Colazione in riva al mare

by Ali McNamara

Grejs rodilas v malenkom primorskom gorodke na severe Jorkshira i vsegda mechtala sbezhat ottuda, chtoby uvidet mir. Tak ona i postupila, povzroslev. Grejs mnogo puteshestvovala, vljubilas i vyshla zamuzh. No pochemu zhe togda ona vernulas v Sendibridzh i provodit vse vremja s Charli, drugom ee junosti? Imeet li eto kakoe-to otnoshenie k pechatnoj mashine po imeni Remi, kotoruju ona zabrala kogda-to iz starogo kottedzha smotritelja majaka? Vozmozhno, spustja gody stranstvij prishlo vremja nakonets priznat, chto serdtse tam, gde tvoj dom.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Romantic Comedy, Summer

384 pages, Hardcover

First published July 14, 2016

About the author

Ali McNamara is a writer and author.

Her debut novel, From Notting Hill with Love...Actually, the first of three 'Notting Hill' books, became an instant bestseller.

Ali has had much overseas success with her books - particularly Breakfast at Darcy's which was a Top Ten bestseller in Italy. Her novels Step Back in Time and Letters from Lighthouse Cottage were nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year.

Ali lives in Cambridgeshire with her family and beloved dogs. In her spare time she likes to visit antique shops and people watch, more often than not accompanied by a good cup of coffee!

Ali suffers with two chronic illnesses: M.E./CFS and UCTD and is a disability and invisible disability advocate.

To find out more about Ali visit her website: www.alimcnamara.co.uk
or follow her on Twitter: @AliMcNamara, Facebook and Instagram.

Reviews

[Emma Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, fluffy and funny. That said I didn’t really enjoy that much of it, it dragged on towards the middle but the ending was lovely. 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Agi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read all of Ali McNamara's books and enjoying most of them I've been waiting impatiently for her newest release, "Letters from Lighthouse Cottage". The beautiful cover has such a summery vibe, and I also loved the synopsis, so as soon as it arrived on my doorstep I started to read it. There is a personal note at the beginning of the book - I'm not sure if it's from the author or from Remy - where it is mentioned in beautiful words that life is never easy and how lovely it would be to have help, even if it should come in a very unusual way. Keeping this in mind I hoped for a very lovely story.

And yes, it is a story about help that comes in - indeed - very unusual way for the main character Grace. It offers her advice, gives hints, it mostly guides her in her endeavours but can't share details, names or dates and it's up to Grace if she takes the advice or not. Grace is a likeable, albeit a little flat, character. I had a feeling that everything in her life she's doing correctly, so that she'll always come away completely unscathed - I just missed this adventurous element in her. Sure, she dreamed of escaping from Sandybridge, of making her life a little more interesting, of finding her own place and she did it, and it was not her fault that she ended in her little town again. So altogether, she was your normal girl from the neighbourhood, a girl that life got into her ways sometimes. We get to know her in the 1980's, when she's fifteen and wants to escape Sandybridge, as she feels there is much more to life than living in a little town and helping her parents in the shop. I think the references to the 80's were one of the best parts of the book and they often raised a smile on my lips as those were the things that I used to know and enjoy the same as Grace.

But altogether, you know, I was sure I am going to love this book and it disappointed me that I didn't. On the whole the story felt a little too flat and a little too far - fetched and I missed some sparkles and more life in the storyline. Yes, this is a story full of friendship and feelings but somehow it didn't click with me. I don't know, I can't put a finger on it, but for my liking it was just too polished, too perfect, too good and jumping forward in time just didn't sit with me - the going back and forth in time was absolutely in order, it was the jumping forward that made me feel as if I'm missing tons of things. I had a feeling that I'm missing too much from the characters' lives. I understand it is the way the story was planned and is built, of course, but while there are books that such a way of organizing the story is great, in "Letters from Lighthouse Cottage" it just makes the story a little too chopped and limited. I also had a feeling that the characters are walking on eggshells around themselves, that they take themselves oh so seriously and this is probably why I didn't warm to them so much. And one more "also" - why make it Remy? And why did he choose Grace? While I don't have a problem with some magic in the books I just couldn't accept the fact that it was Remy that was this magic element and the letters - I am really sorry - they were so unconvincing and I just didn't buy them and the characters were going around in circles instead of taking actions too long. Also, knowing Ali McNamara's all previous books I was hoping for some humour but this time the book had a great deal of emotions involved and I had a feeling it's just draining me - it was more on the heavy, and not humorous, side. So sadly, a story with such a brilliant promise and wonderful, gorgeous cover for me just went flat. The conversations between the teenage Grace and Charlie seemed so wooden and I can't imagine young people speaking this way about such things. It is a great idea, this book, but I just have a feeling that the author had this concept but wasn't sure how to create a great story based on it.

