Coming Home to the Comfort Food Café

Comfort Food Café #3

by Debbie Johnson

Welcome to the cosy Comfort Food Café, where there's kindness in every cup of hot chocolate and the menu is sprinkled with love and happiness…

When Zoe's best friend Kate dies of breast cancer, her whole world is turned upside down. Within hours, she goes from being the wacky neighbour who can barely keep a houseplant alive to a whole new world of responsibility when she realises she's guardian to Kate's 16-year-old daughter, Martha.

Moving to the little village of Budbury in the West Country, Zoe hopes the fresh Dorset sea breeze and the gentle pace of life will help them heal.

Luckily for them both, the friendly community at the Comfort Food Cafe provide listening ears, sage advice, shoulders to cry on, and some truly excellent carrot cake. And when Martha's enigmatic, absent father suddenly turns up, confusing not only Martha but Zoe too, the love and support of their new-found friends is the best present they could ask for…

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Christmas, Holiday, Audiobook, Contemporary

402 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2017

About the author

Debbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework.

She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.

Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.

She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a heartwarming story filled with compassion and understanding when other's would have just given up. I love the author's descriptions and a very emotional book . A must read for lovers of cosy chic-lit romances.
Pub Date 08 Oct 2017
Thank you to netGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperImpulse for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Gem ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

There has so far been an outstanding array of uplifting Christmas novels published in 2017, I’ve been thrilled and impressed, so the bar was set high … but this is possibly my favourite of them all so far! I was a big fan of the 1st & 2nd books in the Comfort Café series by Debbie Johnson, and this third offering continues the emotive and genuine vibe that I loved: quirky, loveable, fascinating characters; a fairytale setting; a wonderful community; and a gorge of cakes, hot chocolates and cider, such a joy! You can enjoy this book as a stand alone novel, as it follows new characters and their arrival to Budbury, but I highly recommend the other two.

I absolutely adore the cover; wintery comforting cosiness with a beautiful robin and snowflakes. I have noticed the paperback (that is released a couple of weeks later) is a different cover and I have to say I prefer the ebook one, but that’s my tastes.

The two main characters of Zoe and Martha are beautifully written; the tone for their grief, the awkward / sarcastic teenager interactions, Zoe’s own pain from her chaotic childhood and how this weaves through in her concerns, awareness and hopes for Martha, are all done in an authentic, warm style. The sudden arrival of Cal brings out the vulnerability in Zoe and Martha and the book explores how we can all be fragile but strong, intelligent but clumsy, and unlovable but be loved.

I particularly was impressed by how music played an important role for the characters in this novel; that nostalgic element really sets the plot and music is often the glue that holds everything together, which I’m sure many readers, not just me, will relate to entirely.

Though some of the Budbury antics, and the residents themselves for that matter, are completely bonkers this eclectic community is such a joy, I challenge anyone to read this novel without both snorting and crying and feeling somehow lighter by the end of it.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this advanced copy to review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening chapter of this book has got to be one of the most emotional I have ever read. It had me laughing and crying and that was all within the first couple of pages!

Zoe is quite a free spirit, she hasn’t gotten over her best friends untimely death and is struggling bringing up Martha, her best friends daughter. A fresh start is just what they both need and I was desperate to hop in the pages and go with them.

The little village of Budbury has got to be the loveliest of places. Not only is it wonderfully scenic, the people are all lovely and it all centres around the Comfort Food Cafe. It really is the heart of the village and I wished I could transport myself directly there and become one of the villagers myself.

Cal is the love interest and what a love interest he is as well. I literally could feel myself swoon just reading about him. Tall, handsome, Australian, if that doesn’t have you having the most wonderful images appearing in your head I don’t know what will.

Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe is a wonderfully heart warming and emotional read. It is very much about building relationships and moving on with your life. Was very sad to get to the end.

My thanks to Harper Impulse for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Nienke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit boek lijkt meer op het eerste deel van deze serie. Het is een feelgood met een serieus randje, die diepgang erin vind ik wel mooi.
Ik las dit boek als readalong met The Feelgood Boek Corner, daardoor heb ik er wat langer over gedaan, maar het was soms wel moeilijk om hem weg te leggen!
Het was leuk om naast het verhaal van Zoë en Martha ook weer over de andere bewoners van Budbury te lezen.
Ik hoop dat de andere 3 delen ook vertaald worden!

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word, guys, you have no idea how much I loved "Coming Home to Comfort Food Cafe"! I simply adored it with all my heart and my whole little miserable life, and I really can't describe how great it was to be back to the Comfort Food Cafe, Budbury and all the brilliant villagers, old or new. The Comfort Food Cafe series, in fact, is up there, very very high, on the favourite series shelf, together with the Walshs by Marian Keyes and The Proper Family by Chrissie Manby and I really don't want to end.
You can read this book as a stand - alone, as it introduces as to brand new characters that are going to break your heart and full it with the warmest feelings at the same time, but I highly, highly recommend to read all of the books in the series because they are simply brilliant and it is always such a great feeling to catch up with all the regular, old characters.

