her daughter and wants to interpret her presence as an indication that Louise is home to take over the bakery, which Elizabeth cannot manage solo after losing an employee. Along the way, however, she's occasionally a senseless ninny, occasionally a sex-hungry man-seeker, and basically not maternal in any way. The most fully realized character seems to be Maddie, Louise's ex-stepdaughter. The reader gets a great sense of who she is as well as the relationship between Louise and her.
I really wanted to like this book. The best part, for me, is the design concept the characters come up with for the bookshop bakery. I'd love to visit a space like that, curl up in a nook and munch on ginger cake while reading a new book. I wish the story had more creative elements like that. I would have enjoyed it more. It's a 2.5 stars for me.
May 22, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & Aria Books for allowing me to read this one early.
❤️Favorite quote❤️
“Books aren’t like other things that you buy. They aren’t just entertainment. Books lift your spirits when you’re down. They comfort you. They bring joy and hope. They tell stories that help you make sense of the world. And a bookshop - especially a bookshop like this - it’s not just a shop. It’s a safe space. A special place. Where people can come to escape for an hour or two.”
Let me start by saying I did enjoy the writing style of the book. Some quotes were soooo good, especially the one I mentioned above.
Some things I enjoyed:
1. I enjoyed the relationship between our FMC Louise and her stepdaughter Maddie. I think the elements of that relationship were well done and felt very raw and real to me.
2. I enjoyed the idea of the bookshop and bakery together. The book nook idea was amazing & I wish something like this existed around me.
3. I enjoyed the third person (which was weird for me)! I never really read books that are set in third person, but it was nice to have something different.
4. I enjoyed getting to see our FMC’s life after her divorce. She was in her 40’s so it was nice to see that you can move on after something like that happens to you.
5. I also enjoyed seeing our FMC and her old teacher’s relationship develop. I assume this will continue to develop as there are more books released in the series.
Now onto the things that didn’t do it for me.
1. I did not like the MMC. He didn’t do it for me. He was lying about his career, and I just could not get the feeling that their relationship would work. Why was there ZERO tension or chemistry???
2. I also did not like our FMC’s mom Elizabeth. She was wayyyyy too over the top for me.
3. I didn’t like all of the mentioning of Louise being an editor. Yes, I get that that was her job, but like we could’ve mentioned anything else.
4. I also could’ve done without all of the constant worrying from Louise. She seemed so worried about the bookshop failing, and I get that as well, but have some faith.
5. Finally, why did we bring up a man sending death threats only to never settle that?? I’m assuming this will be addressed in the next book, but it threw me for a loop that I didn’t enjoy.
Again, thank you for the ARC of this book. I did enjoy it.
❤️Favorite quote❤️
“Books aren’t like other things that you buy. They aren’t just entertainment. Books lift your spirits when you’re down. They comfort you. They bring joy and hope. They tell stories that help you make sense of the world. And a bookshop - especially a bookshop like this - it’s not just a shop. It’s a safe space. A special place. Where people can come to escape for an hour or two.”
Let me start by saying I did enjoy the writing style of the book. Some quotes were soooo good, especially the one I mentioned above.
Some things I enjoyed:
1. I enjoyed the relationship between our FMC Louise and her stepdaughter Maddie. I think the elements of that relationship were well done and felt very raw and real to me.
2. I enjoyed the idea of the bookshop and bakery together. The book nook idea was amazing & I wish something like this existed around me.
3. I enjoyed the third person (which was weird for me)! I never really read books that are set in third person, but it was nice to have something different.
4. I enjoyed getting to see our FMC’s life after her divorce. She was in her 40’s so it was nice to see that you can move on after something like that happens to you.
5. I also enjoyed seeing our FMC and her old teacher’s relationship develop. I assume this will continue to develop as there are more books released in the series.
Now onto the things that didn’t do it for me.
1. I did not like the MMC. He didn’t do it for me. He was lying about his career, and I just could not get the feeling that their relationship would work. Why was there ZERO tension or chemistry???
2. I also did not like our FMC’s mom Elizabeth. She was wayyyyy too over the top for me.
3. I didn’t like all of the mentioning of Louise being an editor. Yes, I get that that was her job, but like we could’ve mentioned anything else.
4. I also could’ve done without all of the constant worrying from Louise. She seemed so worried about the bookshop failing, and I get that as well, but have some faith.
5. Finally, why did we bring up a man sending death threats only to never settle that?? I’m assuming this will be addressed in the next book, but it threw me for a loop that I didn’t enjoy.
Again, thank you for the ARC of this book. I did enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page is not just a cosy romance set in a small town, it’s a self-aware one.
It is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. The small cast consists of lovable characters, the setting feels grand due to the descriptions, and the plot is neatly wrapped up. The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is the kind of book that winks at familiar tropes while still delivering the warm and tidy ending readers come for.
At the beginning, the main character, Louise, can be described as a runaway with a huge secret. Something went wrong at her editing job, but we don’t know much about what actually happened. The intriguing plot keeps you reading. Louise left her job, making for great commentary about romance novels. Surely, this plot will not be like this, because ‘it is real life’.
She meets Giacomo, or Jack, who calls her Luisa (swoon), and is hands-on in helping her build her dream bookshop. Like Louise, he carries a secret. It is refreshing to have a love interest who is not flawless from the start. Their dynamic feels believable, which adds to charm of the story.
The novel mainly takes place in the bakery (“a bookshop bakery”) that belonged to Louise’s grandmother and later her mother. Although we don’t see much of Applewaithe, Yorkshire, the place feels expansive. There is the bakery, the bookshop, and beautiful book nooks that make it a booklover’s dream.
I expected both sugar and spice, given the title ‘The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery,’ which made me slightly apprehensive. The idea of a bookshop bakery is something that many booklovers dream about, it is what drew me to the book in the first place. Luckily, there was little to no spice in this book, which I appreciated. Near the end, I felt it was going over the top, but Louise’s self-aware commentary pulls it back.
