I would like to spend: Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe by Jo Thomas

#SummerattheIceCreamCafé #NetGalley

This is exactly the kind of novel that this author’s readers long for and love. It is perfect for summer reading. The story is well told and involving with interesting characters and a lovely setting. Readers will want to enjoy some (imaginary) gelato while they spend time with Beca and those around her.

Beca Valentino’s family ran a very popular gelato cafe in Pembrokeshire. Beca, herself, left as a young woman after a romance gone disastrously wrong. She moved to the city, established a business and earned a good living, enough in fact to allow her to move back to the village where she grew up.

Beca moves into a big and beautiful home. Her goal is to care for the cows and to become a foster mum. The story of the two kids who come to her gives readers the chance to meet Joe and Blake. They are memorable. While I do think that things go somewhat miraculously for Beca as a carer, the author does raise the issue of the foster care system and the kids who are in need. Based on my professional experience, I do think things went a bit too smoothly but this is fiction after all.

Also in the town are two men who were/are important to Beca. Ed/Eddie was a youthful love while Griff has been a friend for years. Will Beca find romance with one of them? Readers will certainly hope so and will be rooting for one of these more than the other.

Beca faces some challenges in life, relationships and in her efforts to open her gelato cafe. Will she triumph? The answer to that question may be obvious but there is just such a good read along the way.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 08 June 2023