The story is split into four parts, and each of them is full to brims with beautiful descriptions, bad and good things happening, tears and laughter. Within those four parts we can see how much affect The Comfort Food Cafe is having on Zoe and Martha, how they change, open and find their place. But of course this story is not only about Zoe and Martha, and I was over the moon with joy to see and hear the latest from Laura, Becca, Cheri, Edie and their other halves. They didn't change one iota, thanks God, they are still as warm and welcoming as ever, and they still know what is needed to help the new kids on the block to see happiness again.

The characters are, as always, spiky, bubbly and real and they feel like 3D people. They are quirky, they are fun, they are full of compassion and I would love to have such Comfort Food Cafe nearby. There is this brilliant and warm feeling of community spirit. Zoe and Martha, the two main characters this time, are so beautifully written, they are down to earth and genuine with all of their emotions. Martha is the typical teenager but you cannot dislike her, you sympathize with her, with the way she copes with her grief, and her being so sarcastic and awkward rings such a bell. The interactions between Zoe and Martha are fabulous and also genuine - the author has got so easily into their heads and put all of their feelings into words. Zoe is so authentic, and she deserves a standing ovation for being as she is, what with her chaotic and shaky childhood.

The story mentions good as well as tough times of Zoe and Martha, and it is incredible how very well it is balanced, how well the author knows when to add a poignant moment and when to brighten the atmosphere, and let's just mention the welcoming party or the Christmas Talent Show. There is so much feeling and understanding to the words and even when Debbie Johnson writes about dogs sitting on Cal's feet, hoping for something to eat, it is written in such a way that you could easily picture this and feel the warmth in those words. This novel is full of twists and turns and surprises, there are so many threads in there but they all mesh really well, they get together brilliantly and as a result we get a wonderful story without a single flat moment, but also that is not overdone.

I've no idea how Debbie Johnson manages to capture and put into words all the emotions and feelings: of disappointment, anger, hope, love, despair and exasperation - but she does it in a brilliant way. It was so honest, so genuine that I really had goose bumps, it touched upon all my right heart - strings and it doesn't happen often, guys, only very few authors can do this, and Debbie Johnson belongs to them.

Debbie Johnson's writing style is one of a kind, she draws the reader into the story from the very first page and I found myself racing through the pages, but not wanting this book to end. This story is so beautifully written, it's full of layers, it's deep and incredibly funny at the same time, and full of unforgettable characters and situations, friendship and the overwhelming feeling of being welcome. It's bittersweet, and it is very honest and raw but there is also this incredibly uplifting, optimistic side to it. You can feel the love, the friendship and hope and it is great. It made me laugh out loud and cry like a baby, and it evoke all kind of emotions in me. It is Debbie Johnson at her best, though I could have mentioned it once or twice in my previous reviews? Very highly recommended!

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just how good was it to be back in Budbury, Dorset and the Comfort Food Cafe? Well let met tell you it was fantastic, just to be able to catch up with all the cafe regulars in this all new standalone story.

Before we even get to Budbury we meet Zoe and Martha. The opening of the book is fairly emotional, and there is a fair amount of emotion present throughout the story. Martha is 16 and is grieving for her mother, and has never known her father. She is living with Zoe who was Kate (Martha's mum)'s best friend and is now her legal guardian.

Martha is pushing every boundary, and Zoe makes the tough decision to move them to Budbury even just for a few months so they aren't showered with memories everywhere they look.

There are all manner of secrets and plot turns in this book which is split into four parts, to help with the passing of time. I really enjoyed seeing the affect that The Comfort Food Cafe has on Zoe and Martha over time, and seeing how they interacted with everyone .

Fans of the previous two books will love getting the latest from Laura, Becca, Cheri, Willow and Edie, in this small town of lost souls who become like your family. If you are new to the comfort food cafe, then it can easily be read as a standalone, and I urge you to pull up a chair, grab a bowl of your own comfort food and sit back and relax with a wonderful story.

Although Zoe and Martha are going through a tough time, there are plenty of light hearted moments too, the talent show on Christmas Day has some interesting acts, there is a moment of high drama in the cafe quite early in the book, and Martha has the biggest surprise of all. There are so many threads and bits of story that mesh really well culminating in ok an ending I may have been predicting but only from about half way through the book, and even then wasn't completely sure of!

I am already eager to return to The Comfort Food Cafe and hope this is a series that can run and run, as more characters get added to the rather quirky Budbury cafe family!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Bookworman · Rating 5 out of 5]

3-3/4 stars. After originally borrowing the first two books in the series from the library, I loved them so much that I ended up buying them all on my Kindle. Still not quite sure if they’re 4 stars, i.e., definitely read again, but I’m leaning in that direction.

I am SO grateful to Agi and Joanne for introducing me to Debbie Johnson’s books! God bless you both for your reviews/ratings.😊💕 I’ve been stuck on the couch for over a week with a broken left wrist (I’m left handed) and needed sweet and heartwarming stories like this to help me stay sane and patient.