I left the book with many highlighted quotes and a craving for a ginger slice (or at least the recipe), and a clear recommendation: fans of the gentle, small-town romances and anyone who enjoys books about books will enjoy this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Aria and Aries Team for providing this ARC.
It is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. The small cast consists of lovable characters, the setting feels grand due to the descriptions, and the plot is neatly wrapped up. The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is the kind of book that winks at familiar tropes while still delivering the warm and tidy ending readers come for.
At the beginning, the main character, Louise, can be described as a runaway with a huge secret. Something went wrong at her editing job, but we don’t know much about what actually happened. The intriguing plot keeps you reading. Louise left her job, making for great commentary about romance novels. Surely, this plot will not be like this, because ‘it is real life’.
She meets Giacomo, or Jack, who calls her Luisa (swoon), and is hands-on in helping her build her dream bookshop. Like Louise, he carries a secret. It is refreshing to have a love interest who is not flawless from the start. Their dynamic feels believable, which adds to charm of the story.
The novel mainly takes place in the bakery (“a bookshop bakery”) that belonged to Louise’s grandmother and later her mother. Although we don’t see much of Applewaithe, Yorkshire, the place feels expansive. There is the bakery, the bookshop, and beautiful book nooks that make it a booklover’s dream.
I expected both sugar and spice, given the title ‘The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery,’ which made me slightly apprehensive. The idea of a bookshop bakery is something that many booklovers dream about, it is what drew me to the book in the first place. Luckily, there was little to no spice in this book, which I appreciated. Near the end, I felt it was going over the top, but Louise’s self-aware commentary pulls it back.
I left the book with many highlighted quotes and a craving for a ginger slice (or at least the recipe), and a clear recommendation: fans of the gentle, small-town romances and anyone who enjoys books about books will enjoy this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Aria and Aries Team for providing this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page thinking “cozy” automatically meant cozy mystery. Oops. I completely missed the romance angle, so I started the book with the wrong expectations entirely. That’s on me! But you know what? I ended up enjoying it anyway—quite a lot, actually.
Louise Dearnley’s story hooked me right away. After years of editing other people’s happy endings, she returns to her Yorkshire hometown of Applethwaite to rebuild her own life. Her mid-life reset felt realistic and quietly inspiring: emotional without being overly dramatic, hopeful without feeling fake. I was halfway through the book before I even thought about putting it down, which says everything about how well it held my interest.
The small English town atmosphere is pure comfort. Think quirky locals, the irresistible scent of fresh scones and ginger cake wafting from the bakery, and that perfect books + baked goods combo that feels like the coziest possible pairing. I loved the charming small-town vibe, the found-family moments, and especially Louise’s evolving connection with her unexpected ex-stepdaughter. The side characters are delightful too—standouts include the GMG (Geriatric Mean Girls), who brought some fantastic humor and bite.
The romance was the one part that didn’t fully work for me. It leaned a bit cheesy and repetitive at times, and there was one ongoing theme that got dragged out longer than it needed to be. That said, the central relationship is still sweet and gentle, with lovely chemistry and a charming Italian love interest who adds warmth without stealing focus from Louise’s personal growth.
Overall, this is a perfect pick if you love Hallmark-style stories—charming small-town second chances, delicious treats, and heartwarming community vibes. I’m not usually a Hallmark person myself, but the book’s atmosphere, the baking details, and the emotional core won me over. It’s comforting, uplifting, and full of that irresistible English village charm. I’d happily recommend it, especially if you’re in the mood for something gentle and feel-good.
Louise Dearnley’s story hooked me right away. After years of editing other people’s happy endings, she returns to her Yorkshire hometown of Applethwaite to rebuild her own life. Her mid-life reset felt realistic and quietly inspiring: emotional without being overly dramatic, hopeful without feeling fake. I was halfway through the book before I even thought about putting it down, which says everything about how well it held my interest.
The small English town atmosphere is pure comfort. Think quirky locals, the irresistible scent of fresh scones and ginger cake wafting from the bakery, and that perfect books + baked goods combo that feels like the coziest possible pairing. I loved the charming small-town vibe, the found-family moments, and especially Louise’s evolving connection with her unexpected ex-stepdaughter. The side characters are delightful too—standouts include the GMG (Geriatric Mean Girls), who brought some fantastic humor and bite.
The romance was the one part that didn’t fully work for me. It leaned a bit cheesy and repetitive at times, and there was one ongoing theme that got dragged out longer than it needed to be. That said, the central relationship is still sweet and gentle, with lovely chemistry and a charming Italian love interest who adds warmth without stealing focus from Louise’s personal growth.
Overall, this is a perfect pick if you love Hallmark-style stories—charming small-town second chances, delicious treats, and heartwarming community vibes. I’m not usually a Hallmark person myself, but the book’s atmosphere, the baking details, and the emotional core won me over. It’s comforting, uplifting, and full of that irresistible English village charm. I’d happily recommend it, especially if you’re in the mood for something gentle and feel-good.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, author Jennifer Page and the Aria and Aries Team for this ARC.
This cozy blend of bookshop bakery romance made me feel like someone read my thoughts about certain romance plots cliches and put them on paper in the form of Louise's thoughts. I understood well how her thoughts would run with her imagination, creating all those scenarios.
Loved how they created the bookshop part of the bakery, how the community got together for Louise, how Maddie, Louise's ex-step-daughter, was such a big part of the plot, helping it to go along and create those iconic ideas. I loved Maddie a lot and I really hoped she would get her happy ending. It wasn't meant for this book, but maybe she will get her own book where a happy ending is in the cards for her.
The chemistry between Louise and Giacomo/Jack was well-written in the first part, but after Jack's lie has been discovered, it just fizzled out and it became awkward until it could be recovered even a tiny bit.
As for the parts that made me dislike it: Giacomo/Jack's lie and how he just went with it, without making at least some research about anything. There's a bit too much repetition going on, and with the way it kept repeating about what Louise did at her old job without even a hint, it made me think Louise printed a book about drugs or worse topics out there. The reveal of the truth was a bit anti-climatic with how much Louise made it sound like it was the end of the world.