But of course the book had its moments and I liked the writing. The idea for the book itself was also lovely - a story about first friendships and first love. Our main character Grace lives in a quiet village at the seaside, Sandybridge, and the name is very adequate. Her parents run an antique shop and Grace often helps with house clearances, and I found this part of the story great, even though there was not so much of it, but just imagine, some may call it clutter but some call it finding treasures, right? Just think what you can find when clearing a house or two, secrets, letters, hidden treasures... and one day Grace finds such a gem and his name is Remy...

Grace's friends are Charlie and Danny and I liked how different the friendships were. They turned then later out into interests and into romance element and it started to bother me a little as it took so long for Grace to finally realise that the love of her life is probably only within reach, at her fingertips. The two boys, and then men, were two very different personalities and I can't say that I liked one more than the other - they were just likeable characters, and following their friendship, with all its ups and downs, seeing how they change and how their lives were shaped, I finished this book with the same feeling of sympathy to them both. Even though Danny was the more adventurous one.

The book has also the holiday vibes to it, so be sure to make it your summer read! It is written in this welcoming, lovely Ali McNamara's way and this is probably this what kept me glued to the pages, and even if I skipped some sections I still enjoyed the storytelling. I wouldn't say that this is Ms McNamara's best book, as I enjoyed some of her other novels much more, but it is a charming, warm story about friendship and trust.

Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be my favourite cover for a book this year. I've already ordered a paperback copy to join my 'favourites' bookshelf! Letters from Lighthouse Cottage was a magical, warm story of childhood friendships, first love and future dreams.

Grace lives in a quiet coastal village called Sandybridge and grows up with Charlie and Danny. Her parents run an antique shop and she helps out with house clearances- but she has dreams to travel and see more of the world.

Her friendship with Charlie is a real delight- he's such a wonderful character. He loves her dog and they spend hours walking on the beach. We follow their friendships with sections set through the years and in the present day- and we learn more about how each of their lives were shaped.

The Manor house draws them all - providing the history that Danny and Grace share a love for and part of the magic of the story. It sounds a wonderful place and it's lovely to visit it at different times.

I loved Sandybridge- but I'm one who dreams of escaping to live in such a village by the sea. I love travelling- but would love to be 'anchored' on the coast.

This really would make the perfect holiday read- giving a really warm glow and a feeling that you want to join them all in Sandybridge. Throw this one in your suitcase along with the suntan lotion and enjoy a few glorious hours in the sunshine losing yourself amongst it's pages.

With many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this one in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not often that I read a book that leaves me at the end, sitting starting into space, mouthing the word over and over. In fact I am pretty much speechless, and also despairing as to how to convey my thoughts into a review for this book.

I could go down the quick route and just leave you with a one liner, saying its Ali McNamara doing what she does best, go out and buy this book now, as its addictive, absorbing and a joy to read, but although all of that is indeed true, I feel I need to try and express my love for the story a bit more eloquently!

On the back of my paperback copy of Letters from Lighthouse Cottage, there is one line that caught my eye as I sat down to read it "Take a holiday in Ali McNamara's magical world". My initial reaction was "help! its going to be full on unrealistic magic" but thankfully I was completely wrong, there is an enchanting, dare I saw bewitching element to the story, but its weaved in so unobtrusively that I was able to take it at face value and accept its part of this novel.

Within a few pages of starting the book, I found myself incredibly happy I was starting it in an afternoon where I didn't really have much to do, and thus could dedicate my time to reading this properly and over the course of the next few hours, I was hooked on this story. The writing is superb, as it tells you Grace's story, from teenagerhood, to finally realising where her heart lies. It is split into parts, various chunks set in chronological order, all offering key insights into Grace's story.

In between each part, there is what she is doing currently, in very brief snapshots, in a way that makes a lot of sense now reflecting on the book, as to just really what was going on. In each interlude in Grace's life, there are some common factors, best friend Charlie, her first boyfriend Danny, and Sandybridge House, a huge manor house, that no owner really knows what to do with. In fact its Sandybridge House that is the backdrop to many life altering moments in the friends lives.

You may be wondering about the title, but without giving too much away, the letters are completely key to the story and Lighthouse Cottage is fairly key too, in ways you may not realise to start with.

I'm not sure I'm explaining this well, but basically at the end of the day its the story of friendship, of how the path to true happiness has to go through some ups and downs, and that you may need to go through some of the worsts time in your life in order for fate to sort out its life plan for you.

