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The Sunshine And Biscotti Club
Moving to Italy to set up a baking club is a dream come true…
…until Libby catches her husband cheating just weeks before The Sunshine and Biscotti Club opens its doors.
With the first wave of guests set to arrive any day, Libby has no choice but to tie on her apron and get set to bake. But with a dash of sunshine and a sprinkling of old friends, Libby’s kitchen nightmare might just become the best thing that’s ever happened to her.
After all, you can’t bake biscotti without breaking a few eggs…
For guaranteed sunshine all holiday long, pack your bags and escape to The Sunshine and Biscotti Club – the irresistible new book from Jenny Oliver!
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2016
314 people are currently reading
1186 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Oliver
24 books253 followersJenny Oliver is the bestselling author of The Summerhouse by the Sea - the PERFECT book for your summer reading! Out May 18th.
Her book The Sunshine and Biscotti Club, set in sunny Tuscany, was nominated for the Best Contemporary Romantic Novel at the RONA awards.
Jenny wrote her first book on holiday when she was ten years old. Illustrated with cut-out supermodels from her sister's Vogue, it was an epic, sweeping love story not so loosely based Dynasty.
Since then Jenny has gone on to get an English degree and a job in publishing that's taught her what it takes to write a novel (without the help of the supermodels). She wrote her first book The Parisian Christmas Bake Off on the beach in a notebook that would end up covered in sand each afternoon and damp from the sea. Nowadays her inspiration comes from her love of all things vintage, a fascination with other people’s relationships and an unwavering belief in happy ever after!
If you are looking for some bite-size reads why not try her Cherry Pie Island novella series. The first five books - The Grand Reopening of Dandelion Cafe, The Vintage Ice Cream Van Road Trip, The Great Allotment Proposal, One Summer Night at the Ritz and Four Weddings and a White Christmas are out NOW! Mouthwatering, feel-good and the ultimate escapism!
Follow her on Twitter @JenOliverBooks, Instagram jenoliverbooks or go to the website jennyoliverbooks.com to find out more about Jenny, her books and read her blog!
Her book The Sunshine and Biscotti Club, set in sunny Tuscany, was nominated for the Best Contemporary Romantic Novel at the RONA awards.
Jenny wrote her first book on holiday when she was ten years old. Illustrated with cut-out supermodels from her sister's Vogue, it was an epic, sweeping love story not so loosely based Dynasty.
Since then Jenny has gone on to get an English degree and a job in publishing that's taught her what it takes to write a novel (without the help of the supermodels). She wrote her first book The Parisian Christmas Bake Off on the beach in a notebook that would end up covered in sand each afternoon and damp from the sea. Nowadays her inspiration comes from her love of all things vintage, a fascination with other people’s relationships and an unwavering belief in happy ever after!
If you are looking for some bite-size reads why not try her Cherry Pie Island novella series. The first five books - The Grand Reopening of Dandelion Cafe, The Vintage Ice Cream Van Road Trip, The Great Allotment Proposal, One Summer Night at the Ritz and Four Weddings and a White Christmas are out NOW! Mouthwatering, feel-good and the ultimate escapism!
Follow her on Twitter @JenOliverBooks, Instagram jenoliverbooks or go to the website jennyoliverbooks.com to find out more about Jenny, her books and read her blog!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
May 18, 2016
This was a delightful summer read combining old friendships, hazy summer days, romance, renovating the Hotel Limoncello before it reopens to offer cooking holidays.
Libby finds out her husband has been cheating just before she is due to open her old family business. She calls on her group of friends from Uni days and they all arrive ready to paint and renew the hotel rooms and practice the classes Libby is going to offer.
Evie's marriage is feeling a little tired and she thinks the break may clear the air and give them chance to work at their relationship when she gets back.
Jessica is a workaholic, trying to forget her first love from Uni. When she arrives at the hotel she finds her first love is also there to help.
'Biscotti is served with a side of love, laughter and ice cold limoncello'. I adored all the images this book conjured up for me- and I had to buy a bottle of limoncello to hopefully enjoy on a summer evening sitting outside in the garden. I love books that leave you with feelings of warm, cosy memories- as if you'd gone along on the journey with the characters.
The break gives all the old friends to work through their memories and give healing vibes where needed. You are willing it all to be a success when a trip reviewer arrives before he's expected and he's left feeling the same warmth the friends envelop each other with..
One of my favourite lines was
"She could smell the lemons in the air and see the moon reflected in lines of white on the lapping water". Doesn't that just make you want to book into the Hotel Limoncello and sit there enjoying the evenings and the scents of the area?!
Libby finds out her husband has been cheating just before she is due to open her old family business. She calls on her group of friends from Uni days and they all arrive ready to paint and renew the hotel rooms and practice the classes Libby is going to offer.
Evie's marriage is feeling a little tired and she thinks the break may clear the air and give them chance to work at their relationship when she gets back.
Jessica is a workaholic, trying to forget her first love from Uni. When she arrives at the hotel she finds her first love is also there to help.
'Biscotti is served with a side of love, laughter and ice cold limoncello'. I adored all the images this book conjured up for me- and I had to buy a bottle of limoncello to hopefully enjoy on a summer evening sitting outside in the garden. I love books that leave you with feelings of warm, cosy memories- as if you'd gone along on the journey with the characters.
The break gives all the old friends to work through their memories and give healing vibes where needed. You are willing it all to be a success when a trip reviewer arrives before he's expected and he's left feeling the same warmth the friends envelop each other with..
One of my favourite lines was
"She could smell the lemons in the air and see the moon reflected in lines of white on the lapping water". Doesn't that just make you want to book into the Hotel Limoncello and sit there enjoying the evenings and the scents of the area?!