Even with all that, it was a great reading. Cozy and with a message that no one should stop fighting for their dreams. Even if it might not work out the way we all want it to, we tried and maybe we find other solutions and paths. And that's all that matters. Having a bit of a romance and such detailed descriptions of the bookshop bakery Louise opened helped a lot to show the message.
Edit after new version of the book:
Old rating: 4⭐️
New rating: 4.5⭐️
It remains a great read about a cozy bookshop bakery in a community that will be there for each other, even those on the meaner side.
Love the fact that both author and publisher took reader's opinion into account and made changes before publishing. This new version is smoother, taking out Jack's lie, creating a new narrative around Jack and Louise's relationship. Their interactions lingered more in my mind, the chemistry bumping up as there was no awkward lie right there in the middle.
Maddie still remains my favorite of the book, the heart of this entire venture Louise sets forth on. She helps so much, from being hands-on with helping, to artistic creator. Everything sails smoothly due to her presence and ideas. Love how the author put in small stuff that could be used as great openers for Maddies' own book (it's just my wishful hoping).
The rest of the good things from the first book version remain and my opinion on them haven't changed. It's a great read, made for a cozy day inside, with some tea and cake next to it.
This cozy blend of bookshop bakery romance made me feel like someone read my thoughts about certain romance plots cliches and put them on paper in the form of Louise's thoughts. I understood well how her thoughts would run with her imagination, creating all those scenarios.
Loved how they created the bookshop part of the bakery, how the community got together for Louise, how Maddie, Louise's ex-step-daughter, was such a big part of the plot, helping it to go along and create those iconic ideas. I loved Maddie a lot and I really hoped she would get her happy ending. It wasn't meant for this book, but maybe she will get her own book where a happy ending is in the cards for her.
The chemistry between Louise and Giacomo/Jack was well-written in the first part, but after Jack's lie has been discovered, it just fizzled out and it became awkward until it could be recovered even a tiny bit.
As for the parts that made me dislike it: Giacomo/Jack's lie and how he just went with it, without making at least some research about anything. There's a bit too much repetition going on, and with the way it kept repeating about what Louise did at her old job without even a hint, it made me think Louise printed a book about drugs or worse topics out there. The reveal of the truth was a bit anti-climatic with how much Louise made it sound like it was the end of the world.
Even with all that, it was a great reading. Cozy and with a message that no one should stop fighting for their dreams. Even if it might not work out the way we all want it to, we tried and maybe we find other solutions and paths. And that's all that matters. Having a bit of a romance and such detailed descriptions of the bookshop bakery Louise opened helped a lot to show the message.
Edit after new version of the book:
Old rating: 4⭐️
New rating: 4.5⭐️
It remains a great read about a cozy bookshop bakery in a community that will be there for each other, even those on the meaner side.
Love the fact that both author and publisher took reader's opinion into account and made changes before publishing. This new version is smoother, taking out Jack's lie, creating a new narrative around Jack and Louise's relationship. Their interactions lingered more in my mind, the chemistry bumping up as there was no awkward lie right there in the middle.
Maddie still remains my favorite of the book, the heart of this entire venture Louise sets forth on. She helps so much, from being hands-on with helping, to artistic creator. Everything sails smoothly due to her presence and ideas. Love how the author put in small stuff that could be used as great openers for Maddies' own book (it's just my wishful hoping).
The rest of the good things from the first book version remain and my opinion on them haven't changed. It's a great read, made for a cozy day inside, with some tea and cake next to it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page is the definition of a warm, comforting cosy read and completely wrapped me up in its charming small-town atmosphere from the very first pages. Filled with delicious baked treats, emotional second chances, family dynamics, and bookish charm, this story felt like stepping into the perfect autumn Hallmark movie.
Louise Dearnley was such a relatable and refreshing main character. After years spent editing fictional happy endings, she suddenly finds herself back in her Yorkshire hometown trying to rebuild her own life after walking away from everything she once knew. Her journey felt realistic, emotional, and quietly inspiring as she slowly reconnects with herself, her family, and the community around her.
One of the things I loved most about this book was the atmosphere Jennifer Page creates. Applethwaite feels wonderfully alive with its quirky locals, cosy bakery setting, comforting scents of ginger cake and fresh scones, and the kind of small-town warmth that makes you wish the place was real. The combination of books and baking was absolutely irresistible and added such a comforting layer to the entire story.
The relationships throughout the book were beautifully done, especially the found-family elements and Louise’s connection with her unexpected ex-stepdaughter. The romance was sweet, gentle, and full of chemistry without overshadowing Louise’s personal growth journey. The gorgeous Italian love interest added just the right amount of charm and emotional depth to the story.
Overall, The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a heartfelt, uplifting, and wonderfully cosy read that perfectly balances romance, humour, healing, and community spirit. Fans of cosy fiction, second-chance stories, and small-town romances will absolutely adore this book. I already cannot wait to return to the world of the Bookshop Bakery series.
Louise Dearnley was such a relatable and refreshing main character. After years spent editing fictional happy endings, she suddenly finds herself back in her Yorkshire hometown trying to rebuild her own life after walking away from everything she once knew. Her journey felt realistic, emotional, and quietly inspiring as she slowly reconnects with herself, her family, and the community around her.
One of the things I loved most about this book was the atmosphere Jennifer Page creates. Applethwaite feels wonderfully alive with its quirky locals, cosy bakery setting, comforting scents of ginger cake and fresh scones, and the kind of small-town warmth that makes you wish the place was real. The combination of books and baking was absolutely irresistible and added such a comforting layer to the entire story.
The relationships throughout the book were beautifully done, especially the found-family elements and Louise’s connection with her unexpected ex-stepdaughter. The romance was sweet, gentle, and full of chemistry without overshadowing Louise’s personal growth journey. The gorgeous Italian love interest added just the right amount of charm and emotional depth to the story.