Every single time I read a book by Ali McNamara I am blown away to a certain extent, and I am delighted to say her writing and her imagination just seems to get better and better with each book, although I will alway have a soft spot for her From Notting Hill with... series.

[Annelies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I love Ali McNamara. But mind this is a 4.7 out of 5 stars.

This is the story of Grace. Grace finds a magical typewriter when she's about 15 years old. It writes letters to her giving her advice about her life and sometimes even predicts the future.
The story is divided into four parts. 1986. 1992. 2001. 2012. And in between present parts of 2016. It all begins the night she meets her best friend Charlie and her high school crush Danny.
I'm usually not such a big fan of massive time jumps (especially when the parts always end on a cliffhanger) but I really, really enjoyed it here.
There were moments when I thought "wow, this is so predictable" but then I continued reading and was surprised.

Ali's writing is so captivating (it's written in a first-person perspective) and easy to follow, but still mature enough.
I previously read the Notting Hill series (which I adored) and Breakfast at Darcy's, but this has to be one of my favourites so far.
The only reason this doesn't have a 5 out of 5 stars is because of chapter forty-two. It has the same issue as Breakfast at Darcy's and while it doesn't bother me here as much, it's still a 'meh' thing for me.
Don't you love how vague I am with my descriptions :)

[Yvonne Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading Letters from light house cottage by Ali McNamara...and wow...loved every last word of it...brilliant characters which I really connected with...amazing setting and a plot that was so engaging I did not want it to end...all in all I would say it was a lot class read

[PHOENIX · Rating 5 out of 5]

الكتاب دا أنا اشتريته من سنة ونص كدا، مركزتش فيه اوي، عجبني الكوفر والنبذة الى ورا دي حسستني بعصافير والى هو HEA تمام تمام ..

وبعدين من فترة كنت مضغوطة وقلقانة وفجأة قلت يلا ليه لأ؟
وعارف بقا شعور لما تبقى مرتبط بالكوفر وبعدين من أول سطر يجيلك شعور ما أن الرواية دي أيا كان آراء الناس فيها وأيا كان نهايتها أو أحداثها مملة بقا ولا كليشيه أو حتى مش منطقية هتحبها؟ دا كان شعوري. الشعور دا نادر .. حصل مع ٤ أو ٥ كتب بالكتير اوي . .. ولما كان بيحصل كأنه كان أول مرة .. كل مرة كأنه أول مرة!

في نص الرواية كدا حصل ظرف صعب جدًا .. والظرف دا جابلي خوف قديم كنت حافظاه في صندوق وقافلة عليه، المهم أن الخوف القديم ظهر وخرج من الصندوق وبقا أكبر وأقوى من أني استوعبه أو أحاول أناقشه أو أمنطق أموري حتى قدامه.
يومها مسكت الرواية وبقيت بعيط وبضحك وبكتب جوابات للشخصيات وبشتم الغلطان وببتسم لما بادرة حلوة تيجي قدامي في الكتاب .

عاوزة أقول أن الكتاب فعليا كان ملجأ وملاذ وكل ما أقفله أفتكر الظروف الي عندي والخوف الى قاعد ع كتافي وأعيط، أقوم فاتحة مكملة الكتاب تاني!

كانت من المرات القليلة الى عيطت فيها لما كان فاضل 100ص، وكانت من المرات القليلة الى بكيت لما الكتاب خلص، وكانت من المرات القليلة الي أكتب جوا الكتاب وأتخيل لما أموت والي بعدي يمسك الكتاب ويقرأ شعوري أو تعليقي ع حاجة هيبقى كأنه قاعد معايا ويفهم دماغي وكنت حاسة بايه .. وأشوف هيكون شعوره زيي ولالأ وهيكون تعليقه ايه؟

وكانت من المرات القليلة أني أفتقد شعور أو جملة وأفتح كل شوية أبص لها وأبتسم! وكانت من المرات القليلة الي الكاتبة تديك آخر صفحة في الكتاب معنى وأمل من خيال .. أنها تقولك الي عند الشخصية الرئيسة دا ممكن يكون عندك بس في صورة تانية واقعية مش خيال!!

الكتاب دا ع الجود ريدز مش واخد Rate عالي بسبب أن البعض شايفيين أنه قصة معروفة النهاية أو كليشيه أو ...
بس أنا شايفة حاجة تانية! أو أنا حاسة حاجة تانية، أنا حاسة أنه كان رحلة حلوة شتمت جريس فيها قد ما شتمت في عمري كله مثلاً، مش لأنها شريرة .. لأ لأنها بلهاء زيي . .. بتحس الصح وتروح تتصرف ع الأساس الغلط، بس يمكن في الآخر دا الي عمل لرحلتها معنى؟ يمكن مكنتش تصرفات غلط؟ يمكن في الأول والآخر كانت رحلة بخطوات ومراحل لازم نمشيها عشان نوصل في الآخر للحاجة الى هتخلينا نقول بس هنا تمام .. أنا كدا تمام!