Each book gets better and better. As long as you buy in to the fantasy premise that (a) super hot guys will fall in love with women who are not also super hot and (b) people dealing with serious life issues will find their solutions within a very short period of time, you will love these characters and these stories.

Second read update: Yup! Upgraded to 4 stars!

[Judith Regeling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik kan er lang of kort over zijn, maar het komt hier op neer: ik voel me thuis in het Duincafé! Dat heeft 'Thuis in het Duincafé' voor de derde keer bewezen! Van de herkenbare personages; de realistische verhaallijnen tot de romantiek: dit boek heeft alles wat ik zoek in een roman. Je sluit Zoë en Martha direct in je hart en kunt alleen maar hopen dat ze in Budbury iets vinden dat ze helpt om te overleven na Kates dood. Tel daarbij een fijne schrijfstijl die je in dit verhaal zuigt en je bent zo 100 pagina's verder (als het er niet meer zijn). Oh, ik wil nu wel héél graag op bezoek in dit café. Wat jammer dat het fictief is.

[Ala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't they always tell you to put the oxygen masks in yourself before you try to help others?

Things I wish I knew before I purchased the book.
—Romance starts only after abt 50% of the book. And even then it's not a full blown romance. Like the whole book is not about romance. At all. Sure there's a love interest. But that's it.
—Slow paced.

That aside, reasons I loved the book.
—Zoe's mental strength and her promise to herself for bringing up her best friend's daughter.
—How Zoe learns to be a mother to Martha, eventhough she's never had a kid of her own.
—The way Zoe learns to handle grief and the loss of her best friend (Kate— Martha's mom).
—This may not be a love story, but it definitely speaks a lot about love. The love Zoe had got Kate, the love Kate had got Zoe, the love Zoe has for Martha and the love all the villagers in Budbury seem to share.
—Reading this book made me feel elevated. And happy. It brought me souch comfort. A slice of cake, rain, a noise-frer environment and this book propped on my lap. That's all it took.
—Cal's (Martha's absentee dad) appearance and how even he was a nice person.
—The way a soft but steady understanding grew between Cal and Zoe.
—The subtle beauty of this book and the way it made me feel emotional at it times. The deep writing style. Despite the lagging pace, the way it conveys the feelings. And just takes me there.

Storyline.
Zoe is confused and heartbroken when her Best Friend Kate passes away and leaves Zoe to look after her teenage daughter Martha. The story shows how Zoe copes with the loss of her best friend while simultaneously finding her footing in mothering a slightly troubled, thoroughly heart-broken, grieving teenager who just lost her own mother. The pair shortly pack up and move into a lively village called the Budbury, to catch a break from their own lives. What they don't expect is the extremely welcoming arms of the villagers, delicious comfort foods, pretty cafés, and a handsome dad— Cal who suddenly wants to be back in Martha's life. We watch as Martha and Zoe navigate through their own feelings, and cope with their losses and learn to be a family together all the while contemplating trusting Cal.

Zoe Quotes, that made me feel like it was so easy to relate to her!

💕I grew up half-feral, and my domestic goddess has always remained on the shy side.

💕Cooking, cleaning, gardening ... it all seems foreign to my nature, and such a waste of time when there are books to be read and songs to be listened to and box sets to be watched.

💕Oddly, although I am a proud slacker on the household chores front, I do like a nicely kept book shelf.

💕The rest of us would probably still have been googling ‘how to deliver a baby in a cafe’ by now.

💕To hide the tender spots away, and pretend I never had them in the first place— apply the emotional plasters that will give me the strength I need to go on.

Quotes that'll tell you everything you need to know about the villagers of Budbury.

💕“Do I need stitches? Am I going to end up with a Frankenstein fanny? Sam, will you still love me if I do?”
Sam is laughing openly, and the test of us are trying not to. He kisses her, properly on the lips, and replies: “Course I will. Even if you end up with bolts right through it”.

💕“Everyone seems to start off here as a single lady,” she says, giving it a little Beyoncé grind as she sings the last two words, badly. “But then they end up paired off ...”

💕I barely know Joe, but one thing I've already learned about this place is that whenever there's a crisis – or anything vaguely resembling one – everyone soon pulls together, in whatever way they can.

All of this and the fact that these adorable bunch of people totally dressed up like in costumes for a "welcome party" for Zoe and Martha.

A sneak peak into Cal (Martha's dad).

💕 He's quiet when I need quiet, and chatty when u need chat, and seems to have an unfailing instinct about which is appropriate.

Finally, one quote by Martha about Zoe.

💕“The way you said ‘I'll deal with him’ – like you might deal with him by beating him to death with a shovel after you've made him dig his own grave. You can be a but scary sometimes, you know.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe's best friend Kate died, leaving her the guardian to Kate's teenage daughter Martha. Despite the fact that Zoe has been Kate's best friend since they were at school and has been there helping to raise Martha from the day she was born , things aren't going well. Zoe is overwhelmed and Martha is dealing with her grief like a typical British teen by bunking off school, dressing like a goth, drinking too much and dabbling with drugs.