Overall, The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a heartfelt, uplifting, and wonderfully cosy read that perfectly balances romance, humour, healing, and community spirit. Fans of cosy fiction, second-chance stories, and small-town romances will absolutely adore this book. I already cannot wait to return to the world of the Bookshop Bakery series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🚨 SPOILER ALERT: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
I am giving The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page a 3-star review. ⭐⭐⭐
It’s a good book, but I just didn't fully connect with this one. The cozy atmosphere seemed absolutely perfect for my Kindle, but unfortunately, the emotional depth didn't entirely deliver on the promise of that gorgeous cover.
ARC Disclosure: Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author, Jennifer Page, for providing an early digital review copy. All opinions shared here are entirely my own!
The Review
The story brings us into a dream setup: a charming, combined bookshop and bakery that serves as the heart of a close-knit community. We follow Louise as she navigates the trials of running this cozy business, and Jack, the man who enters her life and quickly becomes a permanent fixture in her daily routine. It's designed to be a sweet, comfort-read contemporary romance about second chances, community, and finding love in the most heartwarming of places.
The Good
On paper, this has everything I usually love. The setting itself is an absolute dream—who doesn't want to get lost in a bookshop bakery filled with the scent of fresh pastries and old pages? It's definitely a good book with a lot of sweet moments, and the overall premise had a ton of potential to be a new comforting favorite.
The Not So Good
The premise of the book was just more than what I got, imho. Though I liked Louise, something was missing from her as the FMC... dunno what. She just lacked that extra spark or depth to make me truly root for her. And while Jack was an OK MMC, the lying is a big NO for me. Deception in a cozy romance instantly sours the vibe, and it made it incredibly difficult for me to buy into their connection once the truth started slipping out. It really kept me at arm's length the entire time
I am giving The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page a 3-star review. ⭐⭐⭐
It’s a good book, but I just didn't fully connect with this one. The cozy atmosphere seemed absolutely perfect for my Kindle, but unfortunately, the emotional depth didn't entirely deliver on the promise of that gorgeous cover.
ARC Disclosure: Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author, Jennifer Page, for providing an early digital review copy. All opinions shared here are entirely my own!
The Review
The story brings us into a dream setup: a charming, combined bookshop and bakery that serves as the heart of a close-knit community. We follow Louise as she navigates the trials of running this cozy business, and Jack, the man who enters her life and quickly becomes a permanent fixture in her daily routine. It's designed to be a sweet, comfort-read contemporary romance about second chances, community, and finding love in the most heartwarming of places.
The Good
On paper, this has everything I usually love. The setting itself is an absolute dream—who doesn't want to get lost in a bookshop bakery filled with the scent of fresh pastries and old pages? It's definitely a good book with a lot of sweet moments, and the overall premise had a ton of potential to be a new comforting favorite.
The Not So Good
The premise of the book was just more than what I got, imho. Though I liked Louise, something was missing from her as the FMC... dunno what. She just lacked that extra spark or depth to make me truly root for her. And while Jack was an OK MMC, the lying is a big NO for me. Deception in a cozy romance instantly sours the vibe, and it made it incredibly difficult for me to buy into their connection once the truth started slipping out. It really kept me at arm's length the entire time
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a cosy hub for romance literature. The story is set in a fictional village, Applethwaite, in Yorkshire, UK. It’s about a second chance at midlife and career, following your dreams and family. The author has written a charming story that inspired and encouraged building and reinventing your life even at a later stage in life.
Louise Dearnley returns to her hometown after resigning from her position as an editor due to a blunder at work that ruined a writer’s career. She finds herself confronting her mother’s and neighbours’ expectations, old memories, and the constant uncertainty of her future. She reluctantly reopens her family’s bakery while navigating the addition of a bookshop alongside it, her lacklustre love life, and the arrival of her ex-husband’s daughter, Maddie, at her doorstep.
My Thoughts
This story is a slow-paced cosy romance that you should read during rainy days with tea or coffee and a delicious dessert. The intensity of her conflicts is mild, and plot twists are underwhelming. The book lacks the emphasis of the bakery side. The only thing that the villagers seem to order is the ginger cake and coffee or tea. There are no delicious descriptions of that either. The title said 'Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery', and I would love to see a bit more than just ginger cake.
Another annoying part of the book is when Louise keeps going back to comparing her life to the books she edited. I love Maddie. She’s so creative and a pillar for Louise throughout the addition and process of the bookshop. She adds humour and emotional depth, which reminds me of the Gilmore Girls series. Therefore, this is a 3.5-star rating for me.
In conclusion, The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a comforting and heartwarming read for fans of cosy romance, village settings, and new beginnings.
Louise Dearnley returns to her hometown after resigning from her position as an editor due to a blunder at work that ruined a writer’s career. She finds herself confronting her mother’s and neighbours’ expectations, old memories, and the constant uncertainty of her future. She reluctantly reopens her family’s bakery while navigating the addition of a bookshop alongside it, her lacklustre love life, and the arrival of her ex-husband’s daughter, Maddie, at her doorstep.
My Thoughts
This story is a slow-paced cosy romance that you should read during rainy days with tea or coffee and a delicious dessert. The intensity of her conflicts is mild, and plot twists are underwhelming. The book lacks the emphasis of the bakery side. The only thing that the villagers seem to order is the ginger cake and coffee or tea. There are no delicious descriptions of that either. The title said 'Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery', and I would love to see a bit more than just ginger cake.
Another annoying part of the book is when Louise keeps going back to comparing her life to the books she edited. I love Maddie. She’s so creative and a pillar for Louise throughout the addition and process of the bookshop. She adds humour and emotional depth, which reminds me of the Gilmore Girls series. Therefore, this is a 3.5-star rating for me.
In conclusion, The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is a comforting and heartwarming read for fans of cosy romance, village settings, and new beginnings.
May 22, 2026
Cosy, sweet and bookish? What more could you want from an Autumnal read. The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is for the fans of small town romance and ‘Gilmore Girls’. I wanted to step into this book and live in the bookshop bakery!
