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The Summer Theatre by the Sea
A summer to remember…
Charlotte Saunders has always loved the buzz of city life. So, when she finds herself abruptly fired, dumped and forced to leave London to move in with her sister Lauren in Cornwall, she thinks the world is ending.
To keep herself busy in the quiet coastal town, Charlotte agrees to help the local drama group. Designing the set for their performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, just for the summer, while she figures out her next career move. But could days at the beach, new friends and a dashingly handsome doctor, change Charlotte’s mind? Suddenly Cornwall doesn’t look so boring after all…
Charlotte Saunders has always loved the buzz of city life. So, when she finds herself abruptly fired, dumped and forced to leave London to move in with her sister Lauren in Cornwall, she thinks the world is ending.
To keep herself busy in the quiet coastal town, Charlotte agrees to help the local drama group. Designing the set for their performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, just for the summer, while she figures out her next career move. But could days at the beach, new friends and a dashingly handsome doctor, change Charlotte’s mind? Suddenly Cornwall doesn’t look so boring after all…
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2018
103 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Corbett
18 books80 followersTracy grew up in Berkshire as part of a large and noisy family. She now lives in a small village in Surrey with her motorbike-loving partner and her little rescue dog, Poppy. Prior to becoming an author, Tracy worked for the charity Citizens Advice for over twenty-five years. She held various different roles in her time there, including advising prisoners, representing clients in the County Court, and managing a local office. She worked with an amazing group of volunteers, who gave up their time freely to help their community. She also found it a great avenue for ‘people-watching’, something that as a writer, provided endless inspiration for character development and story ideas.
Since the age of eleven, Tracy has been actively involved in amateur dramatics and she’s acted in many productions, written sketches, and directed shows. Her first role was in Aladdin. She played a jewel in the genie’s cave and was told to ‘stand there and sparkle’ – not exactly taxing stuff. While most teenagers spent their free time obsessing with fashion, make-up, pop music and boys, Tracy would often be found prancing around the stage pretending to be Miss Muffet, Bessie the Milkmaid, and her personal favourite, Aurora the Goose. Adulthood brought with it more serious roles, such as Nora in The Dolls House and Maggie in Hobson’s Choice. She’s also played Viola in Twelfth Night and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her favourite role was Geraldine Granger in The Vicar of Dibley.
Tracy started writing in her late twenties, song lyrics, sketches for pantomimes, before discovering her love for novel writing. Over the years she’s written numerous short stories, a number of which have been published in My Weekly magazine. She’s also been short-listed for several writing competitions, and won 1st prize in the Southern Daily Echo Feature Article competition. In 2024, Tracy’s novel Only For Christmas won the prestigious RNA Festive/Holiday Award.
Tracy describes her writing style as modern tales of romance, with engaging quirky characters, who overcome adversity, grow as people, and conclude in a satisfying optimistic ending.
Since the age of eleven, Tracy has been actively involved in amateur dramatics and she’s acted in many productions, written sketches, and directed shows. Her first role was in Aladdin. She played a jewel in the genie’s cave and was told to ‘stand there and sparkle’ – not exactly taxing stuff. While most teenagers spent their free time obsessing with fashion, make-up, pop music and boys, Tracy would often be found prancing around the stage pretending to be Miss Muffet, Bessie the Milkmaid, and her personal favourite, Aurora the Goose. Adulthood brought with it more serious roles, such as Nora in The Dolls House and Maggie in Hobson’s Choice. She’s also played Viola in Twelfth Night and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her favourite role was Geraldine Granger in The Vicar of Dibley.
Tracy started writing in her late twenties, song lyrics, sketches for pantomimes, before discovering her love for novel writing. Over the years she’s written numerous short stories, a number of which have been published in My Weekly magazine. She’s also been short-listed for several writing competitions, and won 1st prize in the Southern Daily Echo Feature Article competition. In 2024, Tracy’s novel Only For Christmas won the prestigious RNA Festive/Holiday Award.
Tracy describes her writing style as modern tales of romance, with engaging quirky characters, who overcome adversity, grow as people, and conclude in a satisfying optimistic ending.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 9, 2018
The Summer Theatre by the Sea is a 2018 Avon publication.
A light, charming story with a healthy dose of depth and emotion-
Charlotte’s entire life was upended practically overnight. She lost her job, boyfriend and residence all in one day. Without a place to live or a job, Charlotte’s only option is to call her harried sister, Lauren, who lives in Cornwall, and beg to stay with her for a little while until she can figure out what to do next.
Charlotte is ill prepared for the state of her sister’s home or how stressed she is. Attempting to help her only brings on more resentment. Meanwhile, Charlotte is facing criticism of her own, when everyone she knows advises her to relax, take a few risks, and for heaven’s sake- LIGHTEN UP!!
As the days pass, Charlotte becomes more involved in the Cornwall community, reconnects with her father and his new lady friend, and develops a friendship of sorts with a local doctor who is under intense pressure from his family to stop being a surfer dude and go back to practicing medicine.
But, the more Charlotte relaxes and grows to enjoy the laid -back community of Cornwall, Lauren becomes more and more uptight, losing weight, and pushing those who care about her away.
This story is, as the cover might suggest, lighter fare, with no real super heavy or dark dilemmas, but it also has plenty of drama and emotional moments. The most poignant moments take place between Charlotte, Lauren, and their father, who has made some big mistakes with his daughters that had long-term consequences.
The Summer theatre, where Lauren works part-time, is a big summertime draw for the community, with this year’s play being a “Midsummer’s Night Dream’. Charlotte, who badly needs an outlet for her energy gets involved in the theatre, and soon finds herself to enjoying life outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, although she seems bent on getting her old job back.
At the end of the day, as far as the romantic elements went, I ended up enjoying the speech Nate gave Lauren, although I did like the way things turned out for Charlotte and Barney, too.
Overall, this story was a nice well-rounded contemporary novel with a nice combination of family drama and romance set against the gorgeous backdrop of Cornwall.
Best quote: You know what they say.. what doesn't kill you...
"makes you stronger?"
I was going to say, gives you a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms and a really dark sense of humour"
4 stars
A light, charming story with a healthy dose of depth and emotion-
Charlotte’s entire life was upended practically overnight. She lost her job, boyfriend and residence all in one day. Without a place to live or a job, Charlotte’s only option is to call her harried sister, Lauren, who lives in Cornwall, and beg to stay with her for a little while until she can figure out what to do next.
Charlotte is ill prepared for the state of her sister’s home or how stressed she is. Attempting to help her only brings on more resentment. Meanwhile, Charlotte is facing criticism of her own, when everyone she knows advises her to relax, take a few risks, and for heaven’s sake- LIGHTEN UP!!
As the days pass, Charlotte becomes more involved in the Cornwall community, reconnects with her father and his new lady friend, and develops a friendship of sorts with a local doctor who is under intense pressure from his family to stop being a surfer dude and go back to practicing medicine.
But, the more Charlotte relaxes and grows to enjoy the laid -back community of Cornwall, Lauren becomes more and more uptight, losing weight, and pushing those who care about her away.
This story is, as the cover might suggest, lighter fare, with no real super heavy or dark dilemmas, but it also has plenty of drama and emotional moments. The most poignant moments take place between Charlotte, Lauren, and their father, who has made some big mistakes with his daughters that had long-term consequences.
The Summer theatre, where Lauren works part-time, is a big summertime draw for the community, with this year’s play being a “Midsummer’s Night Dream’. Charlotte, who badly needs an outlet for her energy gets involved in the theatre, and soon finds herself to enjoying life outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, although she seems bent on getting her old job back.
At the end of the day, as far as the romantic elements went, I ended up enjoying the speech Nate gave Lauren, although I did like the way things turned out for Charlotte and Barney, too.