يمكن مفيش حاجة اسمها غلط؟ يعني مفيش قرار غلط؟ يمكن مجرد خطوة بتغير طريق بس الاحتمالات مبقتش للأسوأ لأ .. احتمالات وبتتعاش. يمكن مفيش حد تأخر ع هدفه؟ يمكن هدفه هو الي مكنش مناسب ليه؟ وكل الي عليه أنه يعيش؟

الرواية دي شدتني من رعب مكنتش بنام ولا بهدى بسببه وفي نفس الوقت كانت إيد بتطبطب عليا كل ما أحس أنه هتشد للرعب تاني.

حبكة الرواية فيها خيال بس خفيف خالص نقدر نقول أنه مش دا الحدث الأساسي ..
الرواية بتتكلم عن الحب، بس دا حسب تعريفك للحب. وبتتكلم عن الصداقة والاختيارات والصبر .. عندك تشارلي دا صَبر صبر يا جدع جنني وبقيت مبنامش من صبره!! وغالبا غير لي مفهومي عن الحب ..

داني .. جرايس .. كلهم كانوا أصحابي لفترة كبيرة والشخصية الي كتبت لها كانت تشارلي والي تمنيت في حياتي الحقيقة أقابل حد زيه وأنا مش فاقدة الأمل خالص ..

الرواية د هتركن مع مفضلاتي ..
في ركن صغير هشيلها وأتمنى لو حد قرأها يوما ما يفرحني لو عجبته 🌻

[Mansi Mudgal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Letters from Lighthouse cottage is about a woman and her typewriter Remy.
Grace grows up in Sandybridge, an English seaside town and all her life she has wanted to leave it and live a life of excitement in one place or the other.
.
Her parents deal in antiques and one day Grace finds an old typewriter that talks to her and gives her advice about life, shaping her as a person and a history lover. She sometimes listens to it and at other times is deeply disappointed...
She has one best friend and is in love with a couple of men throughout her life.
A lovely summer read about growing up, about hometowns and roots. My only issue would be that the story dragged on in the middle; the idea needed to be developed a bit more.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really lovely easy read with delightful characters you can relate to and nostalgia for those of us growing up in the 1980s and 1990s. Suitable for teenagers who want to find out more about the 'old days' too so they can share it with their mothers!

[Sharon Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2016/0...

Beginning in the summer of 2016 gives a window on where Grace is and what she is doing now. This thread intersperses briefly throughout the story as Grace is on a mission – although we don’t know what. I loved the intrigue. Throughout the rest of the story I was trying to work out who was in her life now, how she got to that point in her life and of course where she needed to be in a hurry.

Flashbacks take us forward from 1986 when Grace is a typical 15 year old. Feeling on the outside of the ‘cool’ crowd and unsure of herself, she receives advice from a very unusual source. I thought Remy was fabulous and could have done with my own when things weren’t clear and I was still finding my way!

As with all Ali McNamara’s novels I loved the characters and the setting. Grace, Charlie and Danny were easy to like and when they felt emotional so did I. Although conflict and rivalry happens, the major player (for me) is Sandybridge Hall itself. It’s a vital setting in the story where key scenes are played out. I loved the history. I didn’t expect the reveal though and loved how it tied in.

I loved the 80’s references. The A Team! Wispa bars! I used to love shopping in Chelsea Girl … so much nostalgia.

Letters from Lighthouse Cottage is about finding a way for your dreams to work and also adapting those dreams when they’re not what you thought they were. Not everything in life is ‘insta’ and sometimes we have a lot of living to do before those opportunities present themselves and we realise where we do belong.

[Amara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali McNamara è appena diventata la mia autrice straniera preferita. Scrive di amori dolci, che si rincorrono negli anni, e di piccoli paesi sulle coste inglesi. Di negozi vintage, sale da tè, castelli avvolti dalla magia del tempo.
E mai una volta sono riuscita a staccarmi dagli intrecci che crea. È un talento, riesce a inserire del mistero e della suspense in un romance e lo fa con un'innocenza che mi lascia sempre senza parole. È il mio mix preferito.

