Book Review | Coming Home To Brightwater Bay by Holly Hepburn

We’re delighted to be sharing Elena’s thoughts about Coming Home to Brightwater Bay by Holly Hepburn.

• Publisher : Simon & Schuster UK (21 Jan. 2021)
• Language : English
• Paperback : 448 pages
• ISBN-10 : 1471170330
• ISBN-13 : 978-1471170331

On paper, Merina Wilde has it all: a successful career writing the kind of romantic novels that make even the hardest hearts swoon, a perfect carousel of book launches and parties to keep her social life buzzing, and a childhood sweetheart who thinks she’s a goddess. But Merry has a secret: the magic has stopped flowing from her fingers. Try as she might, she can’t summon up the sparkle that makes her stories shine. And as her deadline whooshes by, her personal life falls apart too. Alex tells her he wants something other than the future she’d always imagined for them and Merry finds herself single for the first time since – well, ever.

Desperate to get her life back on track, Merry leaves London and escapes to the windswept Orkney Islands, locking herself away in a secluded clifftop cottage to try to heal her heart and rediscover her passion for writing. But can the beauty of the islands and the kindness of strangers help Merry to fool herself into believing in love again, if only long enough to finish her book? Or is it time for her to give up the career she’s always adored and find something new to set her soul alight?

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Book Review

Merry is a successful author, living in London with her fiancé Alex who she has been with for 15 years. She’s been suffering from a case of writer’s block and is unable to write her next book, which is leaving her worried and depressed. Then Alex tells her that he doesn’t want to be with her anymore and Merry is devastated. 

In order to try and cure her block and get over her break-up she applies to live on Orkney for six months at a writer’s residency. When she’s accepted, she’s surprised and thrilled and after a hair-raising plane flight arrives at her new home. She’s met by Niall, the librarian who coordinates the residency and he helps her settle into her croft and welcomes her to Orkney. He’s kind and friendly, and looks like Clark Kent! She meets Icelandic Magnús when her car breaks down and he offers to help. He’s a handsome, strapping Viking and their chemistry is obvious. 

The people she meets on the island and the stunning setting mean she finds inspiration and soon the words start flowing from her brain and form into a book. With two handsome men around her and such a beautiful setting she soon begins to forget her heartbreak and throws herself into life on Orkney. It’s the balm she needs.

This story is simply gorgeous. I loved the characters and charm of the island of Orkney. I learned so much – that many Italian prisoners of war during WW2 were held there. They built the beautiful Italian Chapel on the island of Lamb Holm and Merry’s book is based on a love story between an Italian PoW and a local woman. I learned about all the different species of bird that call Orkney home and the ancient history of the island.

I Googled pictures of Orkney and sent a message to my sister saying that we have to visit. One of my favourite pieces of music is Farewell to Stromness and I’d just love to listen to it while taking in the stunning scenery.

The characters are all likeable and bring the story alive. I felt like I was there with Merry. I liked both Magnús and Niall and couldn’t choose which one of them Merry should end up with!

Coming Home to Brightwater Bay is a cosy, gorgeous read which will leave you researching the island and with a warm and fuzzy glow.

Holly Hepburn is the much-loved author of commercial women’s fiction. She lives near London with her grey tabby cat, Portia. They both have an unhealthy obsession with Marmite. Follow Holly on Twitter @HollyH_Author