In an attempt to get Zoe away from unhealthy influences before her teenage rebellion leads her into something worse and/or destroys her career prospects, she decides to relocate the two of them from their home in Bristol to a holiday cottage in Budbury, Dorset.

Expecting the countryside to be full of boring yokels Zoe and Martha are blown away by the wacky residents of Budbury - as someone who hasn't read the previous books in this series I was too. But as Zoe and Martha begin to settle in to the village and make friends, Martha's father makes a appearance.

I loved this book, it had a Gilmore Girls kind of vibe (of course other than that one incident when she first started seeing Logan, Rory would never do what Martha did), Zoe and Martha are spiky and real, the characters they meet are quirky and fun. I want to move to Dorset and drink coffee at the Comfort Food Cafe. It was funny, and touching and realistic and sweet and each part of the book was named after a David Bowie song.

I will definitely look out for the previous books in this series.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Bumped for release.

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars
It was a pleasure to be back in the town of the Comfort Food Café with its interesting and quirky characters who have banded together to form a close-knit family of sorts. They are welcoming to the down-and-out and those who feel a bit like outcasts for one reason or another. Here is a place you will be warmly received and surrounded by those who will support you along the imperfect journey of life. And in this edition, we get the added bonus of a winter wonderland and cozy Christmas setting.

Coming Home to the Comfort Food Café is definitely a comfort read, while still dealing with some heavier topics with respect, but also humor. These themes, and the characters’ stories will pierce your heart and then heal it anew, and will leave you with plenty to think about. This story, and the series, is thought-provoking, entertaining, heartwarming, and a delight to read.

[Bookworman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh... this is my favorite story in this series. Well, second only to the first one. Great story, great narrator. It made my daily commute a joy.

Can't wait for "Wedding" to be released next year!

[Melisa Broadbent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and loved being reunited with familiar characters from the other Comfort Food Cafe books. It felt like seeing old friends again and finding out what they have been up to!

The Comfort Food Cafe is once again takes centre stage in this book and brings us new characters, Zoe and 16 year old Marsha who are still grieving the loss of Marsha's mum and Zoe's best friend Kate.

Following a move to Dorset for a new start they are taken under the wing of the inhabitants and residents and begin to discover the magic the community and the cafe have on them.

It's a lovely story that is well written - you feel the grief Zoe and Marsha are going through as they attempt to simply get through each day.

This is becoming a lovely series and I can't wait to read more. The characters genuinely feel like family and I will miss them dearly!

Thank you to Netgalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Elke Eelbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het was weer fijn om in het duincafé te zijn. Dit boek doet denken aan deel 1 uit de reeks; een vlot geschreven romantisch verhaal met een vleugje humor. De personages maken het helemaal compleet, ze zijn grappig en keren in ieder deel terug. Met plrzier gelezen.

[Melanie Mole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dived into the book and felt so warm and delicious, that I never wanted it to end. I can't wait to read more books by Debbie Johnson now. Delicious!

[Emma Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming Home to the Comfort Café is the third visit I have made to such a wonderful series of books written by Debbie Johnson. Without question it is the best book yet and I read it in two sittings so caught up was I in the lives of the residents of Budbury and the customers of the very special café perched on the edge of the cliff tops. This series always has such beautiful covers and this new one is no exception, it is so inviting and draws you in so that you wish the café existed in real life. There is always a feel good, homely vibe scattered throughout the books and the sense that if you are a person in need of comfort, solace and support then the café and the surrounding area is the place you need although you don't at first realise it. The owner Cherie Moon has a habit of gathering lost souls and providing that time to come to terms with what may be bothering you to emerge stronger than before due to the support of people who become good friends and almost like family. She takes you under her wing and, along with the other familiar characters I have come to know and love, offers the care and attention that will bring you back to yourself.

Despite this being the third in the series, the book is easily read as a stand alone story as hints and teasers are offered as to the back-story of certain characters. For those who are already loyal fans of the series the opening chapters provide a gentle refresher and bringing up to date of certain situations and developments. I have to say this is very handy as it was last Christmas when I enjoyed the last book and having read so many books since then it is easy for details to slip one's mind. The opening few chapters to Coming Home to the Comfort Food Café were incredibly emotional and powerful. I wouldn't say they set the tone for the remainder of the novel because it would be wrong to say that. This is not a story of doom, gloom, sadness and little hope which is the feeling I got from the opening situation. Instead this story is one of hope, joy, love, acceptance and understanding and it was written in the most beautiful manner never once feeling too overbearing. Instead the characters were given the freedom to explore themselves emotionally and if help or wise words were ever needed or sought the right people would be there to offer them.

The story opens with a letter written by Kate to her best friend Zoe. It's a letter she never imagined having to write and it's clear so much emotion and pain has been poured into its construction. In the event of something happening to her, Kate wishes Zoe to look after her daughter Martha. Never believing anything would occur Zoe agrees but little does she know the events and battle ahead of her. Kate has now gone, through the cruellest of means, leaving behind a teenager daughter lost and adrift, angry and bitter and really who could blame her? No one is supposed to lose their mother at such a young age and be left to the care of a woman, although like a substitute mother, one who will never really replace the one person in your life you want there at all times. Martha never knew her Dad so it is up to Zoe to take over and step in as promised.

