Book Review: Spring Tides at the Starfish Cafe by Jessica Redland

AD* | A new season...

As winter turns to spring, Hollie - the owner of The Starfish Café - is feeling content as she settles into her new life with her loving boyfriend, Jake, and their adorable dog Pickle.

But when an unwelcome visitor threatens the future of her café, Hollie must stay strong to protect her family's legacy...

A leap of faith...

Emerging from an unhappy relationship, Tori finds herself with nowhere to stay and nobody to talk to. The long-hidden secrets of her past weigh heavily on her until a chance encounter with Finley, struggling to come to terms with his own secrets, provides an opportunity to open up.

Can she find the strength to stop hiding from her past and face up to her family? Especially when that would mean letting her guard down and learning to trust again...

A fresh start...?

Little do Hollie and Tori know that their lives are about to collide at The Starfish Café and they may be able to help each other with a fresh start. After all, with good friends in your life, nothing is impossible...

Immersive and engaging, Spring Tides at the Starfish Cafe is an escapist read, drawing you into the springtime adventures of a picturesque seaside town.

This is actually the second book in a series, although it can be read as a standalone, which is what I did. It would have been interesting to understand the backstory behind some of the characters and events mentioned, but this doesn't detract from the continuation of the story that happens in this book. 

The plot is split between two main characters, Hollie and Tori. Hollie is the owner of the eponymous Starfish Cafe, looking for a way to keep her business thriving while enjoying her blossoming romance with boyfriend Jake. Tori is down on her luck after another failed relationship and is looking for a new start in life. A chance meeting with Tori brings the two women together and sets a chain of events in motion. 

Although this is a fun, light-hearted read on the surface, it also has some important, deeper messages. The characters are learning to cope with grief and loss, and the way they bond over shared experiences is beautifully written. 

There is also the theme of the RNLI and volunteer work that Hollie, Jake, and Finley do. This book highlights the bravery and dedication of these volunteers and showcases some of the rescues they complete on a daily basis, in all weathers. The RNLI is a vital, life-saving charity, and it's great to see it getting some well-deserved recognition in the pages of this book.

Rating: 3 stars

Spring Tides at the Starfish Cafe is available to buy now.

If you like the sound of this book, you might also enjoy...

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Will you be reading this story? Let me know in the comments below!