Published 8th October 2026 by Aria.
From the cover of the book:
Louise Dearnley has spent her life editing perfectly neat love stories, where heartbreak leads to fresh starts, charming small businesses bloom, and happily-ever-afters are guaranteed.
But now in her forties, she's quit her job – and no, she doesn't want to talk about why – and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Starting over doesn't feel nearly so much fun in real life as it does in fiction.
It also doesn't help that her mother is convinced she's here to run the family bakery, especially as the locals can't get enough of Louise's legendary ginger cake and scrumptious scones. Between renovations, a quirky ex-stepdaughter (who's unexpectedly come to stay) and a gorgeous Italian who seems too good to be true, Louise's second chance begins to take shape.
After a lifetime spent polishing other people's happy endings, will Louise finally have one of her own?
***********
Louise Dearnley's career as a book editor has ended rather abruptly with her resignation, following a mix-up with the latest novel of famous author Sheila Penhaligon. The prospect of facing a new start in her forties is daunting, so she heads home to the Yorkshire village of Applethwaite to consider her options.
Her mother is delighted to see her, but is under the misapprehension that Louise has come back to take over the family bakery shop, now she has retired. As much as Louise loves baking, this is not part of her plans. However, spending time in the empty shop gives her an idea...
Having loved Jennifer's Little Board Game Café books, I knew I was going to enjoy this first instalment of her brand new cosy rom-com series - and I was right.
Louise comes home to Applethwaite with her tail between her legs, hiding a secret about the precise circumstances of her abrupt change of career. She knows she wants to continue working with books, rather than take on the family bakery, and comes up with the idea of converting the premises into a bookshop.
But putting her plan into action is not going to be easy - she will need to break bad news to her mother; find the money for renovations; and deal with the locals who are addicted to her grandmother's famous ginger cake... as well as negotiate the unexpected drama that comes with her ex-stepdaughter Maddie needing a place to stay, just when Louise was hoping a romance with handsome Italian Jack might be on the menu.
As the story unfurls, a lovely slow-burn romance develops between Louise and Jack, set against the hurdles of getting the bookshop off the ground. There is a bit more spice than in Jennifer's previous books, which works well with the bakery theme and Louise's occasional reflections on the romantic tropes she is used to vs real life.
Louise, Jack and Maddie end up making a great team, and lots of stuff crops up about all three that delves into themes of parental expectation, bad relationships, guilt, and second chances. The layer of mystery that comes with gradually revealing what lies behind Louise's departure from her previous job is very enjoyable too - and packed with intriguing reflections on the bookish world.
Jennifer always has the right touch when it comes to building a wider community around her central characters, threading storylines into the main event to get you invested in their lives, and saving some nice twists for the end. This book introduces lots of opportunities for future instalments, which I am really looking forward to reading as the series develops.
This was an enchanting gentle read, with a warm and hopeful ending that hits the perfect note for this time of year. I cannot wait to meet the Applethwaite gang again in book two, Love and Lattes at the Bookshop Bakery, which will be about single mum Anna!
The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Aria for sending me a review copy of this book.
About the author:
Jennifer Page wrote her first novel – a book about ponies – when she was eight. These days she prefers to write romance. When she isn't writing, Jennifer can usually be found playing board games which are the inspiration for her first novel. She has worked as a television producer, a music teacher and has even run a children's opera company. She now lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire with her husband and his large collection of games.
No comments:
Post a Comment