Overall, this story was a nice well-rounded contemporary novel with a nice combination of family drama and romance set against the gorgeous backdrop of Cornwall.
Best quote: You know what they say.. what doesn't kill you...
"makes you stronger?"
I was going to say, gives you a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms and a really dark sense of humour"
4 stars
April 13, 2018
5☆ The perfect read if you are looking to escape.
The Summer Theatre by the Sea is a captivating and heartwarming read.
The perfect read if you are looking to escape.
With romance, Humour, a loveable theatre, drama, Family, Friendships, Relationships, some touching emotional moments and of course gorgeous Cornwall.
We meet Charlotte, she had the perfect life, or so she thought. When things disastrously come crashing down around her, she loses everything.
Charlotte is struggling. So what better time to visit magical Cornwall and her sister Lauren. She packs up and heads to stay with her sister and her family.
She's hoping that by visiting her Sister she will be able to get some perspective on life.
Lauren works at the local theatre and they are about to put on A Midsummer night's dream play. However they need some help and Charlotte needs a distraction.
So she decides to help out.
A Midsummer night's dream is one of my favourite plays I remember doing at school. So when Charlotte gets involved in helping the local theatre make the set design it bought back lots of memories.
We also meet junior Dr Barney, he too has run away to Cornwall.
He also is trying to gain some perspective on his life. You see Barney is training to become a Dr. But it's not what he wants to do his heart isn't in It.
It's what his parents expect him to do.
He cant take the pressure anymore so he jacks it in and runs off to Cornwall to teach surfing and act in the local theatre.
Charlotte meets Barney at the theatre and straight away you can see there is an attraction there. But will the magic of Cornwall and the Theatre bring them together or do they have too much baggage!!
The subjects in the story are also very real which I enjoyed as it made the story even more believable.
You could really relate to the everyday issues the characters were facing.
Tracy covers a range of important subjects such as getting into large debts with a loan shark (money lender), making life choices, being a single parent, responsibilities, trust, relationships.
There wasn't one character I didn't like.
I fell in love with the many quirky characters in the story they were all so relatable and loveable.
I loved the bond between Charlotte and her sister Lauren. Without knowing it they actually needed each other in different ways. It wasn't just Charlotte that needed her sister!
I adored reading The Summer Theatre by the Sea. It warmed my heart.
Tracy has done a fantastic job at bringing Cornwall and the Theatre alive.
For me there is nothing quiet as magical as a theatre. I always get goose bumps as you never know what is going to happen inside and I got those emotions when reading this captivating book.
If your looking for a feel good read to escape into then this is the perfect read.
So grab your blanket and a hot drink and get lost in the amateur dramatics of The Summer Theatre by the Sea!
Thank you to Avon Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
The Summer Theatre by the Sea is a captivating and heartwarming read.
The perfect read if you are looking to escape.
With romance, Humour, a loveable theatre, drama, Family, Friendships, Relationships, some touching emotional moments and of course gorgeous Cornwall.
We meet Charlotte, she had the perfect life, or so she thought. When things disastrously come crashing down around her, she loses everything.
Charlotte is struggling. So what better time to visit magical Cornwall and her sister Lauren. She packs up and heads to stay with her sister and her family.
She's hoping that by visiting her Sister she will be able to get some perspective on life.
Lauren works at the local theatre and they are about to put on A Midsummer night's dream play. However they need some help and Charlotte needs a distraction.
So she decides to help out.
A Midsummer night's dream is one of my favourite plays I remember doing at school. So when Charlotte gets involved in helping the local theatre make the set design it bought back lots of memories.
We also meet junior Dr Barney, he too has run away to Cornwall.
He also is trying to gain some perspective on his life. You see Barney is training to become a Dr. But it's not what he wants to do his heart isn't in It.
It's what his parents expect him to do.
He cant take the pressure anymore so he jacks it in and runs off to Cornwall to teach surfing and act in the local theatre.
Charlotte meets Barney at the theatre and straight away you can see there is an attraction there. But will the magic of Cornwall and the Theatre bring them together or do they have too much baggage!!
The subjects in the story are also very real which I enjoyed as it made the story even more believable.
You could really relate to the everyday issues the characters were facing.
Tracy covers a range of important subjects such as getting into large debts with a loan shark (money lender), making life choices, being a single parent, responsibilities, trust, relationships.
There wasn't one character I didn't like.
I fell in love with the many quirky characters in the story they were all so relatable and loveable.
I loved the bond between Charlotte and her sister Lauren. Without knowing it they actually needed each other in different ways. It wasn't just Charlotte that needed her sister!
I adored reading The Summer Theatre by the Sea. It warmed my heart.
Tracy has done a fantastic job at bringing Cornwall and the Theatre alive.
For me there is nothing quiet as magical as a theatre. I always get goose bumps as you never know what is going to happen inside and I got those emotions when reading this captivating book.
If your looking for a feel good read to escape into then this is the perfect read.
So grab your blanket and a hot drink and get lost in the amateur dramatics of The Summer Theatre by the Sea!
Thank you to Avon Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
May 11, 2018
A beautiful with fun characters and a warm story line. A good read for escaping from the realities of life. Romance and relationships on the backdrop of theatre made the entire story warm and fun. Struggling through some issues in life, Charlotte leaves everything to spend time with her sister Lauren who manages the local theatre, where she meets the lovable Barney and the attraction sparks between them. The bond between the sisters is loving explored and developed. My first book by Tracy Corbett, and I am sure it wouldn't be my last. Lovable characters and warm story line make this a perfect book for a cozy afternoon.
April 19, 2018
The cover of Tracy Corbett's new book The Summer Theatre by the Sea led me to believe that this would be a nice light, easy read. Typical of a lot of books in the women's fiction genre in that it would be the usual boy meets girl romance story, I found that wasn't the case and that the plot had a lot of hidden depth to it. I certainly got a more meatier read than I had bargained for as we follow sisters Charlotte and Lauren. The book centres around the coastal village of Penmullion and the local drama group the Isolde Players as they prepare their summer performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, to be held in the cliff top amphitheatre that overlooks the sea.
Although the ups, downs and dramatics of getting a performance to opening night do play a major role in the overall story, it was more the focus on the lives of the sisters and the various characters as in friends and family that surround them that took centre stage. Penmuillon is a gorgeous town where most of the residents feel a relaxed sense of well being and the community is tight knit but times are not easy for all and it was enjoyable to read of the trials and travails that face the characters.
We are first introduced to Charlotte who lives and works in London. On a daily basis she slogs away in an interior design company and doesn't see much of her family, I sensed she had more or less isolated herself from them. Yes she does make contact every now and again through phone calls but she doesn't necessarily rush to visit either Lauren or her father Tony. The death of her mother still has such repercussions for the family and maybe now that the glue that held them together has gone there is nothing to bind them together. No doubt about it Charlotte is a hard worker, the consummate professional who always strives to achieve perfection in every aspect of her job, but yet she is is controlling and likes her life just so. She has a life plan and wants it all to be on track and planned down to the very last detail.
So when things go off kilter and her world is abruptly turned upside down what is she to do? Initially, I felt immense sympathy for Charlotte, to my eyes she was unfairly let go from her job as nepotism plays a pivotal role. To make matters worse to arrive home to her neat and orderly flat to find her boyfriend of three years Ethan packing up to leave for a job in Paris must really have been the final nail in the coffin. Charlotte is self made and self sufficient but for Ethan that is too much, her controlling, domineering personality has just made him want to escape. Now with no job, no boyfriend and no home, Charlotte has to turn to someone she wouldn't want to impose on. Someone she wouldn't wish to know just how out of control her life has spun so rapidly, her sister Lauren.