This was my first read by Jennifer Page and I devoured it in one sitting. Our main character Louise, is extremely likeable, relatable at times too. She just wants the best for the people around her, she doesn’t want to let anyone down, this is something i’m sure many of us can relate to. Louise is coming from an editing job back in London, to her home town to start again, after a career ending mistake. As you can imagine cliches are thrown in there, which I am a sucker for, and being as this is a romance novel, she will be introduced to a guy. I found that her relationship with ‘Jack’ was a little lacklustre. Nothing was solidified, I also found at points they had very little chemistry so it was hard to root for them as a couple. Louise talks about numerous ‘tropes’ throughout the book so I was expecting these to come into effect. They did to a certain extent but I would have liked more. I understand that this is the first book in a new series, so it will be interesting to see how their relationship will progress.
The book itself is very picturesque, it’s cosy, it’s warm, it’s a perfect book to curl up on the sofa with a cuppa. It’s all round comforting, it’s satisfying finding out the reality of the bookshop bakery, its uplifting finding out that everything will be okay for our main character and that its ok to step out of your comfort zone. The cosiness of this book is what kept me going, it really is a comfort book which is something every reader needs!
Thankyou to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an ARC of this book!
This was my first read by Jennifer Page and I devoured it in one sitting. Our main character Louise, is extremely likeable, relatable at times too. She just wants the best for the people around her, she doesn’t want to let anyone down, this is something i’m sure many of us can relate to. Louise is coming from an editing job back in London, to her home town to start again, after a career ending mistake. As you can imagine cliches are thrown in there, which I am a sucker for, and being as this is a romance novel, she will be introduced to a guy. I found that her relationship with ‘Jack’ was a little lacklustre. Nothing was solidified, I also found at points they had very little chemistry so it was hard to root for them as a couple. Louise talks about numerous ‘tropes’ throughout the book so I was expecting these to come into effect. They did to a certain extent but I would have liked more. I understand that this is the first book in a new series, so it will be interesting to see how their relationship will progress.
The book itself is very picturesque, it’s cosy, it’s warm, it’s a perfect book to curl up on the sofa with a cuppa. It’s all round comforting, it’s satisfying finding out the reality of the bookshop bakery, its uplifting finding out that everything will be okay for our main character and that its ok to step out of your comfort zone. The cosiness of this book is what kept me going, it really is a comfort book which is something every reader needs!
Thankyou to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an ARC of this book!
June 15, 2026
It was a pleasure to read this ARC and definitely was my type of romance. Any book set in a bookshop or bakery in usually going to enjoy.
You can tell this author is a reader as they truly captured what a reader would want from an independent bookshop. I found it refreshing that the FMC wasn't a young twenty something, she had a successful career and a romantic past, yet still pursued a childhood dream.
Centring the story on a women building a business, rather than the romance being the central storyline made me resonate with it more. I liked that the FMC didn't automatically know she was going to be successful in business. Her self doubt shining through made her super relatable. However, I did think it was wild and impulsive when she announced she was going to close the bookstore after a week.
The main reveal we were all anticipating was a little bit of an anti-climax. I thought the build up to her mess up as an editor was good but was then disappointed with the actual content. I seriously thought she'd accidentally published something that wasn't politically correct.
Maybe focusing more on sending the wrong copy for print would have been better (surely editors triple check this before sending) but publishing a version that the author obviously approved, wrote and preferred seems like a non issue? Definitely not bad enough to run away and hide. It seemed a little pathetic to me and like the author was staying too safe.
I wasn't 100% sold on the romance but it felt realistic. She was so hung up on the MMC being a liar and then suddenly was over it without another word. Overall this was more of a 3.5 star read for me but for a bookish palate cleanser or a cosy romance, this is definitely one to reach for.
You can tell this author is a reader as they truly captured what a reader would want from an independent bookshop. I found it refreshing that the FMC wasn't a young twenty something, she had a successful career and a romantic past, yet still pursued a childhood dream.
Centring the story on a women building a business, rather than the romance being the central storyline made me resonate with it more. I liked that the FMC didn't automatically know she was going to be successful in business. Her self doubt shining through made her super relatable. However, I did think it was wild and impulsive when she announced she was going to close the bookstore after a week.
The main reveal we were all anticipating was a little bit of an anti-climax. I thought the build up to her mess up as an editor was good but was then disappointed with the actual content. I seriously thought she'd accidentally published something that wasn't politically correct.
Maybe focusing more on sending the wrong copy for print would have been better (surely editors triple check this before sending) but publishing a version that the author obviously approved, wrote and preferred seems like a non issue? Definitely not bad enough to run away and hide. It seemed a little pathetic to me and like the author was staying too safe.
I wasn't 100% sold on the romance but it felt realistic. She was so hung up on the MMC being a liar and then suddenly was over it without another word. Overall this was more of a 3.5 star read for me but for a bookish palate cleanser or a cosy romance, this is definitely one to reach for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
This was exactly the cosy palate cleanser I needed! 🥹✨
In between devouring a fantasy series, I was craving something lighter and heartwarming, and this delivered exactly that. From the charming Yorkshire setting to the bookshop bakery itself, I found myself completely immersed in this cosy escape.
The story follows a woman returning home for a fresh start, where old memories, new opportunities, renovations, and unexpected connections begin to shape her future. It’s a heartwarming story about second chances, community, and finding where you truly belong.
TROPES:
🏠 Forced Proximity & Renovations
💕 Second Chance Romance
🌿 Coming Home / Fresh Start
🤍 Found Family
🌸 Quirky Locals
PERFECT FOR FANS OF:
☕ Gilmore Girls & Virgin River
💕 Second Chance Romance
📚 Bookish Hooks
🧁 Sweet Treats
🤍 Found Family
✨ All Things Cosy
As a book lover, this setting was basically my dream. A bookshop AND a bakery? Honestly, I’d never leave. I spent most of this book wishing I owned one myself because I’d be completely in my element surrounded by books, coffee, cakes, and cosy corners.
One of my favourite things was the sense of community. The quirky locals and found family vibes made the town feel so real, and Jennifer Page created the kind of place that makes you want to pack your bags and move there immediately.