August 3, 2017
What a gorgeous, summery read by Jenny Oliver. This cover is so beautiful, it's definitely one of the reasons I wanted to read this story - as well as the name! It just makes you feel so warm inside just by looking at it! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
One of the main things I enjoyed was getting to know the mix of friends that arrive to help Libby get her hotel (and The Sunshine and Biscotti Club) back on track. I loved the descriptions of each character and you really got a lovely feel of their friendships. Another thing I adored and made me long for a summer holiday of my own was the way Jenny described the hotel and the surroundings, the lake, the bar - and the lemons!
The story does alternate between the three female friends of the group - Libby, Evie and Jessica. Each very different in their own way but each fighting their own sort of personal battle. Along the way we learn more about the ladies and in turn come to realise exactly why they are like they are. This book had everything you want from a chick lit book - romance, laughter, friendship and more!
Overall, a very sunshiney enjoyable read. Would definitely recommend for a read by the pool this summer!
One of the main things I enjoyed was getting to know the mix of friends that arrive to help Libby get her hotel (and The Sunshine and Biscotti Club) back on track. I loved the descriptions of each character and you really got a lovely feel of their friendships. Another thing I adored and made me long for a summer holiday of my own was the way Jenny described the hotel and the surroundings, the lake, the bar - and the lemons!
The story does alternate between the three female friends of the group - Libby, Evie and Jessica. Each very different in their own way but each fighting their own sort of personal battle. Along the way we learn more about the ladies and in turn come to realise exactly why they are like they are. This book had everything you want from a chick lit book - romance, laughter, friendship and more!
Overall, a very sunshiney enjoyable read. Would definitely recommend for a read by the pool this summer!
May 8, 2016
Perfect summer reading in a nutshell, a story of friendship, a hotel renovation, broken hearts, new loves, the sunshine, and of course some delicious cookery. I started this when it was lovely and sunny outside, and couldn't put it down, it is easily my favourite book by Jenny Oliver, and if you like your chick lit warm hearted and summery then I'm sure it will become a firm favourite for you too.
The story alternates between the three leading ladies, Libby who is a food blogger and owner of the Hotel Limoncello. She has discovered her husband has been cheating on her, and the hotel isn't quite ready yet, so out goes the husband and in comes her huge friendship group from university days.
Evie, is mum to twins, and married to Peter, but there must be something in the air, as their marriage is in a bit of trouble too, so Evie agrees to go over to Tuscany to help Libby, despite them having barely spoken properly for a while, and the friendship is on the verge of breaking.
Then there is Jessica, who has been in love with another of their friends forever, but he married someone else. She is a bit of a loner, but she hasn't been in Italy for long before she catches the eye of a potential new man.
There is a great warmth to this book, not just due to its stunning location in Tuscany, but also with how the friends interact with each other, they may not have all been together for years, but it doesn't take long for the dynamic to return to shared memories and catching up on each other's lives.
There are a variety of threads of story weaved into this novel, and yet you don't feel lost, and I really did feel all the characters had incredibly separate personalities, as they banded together to get the hotel ready. And it wasn't all renovations, they also reluctantly had first allowed Libby to practise the Sunshine and Biscotti club sessions with them, including a memorable visit from a hotel inspector. I also loved the scene that involved a lake, and very little clothing from the whole group (and I'll leave that to your imaginations).
I'm not sure I can put into words just how much I loved this book, it is everything I want in a story and perhaps more, and is definitely one of the most enjoyable books I have read recently.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Carina for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
The story alternates between the three leading ladies, Libby who is a food blogger and owner of the Hotel Limoncello. She has discovered her husband has been cheating on her, and the hotel isn't quite ready yet, so out goes the husband and in comes her huge friendship group from university days.
Evie, is mum to twins, and married to Peter, but there must be something in the air, as their marriage is in a bit of trouble too, so Evie agrees to go over to Tuscany to help Libby, despite them having barely spoken properly for a while, and the friendship is on the verge of breaking.
Then there is Jessica, who has been in love with another of their friends forever, but he married someone else. She is a bit of a loner, but she hasn't been in Italy for long before she catches the eye of a potential new man.
There is a great warmth to this book, not just due to its stunning location in Tuscany, but also with how the friends interact with each other, they may not have all been together for years, but it doesn't take long for the dynamic to return to shared memories and catching up on each other's lives.
There are a variety of threads of story weaved into this novel, and yet you don't feel lost, and I really did feel all the characters had incredibly separate personalities, as they banded together to get the hotel ready. And it wasn't all renovations, they also reluctantly had first allowed Libby to practise the Sunshine and Biscotti club sessions with them, including a memorable visit from a hotel inspector. I also loved the scene that involved a lake, and very little clothing from the whole group (and I'll leave that to your imaginations).
I'm not sure I can put into words just how much I loved this book, it is everything I want in a story and perhaps more, and is definitely one of the most enjoyable books I have read recently.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Carina for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
May 17, 2017
This book was such a light read that we were all annoyed by the shallowness of the characters and the lack of any development or depth.
June 7, 2016
The cover of The Sunshine and Biscotti Club will definitely entice you in if you are looking for a vibrant Summery read and the story it hold inside is a light, easy read perfect to pick up and put down on a lazy down around the pool.
Ultimately the storyline is about a group of friends who are reunited this Summer to help Libby renovate her baking school slash hotel ready to open to visitors from all over the world but along the way we find out each of them have their own relationship problems that they need to work through.
The recipes that Libby and her friends recreate in this book are mouth-wateringly good and I found myself wanting to bake biscotti and I am a stranger to the kitchen. This is one of those books that I feel could have benefitted from having a couple of the recipes included in the book for readers to recreate.
Relationship troubles is a big focus in this book and with each chapter alternating between Libby, Eve and Jessica we get to know each of the characters and their problems and I was hoping they would all get their happy ending but I was just so surprised that the girls didn’t come together with a sympathetic ear and wise words for each other.
The only thing missing for me was the lack of chemistry between the characters considering they are all friends that go way back and who lived together for me the connection between them all was missing.