It's clear Charlotte needs a new start and to have new experiences but when she arrives in Penmuillon she was bringing the baggage of London with her. She tried to bring the city to a coastal town and into her sister's life when really she didn't need it nor was it necessary. When she arrives I changed my opinion of her and I just thought she was too uptight and was not one of those people willing to live by the seat of her pants so to speak. To go with the flow, to do things spontaneously. I thought Charlotte was trying to inflict her ways and mannerisms on Lauren, and her twins Freddie and Florence, when really she needed to lighten up, reassess her life and think.
Right the worst has happened to me. The only way from here is up and I need to make the best of a bad situation. Do I continue to go the way I am? Did all these things happen to me for a reason? Is it me that needs to change or is the people I am surrounded by? The summer spent in Penmuillon as she awaits a tribunal for her unfair dismissal will either make or break Lauren for better or worse. Will becoming involved in the production as set designer help her change her viewpoints? Or will even the advances of a member of the opposite sex begin to break down the strong walls she has enforced around herself with regard to all aspects of her life.
As my opinion of Charlotte changed and I didn't feel as sympathetic towards her, my interest instead turned towards single mum Lauren. I warmed to her immediately so much so that Charlotte really begin to frustrate me and I wished she would really just chill out that bit more and and not always have to be so perfect. Her personality and actions were irritating to say the least. Lauren is doing the best she can raising her two children, who really were brilliant characters and written with such innocence and they provided plenty of laugh out loud moments. Life for Lauren couldn't be more different to that of the life Charlotte led in London. She works part time in a café between juggling commitments for her children and to say money is tight would be an understatement. Lauren is in a constant melting pot of pressure that is slowly reaching boiling point and now she she finds herself in a desperate situation of which she sees no light at the end of the tunnel.
I just couldn't understand how her family and friends let Lauren slide so much into what she was forced to do. Manipulation, cruelty and twisting the knife are all terms that spring to mind and surely Charlotte or Tony could see their sister and daughter changing before their eyes given the immense strain she was under. On the other hand, I really wished Lauren could have just opened up about what was wrong and to seek advice as to get rid of the problem. She had such a burden on her shoulders that even though everyone in the community cared it was sad to think that she couldn't release the stresses and strains she was under.
Of course there had to be some male characters present to balance with the ongoings of the female side. These came in the form of Barney, Nate and Paul. Barney is taking a year long sabbatical from training to be a doctor in London. He feels under immense pressure from his parents, both of whom are doctors themselves, to come back and continue on. But Barney has so many questions running through his head, he doubts whether becoming a doctor is for him at all. He is hoping the time away will give him clarity and the ability to make the right decision. Joining the Isolde Players is an enjoyable outlet for him and the calamities and catastrophes that occur during rehearsals involving Barney and co added lots of light humour and relief through the story.
But one serious incident makes Barney question everything again. I did like Barney as a charter and could see he was certainly torn in two regarding his future. But it was a case of he would have to step up to the plate and make a decision that no one could make it for him. I did enjoy the romance element of Barney's story but at times it felt there was too much distance between the person he has his eye on, that it happened very quickly and I would have liked even more conversation and interaction between the pair. It was like several steps had been taken without much discussion or development. As for Nate and Paul, I felt they played more minor roles. Nate was someone who really should have stepped up to the plate and confessed what he knew in order to help another. Paul's storyline although very relevant for today's society, felt at times as if it was an extra to the story that mightn't have been needed. I still can't fathom how Charlotte didn't get what was going on with Paul. Truthfully this just seemed silly that she didn't.
Aside from these issues The Summer Theatre by the Sea was an enjoyable read, if just that little bit too long. I felt there was a natural conclusion where the book could have ended instead it continued on whereas as things could have been wrapped up just that little bit quicker. Is the play a success? Do Charlotte and Lauren find happiness or do things go even further down the bad roads they are on? Can the community over come the adversity and bitterness in their midst? Will Barney reach a decision that he can be happy with? To discover all these answers and a cast of characters which will inspire lots of different feelings within you, then you'll have to pick up a copy of this book that has such a beautiful summery cover. This was the first book I have read by Tracy Corbett but I would be interested to read more of what she writes in the future.
Although the ups, downs and dramatics of getting a performance to opening night do play a major role in the overall story, it was more the focus on the lives of the sisters and the various characters as in friends and family that surround them that took centre stage. Penmuillon is a gorgeous town where most of the residents feel a relaxed sense of well being and the community is tight knit but times are not easy for all and it was enjoyable to read of the trials and travails that face the characters.
We are first introduced to Charlotte who lives and works in London. On a daily basis she slogs away in an interior design company and doesn't see much of her family, I sensed she had more or less isolated herself from them. Yes she does make contact every now and again through phone calls but she doesn't necessarily rush to visit either Lauren or her father Tony. The death of her mother still has such repercussions for the family and maybe now that the glue that held them together has gone there is nothing to bind them together. No doubt about it Charlotte is a hard worker, the consummate professional who always strives to achieve perfection in every aspect of her job, but yet she is is controlling and likes her life just so. She has a life plan and wants it all to be on track and planned down to the very last detail.
So when things go off kilter and her world is abruptly turned upside down what is she to do? Initially, I felt immense sympathy for Charlotte, to my eyes she was unfairly let go from her job as nepotism plays a pivotal role. To make matters worse to arrive home to her neat and orderly flat to find her boyfriend of three years Ethan packing up to leave for a job in Paris must really have been the final nail in the coffin. Charlotte is self made and self sufficient but for Ethan that is too much, her controlling, domineering personality has just made him want to escape. Now with no job, no boyfriend and no home, Charlotte has to turn to someone she wouldn't want to impose on. Someone she wouldn't wish to know just how out of control her life has spun so rapidly, her sister Lauren.
It's clear Charlotte needs a new start and to have new experiences but when she arrives in Penmuillon she was bringing the baggage of London with her. She tried to bring the city to a coastal town and into her sister's life when really she didn't need it nor was it necessary. When she arrives I changed my opinion of her and I just thought she was too uptight and was not one of those people willing to live by the seat of her pants so to speak. To go with the flow, to do things spontaneously. I thought Charlotte was trying to inflict her ways and mannerisms on Lauren, and her twins Freddie and Florence, when really she needed to lighten up, reassess her life and think.
Right the worst has happened to me. The only way from here is up and I need to make the best of a bad situation. Do I continue to go the way I am? Did all these things happen to me for a reason? Is it me that needs to change or is the people I am surrounded by? The summer spent in Penmuillon as she awaits a tribunal for her unfair dismissal will either make or break Lauren for better or worse. Will becoming involved in the production as set designer help her change her viewpoints? Or will even the advances of a member of the opposite sex begin to break down the strong walls she has enforced around herself with regard to all aspects of her life.
As my opinion of Charlotte changed and I didn't feel as sympathetic towards her, my interest instead turned towards single mum Lauren. I warmed to her immediately so much so that Charlotte really begin to frustrate me and I wished she would really just chill out that bit more and and not always have to be so perfect. Her personality and actions were irritating to say the least. Lauren is doing the best she can raising her two children, who really were brilliant characters and written with such innocence and they provided plenty of laugh out loud moments. Life for Lauren couldn't be more different to that of the life Charlotte led in London. She works part time in a café between juggling commitments for her children and to say money is tight would be an understatement. Lauren is in a constant melting pot of pressure that is slowly reaching boiling point and now she she finds herself in a desperate situation of which she sees no light at the end of the tunnel.
I just couldn't understand how her family and friends let Lauren slide so much into what she was forced to do. Manipulation, cruelty and twisting the knife are all terms that spring to mind and surely Charlotte or Tony could see their sister and daughter changing before their eyes given the immense strain she was under. On the other hand, I really wished Lauren could have just opened up about what was wrong and to seek advice as to get rid of the problem. She had such a burden on her shoulders that even though everyone in the community cared it was sad to think that she couldn't release the stresses and strains she was under.