The romance was sweet, the characters were easy to root for, and the Yorkshire backdrop added so much charm. It genuinely felt like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket with a hot drink while listening to the rain outside.
A joy to read from beginning to end and the perfect escape when you need a break from heavier reads.
If you’re looking for a cosy romance filled with books, baking, second chances, and small-town charm, add this one to your TBR. 📚🧁✨
This was exactly the cosy palate cleanser I needed! 🥹✨
In between devouring a fantasy series, I was craving something lighter and heartwarming, and this delivered exactly that. From the charming Yorkshire setting to the bookshop bakery itself, I found myself completely immersed in this cosy escape.
The story follows a woman returning home for a fresh start, where old memories, new opportunities, renovations, and unexpected connections begin to shape her future. It’s a heartwarming story about second chances, community, and finding where you truly belong.
TROPES:
🏠 Forced Proximity & Renovations
💕 Second Chance Romance
🌿 Coming Home / Fresh Start
🤍 Found Family
🌸 Quirky Locals
PERFECT FOR FANS OF:
☕ Gilmore Girls & Virgin River
💕 Second Chance Romance
📚 Bookish Hooks
🧁 Sweet Treats
🤍 Found Family
✨ All Things Cosy
As a book lover, this setting was basically my dream. A bookshop AND a bakery? Honestly, I’d never leave. I spent most of this book wishing I owned one myself because I’d be completely in my element surrounded by books, coffee, cakes, and cosy corners.
One of my favourite things was the sense of community. The quirky locals and found family vibes made the town feel so real, and Jennifer Page created the kind of place that makes you want to pack your bags and move there immediately.
The romance was sweet, the characters were easy to root for, and the Yorkshire backdrop added so much charm. It genuinely felt like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket with a hot drink while listening to the rain outside.
A joy to read from beginning to end and the perfect escape when you need a break from heavier reads.
If you’re looking for a cosy romance filled with books, baking, second chances, and small-town charm, add this one to your TBR. 📚🧁✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After a career setback, Louise moves to her hometown in Yorkshire and helps out at the family bakery while navigating the obstacles of a close-knit small-town community.
Spoiler-free review:
The premise immediately drew me in because a bookshop bakery genuinely sounds like my ideal place to spend an afternoon. The cozy atmosphere was definitely the highlight of the book for me. I loved the descriptions of the shelves packed with books and all the delicious baked treats Louise created, they made the setting feel warm, welcoming, and easy to get lost in. The small-town English setting added even more charm and gave the story that comforting, cozy feel I was hoping for.
That said, I struggled to connect with the characters. Louise was easy to root for at first, but as the story went on, I never felt fully invested in her journey, and her growth didn’t feel strong enough to make the payoff satisfying.
The romance also didn’t work for me. I kept waiting for the chemistry between Louise and Jack to develop, but it never really happened. In the end, while I loved the idea behind the story, the execution left me feeling a bit disappointed.
The pacing was also slow at times, especially when the character development and romance seemed to stall. The cozy atmosphere kept me reading, but the story lacked momentum, and the romance never developed enough chemistry to feel convincing.
I was also disappointed by the reveal of Louise’s past mistake. It had been built up so much that I expected something far more significant.
⭐ Rating: 2.5/5
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Spoiler-free review:
The premise immediately drew me in because a bookshop bakery genuinely sounds like my ideal place to spend an afternoon. The cozy atmosphere was definitely the highlight of the book for me. I loved the descriptions of the shelves packed with books and all the delicious baked treats Louise created, they made the setting feel warm, welcoming, and easy to get lost in. The small-town English setting added even more charm and gave the story that comforting, cozy feel I was hoping for.
That said, I struggled to connect with the characters. Louise was easy to root for at first, but as the story went on, I never felt fully invested in her journey, and her growth didn’t feel strong enough to make the payoff satisfying.
The romance also didn’t work for me. I kept waiting for the chemistry between Louise and Jack to develop, but it never really happened. In the end, while I loved the idea behind the story, the execution left me feeling a bit disappointed.
The pacing was also slow at times, especially when the character development and romance seemed to stall. The cozy atmosphere kept me reading, but the story lacked momentum, and the romance never developed enough chemistry to feel convincing.
I was also disappointed by the reveal of Louise’s past mistake. It had been built up so much that I expected something far more significant.
⭐ Rating: 2.5/5
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is exactly the kind of story that feels like stepping into a warm kitchen on a cold day — cosy, fragrant, and full of heart. Jennifer Page delivers a charming, quietly uplifting novel about starting over when life doesn’t go to plan, and I adored every minute of it.
Louise Dearnley is such a refreshing heroine: mid‑forties, bruised by life, and absolutely not in the mood to explain herself to anyone. Watching her return to Applethwaite — a village that’s equal parts nosy, nurturing, and utterly irresistible — is both funny and tender. The tension between wanting a fresh start and being pulled back into old expectations is beautifully handled, especially with her mother’s unwavering belief that Louise is destined to revive the family bakery.
The baking scenes are delightful (the ginger cake alone deserves its own fan club), but what really shines is the emotional layering. Louise’s unexpected bond with her quirky ex‑stepdaughter adds warmth and humour, and the arrival of a charming Italian love interest brings just the right amount of sparkle without ever feeling forced.
This is a story about second chances, but also about giving yourself permission to want more — more joy, more connection, more life. It’s gentle, heartfelt, and quietly empowering.
If you love cosy village settings, found family, and heroines who feel wonderfully real, this book is an absolute treat. A perfect curl‑up‑with‑a‑cuppa read.
With thanks to Jennifer Page, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Louise Dearnley is such a refreshing heroine: mid‑forties, bruised by life, and absolutely not in the mood to explain herself to anyone. Watching her return to Applethwaite — a village that’s equal parts nosy, nurturing, and utterly irresistible — is both funny and tender. The tension between wanting a fresh start and being pulled back into old expectations is beautifully handled, especially with her mother’s unwavering belief that Louise is destined to revive the family bakery.