This storyline was set in a blissful location and I enjoyed the renovation side to the storyline, Libby sure got her friends to work hard. With a gentle pace and an easy storyline this book will make great company for your holiday this year.
Ultimately the storyline is about a group of friends who are reunited this Summer to help Libby renovate her baking school slash hotel ready to open to visitors from all over the world but along the way we find out each of them have their own relationship problems that they need to work through.
The recipes that Libby and her friends recreate in this book are mouth-wateringly good and I found myself wanting to bake biscotti and I am a stranger to the kitchen. This is one of those books that I feel could have benefitted from having a couple of the recipes included in the book for readers to recreate.
Relationship troubles is a big focus in this book and with each chapter alternating between Libby, Eve and Jessica we get to know each of the characters and their problems and I was hoping they would all get their happy ending but I was just so surprised that the girls didn’t come together with a sympathetic ear and wise words for each other.
The only thing missing for me was the lack of chemistry between the characters considering they are all friends that go way back and who lived together for me the connection between them all was missing.
This storyline was set in a blissful location and I enjoyed the renovation side to the storyline, Libby sure got her friends to work hard. With a gentle pace and an easy storyline this book will make great company for your holiday this year.
June 28, 2017
Downloaded this ebook from Amazon for .99. I had high expectations for this book with such a beautiful and enticing title and cover. Unfortunately, I found that it was not as exciting as sunshine and biscotti in Italy seem to suggest. I finished it and in its defense it was a light easy read maybe for someone wanting to enjoy a trivial book set in Italy. It is definitely worth the .99 I paid. It is a quick read about friends who meet in Italy. They mingle, they bake, they drink as they supposedly help their friend clean up her grandma's inn which she will turn into a cooking school in Tuscany.
May 15, 2018
This book is an easy read, with interesting characters but a fairly predictable plotline (which is one of the key enjoyment points of this type of book). PS I want my own Dex please.
It is an enjoyable read, with fun bits (although there is one sad bit that I did not see coming *sniffle*)
I loved the setting and the characters, and I really did enjoy it. However, the plot did tend to slow a little, meaning that I wasn't always engaged with the story.
Otherwise I loved it
It is an enjoyable read, with fun bits (although there is one sad bit that I did not see coming *sniffle*)
I loved the setting and the characters, and I really did enjoy it. However, the plot did tend to slow a little, meaning that I wasn't always engaged with the story.
Otherwise I loved it
January 17, 2023
I found this to be a sweet, fun, and quick read. It is about college friends who get back together in Italy after their one friend, Libby, finds out that her husband is having an affair and leaves her. Libby owns a hotel and this is where all her friends fly in to help her renovate not only the hotel, but her soul and sense of worth. At first some of the interactions are awkward, as they come to get to know each other again, but ultimately it is a time of growth for all of them as they step into the next stage of their lives and get to know each other as friends again. I loved the setting, even though it didn't focus on where they were much, it did bring back a little nostalgia from my time in Italy.
April 9, 2018
An excellent, well-written easy read - perfect for when you want a good story for a long journey. I was interested in the characters from page one and, although the outcomes are fairly predictable, it is still a lovely journey to reach the conclusion. The characters are well-written and the plot moves at a steady pace. All-in-all, an enjoyable read.
July 8, 2023
4.75
Libby moves to Italy with her husband Jake to start a new business, that is when she finds that he has been cheating on her and he walks out on the relationship. Now figuring out what to do, she calls upon her best friends, Jessica, Eve, and Dex to come and support and help her. Dex thought it would be a good idea and invites Miles and Jimmy along to the trip.
I just wish that something more could’ve happened between Libby and Dex!
This is worth a summer read! Six friends back together to run the Sunshine and Biscotti club, making new friends, finding new love, mending broken hearts as well as a whole lot of cooking!
Libby moves to Italy with her husband Jake to start a new business, that is when she finds that he has been cheating on her and he walks out on the relationship. Now figuring out what to do, she calls upon her best friends, Jessica, Eve, and Dex to come and support and help her. Dex thought it would be a good idea and invites Miles and Jimmy along to the trip.
I just wish that something more could’ve happened between Libby and Dex!
This is worth a summer read! Six friends back together to run the Sunshine and Biscotti club, making new friends, finding new love, mending broken hearts as well as a whole lot of cooking!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2020
Didn’t enjoy this one at all .
August 7, 2020
A summer holiday romance book not my sort of book but had to finish it
June 6, 2016
I requested the book first thing from NetGalley because I had a feeling that it's winking at me, saying: read me! I just had a feeling it is just drawing me somehow, with its beautiful, sunny cover and lovely title, and well, it's by Jenny Oliver, whose books I've already read and loved.
Each chapter is told from the different character's point of view, and I liked it very much, as it gave us a great perspective and let us know their thoughts. Libby is a food blogger and owner of the Hotel Limoncello and has just discovered that her husband has been cheating on her. I had a feeling that Libby would give him a chance but well, she hasn't had a chance to give him this chance, as he decided he's out of this relationship and moves out. There is still a lot of work in the hotel before it's opened in a few weeks, so Libby's long - time - no - see friends come to her rescue. Among them is Evie, mum to twins, married to Peter, and the visit to Tuscany couldn't come at a better time - even though Evie and Libby weren't in touch lately and the friendship seems to have cooled down a little - as Evie and Peter have just gone "on a break". And Jessica - with her own company, up to her nose with her work, in love with one of their friends but - unfortunately - he has married another woman. Very quickly I started to feel a little confused who is who, why, who they liked, who they didn't like and why and what was the kind of relationship between them, and each time some of the characters entered the scenes I needed to concentrate really hard to remember who they were and what their role was. Maybe there were just too many characters? We have three main female characters and four, maybe even five, male characters, and all of them had their stories. Yes, they intertwined, but not all of them and not too much.
