If you are looking for the perfect story to tuck into your beach bag this season, the Jenny Colgan new book, Meet Me at the Seaside Cottages, is an absolute must-read. Released this June, it brings readers back to the cozy coastal settings we love, introducing us to Janey Carter—an audiologist who has finally built a peaceful, independent life for herself by the sea after her husband left. Just as she is ready to dive back into the dating pool, her grumpy 30-year-old millennial daughter, Essie, loses her job and moves back home. Living under the same roof tests their relationship once again, but a mix of rescue dogs, pub quizzes, and a joint project renovating the unloved Seagate Cottages next door might be exactly what they both need to heal.
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What Welcomed Me In
Jenny Colgan excels in this latest beach read at creating atmospheric, cozy coastal settings, and the town of Carso feels like a place you want to visit immediately. The dynamic between Janey and Essie is incredibly relatable. Navigating the shift from parent-and-child to two adults living under the same roof is full of both humor and genuine tension. It is refreshing to see a story that balances a mother’s journey to reclaim her confidence with a daughter’s struggle to find her footing in a tough world.
The vivid descriptions of the sea air and the physical transformation of the Seagate Cottages next door add a wonderful, visual depth to the story. Beyond the main family dynamic, the local community at the pub quizzes and the inclusion of charming rescue dogs bring the entire town to life. At its heart, this novel offers a beautiful look at family resilience and the idea that life’s unexpected detours can lead to the best destinations.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, this new book from Jenny Colgan is a heartwarming tale of second chances at finding love despite being older. This really is a feel-good novel that fills the heart with joy and hope. It perfectly blends family drama with sweet romance, and fans of contemporary fiction and coastal escapes will absolutely devour this one.
Thanks to Avon Books and HarperCollins for this #gifted book for this review.