The baking scenes are delightful (the ginger cake alone deserves its own fan club), but what really shines is the emotional layering. Louise’s unexpected bond with her quirky ex‑stepdaughter adds warmth and humour, and the arrival of a charming Italian love interest brings just the right amount of sparkle without ever feeling forced.
This is a story about second chances, but also about giving yourself permission to want more — more joy, more connection, more life. It’s gentle, heartfelt, and quietly empowering.
If you love cosy village settings, found family, and heroines who feel wonderfully real, this book is an absolute treat. A perfect curl‑up‑with‑a‑cuppa read.
With thanks to Jennifer Page, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
July 17, 2026
This was a cute, cozy read, but honestly, I liked the idea of it more than the actual story. A bookshop and bakery in a small Yorkshire village sounded completely up my alley, especially with that autumn cover. The atmosphere was sweet, and I loved all the baked goods, books, and little reading spaces. It was definitely an easy, low-stakes read, but the setting never felt quite as magical or memorable as I hoped it would.
I loved that Louise is 41, divorced, and starting over. It was nice to read about a woman rebuilding her life in her forties, but I still wanted more from her emotionally. I never disliked her, but I also never felt fully connected to her. The best part of the book for me was her relationship with Maddie. Their bond felt geniune, and realistically complicated.
The romance just.. did not work for me. Louise and Jack had some potential, but the flirting happened so abruptly that their connection mostly felt physical, and never moved on from there. I kept waiting for more chemistry, more tension, or just more of a reason to root for them, and it didn't happened. The story was also pretty clichéd, dragged in a few places, and left a couple of storylines hanging, so the ending felt a little abrupt.
Overall, this had a really cute premise and plenty of cozy charm, but I wanted stronger characters and a romance that felt a lot more believable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved that Louise is 41, divorced, and starting over. It was nice to read about a woman rebuilding her life in her forties, but I still wanted more from her emotionally. I never disliked her, but I also never felt fully connected to her. The best part of the book for me was her relationship with Maddie. Their bond felt geniune, and realistically complicated.
The romance just.. did not work for me. Louise and Jack had some potential, but the flirting happened so abruptly that their connection mostly felt physical, and never moved on from there. I kept waiting for more chemistry, more tension, or just more of a reason to root for them, and it didn't happened. The story was also pretty clichéd, dragged in a few places, and left a couple of storylines hanging, so the ending felt a little abrupt.
Overall, this had a really cute premise and plenty of cozy charm, but I wanted stronger characters and a romance that felt a lot more believable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🧡 Blurb -
Louise Dearnley has spent her life editing perfectly neat love stories, where heartbreak leads to fresh starts, charming small businesses bloom, and happily-ever-afters are guaranteed.
But now in her forties, she's quit her job – and no, she doesn't want to talk about why – and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Starting over doesn't feel nearly so much fun in real life as it does in fiction.
It also doesn't help that her mother is convinced she's here to run the family bakery, especially as the locals can't get enough of Louise's legendary ginger cake and scrumptious scones. Between renovations, a quirky ex-stepdaughter (who's unexpectedly come to stay) and a gorgeous Italian who seems too good to be true, Louise's second chance begins to take shape.
💚 Review-
The Sugar And Spice Bookshop Bakery was the most perfect Autumn read. It gave off the most perfect cosy season vibes that goes together with a comfy reading spot, cushions, blankets and a pumpkin spice latte. From the very first page the author's writing had me hooked and I was entertained all the way through. I loved Louise's character and I wanted her to have her happy ending, plus I loved the small town place setting, it sounded cute and cosy. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
💖 Thank you to Head Of Zeus, the author Jennifer Page and Netgalley for my e arc copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Louise Dearnley has spent her life editing perfectly neat love stories, where heartbreak leads to fresh starts, charming small businesses bloom, and happily-ever-afters are guaranteed.
But now in her forties, she's quit her job – and no, she doesn't want to talk about why – and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Starting over doesn't feel nearly so much fun in real life as it does in fiction.
It also doesn't help that her mother is convinced she's here to run the family bakery, especially as the locals can't get enough of Louise's legendary ginger cake and scrumptious scones. Between renovations, a quirky ex-stepdaughter (who's unexpectedly come to stay) and a gorgeous Italian who seems too good to be true, Louise's second chance begins to take shape.
💚 Review-
The Sugar And Spice Bookshop Bakery was the most perfect Autumn read. It gave off the most perfect cosy season vibes that goes together with a comfy reading spot, cushions, blankets and a pumpkin spice latte. From the very first page the author's writing had me hooked and I was entertained all the way through. I loved Louise's character and I wanted her to have her happy ending, plus I loved the small town place setting, it sounded cute and cosy. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
💖 Thank you to Head Of Zeus, the author Jennifer Page and Netgalley for my e arc copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If I were ever to open my own shop, it would be an independent bookshop combined with a bakery café, a quiet, cosy space filled with comfy chairs and plush sofas where readers can immediately dive into their new purchases. So when I started listening to The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery, it truly felt as though Jennifer Page had stepped inside my head!
This was such a lighthearted, warm and feel-good listen with lovely, comforting autumn vibes. I adored the bookshop atmosphere, the clever reader nooks Louise creates, the mouthwatering cake descriptions and the sweet, authentic romance. Having Louise come from an editorial background added a brilliant layer to the story: I loved her internal musings on how her own life and romance were unfolding compared to the tropes of the romance novels she used to edit.
While the plot didn't hold huge surprises and the "big reveal" wasn't particularly shocking, it didn't lessen my enjoyment one bit. I was fully invested in Louise's journey and wanted nothing more than for her to succeed. I only wish this bookshop existed in my town!
Caroline McNally-Smith did a fine job with the narration, capturing the tone, the character voices and the cosy Yorkshire setting really well.
This is a fantastic, comforting start to a new series and I look forward to picking up the next book by this author!