Yes, I had my problems with the characters, but overall they were nicely drawn and rounded - they were not perfect, they had their problems and flaws which only made them feel more realistic. I just didn't warm to any of them, that's my problem. I didn't get any long time friendship vibe from them, to be honest, and I had a feeling that they just suffer in their own company. There were more misunderstandings and understatements between them that I could bear to be honest. I didn't see any special dynamic between them, they mostly hide things from each other and I just had a feeling they don't feel comfortable in each other's company. And also, the names of three of them began with "J" - Jake, Jamie, Jessica - for me it was confusing, personally I think with such number of characters the author could differentiate them (and really, I've never thought it's going to be a problem for me one day. Well, the day has come.) However, it was nice in a way to see how they tried to return to how they were before, how they shared so many memories that kept them somehow together, but still, in my opinion they didn't open enough throughout the whole story.
I am also not sure what the story was about, to be honest. Yes, it was a gathering of old friends, all of them with problems, and it was about renovating an old hotel, so they were helping one of the friends, broken hearts and new relationships but I really didn't get this story. I just couldn't find this main thing, the why this book was written and about what.
However, I absolutely, totally adored the setting of this story and the word "limoncello" is right now my favourite word, I think. It so much reminds me of sun, sunshine, lemon, hot summer and cicadas. Limoncello and biscotti. Sound so lovely and so promising, no? The setting of Tuscany was perfect and the author has truly captured the beauty and uniqueness of the place, and the idea of having a hotel there, and offering cooking courses was brilliant. The descriptions of food were delicious and incredibly vivid, and truly, the food parts were written with so much love and feeling and I am very disappointed that I don't have a cherry tree in my garden! Also, the way the author has presented the whole place and nature to us was excellent, I could easily see all the places in my mind, smell the scents, enjoy the warm nights under the moon and yearn for skinny - dipping. I would love to spend my holidays in the hotel - not necessarily with this group of people.
So "The Sunshine and Biscotti Club", with its lovely, colourful summery cover may be a great sunny season read for you, of course! It has potential, it has a warm vibe and it has its great moments, so it's probably me that have a problem, so pay no attention and just give this book a go. It just screams "holiday read", so really be sure to pack it in your suitcase and enjoy it wherever you are spending your break!
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
April 25, 2021
I started this on audiobook but finished it on ebook.
Having read and enjoyed all of Jenny Oliver books in the past, I figured I'd enjoy this one too and I wasn't wrong. There was a whole load of characters to get to know and keep up with them all but it was nicely done with the broken down of chapters for some of the characters.
Lovely setting, made me want to be there experiencing it for myself, plus some yummy sounding food. Plenty of drama going on, bit of flirting, romance, coming together as friends, making a fresh start, all of which made for a thoroughly enjoyable story from start to finish.
Having read and enjoyed all of Jenny Oliver books in the past, I figured I'd enjoy this one too and I wasn't wrong. There was a whole load of characters to get to know and keep up with them all but it was nicely done with the broken down of chapters for some of the characters.
Lovely setting, made me want to be there experiencing it for myself, plus some yummy sounding food. Plenty of drama going on, bit of flirting, romance, coming together as friends, making a fresh start, all of which made for a thoroughly enjoyable story from start to finish.
August 20, 2022
Loved the ending wish the book carried on
August 5, 2023
A nice easy summer read 👌🏼
May 14, 2016
Intelligent, delightful, and charming!
This is a story about friendship, heartbreak, acceptance, forgiveness, love, and food.
The characters are fun-loving, dependable, flawed, and real. The plot is interesting and engaging. The writing is exquisite. And the prose is descriptive and witty.
To me, it was like sitting down to watch a reunion episode of Friends, but instead of the usual gang sitting around the Central Perk, this one had a new light-hearted bunch gathering in the lush countryside of Italy instead.
I loved this book. It is a perfect summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Carina UK, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This review can also be found at www.whatsbetterthanbooks.com
This is a story about friendship, heartbreak, acceptance, forgiveness, love, and food.
The characters are fun-loving, dependable, flawed, and real. The plot is interesting and engaging. The writing is exquisite. And the prose is descriptive and witty.
To me, it was like sitting down to watch a reunion episode of Friends, but instead of the usual gang sitting around the Central Perk, this one had a new light-hearted bunch gathering in the lush countryside of Italy instead.
I loved this book. It is a perfect summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Carina UK, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This review can also be found at www.whatsbetterthanbooks.com
May 4, 2017
I loved this book right up to the final word. A group of friends get together after years apart to help Libby set up her hotel and cookschool in Tuscany. All the inter weaved relationships and stories makes you get involved. I like everyone except Jake(and your not supposed to like him). I will definetely be reading more.
May 11, 2017
Really enjoyable holiday read. I loved getting to know the different mix of characters who were in Italy together, reuniting to help a friend for a multitude of reasons! The descriptions of the hotel, the surrounding area and those lemon groves made me long for a summer break of my own! Recommended!
May 30, 2017
Lots of love and fun.
A great story about a group of friends who accept an invitation for a work/play vacation from one of their own. Taking place in Italy. Libby has inherited an old, shabby hotel. I enjoyed the ambience and the interactions of the characters. A nice light read.
A great story about a group of friends who accept an invitation for a work/play vacation from one of their own. Taking place in Italy. Libby has inherited an old, shabby hotel. I enjoyed the ambience and the interactions of the characters. A nice light read.
August 8, 2016
What a gorgeous cover the new book from Jenny Oliver, The Sunshine and Biscotti Club, has. It just screams read me now in the sunshine by the pool preferably in Italy as that is the location of choice for Libby Price’s hotel and food academy. Who wouldn’t want to be on that bike cycling through the glorious Italian countryside surrounded by lemon and olive groves as one makes their way to the hotel hoping for a good time and to indulge one’s love of cooking? Well that’s the idea anyway but perfection and an ideal are hard to achieve and not everything is plain sailing for Libby. She has dreams and ambitions after inheriting the hotel from her aunt and it needs an awful lot of work bringing it up to date not to mention the surrounding gardens and the area where she wants to hold cookery lessons and demonstrations and even supper clubs.