Martha is bottling things up, not expressing her feelings yet demonstrating them through typical teenage behaviour - late nights out, drinking, drugs and surly responses to any questions or comments. How can Zoe cope? She feels she is letting Kate down and that is the last thing in the world she wants. Something has to give, before it's too late for Zoe and irreparable damage is done. Zoe herself hadn't the best of childhoods and wants Martha's not to turn out the way it did for her. They both need peace in their lives, so Zoe decides to move them somewhere new. A chance to start afresh, to heal, seek comfort and support and to come to terms with a new stage in their lives. A stage which is unwanted but none the less one in which they have no option but to partake in it.

The opening scenes were brilliantly written. I felt every bit of Martha's anger and could really identify with what she was going through and feeling. It's rough and just pure unfair and even though she hates having to move little does she realise it could be the best thing for her and her relationship with Zoe. Soon when Zoe and Martha arrive in Budbury it felt so familiar to me and like returning to old friends. All the characters we had read about before were there and I enjoyed seeing how their stories were progressing, yet at the same time they didn't dominate as this was Zoe and Martha's story. Zoe's job was to keep them as a family, a unit who could weather any storm but have things gone to far to ever even attempt reaching that stage? Zoe soon discovers the café and it was a relief to see nothing had changed and it still gave me that sense of protection and a place to hide or to seek advice.

The descriptions of all the food and drinks made were once again mouthwatering and its location too just made me wish ever more that I could go and visit it myself. Cherie is taking a bit more of a back seat and allowing Laura to run the café. From when we first met Laura it's clear she has come a long way and is enjoying her relationship with Matt. Laura has been through the wars and can offer the right words when Zoe needs them. But I love how the characters just let Zoe and Martha be, to develop for themselves, to have time to think as they knew when they were ready they could step in and offer whatever was needed. Becca, Laura's sister, was present once again and I am glad we were brought bang up to date as to what was going on with her. As for 91 year old Edie May she was quite possibly the best she ever has been in this series. Her one liners and quips were bang on and had me laughing away to myself. They offered light relief when things at one or two points when things could have strayed into far more in-depth serious territory going beyond the level I felt needed for the book.

I loved how the book was split into parts which mirrored the stages both Zoe and Martha were going through in their relationship but just in their general acceptance at what had happened to them. There was a surprise arrival which turned things on their head but to me it didn't feel contrived or out of place instead this aspect of the storyline gelled well with everything going on and brought some much needed and wanted happiness. It all felt so natural and as if it was always meant to happen. At all times I felt the book was raw, honest and truthful and I am glad Debbie Johnson never shied away from the pain and anger Martha was going through the book wouldn't have been the same if emotions were brushed under the carpet. It was great too to see familiar friends accepting Martha and Zoe for who they were and never judging their actions or beliefs and that's what makes the Comfort Food Café such a special place.

Despite the cover of this book looking very festive, Christmas wasn't overly featured more so towards the end of the book. This would normally annoy me but it didn't matter in the slightest as when it did make an appearance it was so wonderfully written, festive and full of cheer and happiness. I loved every minute of my time spent reading Coming Home to the Comfort Food Café, it was a joy to read and I was sad to finish it. Make sure it is on your Christmas reading list this year as undoubtedly you will relish every minute of it. Thankfully another visit is in the pipeline as Sunshine at the Comfort Food Café will be with us come March and I for one will certainly be jumping to read it.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous installment in the Comfort Food Cafe series, and the author has done another amazing job of capturing the heart and soul behind the community of Dorset who welcome all into their fold and are always there to help one another.

The story features Zoe and her god-daughter Martha, who are still reeling from the loss of Kate - Zoe's best friend and Marthas' mother. Their lives seem to be going from bad to worse as they try and cope with the grief and Zoe thinks it will be a good idea if they escape to the Dorset coast to see if a change of scenery can get them both on track.

While life is settling back into a routine for them in their new location, Marthas' father turns up to try and build some kind of relationship with the daughter he barely knows. This stirs up a lot of different emotions for Zoe and Martha, and it is fascinating to see how they both react to another change.

I loved the characters and the humour is often laugh out loud funny as those in the Cafe offer their support. Funny, heartwarming and a brilliant read!! More please!!

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start with this book. Ah. The roller coaster of emotions, the feel good, the everything. Insane to believe I nearly put this book down after 20 pages because I thought it might be too sad and my pathetic fragile state of mind couldn’t take it, but I’m so so glad I persevered with this story. It was so happy, uplifting, strong and with an undercurrent of community and friendship. 5 stars given in a heartbeat.

It was amazing to watch Martha and Zoe grow, heal and find their happiness and I absolutely adored this book. The little village of Budbury is somewhere I definitely want to go! I really loved this whole story and can’t wait to read more books from this author.

