Letters from Lighthouse Cottage was a quick and easy read which I enjoyed.
I enjoy Ali McNamara’s writing style, her settings/characters, the plot build up and the romance. That’s not all I enjoy as Ali always has a touch of the mystical which adds something special to her stories.
- Publisher : Sphere (14 July 2016)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 075155863X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0751558630
Sandybridge is the perfect English seaside town: home to gift shops, tea rooms and a fabulous fish and chip shop. And it’s home to Grace – although right now, she’s not too happy about it.
Grace grew up in Sandybridge, helping her parents sort junk from vintage treasures, but she always longed to escape to a bigger world. And she made it, travelling the world for her job, falling in love and starting a family. So why is she back in the tiny seaside town she’d long left behind, hanging out with Charlie, the boy who became her best friend when they were teenagers?
It turns out that travelling the world may not have been exactly what Grace needed to do. Perhaps everything she wanted has always been at home – after all, they do say that’s where the heart is…
Book Review
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.
Connect with Ali McNamara
Twitter @AliMcNamara
Author Facebook Page AliMcNamara.official