Things seem to be going OK with the renovations even if they are under time pressure but then everything goes rather pear shaped and sour for Libby when she discovers husband Jake had been online shopping for a mistress. Libby is hurt, shattered, angry and above all else lost, her dreams are crumbling before her eyes. Weren’t they in it together as a couple to make a go of the business and fulfill an initiative which they had long held dear? Obviously Jake wasn’t and to be honest he had the most pathetic excuse ever for looking for that little extra somewhere else. The hotel was too remote, it’s too much to cope with. I felt like telling him to grow up and get over himself .He shouldn’t have led Libby on like that I mean aren’t a husband and wife supposed to work together as one? Jake just seemed weak and spineless and I was glad he was quickly shown the door but wondered would Libby be able to resist if he wanted to come back and also how could she go on to renovate the hotel all by herself? Libby enjoys running a successful lifestyle blog but contemplates what is the point in going on and portraying a fake life now that it has come apart?
This line struck me as being quite sad that a woman could feel like this ’Who was this person, she wondered as she stared, if she was no longer one half of him?’. I know Libby’s hurt and revelations had only just occurred but no woman should not think they can’t be independent and strong without a man. There are plenty of us out there that are testament to that. After Jake makes his escape Libby decides she needs help if she wants the hotel and cookery lessons to be a success, so she calls on the women who have been her friends for years although time and circumstances and events have changed them there is still a tenuous connection there.
From here on the chapters alternate between Libby, Eve and Jessica and their names are written at the top of each chapter which was definitely needed otherwise it was too confusing. As well as her female friends several men made an appearance – Miles, Jimmy and Dex not to mention delectable Italian Bruno who runs the local bar near to the lake by the hotel. Honestly there were way too main characters in this book to keep track off. The women featured were fine and had strong storylines which I felt were worthwhile and I could follow but as for the men I could never remember who was who. There was never enough background information given on them or in fact to the group as a whole from their university days. It was as if we were supposed to fill in gaps for ourselves. I could never make out how certain people were connected as not much was revealed but it was as if the reader was expected to know what had happened previously. I like the element of mystery like any reader and could see that’s what the author was trying to achieve but it didn’t work and just felt disjointed. Every time a new chapter started I had to try and remember who the male character was and what woman were they connected with. It just was annoying every time trying to refamiliarise yourself with the male characters and I wondered could the book have done without them. Should the three girls been allowed to shine for themselves with just subtle additions of male characters? This was my only gripe with this book, OK it may have been a fairly significant one, but push that to one side and what The Sunshine and Biscotti Club does is conjure up fantastic imagery of food and the Italian setting and a solid storyline of working through the tough times with the help of friends and good company who are there for each other through thick and thin despite what obstacles life may through in the way.
Eve is married to Peter and has twins Noah and Maisie (who were adorable throughout the book every time she Facetimed they always brought a smile to my face with what they said). Eve has lost a little bit of her sparkle since becoming a mum, she loves her children but the old Eve misses her job creating perfumes. Things between herself and Peter aren’t great at the moment yet she can’t quite put her finger on just what is going wrong. ’There was something simmering underneath her and Peter’s relationship at the moment’. Then the old chestnut is thrown in of we need a break, to mend the chink in our relationship. Peter hasn’t been fully honest and feels time out to evaluate things might help them see things in a different light. So when Libby calls needing help Eve travels to Italy. Combined with the fact her marriage is in trouble and previous to that she wasn’t happy is the fact there has been a distance between herself and Libby. Yet Libby is her friend and friends always are there for each other. Eve was a character who was confused and needed to find her way back to the person she once was. Her creative side had become dormant and she needed inspiration and guidance. Will the landscape of Italy and all it has to offer coupled with Libby’s classes be the healing power she needs or will someone offer a slight temptation that might be too hard to come back from?
Jessica works alongside Dex at the Waverly Design Agency and she is a pure workaholic demanding perfection in everything she sets out to do. Spontaneity is not in her vocabulary, there are schedules and goals always in sight. She finds it extremely difficult just to let go and enjoy life or to partake in anything that finds herself going off track. When she is not working she really doesn’t know what to do with herself. Baking and helping Libby out wouldn’t be her forte but she is there and in such a relaxing place maybe she might be able to confront the demons that have been eating her up inside for so long? Jessica really was a closed book nothing was given away there were very minor hints as to something happening in the past that she hasn’t been able to let go of and the fact all the friends are reuniting to help Libby means they will be pushed together in close circumstances and surely something will come out into the open.
On the surface one would have thought The Sunshine and Biscotti Club would have been a light easy summery read but having been presented with such a complex cast of characters all with issues and hidden thoughts and matters most of which they are afraid to express meant that this book took on a more serious tone balanced with some nice comedic moments and of course glorious descriptions. All of the characters have issues firmly rooted in the past which are affecting how they act around each other once they meet up again and in ways are preventing how they live in the now and possibly the future. Aside from the issues between all the characters being dealt with the setting and the food had to take some sort of precedence and Jenny Oliver allowed it so shine. The gardens, woods, lemon and olive groves surrounding the hotel sounded so idyllic for a relaxing holiday and the lake provided a scene that brought the friends together in a fun and easy way. What about the food? Well Jenny Oliver had my mouth watering throughout with such tasty descriptions of spaghetti, tortellini, pastas, ragu, biscotti, cakes and so much more. It was a feast for the senses as you could visualise everything as the friends were cooking in the classes whether it was all successful is another matter altogether. Libby uses food as a form of healing just like Eve uses things around her nature to create wonderful scents and this aspect of the book was wonderfully written and very evocative.
