Published: 10th September 2015
Publisher: Sphere
Pages: 336
Available in Paperback and on Kindle
Blurb
When Rosa and Bee get together in the run-up to Bee's wedding, they reminisce about the holiday they took together as teenagers to the beautiful Greek island of Paros. They remember the sandy coves, the guest house in the converted windmill where they stayed with their friend Iona, and the gorgeous local men. As memories of that long-forgotten holiday resurface, they are forced to confront the turns their lives have taken - and the guilt they both feel about letting Iona slip away from them. When they learn that the windmill guest house is going bust they form a plan: why not go back to the island and take it over themselves? And so begins a life-changing journey - because it turns out that opening a guest house and reliving their teenage dreams isn't that easy ...Full of romance and friendship, love and life, laughter and tears, The Beachside Guest House is an uplifting novel about the magic of starting over with friends by your side.
Review
Rosa, Bee and Iona have been friends since they were
children, sharing everything together as they grew up, especially a wonderful
holiday they had on the Greek isle of Paros as teenagers before they went into
the world as adults. More recently Iona has slipped off into her own world with
boyfriend Ben and Rosa and Bee feel her loss as they struggle with issues in
their own lives. When they learn that the windmill guesthouse where they stayed
on the island is for sale Rosa decides its time for a career change and buys
the place. Bee feeling unhappy with her impending marriage to boyfriend Stuart
ends her relationship and joins Rosa. Can the two of them make a go of running
the windmill and can they reach out and bring Iona back into their lives?
This is the first book by Vanessa Greene which I have read
and its one which I became hooked on straight away. Vanessa’s writing style is heartfelt
and emotional and I connected with the three main characters almost instantly
and all the way through I was rooting for them and hoping they were going to
make a success of the guesthouse, despite a number of setbacks.
Of all the three main characters I found Iona the most
interesting, her struggles with her anxieties made her more complex than Rosa
and Bee for me. Vanessa has written her character is such a way that I felt Iona’s
pain and wanted her to make the right decision, I know I could so easily have
found her annoying and become easily frustrated by her reasoning.
I loved how the Guesthouse became a sanctuary for all three
woman while they lived there. As the guest house became ready for visitors the three
women found they were able to move on from the past and embrace new adventures
and new relationships and find true happiness.
Friendship and its importance is a big theme in this book.
Despite years and miles apart Rosa, Bee and Iona have come together and their friendship
is just as close as when they were teenagers. Proving that no matter what the
problems you face are or the distance apart true friends will always be there
to help you through the difficult times.
The Beachside Guest House is the perfect read for this time
of year when the nights are growing colder and we’re all hanging to the last
threads of summer, it’ll remind you of that perfect holiday you once had. It’s a book to curl up with and will make you
feel warm and cosy when you’ve finished. I loved everything about this book as it kept
me interested all the way through and the characters were ones which I really
came to care for. I loved the ending as it tied things up for each character
but also left the book with a potential follow on (please!).
It was a joy to discover Vanessa Greene’s writing and I
cannot wait to see what she writes next. Thank you to Little Brown and
Netgalley for the review copy of this book.
Rosa, Bee and Iona have been friends since they were
children, sharing everything together as they grew up, especially a wonderful
holiday they had on the Greek isle of Paros as teenagers before they went into
the world as adults. More recently Iona has slipped off into her own world with
boyfriend Ben and Rosa and Bee feel her loss as they struggle with issues in
their own lives. When they learn that the windmill guesthouse where they stayed
on the island is for sale Rosa decides its time for a career change and buys
the place. Bee feeling unhappy with her impending marriage to boyfriend Stuart
ends her relationship and joins Rosa. Can the two of them make a go of running
the windmill and can they reach out and bring Iona back into their lives?
This is the first book by Vanessa Greene which I have read
and its one which I became hooked on straight away. Vanessa’s writing style is heartfelt
and emotional and I connected with the three main characters almost instantly
and all the way through I was rooting for them and hoping they were going to
make a success of the guesthouse, despite a number of setbacks.
Of all the three main characters I found Iona the most
interesting, her struggles with her anxieties made her more complex than Rosa
and Bee for me. Vanessa has written her character is such a way that I felt Iona’s
pain and wanted her to make the right decision, I know I could so easily have
found her annoying and become easily frustrated by her reasoning.
I loved how the Guesthouse became a sanctuary for all three
woman while they lived there. As the guest house became ready for visitors the three
women found they were able to move on from the past and embrace new adventures
and new relationships and find true happiness.
Friendship and its importance is a big theme in this book.
Despite years and miles apart Rosa, Bee and Iona have come together and their friendship
is just as close as when they were teenagers. Proving that no matter what the
problems you face are or the distance apart true friends will always be there
to help you through the difficult times.
The Beachside Guest House is the perfect read for this time
of year when the nights are growing colder and we’re all hanging to the last
threads of summer, it’ll remind you of that perfect holiday you once had. It’s a book to curl up with and will make you
feel warm and cosy when you’ve finished. I loved everything about this book as it kept
me interested all the way through and the characters were ones which I really
came to care for. I loved the ending as it tied things up for each character
but also left the book with a potential follow on (please!).
It was a joy to discover Vanessa Greene’s writing and I
cannot wait to see what she writes next. I give The Beachside Guest House 5/5 it was brilliant.Thank you to Little Brown and
Netgalley for the review copy of this book.