Of course there had to be some male characters present to balance with the ongoings of the female side. These came in the form of Barney, Nate and Paul. Barney is taking a year long sabbatical from training to be a doctor in London. He feels under immense pressure from his parents, both of whom are doctors themselves, to come back and continue on. But Barney has so many questions running through his head, he doubts whether becoming a doctor is for him at all. He is hoping the time away will give him clarity and the ability to make the right decision. Joining the Isolde Players is an enjoyable outlet for him and the calamities and catastrophes that occur during rehearsals involving Barney and co added lots of light humour and relief through the story.
But one serious incident makes Barney question everything again. I did like Barney as a charter and could see he was certainly torn in two regarding his future. But it was a case of he would have to step up to the plate and make a decision that no one could make it for him. I did enjoy the romance element of Barney's story but at times it felt there was too much distance between the person he has his eye on, that it happened very quickly and I would have liked even more conversation and interaction between the pair. It was like several steps had been taken without much discussion or development. As for Nate and Paul, I felt they played more minor roles. Nate was someone who really should have stepped up to the plate and confessed what he knew in order to help another. Paul's storyline although very relevant for today's society, felt at times as if it was an extra to the story that mightn't have been needed. I still can't fathom how Charlotte didn't get what was going on with Paul. Truthfully this just seemed silly that she didn't.
Aside from these issues The Summer Theatre by the Sea was an enjoyable read, if just that little bit too long. I felt there was a natural conclusion where the book could have ended instead it continued on whereas as things could have been wrapped up just that little bit quicker. Is the play a success? Do Charlotte and Lauren find happiness or do things go even further down the bad roads they are on? Can the community over come the adversity and bitterness in their midst? Will Barney reach a decision that he can be happy with? To discover all these answers and a cast of characters which will inspire lots of different feelings within you, then you'll have to pick up a copy of this book that has such a beautiful summery cover. This was the first book I have read by Tracy Corbett but I would be interested to read more of what she writes in the future.
April 14, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
I wasn't too surprised to see that this book was set in Cornwall, although my eyes did roll a little bit! Just to clarify, I don't have anything against Cornwall - I have never physically been there! Thanks to the wonders of fiction however, I have maybe visited Cornwall once to twice....it certainly is a popular setting for books these days, that's for sure!
Thankfully, whilst the setting was a big deal for the overall storyline, it didn't overshadow the characters at all which I loved as they stood out a lot more. They were allowed to shine in various different ways and I must say, I was thoroughly entertained! 'The Summer Theatre by the Sea' does contain a lot of characters so if you can keep up with a bit of character switching, you really would adore this book! Sisters, Charlotte and Lauren, could not be more different. Both live such different lifestyles, and both have incredibly different views on how to live their live. Having lost the closeness of their relationship over the years, the sisters now have a chance to re-build those bridges and make up for lost time. It's just a shame that people had to get 'hurt' in order for them to realise what they needed to do...
I genuinely thought this book was going to be light, fluffy and picturesque. Whilst the author nailed the latter no bother, I couldn't help but be surprised when the storyline engulfed me in such turbulence and emotion. I didn't see it coming at all but I loved how the dynamic of the storyline changed over the course of the novel.
Being a single mum myself, I had my pom poms out for Lauren from the get go! My heart couldn't have felt more sorry for her if it had tried - it was such a shame to see her in such a predicament, especially when pride had gotten in the way to stop her from becoming embarrassed. Asking for help isn't a bad thing, but for Lauren, asking for help would have been the most disastrous thing she had ever done. I LOVED Flo and Freddie, they had me in hysterics more than once and, despite being a work of fiction, I thought that Lauren had done a fantastic job bringing up two grounded, charismatic and loveable children, all whilst dealing with a situation which ended up removing parts of her own personality. Tracy Corbett is a star in my eyes for the way she has portrayed a single mum and I really do thank her for that.
As for the rest of the book - there was so much happening! I won't divulge details, but 'The Summer Theatre by the Sea' really does have something for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about many colourful characters such as Barney Hubble and Dusty! They may seem like two people who don't fit in, but I can assure you that the story wouldn't have been the same without either of them.
Tracy Corbett had me giggling, sighing and feeling emotional, all thanks to her joyful and impassioned storyline which, despite having many laugh out loud moments, ended up highlighting such an important message. You only get one chance at life, why spend it doing something you hate? Why spend it living your life for other people? Why spend it feeling guilty for making decisions based on your own circumstances, rather than going along with someone else's choices because they prefer it? Many of the characters in this book stepped out of their comfort zones by attempting new things, changing their ways, or by finally listening to their own intuition.
It may have been a 'Summer Theatre by the Sea', but it was a story which resonated with me and made me think. Such an enjoyable, heartfelt and cosy read - I highly recommend curling up with a cuppa, a bar of chocolate, and a dose of the 'The Summer Theatre by the Sea'.
I wasn't too surprised to see that this book was set in Cornwall, although my eyes did roll a little bit! Just to clarify, I don't have anything against Cornwall - I have never physically been there! Thanks to the wonders of fiction however, I have maybe visited Cornwall once to twice....it certainly is a popular setting for books these days, that's for sure!
Thankfully, whilst the setting was a big deal for the overall storyline, it didn't overshadow the characters at all which I loved as they stood out a lot more. They were allowed to shine in various different ways and I must say, I was thoroughly entertained! 'The Summer Theatre by the Sea' does contain a lot of characters so if you can keep up with a bit of character switching, you really would adore this book! Sisters, Charlotte and Lauren, could not be more different. Both live such different lifestyles, and both have incredibly different views on how to live their live. Having lost the closeness of their relationship over the years, the sisters now have a chance to re-build those bridges and make up for lost time. It's just a shame that people had to get 'hurt' in order for them to realise what they needed to do...
I genuinely thought this book was going to be light, fluffy and picturesque. Whilst the author nailed the latter no bother, I couldn't help but be surprised when the storyline engulfed me in such turbulence and emotion. I didn't see it coming at all but I loved how the dynamic of the storyline changed over the course of the novel.
Being a single mum myself, I had my pom poms out for Lauren from the get go! My heart couldn't have felt more sorry for her if it had tried - it was such a shame to see her in such a predicament, especially when pride had gotten in the way to stop her from becoming embarrassed. Asking for help isn't a bad thing, but for Lauren, asking for help would have been the most disastrous thing she had ever done. I LOVED Flo and Freddie, they had me in hysterics more than once and, despite being a work of fiction, I thought that Lauren had done a fantastic job bringing up two grounded, charismatic and loveable children, all whilst dealing with a situation which ended up removing parts of her own personality. Tracy Corbett is a star in my eyes for the way she has portrayed a single mum and I really do thank her for that.
As for the rest of the book - there was so much happening! I won't divulge details, but 'The Summer Theatre by the Sea' really does have something for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about many colourful characters such as Barney Hubble and Dusty! They may seem like two people who don't fit in, but I can assure you that the story wouldn't have been the same without either of them.
Tracy Corbett had me giggling, sighing and feeling emotional, all thanks to her joyful and impassioned storyline which, despite having many laugh out loud moments, ended up highlighting such an important message. You only get one chance at life, why spend it doing something you hate? Why spend it living your life for other people? Why spend it feeling guilty for making decisions based on your own circumstances, rather than going along with someone else's choices because they prefer it? Many of the characters in this book stepped out of their comfort zones by attempting new things, changing their ways, or by finally listening to their own intuition.
It may have been a 'Summer Theatre by the Sea', but it was a story which resonated with me and made me think. Such an enjoyable, heartfelt and cosy read - I highly recommend curling up with a cuppa, a bar of chocolate, and a dose of the 'The Summer Theatre by the Sea'.
June 9, 2018
Another absolutely brilliant read from Tracy Corbett, she’s slowly becoming a must read author for me and I’m so pleased to see she already has a new book to pre order, due out in October.