Overall I enjoyed The Sunshine and Biscotti Club you get a lot more than you bargained for than at first glance of the cover and uncover a story of friends with a shared history who when times are tough and help is needed will come together and find some source of healing and answers. Will it all turn out OK, pick up the book and find out for yourself.
Things seem to be going OK with the renovations even if they are under time pressure but then everything goes rather pear shaped and sour for Libby when she discovers husband Jake had been online shopping for a mistress. Libby is hurt, shattered, angry and above all else lost, her dreams are crumbling before her eyes. Weren’t they in it together as a couple to make a go of the business and fulfill an initiative which they had long held dear? Obviously Jake wasn’t and to be honest he had the most pathetic excuse ever for looking for that little extra somewhere else. The hotel was too remote, it’s too much to cope with. I felt like telling him to grow up and get over himself .He shouldn’t have led Libby on like that I mean aren’t a husband and wife supposed to work together as one? Jake just seemed weak and spineless and I was glad he was quickly shown the door but wondered would Libby be able to resist if he wanted to come back and also how could she go on to renovate the hotel all by herself? Libby enjoys running a successful lifestyle blog but contemplates what is the point in going on and portraying a fake life now that it has come apart?
This line struck me as being quite sad that a woman could feel like this ’Who was this person, she wondered as she stared, if she was no longer one half of him?’. I know Libby’s hurt and revelations had only just occurred but no woman should not think they can’t be independent and strong without a man. There are plenty of us out there that are testament to that. After Jake makes his escape Libby decides she needs help if she wants the hotel and cookery lessons to be a success, so she calls on the women who have been her friends for years although time and circumstances and events have changed them there is still a tenuous connection there.
From here on the chapters alternate between Libby, Eve and Jessica and their names are written at the top of each chapter which was definitely needed otherwise it was too confusing. As well as her female friends several men made an appearance – Miles, Jimmy and Dex not to mention delectable Italian Bruno who runs the local bar near to the lake by the hotel. Honestly there were way too main characters in this book to keep track off. The women featured were fine and had strong storylines which I felt were worthwhile and I could follow but as for the men I could never remember who was who. There was never enough background information given on them or in fact to the group as a whole from their university days. It was as if we were supposed to fill in gaps for ourselves. I could never make out how certain people were connected as not much was revealed but it was as if the reader was expected to know what had happened previously. I like the element of mystery like any reader and could see that’s what the author was trying to achieve but it didn’t work and just felt disjointed. Every time a new chapter started I had to try and remember who the male character was and what woman were they connected with. It just was annoying every time trying to refamiliarise yourself with the male characters and I wondered could the book have done without them. Should the three girls been allowed to shine for themselves with just subtle additions of male characters? This was my only gripe with this book, OK it may have been a fairly significant one, but push that to one side and what The Sunshine and Biscotti Club does is conjure up fantastic imagery of food and the Italian setting and a solid storyline of working through the tough times with the help of friends and good company who are there for each other through thick and thin despite what obstacles life may through in the way.
Eve is married to Peter and has twins Noah and Maisie (who were adorable throughout the book every time she Facetimed they always brought a smile to my face with what they said). Eve has lost a little bit of her sparkle since becoming a mum, she loves her children but the old Eve misses her job creating perfumes. Things between herself and Peter aren’t great at the moment yet she can’t quite put her finger on just what is going wrong. ’There was something simmering underneath her and Peter’s relationship at the moment’. Then the old chestnut is thrown in of we need a break, to mend the chink in our relationship. Peter hasn’t been fully honest and feels time out to evaluate things might help them see things in a different light. So when Libby calls needing help Eve travels to Italy. Combined with the fact her marriage is in trouble and previous to that she wasn’t happy is the fact there has been a distance between herself and Libby. Yet Libby is her friend and friends always are there for each other. Eve was a character who was confused and needed to find her way back to the person she once was. Her creative side had become dormant and she needed inspiration and guidance. Will the landscape of Italy and all it has to offer coupled with Libby’s classes be the healing power she needs or will someone offer a slight temptation that might be too hard to come back from?
Jessica works alongside Dex at the Waverly Design Agency and she is a pure workaholic demanding perfection in everything she sets out to do. Spontaneity is not in her vocabulary, there are schedules and goals always in sight. She finds it extremely difficult just to let go and enjoy life or to partake in anything that finds herself going off track. When she is not working she really doesn’t know what to do with herself. Baking and helping Libby out wouldn’t be her forte but she is there and in such a relaxing place maybe she might be able to confront the demons that have been eating her up inside for so long? Jessica really was a closed book nothing was given away there were very minor hints as to something happening in the past that she hasn’t been able to let go of and the fact all the friends are reuniting to help Libby means they will be pushed together in close circumstances and surely something will come out into the open.
On the surface one would have thought The Sunshine and Biscotti Club would have been a light easy summery read but having been presented with such a complex cast of characters all with issues and hidden thoughts and matters most of which they are afraid to express meant that this book took on a more serious tone balanced with some nice comedic moments and of course glorious descriptions. All of the characters have issues firmly rooted in the past which are affecting how they act around each other once they meet up again and in ways are preventing how they live in the now and possibly the future. Aside from the issues between all the characters being dealt with the setting and the food had to take some sort of precedence and Jenny Oliver allowed it so shine. The gardens, woods, lemon and olive groves surrounding the hotel sounded so idyllic for a relaxing holiday and the lake provided a scene that brought the friends together in a fun and easy way. What about the food? Well Jenny Oliver had my mouth watering throughout with such tasty descriptions of spaghetti, tortellini, pastas, ragu, biscotti, cakes and so much more. It was a feast for the senses as you could visualise everything as the friends were cooking in the classes whether it was all successful is another matter altogether. Libby uses food as a form of healing just like Eve uses things around her nature to create wonderful scents and this aspect of the book was wonderfully written and very evocative.