And the references to David Bowie, the legend was definitely something I was up for and the chapters names were pure genius. This book definitely deserves an extra star for that.

FYI I’ve reread this again and love it just as much and if not, even more! Love rereading this series.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally had the feelings back I had when reading the first book.

Zoe’s best friend Kate died of cancer and she now finds herself the guardian of Martha, Kate’s teenage daughter. When Martha starts to act out as a response to her grieve, Zoe decides to move to a small town at the coast to give them a fresh start. And of course, or sweet little comfort café is there to do it’s magic.

Like the other books this book is just fine. There is not much that I haven’t said before in my other reviews of this book series. Pretty much all my opinions are the same.
It is a nice feelgood book that addresses many deeper conversations and meanings like grieve, insecurities, friendship, love, loss et cetera. The characters connect nicely and in divers ways. The pace is fine, easily to get through. The story itself is interesting(although very, very similar to the previous stories). The beginning is quite strong and paints a good picture of our new main characters.
I do miss the actual interacting with Martha. Like the other books the issues were also based a lot around the children. While they were the most important people in the main characters lives, they were just not as included in the story as I would have liked them to be. And that is unfortunate.
The story is also very predictable(hens the similar stories) and repetitive, which makes it a little les fun to read.Example: As soon as I read that Cal was a farmer I knew that he would eventually take over Franks farm. The men in here are annoyingly perfect in every way. I know these are books, but this is completely unrealistic. The time in which the romance unfolds, thankfully, is more realistic than the second book.
I really liked how they ended with Christmas, it honestly felt more happy. Maybe this one should have been called the Christmas book, I enjoyed it more.

You can also read this as a standalone book, which is nice. Although I would not recommend that to people who are planning to read the other books in the future. Read those first!

Solid 3 stars.

[Jane Linfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picking up this book really does feel like coming home. After too long away, it's lovely to meet up with familiar characters, and new ones too. This fabulous next story in the Comfort Food Café series has all the heart I've come to expect and more. The magical Dorset setting offers both village and sea shore scenes. There are quirky characters, happy times, plenty of lol bits, brilliant dialogue, and moments that wrung my heart out. What's more, it's all brilliantly written and served up with the most mouth watering food. As satisfying as bottomless hot chocolate, topped with squirty cream and marshmallow sprinkles. I can't wait for the next book.

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah. If only real life was like this! You have a few problems so you turn up at a holiday complex at the seaside where everyone has decided to be your besties before they even know what you’re like. They feed you amazing food which they always have in stock despite having no actual customers. They give you permanent homes in holiday cottages they can afford not to actually let to holiday makers. A job in a bookshop and then throw in a drop dead gorgeous, totally perfect, hunk of a man for good measure. Totally unbelievable, unrealistic, predictable, too good to be true, cheesy chick lit. Escapist, but very readable, fun!

[Sharon Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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‘Summer at’ and ‘Coming Home to’ both begin with a letter and although for very different purposes, both have similar content in that they draw you in immediately as well as letting you know exactly where the main characters are in their lives. I still think this is a fabulous way to start!

16yo Martha is off the rails, hitting out at a world that has changed beyond recognition. Zoe has to put her own grief on hold while she puts Martha first. In need of a change of environment and remembering the happiness of a Dorset seaside holiday three years earlier, she makes the decision to take them both off for a sabbatical. And so they move from Bristol to Budbury.

Arriving in September where the season is changing and there are no reminders, they’re greeted by a mad scene on the green. The ‘old’ crowd – Cherie, Frank, Laura, Matt, Lizzie, Josh, Nate, Becca, Sam, Willow and Edie are up to their crazy stunts and it really did feel as if I had come back home! Laura still has the green streak in her hair and it’s obvious the decision that Becca made J

Through the autumn/start of winter, Budbury and the Comfort Food Café works its magic. There’s plenty of action with more than one unexpected arrival … and a visit highlights how this community rally round and protect their own.

Zoe is such a fabulous character. Tough on the outside from having to protect herself from a neglected childhood but on the inside just wanting to be accepted and loved. She is astute too, using her own experiences to understand what Martha might be feeling and gauging when to push and when to pull back. The scene in ‘The Dump’ had me so emotional I had to have a break before I continued reading.

Such an emotional read for me with a balanced mix of sadness and humour. Tears of laughter as well as the sadness! I tried to read slowly because I just didn’t want it to end. The ending? More tears! Just perfect.

Coming Home to the Comfort Food Café is a story about surviving loss and how it’s possible to move on while still carrying that love in our hearts. It’s about the emotional connections we have with the people we meet (not just intimate relationships) and how communities work together to bring about change. It’s a keeper!

I think it’s fair to say I’ve become a fan of Debbie Johnson’s writing. With outstanding characters, very visual writing (for me!) and plots that tie you up in emotional knots, if you haven’t read any of this author’s books then you’re missing out.