I adored the Cornwall setting - if I could afford to move to Cornwall, I would go tomorrow. It just sounds so idyllic and picture perfect. The characters were fantastic, I loved Charlotte especially once Barney got under her skin and made her loosen up a bit. Lauren’s story was both interesting and frustrating since I just wanted to shake her shoulders and tell her to just bloody confess her debt to her sister so she could help, especially since there was never any reason not to.
This was a splendid summer read. I loved the romance, the storylines, the setting, everything basically. Tracy is such an amazing storyteller and I can’t wait for book number three!
I adored the Cornwall setting - if I could afford to move to Cornwall, I would go tomorrow. It just sounds so idyllic and picture perfect. The characters were fantastic, I loved Charlotte especially once Barney got under her skin and made her loosen up a bit. Lauren’s story was both interesting and frustrating since I just wanted to shake her shoulders and tell her to just bloody confess her debt to her sister so she could help, especially since there was never any reason not to.
This was a splendid summer read. I loved the romance, the storylines, the setting, everything basically. Tracy is such an amazing storyteller and I can’t wait for book number three!
September 9, 2018
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This is a gorgeous summery read and I loved everything about it from the stunning cover to the brilliant ending. I loved the plot and I found the whole book really addictive.
It has some fantastic characters that I would love to meet in real life, was really warming to them by the first few chapters! the setting for the book is lovely and it brought the whole story to life. It flowed very well and the writing style was perfect.
Five stars from me - a lovely summery read, perfect for the holiday season!!
This is a gorgeous summery read and I loved everything about it from the stunning cover to the brilliant ending. I loved the plot and I found the whole book really addictive.
It has some fantastic characters that I would love to meet in real life, was really warming to them by the first few chapters! the setting for the book is lovely and it brought the whole story to life. It flowed very well and the writing style was perfect.
Five stars from me - a lovely summery read, perfect for the holiday season!!
April 10, 2018
‘The Summer Theatre By The Sea’ is said to be a feel-good, romance, holiday read. Let’s face it the weather hasn’t exactly been warm lately so I thought that I would pick this book up to distract me from the manky (bad) weather outside. Oh boy, it was certainly a distraction and a half. I absolutely loved reading this book but more about that in a bit.
I really took to the character of Charlotte Saunders from the start and I really felt for her. Bless her, she thinks that her life is tootling along quite happily, she has a job she loves and she is happy living with her boyfriend. True, she has her life planned out to the last second and she & her boyfriend live to a timetable. However, one day things start tumbling down and in spectacular fashion. To say that she has the rug pulled from under her feet is an understatement. I think that in that sense I empathised with her to a large degree as I experienced something similar in my own life, when I lost my job, my salary and my friends in quick succession through no fault of my own. Sorry I digress so back to Charlotte I do go. I guess you have to really hit rock bottom to start to appreciate what it is that is important and to be grateful for those things that you do still have. Charlotte moves in with her sister in Cornwall until she fathoms out what she wants to do with her life and little by little she begins piecing her life back together. Charlotte finds herself something to occupy her time with and she starts to make new friends. Not only that but she has a new love interest in the shape of a very handsome sounding doctor. All I can say is that if she doesn’t want him, then I will. Will Charlotte settle permanently in Cornwall or will she go back to her old life? Will Charlotte find love with the hunky sounding doctor or will she go back to her last boyfriend? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourself to find out as I am not going to tell you.
To say that this was an addictive read has to be the understatement of the year!! I was hooked on the book from the moment I picked up my Kindle and opened the front cover so to speak. Once I started reading the book, I couldn’t put it down. By that, I don’t mean that the book was glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. I guess that following Charlotte and learning if she found happiness, in a way gave me hope and inspiration for my own life. I know that sounds sad but hey. I became so wrapped up in the book and the characters in the book, that I didn’t notice how quickly either the time or the page numbers were flying past and before I knew what was happening I had finished the book, which I was so disappointed about. As I said before, I needed a distraction from the rotten weather outside and this author’s writing style is so convincing that I really could imagine that it was summer. By the time I finished reading ‘The Summer Theatre By The Sea’, I really did feel as if I had been on a very gentle emotional rollercoaster ride. By that I mean that there were highs, there were lows, there were funny moments that made me laugh, there were the occasional moments where I felt a lump form in my throat and occasionally there were moments where I could have quite cheerfully slapped certain people across the face with a wet fish for their behaviour or attitude.
I can honestly say that there wasn’t one thing that I disliked about this book. I absolutely adored the location of the bulk of the story, I loved almost all of the characters, I loved the story and I loved the author’s writing style. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody and everybody. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I can’t wait to read what comes next from Tracy Corbett and here’s hoping that there isn’t going to be too long a wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I really took to the character of Charlotte Saunders from the start and I really felt for her. Bless her, she thinks that her life is tootling along quite happily, she has a job she loves and she is happy living with her boyfriend. True, she has her life planned out to the last second and she & her boyfriend live to a timetable. However, one day things start tumbling down and in spectacular fashion. To say that she has the rug pulled from under her feet is an understatement. I think that in that sense I empathised with her to a large degree as I experienced something similar in my own life, when I lost my job, my salary and my friends in quick succession through no fault of my own. Sorry I digress so back to Charlotte I do go. I guess you have to really hit rock bottom to start to appreciate what it is that is important and to be grateful for those things that you do still have. Charlotte moves in with her sister in Cornwall until she fathoms out what she wants to do with her life and little by little she begins piecing her life back together. Charlotte finds herself something to occupy her time with and she starts to make new friends. Not only that but she has a new love interest in the shape of a very handsome sounding doctor. All I can say is that if she doesn’t want him, then I will. Will Charlotte settle permanently in Cornwall or will she go back to her old life? Will Charlotte find love with the hunky sounding doctor or will she go back to her last boyfriend? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourself to find out as I am not going to tell you.
To say that this was an addictive read has to be the understatement of the year!! I was hooked on the book from the moment I picked up my Kindle and opened the front cover so to speak. Once I started reading the book, I couldn’t put it down. By that, I don’t mean that the book was glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. I guess that following Charlotte and learning if she found happiness, in a way gave me hope and inspiration for my own life. I know that sounds sad but hey. I became so wrapped up in the book and the characters in the book, that I didn’t notice how quickly either the time or the page numbers were flying past and before I knew what was happening I had finished the book, which I was so disappointed about. As I said before, I needed a distraction from the rotten weather outside and this author’s writing style is so convincing that I really could imagine that it was summer. By the time I finished reading ‘The Summer Theatre By The Sea’, I really did feel as if I had been on a very gentle emotional rollercoaster ride. By that I mean that there were highs, there were lows, there were funny moments that made me laugh, there were the occasional moments where I felt a lump form in my throat and occasionally there were moments where I could have quite cheerfully slapped certain people across the face with a wet fish for their behaviour or attitude.
I can honestly say that there wasn’t one thing that I disliked about this book. I absolutely adored the location of the bulk of the story, I loved almost all of the characters, I loved the story and I loved the author’s writing style. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody and everybody. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I can’t wait to read what comes next from Tracy Corbett and here’s hoping that there isn’t going to be too long a wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.
April 22, 2018
Visit the locations in the novel
Sunshine in a book! There's a lot of summery magic in this book - a chip shop with a cool name like Coddy Shack, and a cafe called Candy Craves. But it was Dusty's Boutique that really tickled my fancy with its cool allure and nostalgic displays.
The characters were fun too - Barney Hubble! ha there's a story behind that as there is with the others in this novel - fun stories which feel fresh and flighty in the Cornish sun.
The theatre was the main attraction and how it brought the characters together and I've never been part of amateur dramatics but I can imagine what fun it could be but also what could lie behind that curtain!
A lot of fun and a cool read for summer!