Overall I enjoyed The Sunshine and Biscotti Club you get a lot more than you bargained for than at first glance of the cover and uncover a story of friends with a shared history who when times are tough and help is needed will come together and find some source of healing and answers. Will it all turn out OK, pick up the book and find out for yourself.
October 18, 2017
Oh please let there be a sequel! I am by no means ready for the awesomeness that is Jenny Oliver’s The Sunshine and Biscotti Club to be over. Not at all!
I picked up The Summerhouse by the Sea by Jenny Oliver at the beginning of this summer and I absolutely loved it. So naturally, I asked the author herself for further recommendations. And what she recommended was The Sunshine and Biscotti Club. I was hesitant at first because I don’t really like books with too many main characters. But yesterday, during a particularly boring period at work, I picked up my kindle and started reading. And oh my! This book is pure literary heaven!!! (Yep, there is a need for three exclamation marks!)
It follows the stories of a group of friends who have all shared a flat once upon a time. They come together when Libby calls them to Italy to help her fix up the hotel she’s inherited. What starts out as renovation duty soon turns into so much more. One by one, they let go of the past and focus on the present and each other. There is laughter and there is pain. There is skinny-dipping in the dark sea. Marital problems and new relationships. But most of all, there is friendship.
I honestly didn’t think, I’d enjoy the book. But oh was I wrong! Jenny Oliver managed to tell the story of each individual without it being boring or confusing. She dipped into the past, but it was never too much. There were no 10 page summaries of what had happened before the story started. The flashbacks were there, but they weren’t too much.
Writing a good review is really hard when there is literally nothing to complain about. The Sunshine and Biscotti Club is amazing. And I think the reason that’s the case is because it is so real. The characters come alive and they become your friends. I could see Dex messing with Jessica. I was there when Eve finally found herself. When Jessica and Bruno swam into the dark, I was the creep swimming right behind them. I witnessed Libby letting go and just being herself. I sat beside them, as Miles forgave Jessica. And I was proud when Jimmy finally grew up. These people became my friends and it breaks my heart that I have to let them go now that the book is finished.
For more reviews, head on over to the blog :) https://unwrappeddreams.com/category/...
I picked up The Summerhouse by the Sea by Jenny Oliver at the beginning of this summer and I absolutely loved it. So naturally, I asked the author herself for further recommendations. And what she recommended was The Sunshine and Biscotti Club. I was hesitant at first because I don’t really like books with too many main characters. But yesterday, during a particularly boring period at work, I picked up my kindle and started reading. And oh my! This book is pure literary heaven!!! (Yep, there is a need for three exclamation marks!)
It follows the stories of a group of friends who have all shared a flat once upon a time. They come together when Libby calls them to Italy to help her fix up the hotel she’s inherited. What starts out as renovation duty soon turns into so much more. One by one, they let go of the past and focus on the present and each other. There is laughter and there is pain. There is skinny-dipping in the dark sea. Marital problems and new relationships. But most of all, there is friendship.
I honestly didn’t think, I’d enjoy the book. But oh was I wrong! Jenny Oliver managed to tell the story of each individual without it being boring or confusing. She dipped into the past, but it was never too much. There were no 10 page summaries of what had happened before the story started. The flashbacks were there, but they weren’t too much.
Writing a good review is really hard when there is literally nothing to complain about. The Sunshine and Biscotti Club is amazing. And I think the reason that’s the case is because it is so real. The characters come alive and they become your friends. I could see Dex messing with Jessica. I was there when Eve finally found herself. When Jessica and Bruno swam into the dark, I was the creep swimming right behind them. I witnessed Libby letting go and just being herself. I sat beside them, as Miles forgave Jessica. And I was proud when Jimmy finally grew up. These people became my friends and it breaks my heart that I have to let them go now that the book is finished.
For more reviews, head on over to the blog :) https://unwrappeddreams.com/category/...
August 19, 2019
Yawn....Welcome to Tuscany’s newest baking school….except that Jake has just left Libby, who needs to finish renovations on the Italian hotel she inherited but with little time left before tourist season. The solution: bring in the “old gang” to help her finished. This is great timing for Eve, whose husband has also suggested a break.
The old gang shows up; old alliances begin to reform, including tentative romances. Many knowing glances are exchanged; some skinny dipping ensues. This is all in the first half….a few renovations take place, but mostly it’s drinks on the deck and the knowing glances, the whispered asides. This book is SO BORING! I got half way through, hoping the dialogue would improve and things would start to move, but alas, no.
Here is a sample of typical dialogue: “Jessica lifted her beer bottle to her lips. “Maybe” she said, forcing herself to make eye contact again.
Miles nodded, seemingly satisfied, and sat back in his chair.
The conversation moved on to talking about Bruno’s bar and the renovations to the once dilapidated boathouse.
Jessica excused herself to go and get a sweater.
“Oh, can you get me one?” Libby asked as she was on the threshold of the hotel. Jessica nodded, wondering if it was a ploy to make sure she came back out.
I’m very surprised at the number of 4 star ratings. Perhaps I will finish it when I go camping next week, because I’m interested in what happens next – but the dialogue is truly painful!
The old gang shows up; old alliances begin to reform, including tentative romances. Many knowing glances are exchanged; some skinny dipping ensues. This is all in the first half….a few renovations take place, but mostly it’s drinks on the deck and the knowing glances, the whispered asides. This book is SO BORING! I got half way through, hoping the dialogue would improve and things would start to move, but alas, no.
Here is a sample of typical dialogue: “Jessica lifted her beer bottle to her lips. “Maybe” she said, forcing herself to make eye contact again.
Miles nodded, seemingly satisfied, and sat back in his chair.
The conversation moved on to talking about Bruno’s bar and the renovations to the once dilapidated boathouse.
Jessica excused herself to go and get a sweater.