This was such a lighthearted, warm and feel-good listen with lovely, comforting autumn vibes. I adored the bookshop atmosphere, the clever reader nooks Louise creates, the mouthwatering cake descriptions and the sweet, authentic romance. Having Louise come from an editorial background added a brilliant layer to the story: I loved her internal musings on how her own life and romance were unfolding compared to the tropes of the romance novels she used to edit.
While the plot didn't hold huge surprises and the "big reveal" wasn't particularly shocking, it didn't lessen my enjoyment one bit. I was fully invested in Louise's journey and wanted nothing more than for her to succeed. I only wish this bookshop existed in my town!
Caroline McNally-Smith did a fine job with the narration, capturing the tone, the character voices and the cosy Yorkshire setting really well.
This is a fantastic, comforting start to a new series and I look forward to picking up the next book by this author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is adorable. For many readers this is going to be a perfect easy read with a bit of a fall vibe. The characters are easy to get to know and the challenges are all fairly low stakes. You can see the hea coming from miles away.
If open door romance isn’t your thing, then this is even better. The romance is open door, but there is only one mild scene. It would be easy enough to skim past the intimate passages without losing any of the story.
I put this firmly in the “beach read” category even though I’d imagine reading it on a chilly fall day with a cup of tea in hand.
Having said that, for me personally it’s really only a 3.25. I didn’t love any of the main characters. Louise is too old to be running away from challenges in life so easily, and frankly, so is Jack. If they were both 10 years younger the story might’ve made more sense to me. I’m just not interested in a book where the main tension is the MMCs failure to tell his dad the truth about his career. And frankly, the fact that this is what keeps the FMC from being invested in their relationship is just as annoying. And then the step daughter’s refusal to walk away from what is obviously a terrible relationship…ugh.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for offering me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
If open door romance isn’t your thing, then this is even better. The romance is open door, but there is only one mild scene. It would be easy enough to skim past the intimate passages without losing any of the story.
I put this firmly in the “beach read” category even though I’d imagine reading it on a chilly fall day with a cup of tea in hand.
Having said that, for me personally it’s really only a 3.25. I didn’t love any of the main characters. Louise is too old to be running away from challenges in life so easily, and frankly, so is Jack. If they were both 10 years younger the story might’ve made more sense to me. I’m just not interested in a book where the main tension is the MMCs failure to tell his dad the truth about his career. And frankly, the fact that this is what keeps the FMC from being invested in their relationship is just as annoying. And then the step daughter’s refusal to walk away from what is obviously a terrible relationship…ugh.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for offering me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
When Louise makes a mistake at her job as an editor, she quits and returns to the village she grew up in to take stock. She’s quickly strong armed by her mother into taking over the family bakery, despite not wanting to- her dream has always been to own and run a book shop. But soon she wonders if maybe the bakery premises would be the perfect spot for this shop. Meeting and befriending Jack who has also just moved to the village pushes her idea along, and whilst the unexpected arrival of her ex step daughter could throw a spanner in the works, Maddie actually proves to be an incredible asset to Louise’s vision and project.
Overall I really enjoyed this story- a cute, feel good, uplifting read. I loved seeing the book shop and book books come together, and the relationship between Louise and Maddie was lovely.
My least favourite part was the romance- I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the 2 main characters and didn’t like how Jack behaved on multiple occasions, I thought Louise deserved better. There were a few side characters I disliked too but they were necessary for the plot and worked well.
I really hope Maddie gets a book in future!
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
When Louise makes a mistake at her job as an editor, she quits and returns to the village she grew up in to take stock. She’s quickly strong armed by her mother into taking over the family bakery, despite not wanting to- her dream has always been to own and run a book shop. But soon she wonders if maybe the bakery premises would be the perfect spot for this shop. Meeting and befriending Jack who has also just moved to the village pushes her idea along, and whilst the unexpected arrival of her ex step daughter could throw a spanner in the works, Maddie actually proves to be an incredible asset to Louise’s vision and project.
Overall I really enjoyed this story- a cute, feel good, uplifting read. I loved seeing the book shop and book books come together, and the relationship between Louise and Maddie was lovely.
My least favourite part was the romance- I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the 2 main characters and didn’t like how Jack behaved on multiple occasions, I thought Louise deserved better. There were a few side characters I disliked too but they were necessary for the plot and worked well.
I really hope Maddie gets a book in future!
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a classically cozy contemporary romance with the usual set up: our FMC has faced a disaster and fled, returning home to lick her wounds and find a new path. Awaiting her in her picturesque small home town is a bakery for her to run, and unexpectedly a handsome man to boot. But of course, getting to the HEA won't be a straight path, that's where the goodness is!
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I was happily surprised that the MMC was at times as vulnerable as the FMC. He was always careful with consent, and their lives have a lovely little mirror that made their fast bonding understandable.
I will say I didn't really enjoy the cheeky fourth wall breaks, so if that bothers just be warned. Also, The Uncanny Podcast and Dany Robbins gets panned I think like four separate times? Not a mention of our experts Evelyn Hollow and Ciarán O'Keeffe, or 'team' skeptic' nor 'team believer'? IMO a missed opportunity for some great sarcastic quips - and I'm a fan of the podcast, on Team Undecided.
The intimate scenes were quite mild, the first was fade to blank, and the second was tame in wording and detail, as is expected of contemporary romance. It was just enough to be exciting after all the building tension, but not over the top.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I was happily surprised that the MMC was at times as vulnerable as the FMC. He was always careful with consent, and their lives have a lovely little mirror that made their fast bonding understandable.
I will say I didn't really enjoy the cheeky fourth wall breaks, so if that bothers just be warned. Also, The Uncanny Podcast and Dany Robbins gets panned I think like four separate times? Not a mention of our experts Evelyn Hollow and Ciarán O'Keeffe, or 'team' skeptic' nor 'team believer'? IMO a missed opportunity for some great sarcastic quips - and I'm a fan of the podcast, on Team Undecided.
The intimate scenes were quite mild, the first was fade to blank, and the second was tame in wording and detail, as is expected of contemporary romance. It was just enough to be exciting after all the building tension, but not over the top.
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