April 8, 2018
Charlotte has her ‘perfect’ life all planned out with her perfect job, her perfect boyfriend, and their perfect house. But in one day she loses it all, so she decides to pack all her things and spend the summer in Cornwall with her sister Lauren until she figures out what to do. Lauren is a single mother with two children, juggling a part-time job, the community theatre, and a debt that seems to increase every day. Barney has left his medical studies and his supportive but oppressive parents behind in London and moved to Cornwall to teach surf, sing in the local pub, and act in the community theatre. As Lauren tries to make meet ends and not give in to her attraction to Nate, the mailman/ barman/ fellow actor who has been in love with her for years, Charlotte and Barney have to figure out what to do with their lives and with each other.
I loved everything about this novel, the engaging and colourful characters, the beautiful setting of Cornwall, the enjoyable and romantic plot. The author’s writing is captivating and she created realistic characters who have to deal with everyday problems with jobs, love, and life in general. I read it in two days and I wish there had been more. A simply fantastic read!
I loved everything about this novel, the engaging and colourful characters, the beautiful setting of Cornwall, the enjoyable and romantic plot. The author’s writing is captivating and she created realistic characters who have to deal with everyday problems with jobs, love, and life in general. I read it in two days and I wish there had been more. A simply fantastic read!
June 6, 2018
Charlotte loves her busy London life. She has a great career as an interior designer and is living together with her boyfriend in a beautiful home. Unfortunately she loses her job because of an unfair dismissal and her boyfriend breaks up with her on the same day. She's now unemployed and homeless and to get back on her feet she travels to Cornwall to stay with her sister. Lauren has a part-time job, so she can spend as much time with her children as she can. Her home is messy, but cosy and she has a large number of voluntary babysitters. This is exactly the opposite of what Charlotte is used to. Will the two sisters be able to get along?
Lauren is a member of the local drama club. Their next performance will be A Midsummer Night's Dream and to have something to do Charlotte decides to help with the set design. While Charlotte is slowly getting a life in Cornwall, Lauren is starting to become more withdrawn. Charlotte is determined to find out what's going on with her sister, so she can help her before she plans to go back to her old life in London. With the help of a handsome doctor, a kindhearted mailman and a gorgeous drag queen the sisters might be able to save their relationship, acknowledge their hopes and dreams for the future and find happiness again.
The Summer Theatre by the Sea is a wonderful heartwarming story. I like a good story about sisters and immediately loved Lauren and Charlotte. They couldn't be more different. Charlotte is stiff, career driven and organized, while Lauren likes her life to be messy, fun and filled with warmth. Charlotte is used to a high salary and Lauren has difficulties to make ends meet. Sharing a home together takes some getting used to and I loved witnessing the slow strengthening of their bond. There are many obstacles both sisters have to overcome, but family is important and they support one another even if they don't always approve of each other's methods. I enjoyed every single page of their story and couldn't wait to find out if they'd be able to find love, friendship and joy in their near future.
The Summer Theatre by the Sea put a big smile on my face. I love plays and was immediately captivated by the drama club Tracy Corbett is writing about. I really liked how she makes the members come to life. She paints a clear picture of their personality, their expectations, wishes, flaws and issues and combines this with a fabulous setting. I flew through the pages of this enchanting story and loved every single moment. I highly recommend The Summer Theatre by the Sea, it's sunny, wonderful, entertaining and delightful.
Lauren is a member of the local drama club. Their next performance will be A Midsummer Night's Dream and to have something to do Charlotte decides to help with the set design. While Charlotte is slowly getting a life in Cornwall, Lauren is starting to become more withdrawn. Charlotte is determined to find out what's going on with her sister, so she can help her before she plans to go back to her old life in London. With the help of a handsome doctor, a kindhearted mailman and a gorgeous drag queen the sisters might be able to save their relationship, acknowledge their hopes and dreams for the future and find happiness again.
The Summer Theatre by the Sea is a wonderful heartwarming story. I like a good story about sisters and immediately loved Lauren and Charlotte. They couldn't be more different. Charlotte is stiff, career driven and organized, while Lauren likes her life to be messy, fun and filled with warmth. Charlotte is used to a high salary and Lauren has difficulties to make ends meet. Sharing a home together takes some getting used to and I loved witnessing the slow strengthening of their bond. There are many obstacles both sisters have to overcome, but family is important and they support one another even if they don't always approve of each other's methods. I enjoyed every single page of their story and couldn't wait to find out if they'd be able to find love, friendship and joy in their near future.
The Summer Theatre by the Sea put a big smile on my face. I love plays and was immediately captivated by the drama club Tracy Corbett is writing about. I really liked how she makes the members come to life. She paints a clear picture of their personality, their expectations, wishes, flaws and issues and combines this with a fabulous setting. I flew through the pages of this enchanting story and loved every single moment. I highly recommend The Summer Theatre by the Sea, it's sunny, wonderful, entertaining and delightful.
March 24, 2018
Charlotte, an interior designer living in London loses her job the same day she also loses her boyfriend, Ethan and the flat they shared.
Her sister Lauren and her two young children moved from London to Cornwall seven years previous and never has Charlotte visited until now when she poses coming to stay for a while as her father and sister relocated there years ago after their mother's unfortunate death due to cancer.
Lauren is a member of the same theatre group performing A Midsummer Nights Dream at an outdoor theatre, it's here that friendships and relationships are made and we also meet young doctor Barney, on a break from junior doctor training in London.
As Charlotte joins the play as a set designer, Lauren's still struggling with her debts piling up as Glenda the loan shark applies pressure and Barney's parents are pressuring him to go home and choose a specialty to train up in at the hospital and build a 'real career' for himself. Nate picks up on Lauren's debt issues and tries to help despite his feelings for her risking her never speaking to him again. Charlotte finds herself relaxing more and even ends up with Barney on a few occasion's...
I loved the character of Dusty as a drag queen alter ego who finally helps the girls realise what they need to do to be truly happy for once. Her out there attitude and talk of risk taking makes them both realise what they want instead of staying miserable especially in Lauren's case. This book was a good one and although it started out with Charlotte being the main character, we transitioned fluidly throughout the book between both sisters and Barney to see how their lives collided with each other's. The plot was gripping with Glenda the money lender being the drawing point for me more so than seeing if the play went off without a hitch! Perhaps as it's so rare to come across in a women's fiction that single parents do often need to borrow from characters like her it drew me in more to that part of the story.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
Her sister Lauren and her two young children moved from London to Cornwall seven years previous and never has Charlotte visited until now when she poses coming to stay for a while as her father and sister relocated there years ago after their mother's unfortunate death due to cancer.
Lauren is a member of the same theatre group performing A Midsummer Nights Dream at an outdoor theatre, it's here that friendships and relationships are made and we also meet young doctor Barney, on a break from junior doctor training in London.
As Charlotte joins the play as a set designer, Lauren's still struggling with her debts piling up as Glenda the loan shark applies pressure and Barney's parents are pressuring him to go home and choose a specialty to train up in at the hospital and build a 'real career' for himself. Nate picks up on Lauren's debt issues and tries to help despite his feelings for her risking her never speaking to him again. Charlotte finds herself relaxing more and even ends up with Barney on a few occasion's...
I loved the character of Dusty as a drag queen alter ego who finally helps the girls realise what they need to do to be truly happy for once. Her out there attitude and talk of risk taking makes them both realise what they want instead of staying miserable especially in Lauren's case. This book was a good one and although it started out with Charlotte being the main character, we transitioned fluidly throughout the book between both sisters and Barney to see how their lives collided with each other's. The plot was gripping with Glenda the money lender being the drawing point for me more so than seeing if the play went off without a hitch! Perhaps as it's so rare to come across in a women's fiction that single parents do often need to borrow from characters like her it drew me in more to that part of the story.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
June 11, 2023
This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from its author.