“Oh, can you get me one?” Libby asked as she was on the threshold of the hotel. Jessica nodded, wondering if it was a ploy to make sure she came back out.
I’m very surprised at the number of 4 star ratings. Perhaps I will finish it when I go camping next week, because I’m interested in what happens next – but the dialogue is truly painful!
October 29, 2018
This is story about a group of friends who had in reality drifted apart. No loner young, fun things, the friends congregate at Libby’s hotel the Limoncello in Italy to help her with the final refurbishments. Libby is a big name in the blogging world but in reality she’s actually falling apart and truthfully so are her friends.
The setting is portrayed beautifully and as I have a soft spot for Italy I delved in right away. As I said it was a very cute story but sometimes it was a little hard to believe in places. I get that giving some of the characters the back story that they had would set them up but it did get a little grating. Also the constant reminders and mentions of where they actually were and how it looked and smelled left little to the readers imagination. Also throwing curveballs at the reader from nowhere is ok but I felt that there was no build up to these.
I hate giving negative reviews so I will say that it is a nice easy read if you want something not too brain taxing in a beautiful setting. However be prepared not to get invested too much in the characters because I just don’t feel that they are believable.
The setting is portrayed beautifully and as I have a soft spot for Italy I delved in right away. As I said it was a very cute story but sometimes it was a little hard to believe in places. I get that giving some of the characters the back story that they had would set them up but it did get a little grating. Also the constant reminders and mentions of where they actually were and how it looked and smelled left little to the readers imagination. Also throwing curveballs at the reader from nowhere is ok but I felt that there was no build up to these.
I hate giving negative reviews so I will say that it is a nice easy read if you want something not too brain taxing in a beautiful setting. However be prepared not to get invested too much in the characters because I just don’t feel that they are believable.
August 5, 2019
I was going between three and four stars, but a few small editing errors brought me down to three. (On two occasions they used the wrong name of a character, and it really took me out of the story, which is a shame)
We follow along with the three main female characters and we learn about their friendships and relationships with their three male (former) neighbors. I think the author did a wonderful job entwining their past memories with current storyline, and despite having quite a few characters to follow along with, it never got too confusing. It was a nice light summer read, with a bit of some more serious plot points, but it didn’t reel me in and keep my attention as other favorite books have.
If someone asked me my opinion on it, I would suggest they give it a go, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.
We follow along with the three main female characters and we learn about their friendships and relationships with their three male (former) neighbors. I think the author did a wonderful job entwining their past memories with current storyline, and despite having quite a few characters to follow along with, it never got too confusing. It was a nice light summer read, with a bit of some more serious plot points, but it didn’t reel me in and keep my attention as other favorite books have.
If someone asked me my opinion on it, I would suggest they give it a go, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.
September 1, 2018
I read this on the Kindle. Libby and her husband are renovating her aunt’s hotel, with part of it to become a baking club. She finds out that he is cheating on her, and he leaves. In desperation, to get ready before her first guests arrive, she calls on a group of old friends that have not been together for years, for various reasons. As Libby struggles to make things work, her friends also begin to work out their own personal issues. Perhaps it was the intermittent nature of how I read this novel, but I had a difficult time keeping track of the large cast of characters; they seem to blend into each other and I had a hard time connecting with any of them, especially in the beginning, where they are were so self-involved. It did improve over the course of the novel.
June 14, 2021
This book is truly the epitome of wholesome vibes; the sunshine, reunited friendships, sweet little moments between the characters and a generous helping of cozy cooking is the perfect feel-good novel. Plus, I absolutely adore the trope of big groups of friends (+tog 😉), so this was right up my alley!
- Dex is my favourite character
- Kinda wanted dex and Jessica together ngl
- Dex is in love with Libby! What?
- Wholesome vibes
- Don’t know if it’s just me but I didn’t realise that Flo had died until Jessica wrote that note
- Miles and Jessica’s sections just make me feel so emotional with no particular emotion
- I had no idea why Miles couldn’t play their wedding song until later, wow
- Also, watch out cos Libby might steal ur man jeez, she’s been with everyone!
- Way more twists and turns than I expected
- Absolutely ADORE big friendships group dynamics so this book was perfect for that- +tog
- The scene when Peter came and eve told him she almost kissed Jimmy with him there was hilarious
- When dex said something about Jimmy’s cake looking like an eyesore 🤣
(Some of my notes from a few weeks’ ago, briefly summing up my thoughts!)
- Dex is my favourite character
- Kinda wanted dex and Jessica together ngl
- Dex is in love with Libby! What?
- Wholesome vibes
- Don’t know if it’s just me but I didn’t realise that Flo had died until Jessica wrote that note
- Miles and Jessica’s sections just make me feel so emotional with no particular emotion
- I had no idea why Miles couldn’t play their wedding song until later, wow
- Also, watch out cos Libby might steal ur man jeez, she’s been with everyone!
- Way more twists and turns than I expected
- Absolutely ADORE big friendships group dynamics so this book was perfect for that- +tog
- The scene when Peter came and eve told him she almost kissed Jimmy with him there was hilarious
- When dex said something about Jimmy’s cake looking like an eyesore 🤣
(Some of my notes from a few weeks’ ago, briefly summing up my thoughts!)
June 2, 2018
It took me a little while to get into this book and when I did, I’m glad I continued to read this book. It was so sweet and I was really rooting for Libby and Dex. Not much of a romance novel but more of a book about friends coming together and helping build the Limoncello hotel. I wish I had a great group of friends like this book had. Made me realize that friendship is very important in your life.
October 22, 2018
I think I may just have not been in the right frame of mind for this book. Again, the answer to everyone's problems is finding the right guy. Your husband leaves you one day and you hook up with someone the next. Really? Not to mention that it's someone you know one of your friends is interested in? Seems like that a breach of girl code. Is it possible to be happy and single? Where is that book? Maybe I'm just projecting...
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