[Kelly Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in my favorite feel good series. Each one is different, yet they all connect to the small British seashore town of Budbury🥰

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accidentally picked up book 3 instead. Although the story is a stand alone, the characters are stil present. I like the idea of this cafe and village, it seems so detached from really, it can actually be true . Mushy read but feel good.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

How on earth have I managed never to read a Debbie Johnson novel before? I actually had no idea when I started to read Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe that it was part of a series but I have to say it’s a perfect standalone as I didn’t feel that I was missing out on anything by not having read the other two books. The characters from those books are there still in the background so I actually now want to read those other books to indulge myself in their full stories. My interest in them was definitely piqued by the snippets I picked up here!

The opening chapter in part one had me in tears before the story had even got properly underway. Straight away I was reading a letter written to Zoe by her best friend Kate, a beautifully heartfelt request for her best friend to look after her child if she ever dies prematurely. Then there was that rather shocking moment where I realised that the unthinkable had actually happened but that Zoe and Martha weren’t quite in the place that I had expected them to be…and I don’t mean geographically! Still a move to Dorset does soon comes around and that’s when the fun and games really began as they became part of the community based around the Comfort Food Cafe.

What I loved most about this book was that it surprised me! From the cover I was expecting a light and fluffy romance but what I got was a much deeper, darkly humorous realism as Zoe and Martha attempt their fresh start under very difficult circumstances. Zoe has the task of bringing up a teenage girl who’s not her own even though she’s been in her life since birth. It’s a tough job bringing up teenage girls at the best of times so my heart really did go out to both of them as they coped with their grief in very different ways. The ups and downs were perfectly put across by some super descriptive prose so that you could be laughing one minute but then gulping down that lump in your throat the next.

Overall I would describe Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe as a feelgood romcom with a bittersweet edge. It was uplifting to watch as relationships were redefined and mistakes made but lessons were still learnt in the magical environment of the Comfort Food Cafe. I felt as though I was amongst old friends as I became thoroughly involved in the community spirit of the village of Budbury, discovering for myself the reasons why no one who arrives there ever seems to want to leave. I know I wouldn’t!

A perfect cosy fireside read this winter-accompanied by your favourite comfort food of course!

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe lost her best friend Kate and is now taking care of Martha, Kate's daughter. Martha is a sad teenager, who doesn't know how to handle her feelings and her life is spiraling out of control. That's why Zoe decides they need a fresh start. They move into a cottage in Budbury where the staff of the Comfort Food Café and their loved ones are welcoming them with open arms. Will Martha like her new surroundings? She's a city girl at heart, but Zoe hopes the countryside will do her good.

While Zoe and Martha are settling in an unexpected visitor changes things again completely. Cal, Martha's father, has decided it's time to be there for his daughter. Will he be a welcome distraction and is he decent father material? Zoe needs all the help she can get and her new friends are making sure she can cope. Did she make the right choice to move to the countryside and will she be able to make sure Martha is taking care of herself again? Will the Comfort Food Café bring them some much needed healing?

Coming Home to the Comfort Food Café is a wonderful story about love, loss, hope, friendship and family. Zoe didn't have an easy childhood and she's used to taking care of herself. Being there for Martha is quite a challenge, because Martha is headstrong and angry at the world. Zoe understands Martha well though and she is patient and kind with her, which is something I loved. Zoe is passionate about books, she likes a good party and she's great company. I immediately liked her and enjoyed reading about her and Martha very much. Martha is fierce and outspoken, but she's also vulnerable and alone. My heart ached for the young girl who lost her mother. She and Zoe need to find a new balance and reading about that was incredibly interesting. Debbie Johnson writes about their problems, grief and happy moments in a beautiful sympathetic way.

The Comfort Food Café is a heartwarming setting and reading about this fantastic place again put a big smile on my face. Everyone is welcome, the atmosphere is cheerful and the staff is absolutely amazing. I love how Debbie Johnson makes the place come to life. Her vivid descriptions together with the abundance of kindness and affection are making it a joy to read about. She combines this with a lovely easy flowing writing style that makes it hard to stop reading. Coming Home to the Comfort Food Café is a gorgeous enchanting, charming and sweet story, a must-read for anyone who loves cozy romantic books.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been nearly a year of changes for Zoe, losing her best (and only) friend to breast cancer and inheriting the guardianship of her sixteen year old daughter Martha, constantly put down by Martha’s grandparents and second-guessing her every move. With grief almost overwhelming her, constantly doubting her ability (and her sanity) at taking on the pseudo-parenting of Martha, and spending more hours sleepless than not, something has to give before she utterly fails at the one thing, from the one person who ever trusted or accepted her, Kate.

Martha is sorely feeling the loss of her mother, and with the usual teenaged ups and downs is a pretty miserable person to deal with –understandably, but still. When she snuck out yet again, was tossed from college, not doing her A-level work and generally taking every chance to pick the wrong choice, Zoe makes a decision and starts to plan for a six month getaway to somewhere new –where they both can get a fresh start. Zoe is all that Martha has for choices, Kate’s parents are too controlling and stifling, and Martha’s now basic teenaged acting out would surely escalate. And, with her father being a virtual stranger, and living half a world away, he was never an option, and never missed.