This was just the book to get me out of my reading slump! A cosy rom-com, set against my favourite kind of backdrop – a small coastal town with a tight-knit community, local legends, and a medieval castle. When the blurb teased the amateur production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, I was hooked! Any mention of Shakespeare and I can’t wait to delve into the story!
Its ragtag company of thespians aside, “The Summer Theatre by the Sea” touched on a number of topics, such as dealing with grief, parental pressure, perfectionism, single parenting, and the threat of abusive behaviour, often hidden in plain sight. It was a welcome blend of the magical and the mundane, of trauma and healing.
As much as I loved the main cast of characters (the Saunders sisters, Barney, the twins, etc.), there’s one supporting character I hope to read more about in the future: Dusty, the stunning drag queen. Should a sequel afford her more stage time, I’d hit that “Add to cart” button in a heartbeat!
Meanwhile, I’m just going to browse pictures of Cornwall landscapes and imagine myself on site!
This was just the book to get me out of my reading slump! A cosy rom-com, set against my favourite kind of backdrop – a small coastal town with a tight-knit community, local legends, and a medieval castle. When the blurb teased the amateur production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, I was hooked! Any mention of Shakespeare and I can’t wait to delve into the story!
Its ragtag company of thespians aside, “The Summer Theatre by the Sea” touched on a number of topics, such as dealing with grief, parental pressure, perfectionism, single parenting, and the threat of abusive behaviour, often hidden in plain sight. It was a welcome blend of the magical and the mundane, of trauma and healing.
As much as I loved the main cast of characters (the Saunders sisters, Barney, the twins, etc.), there’s one supporting character I hope to read more about in the future: Dusty, the stunning drag queen. Should a sequel afford her more stage time, I’d hit that “Add to cart” button in a heartbeat!
Meanwhile, I’m just going to browse pictures of Cornwall landscapes and imagine myself on site!
August 31, 2022
I wasn't expecting much from this book when I started it. I thought it would be very predictable and see the outcome from a mile off. To a degree this was the case, it was exactly what I was expecting but also some parts were a surprise.
Some of the main characters irritated me so much at the start but as the story progressed my feelings towards them changed.
Was it a groundbreaking read? Absolutely not but I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would and was the perfect light summer read after reading a few heavier thriller books.
4⭐
Some of the main characters irritated me so much at the start but as the story progressed my feelings towards them changed.
Was it a groundbreaking read? Absolutely not but I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would and was the perfect light summer read after reading a few heavier thriller books.
4⭐
August 6, 2019
Really easy read and great for a summer holiday book. A lovely heart warming story
July 14, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was everything I expected from the cover and a lot more besides. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is my favourite Shakespeare play, and I loved how it was interwoven with this story. Some real laugh out loud moments and brilliant characters. I’ll definitely be reading it again!
July 18, 2018
Full review to follow
February 28, 2020
It was an ok read but the book felt too long winded.
March 6, 2018
I love the theatre and that’s what first attracted me to this book.
Charlotte didn’t have the best of days - first she was fired from her job, then her boyfriend of four years announced he was leaving AND had sold their flat so she was technically homeless. What’s a girl to do? Her father and her sister live by the sea so she decides to pay them a visit whilst deciding what to do next.
Charlotte is so used to controlling everything in her life she finds it extremely difficult to unwind and comes across as a bit nippy. However, she puts her skills to good use and helps out with the local amateur theatre her sister and father are members of. Soon she starts to unwind and meets a whole host of lovely characters but reminds herself that this is only temporary until she regains control of her life in London.
Although a bit of a slow burner you soon get engrossed in the story, the characters and their dramas. A lovely light and summery read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Charlotte didn’t have the best of days - first she was fired from her job, then her boyfriend of four years announced he was leaving AND had sold their flat so she was technically homeless. What’s a girl to do? Her father and her sister live by the sea so she decides to pay them a visit whilst deciding what to do next.
Charlotte is so used to controlling everything in her life she finds it extremely difficult to unwind and comes across as a bit nippy. However, she puts her skills to good use and helps out with the local amateur theatre her sister and father are members of. Soon she starts to unwind and meets a whole host of lovely characters but reminds herself that this is only temporary until she regains control of her life in London.
Although a bit of a slow burner you soon get engrossed in the story, the characters and their dramas. A lovely light and summery read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
April 11, 2018
Charlotte is an interior designer living in London. When she loses her job and a boyfriend, she decides to go to Cornwall to live with her sister Lauren for a while. While living in London she didn't have much time to visit her sister and father. The local theatre group is preparing for the play called A Midsummer Nights Dream and Charlotte is helping with the design of the set. While Charlotte is in Cornwall, she also meets Barney, who is a doctor, but he wants to do something different than other people especially his parents expect from him. Lauren and Charlotte both have their own worries and problems they have to deal with, but with someone special in their lives, the problems are not as bad anymore.
I really enjoyed this book, it had a beautiful setting, great characters and engrossing plot. It's a wonderful book to read during the summer and I'd definitely recommend it to all romance readers.
I really enjoyed this book, it had a beautiful setting, great characters and engrossing plot. It's a wonderful book to read during the summer and I'd definitely recommend it to all romance readers.
September 30, 2018
Whilst the main pull of this story is of course the romance, this beautiful novel is also about finding your true passion through meeting new people & having your mindset changed when faced with challenges that force you to deal with.
Charlotte is a successful interior designer in London with a stunning home & boyfriend of several years but loses it all in one day when she is fired for a mistake she deems wasn’t her fault & her boyfriend leaves her for a job in Paris- selling their home behind her back.
She is forced to move to her family in Cornwall- the idea of hell for her due to the lavish London lifestyle she had become accustomed to.
In Cornwall, her sister Lauren is a single Mum to two beautiful children & to anyone looking in lives the ideal family lifestyle- but she is secretly in deep debt, owing money to a woman who claims to be a good friend & community member but is actually a manipulative & mean-spirited loan shark.
Their father volunteers at the RNLI, saving lives on the coast and is much better after Charlotte last saw him when he was dealing with depression from the death of their mother & his wife.
Charlotte’s first day in Cornwall isn’t the best when she finds she has to stay with her sister in her small flat- sleeping in a lumpy sofa- a far cry from the London luxury she is used to and finds her sister’s friends don’t have high career aspirations or jobs. Despite the community’s efforts to welcome her, Charlotte can’t wait to get back to London & win her case of unfair dismissal.
Until then though, she has to find work in Cornwall and ends up helping design the sets for the Isolde Players upcoming production of Midsummers Night Dream at the famed outdoor theatre on the cliffs. With this development, she is forced to work with the community and some of Lauren’s friends including Barney Hubble- a man with no career aspirations who seems to enjoy spending his days surfing, playing gigs at the local pub & just having ‘fun’, something Charlotte just can’t accept as a proper job.
The longer she works in Cornwall however, the more she realises about the community and her own family. Barney is a romantic with great leadership skills and a trained doctor having a career crisis; Lauren is hiding a dark secret from everyone and Charlotte realises just how uptight about everything she really is when her sister makes her promise to let go a little & do something reckless - she just doesn’t realise that doing something reckless involves the man she originally believed to be a waste of space...
I can’t write anymore spoilers- I want you all to read it for yourself but I think this is a fantastic read with believable characters and an excellent writing style that combines all their individual stories into one huge, plot-twisting narrative that makes it difficult to put this book down!
Charlotte is a successful interior designer in London with a stunning home & boyfriend of several years but loses it all in one day when she is fired for a mistake she deems wasn’t her fault & her boyfriend leaves her for a job in Paris- selling their home behind her back.
She is forced to move to her family in Cornwall- the idea of hell for her due to the lavish London lifestyle she had become accustomed to.
