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maggie_books92's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book - especially Neil! :) It's a lovely easy read and I would highly recommend it! I'll definitely be reading more of Jenny Colgan's books.
beajeffie's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
holmfridurhp's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
marifox's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
maloubach's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cooperca's review against another edition
4.0
I love clever British chick lit and this one did not disappoint.
At first I was a little leery as Polly's story started off rather sad and depressing. Leaving behind her old life and finding refuge in the quant little (and I mean little!) seaside village of Mount Polbearne - as Polly described it, "Mount Polbearne had a windblown, tumbledown look to it". With a small allowance, she rents out a less than ideal flat over a long ago closed bakery. Polly's best friend, Kerensa, is sure that Polly will last a week and head back home to Plymouth.
Polly sets out to make the most of her new life and works hard to clean the hygiene deficient flat and make into a home. Falling back on her love of baking, Polly finds comfort in kneading dough and making incredibly delicious savory breads. She soon finds an unexpected career and along the way the desire to love again.
This was a delightful read that had me going to my local bakery the entire I was reading it to enjoy a nice slice of hot breads and rolls and whatever else they were making. It was a heartwarming read about how we can persevere and find happiness again. Polly's muddling through and dealing with doubt and feeling as low as possible, she remained so genuine to herself and didn't let self-doubt or others influence her to quit.
Yes, there were a few things that annoyed me at times during the story, but Ms. Colgan wrote Polly with such warmth that I just let those annoyances go.
A terrific read. Looking forward to reading more by Ms. Colgan.
At first I was a little leery as Polly's story started off rather sad and depressing. Leaving behind her old life and finding refuge in the quant little (and I mean little!) seaside village of Mount Polbearne - as Polly described it, "Mount Polbearne had a windblown, tumbledown look to it". With a small allowance, she rents out a less than ideal flat over a long ago closed bakery. Polly's best friend, Kerensa, is sure that Polly will last a week and head back home to Plymouth.
Polly sets out to make the most of her new life and works hard to clean the hygiene deficient flat and make into a home. Falling back on her love of baking, Polly finds comfort in kneading dough and making incredibly delicious savory breads. She soon finds an unexpected career and along the way the desire to love again.
This was a delightful read that had me going to my local bakery the entire I was reading it to enjoy a nice slice of hot breads and rolls and whatever else they were making. It was a heartwarming read about how we can persevere and find happiness again. Polly's muddling through and dealing with doubt and feeling as low as possible, she remained so genuine to herself and didn't let self-doubt or others influence her to quit.
Yes, there were a few things that annoyed me at times during the story, but Ms. Colgan wrote Polly with such warmth that I just let those annoyances go.
A terrific read. Looking forward to reading more by Ms. Colgan.
winemakerssister's review against another edition
3.0
Another enjoyable read from Jenny Colgan, but reading this and The Little Shop on the Corner back-to-back just highlights their similarities. There's almost a formula here: a woman redefining her life in a remote small town. She surrounds herself with cozy things that she loves. And it doesn't stop there - in both cases the woman has a relationship with a man she finds out is married, and eventually ends up with the quirky taciturn friend instead.
However, Neil the Puffin was wonderful!
I'm going to take a break and get back to more of her books later. My library has about 5 or 6 of them so I'll be good for a while...
Cover: I'm pretty disappointed in this one. Honestly it looks like a mock-up and not a final cover. The photograph is kind of unappealing and I don't like it in combination with the drawing. The irony is that Polly's ex is a graphic designer. Too bad he didn't design the cover!
Narrator: Not the right narrator. I'm sure she's fine in other circumstances, but she is too old for this story. And her portrayal of men - especially Huckle and his Savannah accent - is just awful.
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: This is another tricky couple. I guess Polly is a Gryffindor and Huckle is a Hufflepuff. But that's just my gut reaction.
Themes: Cornwall, tide island, bakery, baking bread, puffin, beekeeping, commercial fishing
However, Neil the Puffin was wonderful!
I'm going to take a break and get back to more of her books later. My library has about 5 or 6 of them so I'll be good for a while...
Cover: I'm pretty disappointed in this one. Honestly it looks like a mock-up and not a final cover. The photograph is kind of unappealing and I don't like it in combination with the drawing. The irony is that Polly's ex is a graphic designer. Too bad he didn't design the cover!
Narrator: Not the right narrator. I'm sure she's fine in other circumstances, but she is too old for this story. And her portrayal of men - especially Huckle and his Savannah accent - is just awful.
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: This is another tricky couple. I guess Polly is a Gryffindor and Huckle is a Hufflepuff. But that's just my gut reaction.
Themes: Cornwall, tide island, bakery, baking bread, puffin, beekeeping, commercial fishing