Qui la storia segue la crescita di Grace, alternandosi fra presente e flashback: l'estate del 1986, la quindicenne che conosce Danny e Charlie, dicembre del '92, 2001, 2012... Non vi sto nemmeno a dire della voglia di essere stata giovane nel secolo scorso, ma le ship che mi sono partite ve le devo assolutamente raccontare.

Small town, friends to lovers, first love, reverse harem. Se li adorate tutti come me sapete cosa fare, Danny e Charlie che si punzecchiano a qualsiasi età per l'attenzione di Grace fanno morire e io ancora adesso non so chi mi abbia fatto battere di più il cuore.

Danny è esplosivo, con la battuta sempre pronta; Charlie è il ragazzo della porta accanto, riservato e sognatore.

I legami umani sono veri, sanno di vita e di anni che passano. Con le loro gioie e i loro dolori, soprattutto dolori.

𝘈 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦.

Questo è il significato profondo dietro ai consigli di una macchina da scrivere molto speciale.

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚 𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞 è il romance meno prevedibile che abbia mai letto, fino alla fine non hai la certezza di dove voglia andare a parare e fino alla fine non riesci a staccarti perché lo 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸, 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 è gestito in maniera eccellente.

[Lauren Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adored this book ❤️

[Elina Tola (Bookeliina) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Par to, ka viss notiek uz labu, pat ja tā no sākuma neliekas.
It kā romantiska ar mistērijas piesitienu, galvenās varone atskats uz jaunību un dzīvi, un īstās mīlestības atrašanu.

[Julie Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I first say – how beautiful is this cover? It’s so cute, I just want to jump right into the scene for my next holiday – so I guess, job done by the artist! 10/10 for making me want to pick this book off the shelf and find out what stories are taking place behind this beautiful scene.

This is the first book I have read by Ali McNamara and, luckily, this book more than lives up to its lovely cover. It is a warm, charming, easily readable tale filled with likeable characters and everyday human dilemmas to which we can all relate to some degree.

The central character, Grace, faces the kind of challenges and decisions that we have all faced in some form at some point in our lives. The difference with this story is how she makes her decisions on which forks in the road she will take. I’m not going to spoil the plot for you by revealing what is special about her emotional guide, but the concept of how we all come to make the choices we make in our lives, whether to listen to our heads or our hearts, whether we should trust our gut instinct or let this be over-ruled by logic, I find really fascinating and I think it is handled in a really interesting and unique way by the author.

Grace’s main dilemma in the book involves her two childhood friends, both of whom happen to be male, and how her feelings for those two men develop through the years, how she recognises and reconciles those changing feelings, and how she can act on them without jeopardising those friendships.

There are very clear consequences in the book as a result of the decisions that Grace makes and a recurring theme in the book is whether, if the result of a decision seems at first to be negative, would you go back and change it, if you could? Would you, to avoid a short term pain, even if down the line the decision had positive consequences that could not have been foreseen at the time? How do you decide if the unforeseen positives outweigh the negatives? How do you know if making the other decision would have turned out better in the long term? What happens when decisions you take in good faith, turn out to have unfortunate outcomes? This is a really fascinating subject to me, and one that I have contemplated a good deal in my own life, so I really enjoyed seeing it explored in this novel. Grace, in the end, seems to be a ‘glass half full’ kind of person, which prevents this book straying into some dark and maudlin territory, which I think is the right approach, but is is definitely food for thought in a genre that is sometimes be accused of lacking depth and substance. That accusation won’t stick here.

On a lighter note, as the story alternates between Grace’s present day relationships and her teenage years where these relationships were formed, we get a fun and nostalgic flashback to my teenage heyday of the 1980’s which I really enjoyed.

If I were to make any (very) minor criticism of this book, I would say that some plot points I would like to have seen described or developed in more depth – a more detailed description of the town so I could see it more clearly in my mind’s eye; more details about some periods of her life; the travelling was made a big thing of in the beginning, which piqued my interest but then it was kind of glossed over very quickly; – but I am splitting superficial hairs here.

This is a great example of the contemporary romance genre with a fun hook and some fascinating themes that elevate it above the herd – I found myself considering some very esoteric ideas which I wouldn’t necessarily expect to be addressed by this genre. Ali McNamara walks the line between a light summer read and giving the reader something to think about perfectly. I really, really enjoyed it – it was one of those books that you don’t want to put down – and look forward to reading more by the author.

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Ali McNamara books and although I really enjoyed this one it didn't have the same pull for me as her previous work due to one main reason which will be explained further down. Grace is the main character and we meet her as a teenager in the 1980's. The book is set out in time periods and I must say that first section of being a teenager in the 80s resonated with me and I fell in love with the character Grace. Living in Sandybridge which is a quiet town is hard on the shy teenager but she makes friends with Charlie and Danny.