In Cornwall, her sister Lauren is a single Mum to two beautiful children & to anyone looking in lives the ideal family lifestyle- but she is secretly in deep debt, owing money to a woman who claims to be a good friend & community member but is actually a manipulative & mean-spirited loan shark.
Their father volunteers at the RNLI, saving lives on the coast and is much better after Charlotte last saw him when he was dealing with depression from the death of their mother & his wife.
Charlotte’s first day in Cornwall isn’t the best when she finds she has to stay with her sister in her small flat- sleeping in a lumpy sofa- a far cry from the London luxury she is used to and finds her sister’s friends don’t have high career aspirations or jobs. Despite the community’s efforts to welcome her, Charlotte can’t wait to get back to London & win her case of unfair dismissal.
Until then though, she has to find work in Cornwall and ends up helping design the sets for the Isolde Players upcoming production of Midsummers Night Dream at the famed outdoor theatre on the cliffs. With this development, she is forced to work with the community and some of Lauren’s friends including Barney Hubble- a man with no career aspirations who seems to enjoy spending his days surfing, playing gigs at the local pub & just having ‘fun’, something Charlotte just can’t accept as a proper job.
The longer she works in Cornwall however, the more she realises about the community and her own family. Barney is a romantic with great leadership skills and a trained doctor having a career crisis; Lauren is hiding a dark secret from everyone and Charlotte realises just how uptight about everything she really is when her sister makes her promise to let go a little & do something reckless - she just doesn’t realise that doing something reckless involves the man she originally believed to be a waste of space...
I can’t write anymore spoilers- I want you all to read it for yourself but I think this is a fantastic read with believable characters and an excellent writing style that combines all their individual stories into one huge, plot-twisting narrative that makes it difficult to put this book down!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2022
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more by her.
Set in the town of Penmullion in Cornwall, it is everything, a summery book should be.
Charlotte Saunders has been forced to move out of London, after being fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend, so she moves to Penmullion to live with her sister Lauren, and her twins Florence and Freddie.
This, as far as Charlotte is concerned, is pretty much much like the world has ended.
Charlotte, although she certainly wouldn't admit it, is a bit of a control freak, who finds it incredibly hard to let go and be carefree, or heaven forbid, just down right reckless.
Needing something to occupy herself in the quiet coastal town, she agrees to help with the designing of the sets for the local drama group's production of A Midsummer Nights Dream, whilst working out her next career move.
Spending days in and around the little town, with a host of new found friends, not to mention a gorgeous doctor, is proving to be anything but boring, maybe Cornwall is the place where Charlotte needs to be after all.
This is definitely a perfect summer read, with quite a bit of self discovery thrown into the mix too.
Set in the town of Penmullion in Cornwall, it is everything, a summery book should be.
Charlotte Saunders has been forced to move out of London, after being fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend, so she moves to Penmullion to live with her sister Lauren, and her twins Florence and Freddie.
This, as far as Charlotte is concerned, is pretty much much like the world has ended.
Charlotte, although she certainly wouldn't admit it, is a bit of a control freak, who finds it incredibly hard to let go and be carefree, or heaven forbid, just down right reckless.
Needing something to occupy herself in the quiet coastal town, she agrees to help with the designing of the sets for the local drama group's production of A Midsummer Nights Dream, whilst working out her next career move.
Spending days in and around the little town, with a host of new found friends, not to mention a gorgeous doctor, is proving to be anything but boring, maybe Cornwall is the place where Charlotte needs to be after all.
This is definitely a perfect summer read, with quite a bit of self discovery thrown into the mix too.
August 5, 2020
Full Review:
https://clavie.co/2020/08/05/book-rev...
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The novel started off interesting, two contrasting characters as they are polar opposites however, they where standard strong characters of one being a complete ‘control freak’ and one that’s quite laid back in terms with their parenting style.
I just could not comprehend how you would stick a 16 hour minimum wage job and complain about never having enough money when you can do something about it, especially as the sister would offer and suggest, instead she just sits there and complain which is the standard ‘full-time mummy’ descriptions you find on much of at least the English speaking countries social media pages, always complaining, when there’s help out there that is being refused because they love to complain.
As for the controlling one; needing to control everything and focus on the perfect job, never learning to let loose.
I found the story interesting to begin with however it lacked much of a plot and it was very slow paced.
2/5 Stars
https://clavie.co/2020/08/05/book-rev...
————————————————————————————————————
The novel started off interesting, two contrasting characters as they are polar opposites however, they where standard strong characters of one being a complete ‘control freak’ and one that’s quite laid back in terms with their parenting style.
I just could not comprehend how you would stick a 16 hour minimum wage job and complain about never having enough money when you can do something about it, especially as the sister would offer and suggest, instead she just sits there and complain which is the standard ‘full-time mummy’ descriptions you find on much of at least the English speaking countries social media pages, always complaining, when there’s help out there that is being refused because they love to complain.
As for the controlling one; needing to control everything and focus on the perfect job, never learning to let loose.
I found the story interesting to begin with however it lacked much of a plot and it was very slow paced.
2/5 Stars
August 21, 2019
A good story, not particularly riveting, but the characters are good enough to keep you reading to find out what happens. Uptight Charlotte gets dumped by her boyfriend and loses her job as an interior designer, but decides to fight it. While waiting for her case to come up, she goes to Cornwall to stay with her sister. While there she meets Barney, whose parents want him to be a specializing doctor, but who would rather surf. They get involved in a local dramatic group to put on A Midsummer Night's Dream, which involves Charlotte with a lot of the other locals as well. Meanwhile her sister, a single mother of twins, is having money problems and is being bullied by the local loan shark. Neither of the girls want to discuss their problems, just keep things bottled up. Eventually they learn better.
September 19, 2019
This is a lovely book. I did enjoy it. Has a lot of good characters & a couple of bad ones.
Story revolves around Charlotte Saunders & her family.
She is an interior designer & quits her job in London, due to sexual harassment. Whilst waiting for the outcome of her harassment tribunal, she goes to visit her sister & Dad in Cornwall. There she reluctantly becomes involved in the local amateur dramatics group, with her Dad Tony & sister Lauren.
Charlotte slowly learns to let her hair down, unwind & start to enjoy life, away from a busy city.
She enjoys being part of the community, making new friends & catching up with her family.
Story revolves around Charlotte Saunders & her family.
She is an interior designer & quits her job in London, due to sexual harassment. Whilst waiting for the outcome of her harassment tribunal, she goes to visit her sister & Dad in Cornwall. There she reluctantly becomes involved in the local amateur dramatics group, with her Dad Tony & sister Lauren.
Charlotte slowly learns to let her hair down, unwind & start to enjoy life, away from a busy city.
She enjoys being part of the community, making new friends & catching up with her family.
April 3, 2021
Only one criticism on this book and that is the blurb....it says Charlotte goes to stay with her sister Laura but it is actually Lauren in the book, this was a lovely easy read about 2 sisters who were complaining different in every way, but the more the story progresses the more similar they become, there is a hard hitting storyline covering debt all in all a good read
July 21, 2018
This book follows 2 sisters. Their lives are quite different and neither one is very happy. They come together due to circumstance. There are many different plots to follow with the characters presented in this book. It was a great summer read.
June 13, 2020
Really a 3.5. I quite liked the characters but was troubled by the debt storyline and how that was dealt with. How friends and family wouldn’t or couldn’t have done more to help Lauren was strange to me. Appreciate that was part of the story but it wasn’t quite right to me.
November 17, 2021
What a fun read, even if the characters have deep issues. The dialogues and interactions between them seem natural. I sometimes find the reactions funny. There were some steamy scenes (that were not too mushy), cursing and family drama thrown in. I breezed through it since it’s “unputdownable”.
May 14, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this read.. the characters were all loveable. The journeys were page turning. How things in life can explode in a split second to giving things a chance the scariest feelings usually lead to the most amazing outcome.. highly recommend this
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