Book Review: Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson


The brand new book from best-selling author Debbie Johnson will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you raid the pantry in the middle of the night… Read my thought about it here: 

Title: Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe
Author: Debbie Johnson
Published: April 29th 2016 by HarperImpulse


Blurb: The Comfort Food Cafe is perched on a windswept clifftop at what feels like the edge of the world, serving up the most delicious cream teas; beautifully baked breads, and carefully crafted cupcakes. For tourists and locals alike, the ramshackle cafe overlooking the beach is a beacon of laughter, companionship, and security – a place like no other; a place that offers friendship as a daily special, and where a hearty welcome is always on the menu.

For widowed mum-of-two Laura Walker, the decision to uproot her teenaged children and make the trek from Manchester to Dorset for the summer isn’t one she takes lightly, and it’s certainly not winning her any awards from her kids, Nate and Lizzie. Even her own parents think she’s gone mad.

But following the death of her beloved husband David two years earlier, Laura knows that it’s time to move on. To find a way to live without him, instead of just surviving. To find her new place in the world, and to fill the gap that he’s left in all their lives.

Her new job at the cafe, and the hilarious people she meets there, give Laura the chance she needs to make new friends; to learn to be herself again, and – just possibly – to learn to love again as well.

For her, the Comfort Food Cafe doesn’t just serve food – it serves a second chance to live her life to the full…

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I had read some books by Debbie Johnson before this one and I had really enjoyed them, they were light hearted cute stories with lots of fun situations. So for this one I was expecting something similar, but what I got was so much more. This is such an exceptionally beautiful story with such wonderful characters. I completely fell in love with the Comfort Food Cafe and all its quirky characters. 

The story centers around Laura Walker, a widowed mother of two. I think I liked her since page one and as the story progressed I just liked her more and more. She was this sad person only just barely functioning and still mourning the death of her husband when we met her but with each page we saw a new bit of her and little by little she started flourishing to this amazing woman with so much life and thirsty for adventures. Plus, her kids were such a joy to read. I especially liked Lizzie, a moody teenager addicted to Instagram. She always managed to capture the most ridiculous and hilarious situation to post online but all in all she was such a good girl. Both kids were really well developed as characters, with their own need and personalities, they felt very real.

And then, there was the Cafe itself, its lovely if not a bit crazy owner and all its regulars. There was not a thing I didn't like from the Cafe. I just wish it existed. I found it really cute that all the regulars had their own specials and they tried to help and be nice to all the newcomers. I could really feel the sense of community and I really think that Laura and her family couldn't have ended in a better place. I even felt part of the community myself.

The love story was really well handled. It was the perfect pace for Laura to get in the dating scene again and there were many moments that had me swooning. I was rooting for her since the beginning and was so happy with the ending!

Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe is a highly recommended story to enjoy this summer. It'll made you both laugh and shade some tears but all in all it'll made you feel better with with yourself. It's a story with so much heart and amazing characters. Certainly a winner from Debbie Johnson. 

Rating: 5 stars

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3 comentaris

  1. Great review, I often like to read reviews of books I have already read to see how others thought of them. Your thoughts are very similar to mine, the cafe just sounds like the perfect place to go. I have a few more books by Debbie to enjoy now too.
    Amanda.

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    1. Thanks Amanda! I also enjoy reading reviews of books I've already read to see what others thought and if they saw something differently! I also have a couple of Debbie's books on my tbr pile that I really want to pick now! :)

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  2. I loved this book too. Great review.

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