The book continues on and we see Grace grow up, become an adult and finally become a married woman with a child. What we also get to see is the progression of not only Grace but Charlie and Danny too. It was such a wonderful story to read and I loved the fact that you got to share all three of their journeys. It certainly has a stark undercurrent to this tale, one that shows that you never know what your life has in store for you.

Overall by the time I got to the end of the book I realised that although I loved this, the one element of the story which ruined it for me was the source of Grace's advice! That's all I can say without plot spoiling, but I thought it was a little bit too far fetched for it to settle with me. That aside Ali McNamara has once again written a fantastic book, albeit one with a little less humour than her previous works which I had to say I missed. A great read and I will as always look forward to her next one.

[Summerchild · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't judge a book by its cover. This cover is beautiful, and makes you want to read the book, which is, in turn, a mind-numbingly boring, shallow, superficial, predictable story of a Mary Sue.

The book starts with a phrase that life is never easy, yet, as any Mary Sue, the protagonist lives a flawless life, with everyone adoring her for no reason, conspiring behind her back to make her dreams come true, and all the problems resolving themselves in the best way possible.

The lighthouse is a prop. The events take place in a town with a lighthouse, the characters visit it a couple of times, and that's about it. The most mysterious item in the story is also a prop; it is simply accepted, never explored, explained or developed. From the very first letter it's obvious who's writing them, and the letters are generic as daily horoscopes from a tabloid.

After a handful of chapters the book went into my toilet, and only in small doses stretched over several months I was able to finish this drag.

Bottom line: if you like the cover, save its image somewhere, and don't bother reading the book. If you want to read a story with a lighthouse as an integral part of it, playing a proper role, check 'Light Between Two Oceans' or even 'Moominpappa at Sea'. This pathetic excuse of a book reads like bad fanfiction.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Come facciamo a capire cosa ci riserva il futuro? Se solo ci regalassero una sfera di cristallo quando nasciamo... forse non commetteremmo tutti questi errori."
Siamo davvero sicuri che sia così? Se potessimo sapere in anticipo cosa succederà davvero soffriremmo di meno? Prenderemmo davvero e sempre la decisione giusta? Grace sa che non è così semplice, sa che a volte commettere degli errori è necessario perché poi ne possa derivare qualcosa di migliore.
È una storia delicata e magica, di amore e di amicizia quella che Ali Mcnamara ci racconta in questo libro. Una storia che si dispiega nell'arco di trent'anni, che inizia quando ancora adolescente Grace conosce Charlie e Danny e poi va avanti fino a che lei non ritroverà, finalmente, il suo cuore e la sua casa.

[Ali Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the cover of this book and knew it was going to be a great read. Although it was nothing like I expected I enjoyed it but at the same time I found it to be a little bittersweet with all those reminders of the 80s and times we grew up in. It did make me very nostalgic and wishing I could turn back the clock. It was a bit twee in some parts and I didnt really like Remy it was just unbelievable although I suppose the ending explained it all. It was a nice read though.

[LaBibliotecaDiFranci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parliamo di: Colazione in riva al mare.☀️

Abbiamo una storia che racchiude storie di amore, amicizia, nuove conoscenze,vecchie conoscenze, crescita personale, cambiamenti.
Un libro che racconta la storia di Grace la protagonista,figlia di due venditori dell'antiquariato.
Una ragazza che è l'opposto dei genitori e odia la storia del passato,che vorrebbe fuggire dalla sua vita, dalla sua città, e da quel negozietto che gestiscono i genitori.
Conosce un ragazzo la quale diventa suo migliore amico e insieme affrontano varie avventure.
Nel frattempo la protagonista si trova ad avere una vecchia macchina da scrivere la quale misteriosamente le lascia delle lettere,qui parte tutto il mistero di questo romance. Ciò che ti intriga a capire sta cosa di queste lettere.😅

Un racconto che viaggia dal presente al passato di Gracie, che racconta anche la storia di una ragazza che non si accetta per quello che è, e vorrebbe risultare più chic possibile agli occhi del prossimo.
Una ragazza, una donna che caratterialmente è un po' infantile.

Durante la lettura a volte mi sentivo di essere nella testa di Gracie la protagonista.
Il suo modo di raccontare ciò che accadeva,ciò che pensava, scritto in modo comunque realistico che catapulta te lettore all'Interno della storia.

Durante la lettura troviamo anche il classico ragazzo egocentrico che starà sulle scatole probabilmente ad ogni lettore, Danny.
Ma successivamente alla storia Danny risulta una vera sorpresa, lui e la sua crescita.

