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cin19's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
novellenovels's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
emmalux1991's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maria_silv_reads's review
5.0
Heidi Swain never fails to write awesome contemporary fiction!! This was awesome, so many twists and turns whilst also handling complex themes like grief, toxic families and secondary school bullying/drama. Overall an amazing read and this is why I come back to Heidi Swain's writing every time ❤️❤️
booksandbargains's review against another edition
4.5
I LOVED this! Only reason it lost half a star is because my personal policy that any modern book with a HP reference can’t get a 5 star
thebooktrail88's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The locations of this book were just delightful. Barcelona was a treat, but the book immerses you more into Dorset and the fictional Kittwake Cove and I was all for that. Kittiwake Cove is that place you would immediately go to if it were real. I could see it, imagine the characters passing the time with each other, feel the sand on my toes and it even got me craving ice cream and I don’t even like it!
I felt this was sunshine in a book. That cover for one is just a breath of fresh air, especially with all the rain the UK is getting at the moment.
This is a romance and there are some funny scenes in it ( I’m looking at you Kasuku the parrot) but what warmed my heart was the way it looked at personal and relevant topics such as the loss of something, searching for that feeling of home and belonging and the death of a parent. A skilled author has to weave all of this together to ensure readers come away with smiles in their hearts and Heidi Swain does just that.
Heidi’s books are a real tonic. I read my fair share of crime fiction and thrillers but books like this made me smile and realise the wealth of stories we have to share. The Holiday Escape touched me and although I did consume double the calories whilst reading all those delicious descriptions of food, I would still read the next book from this author haha. If I could go on a picnic with Logan, that would be most welcome!
With crafting snippets in there too, this book seemed to speak to me on more than one level.
A true escape indeed!
onceuponabookreview's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
lauraowen's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emmascr's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and especially to the team at Books and the City for letting me take part in this tour and my copy of this book via Netgalley. I am a huge fan of Heidi's writing and have been reading her books for many years now. I love Heidi's sense of community that features in every story.
This book follows Ally. At first I found it a bit hard to warm to Ally. I think I didn't like the pretence she put up while on holiday. I also loved Hollyhock cottage and Kittiwake Cove so Ally's dislike and need to leave for a 'better' life rubbed me up the wrong way slightly. However as the book progressed it was easy to love Ally.
Hollyhock cottage and the business that Ally and her father, Geoff have built there sounds absolutely wonderful. I seriously want to sign myself up for one of their craft weekends, despite both me not being creative and of course its not actually real!
With a mix of family, friendship and romance Heidi builds some really strong relationships in this book. It's evident from very early on how close Flora and Ally are and how much she really loves her father. I loved that Flora and Ally could be honest with each other and while it may upset each other they also forgave each other. It showed a true friendship that can weather any storm. Ally sacrificed everything for her father and would do it all again in a heartbeat to make him happy.
This book is exactly what I have come to expect from Heidi and it was everything I needed. Full of community, love, friendship and
This book follows Ally. At first I found it a bit hard to warm to Ally. I think I didn't like the pretence she put up while on holiday. I also loved Hollyhock cottage and Kittiwake Cove so Ally's dislike and need to leave for a 'better' life rubbed me up the wrong way slightly. However as the book progressed it was easy to love Ally.
Hollyhock cottage and the business that Ally and her father, Geoff have built there sounds absolutely wonderful. I seriously want to sign myself up for one of their craft weekends, despite both me not being creative and of course its not actually real!
With a mix of family, friendship and romance Heidi builds some really strong relationships in this book. It's evident from very early on how close Flora and Ally are and how much she really loves her father. I loved that Flora and Ally could be honest with each other and while it may upset each other they also forgave each other. It showed a true friendship that can weather any storm. Ally sacrificed everything for her father and would do it all again in a heartbeat to make him happy.
This book is exactly what I have come to expect from Heidi and it was everything I needed. Full of community, love, friendship and