Off they go to a small coastal Dorset town – a cottage community of holiday lets becomes their home base – Zoe hoping for everything to turn around instantly, Martha sullen and reserved, declaring everything ‘boring’. But this may just be what they need – some wacky and wholly accepting people who open hearts and homes to the two of them, there for advice for Zoe, no judgment for Martha, and a surprising arrival.

Martha’s father Cal arrives to save the day (or the delivery) of the town’s newest resident during a knock-down storm, and while he is accepted and makes a place in the town, and starts to spend time with Martha, he’s clearly not trying to take over Zoe’s position. But ingrained self-doubts are hard to shake, and with Zoe’s only experience of acceptance and family coming from Kate and her constant defense, friendship and openness, the doubts Zoe carried that would wake her at night with panic-attacks, this chance to take away the one constant in her life for the last sixteen years is one thing she’s not sure she can trust. Until she sees she can, and starts to believe it, until ….

Johnson brought so much to play here: the little community, fully committed to accepting, pitching in and even jumping in to defend those who need it. Zoe’s own struggles for herself and her ‘parenting skills’ – convinced that she’s doing everything wrong, and the certain yet quiet support of another mum who can assure her that everyone gets it wrong sometimes, that everyone is simply punting and hoping for the best. The strength and honest support from Cal, Martha’s true ‘teen strop’ moments, and even the confrontation and reconciliation (of sorts) with Kate’s parents, a huge revelation from them all. An interesting place to be, full of, as Cheri says, people who were meant to be there.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Ailsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a couple of the Comfort Food Cafe books before, and really enjoyed them, and I'm happy to say that Coming Home... is another excellent book from Debbie Johnson.

Zoe is our narrator for this book, a new character who hasn't been in the previous ones. The story starts in the summer of the year Zoe's best friend (and Martha's mum) has died. Following Kate's wishes, Zoe has become Martha's guardian, and they now live together, but unsurprisingly they're both struggling a lot. For 16-year-old Martha, that's taking form in her sneaking out the house, sneaking into clubs, and drinking too much. Zoe is worried for both of them, so uses her savings to quit work for a few months and take them down to the Dorset coast to stay in a picturesque holiday village.

One of the things I like about Debbie Johnson's writing is that she does a 'tragic backstory' very well. It's not overdone, it doesn't feel forced - she writes grief very well, and that comes through in all the Comfort Food Cafe books. I'm reluctant to call the book 'contemporary romance' - there is a slight romantic element to the book, but predominantly it's about dealing with tragedy, making fresh starts, and raising a teenager. I really enjoyed the focus on those elements, and how the importance of friendship shines through in the books. The village of Budbury, with its social focus being the Comfort Food Cafe, has a really strong little community, and gradually Zoe and Martha both start to engage with it, and discover some incredibly supportive friends.

Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe is a beautifully heartwarming story that will have you crying both sad and happy tears! It's about the ups and downs of starting over, the importance of friendship, and about being a parent. Cosy autumn reading, with a lovely Christmassy finish. I'm giving it 7/10.
[Review first posted on my book blog; link is in my profile. I received a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of books just gets better with each book it’s simply brilliant and the wonderful countryside sounds amazing and while you are reading this book you think you are going home. Full of heartbreak and coping with your life being turned upside down and trying to cope. Also how you have to let the past go to be able to move forward shows how friends can do that with you and support you. Full of friendship and families and romance. The plot to the story can be a real tear jerker and makes you think.
Zoe has had a very difficult upbringing with being in care and had finally made a brilliant friend and helped her bring up her daughter and when Kate her friend gets breast cancer and passed away she was asked to bring up herself 16 year old daughter Martha which isn’t easy. Zoe moves into Kate’s house but doesn’t get on with her parents and Martha is getting in with the wrong crowd and into drugs and smoking and Zoe thinks going away for a tome will do them both good. She takes Martha to the beautiful Dorset village where the comfort food cafe is and she soon makes new friends and really hoped Martha can settle down and enjoy collage. Problem is when Martha’s dad turns up how will they both cope and will they be able to open up and be honest and move forward. Zoe falls for him but tries to hide it as she doesn’t think it’s right and can’t trust men from her past experiences but can everyone else in the village see they belong together. She over heard Martha and her dad talking but gets the wrong end of the stock so heads back to her flat as only the night before she was kissing him and thought they could be together. Both Martha and her dad turn up at the flat and can they sort everything out and be happy and where will they find their forever home will be.
Simply brilliant book well worth more than five stars.

[Irene Kiew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it despite it being written in first person (never my favourite point of view). I liked that the narrator was quite self-aware and didn't ramble on too much (#1 reason why I dislike first-person). I also liked that the narrator, although thinking she's so messed up and bad at adulting, actually made good choices both for herself and for Martha and that the author didn't have her tumbling into bed with Cal at first opportunity -- I expected that to happen but it didn't! It's a poignant and cute story.