Tutta la terza parte che sarebbe da pag 193 in poi personalmente per me è stata molto più bella la storia, da lì mi è risultata anche più veloce, più intrigante,più leggera confronto tutta la prima/seconda parte.

Colazione in riva al mare è una di quelle poche storie che non ti aspetteresti mai come procede la storia della protagonista, tutto ciò che tu lettore ti aspetti di come vadano le cose beh, ahimè mi dispiace avvisarti rimarrai deluso.😂

Ho trovato un po' stramba la situazione in cui una donna di 40 anni si affida ad un macchinario misterioso per dei consigli su come affrontare il futuro.
Davvero strano leggere di una donna che dovrebbe avere la maturità delle sue esperienze cercare consiglio da "un oggetto magico" perché così posso definirlo.

Sono arrivata al capitolo 41 esausta.
Avrei voluto entrare dentro il libro e prendere a schiaffi la protagonista per dirle "ma datti una SVEGLIATA TONTA". 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

Del resto comunque è stata un agonia arrivare a quel finale che aspettavo di leggere forse già dall'inizio.🤣
Infine tutto sommato è stata una bella lettura, abbastanza piacevole, certo all'inizio della lettura non la pensavo così, preciso che dalla trama mi aspettavo qualcosa di più "Pazzesco", però come già detto dalla terza parte è iniziato a diventare mooolto più bella la storia.
Ciò mi ha fatto ricredere un po' dalla mia opinione iniziale.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to take the plunge and purchase this book on the strength of its pretty cover artwork. The delightful cover depicts an idyllic seaside scene where the deep blue hues of sky and sea contrast beautifully with the splash of red on the quaint lighthouse. Pretty winding paths lead to golden sands, colourful beach huts and cute deck chairs. Welcome to Sandybridge - the hidden gem of the Norfolk coastline. It's a place that demands exploration and clearer inspection.

So did the pages inside the book charm me as much as the front cover?

Well, yes and no.

On one level, 'Letters From Lighthouse Cottage' is everything you'd expect it to be: light, fun, quirky, sentimental, cute and heart warming. As pure escapism, it certainly ticks some boxes. The writing is fairly engaging, easy read and it's a book that feels fairly fast paced, even for a romance. However - and here's the rub - I couldn't help but feel frustrated, niggled and a little irritated by some aspects of the book.

I enjoyed the opening chapters and found the sections from grace's youth to be warm and enjoyable. References to 80's pop culture - from A-Ha to Michael J. Fox and Spandau Ballet to Fanta - bought back life before the internet and more innocent times.

So why only 3 stars?

A few reasons really.

Firstly, the 'magic' typewriter called 'Remy' (I'm not sure we ever find out why). The old typewriters types out life advice to Grace during random moments 'predicting' her future. Initially, this seemed quite fun and quirky and I looked forward to those early Remy letters. It actually felt more like a YA book than a holiday romance at that stage. However, Remy's presence soon starts to grind a little. For example, the letters become more and more generic and vague and I'm not sure they add very much to the overall story. Additionally, our protagonist Grace never seems to really question the appearance of a magic typewriter. other than the initial mild surprise. Even as she advances in age, moves away from Sandybridge and returns home for visits, she still seeks out the advice of Remy like a long lost friend. The typewriter becomes a sort of emotional crutch for a very undecided and confused Grace. This is just one of several unrealistic elements to the book that can't simply be brushed aside.

Additionally, I don't care much for stories that jump back and forwards in time. These big life 'jumps' add some grit and drama at times but also plenty of frustration and confusion. They may also explain why I find it so hard to warm to Grace as a character. I feel like there's too much about her I don't know or understand.

In sharp contrast, I actually felt closer to the male characters - Charlie Parker and Danny Lucas - both long-time admirers of Grace from childhood. Both guys remain consistent in as much as they are steadfast, resolute and totally committed to Grace, even years after she leaves Sandybridge. Again, this seems improbable and a bit silly that both guys would hold a torch for the same person for so long.

Let's take Charlie Parker. Taken at face value, he could rival Levi from 'Fangirl' for being the most adorable male character in modern fiction. However, he seems completed devoted to "his Gracie", even when she continually overlooks his feelings for her. Likewise, 'dashing' Danny doesn't seem to have the most healthiest overlook to life by partially destroying his marriage because of his continuing feelings for his childhood sweetheart.

All of this might be partially tolerable if we ever knew why the answer to one essential question:

What makes Grace so special?

We never really find the answer. When things fall into place, they do so with a kind of easy-rhythm. So many things in the story just don't ring true.

With that being said, I enjoyed parts of this book. Sandybridge played out a calming and tranquil soundtrack of sea breezes, gentle winds and pebbles hitting water. It was exactly the sort of place I'd love to visit, explore and settle down in. On the other hand, I can totally understand Grace's desire to leave and move on. She was a young teenage girl surrounded by her antique loving parents in a sleepy seaside town. It's easy to feel her longing to escape, travel and see the bigger world. By the same token, it also made sense for her to come back when she did. I can understand why she would be drawn back to her roots and settle down in the place she grew to love with age and distance.

Her walks with Charlie on the beach were magical and heartwarming. I felt every footstep and truly felt their dreams and adventure. Consequently, I found their latter walks all the more poignant and special and the fact their friendship had outlived their beloved pet dogs who often joined them on their adventures.

Ultimately the author gives the ending everyone will want. But does any of it really ring true? I don't think so. Once again circumstances fall into place and Grace - again guided by Remy who she is now relying on - sees what all of us see from the very first chapters. But I'm left feeling "and they all lived happily ever after" is somewhat lazy and predictable, especially when Gracie had never really shown any inkling before of a romantic interest with the man she ends up with. It does seem too idealised and perfect.

To summarize, I found 'Letters From Lighthouse Cottage' a mixture of charming, sweet, sentimental, fun, confusing, frustrating and unrealistic.

Some people might be able to see through many of the flaws and sticking points and still thoroughly enjoy the book. However, I couldn't and that's why I can often offer 3 stars. However, it hasn't put me off the author and I will gladly seek out more books from Ali McNamara in the future.

[Makenzie Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness!!!! This book was so good!!!!! I went into it thinking I was going to get a quick, easy, Hallmark-movie-book. It ended up being so much more!!!!!

I loved the setting of the beach town, the Tudor manor, and all of the characters!



------SPOILERS AHEAD------
I want to give it a 5 star rating, but the way that the author kept bringing up the issue of Grace's weight and Danny's physical disability put me off. So 4 stars! Still, I loved this book!! I was definitely yelling at Grace to wake up and realize Charlie is who she needs 😂😂 but I wasn't super annoyed the whole book, more like I knew what was coming and needed to read faster to see it all unfold!

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://clavieco.wordpress.com/2018/0...

I loved the enchanting touch that was weaved throughout the storyline thanks to Remy, I found it quite exciting waiting to see what news Remy was going to bring us next and I can’t tell you how much I wish I had my own Remy at home waiting for me!

[Charlotte (novelsandteacups) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what I needed it was a quick read, light and funny but enjoyable at the same time.
~
'Its not. Its...unexpected, I suppose.'
'Life has a funny way of working like that, Grace. Sometimes the things you expect to happen don't, but other things come along instead that are better than your original plan.'

[Sarah Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about Grace who comes across a magical typewriter that mysteriously writes letters to her about her future. Set in the Norfolk seaside town of Sandybridge, Grace has a burning desire to escape the small town and travel the world, but she struggles to escape the strong bonds of family and friendship that keep bringing her back to the village.

A lighthearted summer read about friendship, trust and love.

[Ellie (bookmadbarlow) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this summer read set in a coastal town in Norfolk. The characters and their interactions were fun and interesting. I'm not normally a fan of the magical realism genre as such but I was able to put that part aside enough to carry on and I'm very glad I did.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sat down to read this book on a day what was dank and deary. It really brightened up my day. I was hooked from the first page i read the full book in one sitting.i could picture the characters and really grew to love them was shuch a good book.brilliant storyline.

[laura nadall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5! Ça a été une agréable lecture 🌸 je ne m’attendais pas à certaines tournures dans l’histoire alors j’ai beaucoup apprécié !!
Par contre, il y a un mystère dans ce livre qu’on est censé comprendre à la dernière page mais je ne l’ai pas compris… enfin j’ai des suppositions mais bon 😭 ça doit être trop évident pour que je comprenne je pense 😂😅

[Jane Monacova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Слишком слащаво и предсказуемо. Слепота героини зашкаливает. Ей прямым текстом говорят что происходит, а она в ответ только глазками моргает.
Тайны, которые не раскрываются до последней главы, читателю становятся очевидными странице на 10.
В общем, никакого удовольствия, на протяжении всей книги не покидало чувство тихого раздражения.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Sweet,charming book. All about Gracie and the choices, her Seaside hometown & the men in her life. With the help of a typewriter she navigates choices always having one constant in her life. Such a wonderful read. Wonderful how it ended

[Samantha Tebbutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Read in one sitting. This author has never disappointed me I've loved all the books I've read so far.