I always love a trip back to Nightingale Square. It feels so familiar and warm. Beth is a lovely addition and I really enjoyed her character. If you’re a fan of Heidi’s &. the Nightingale Square books you won’t be disappointed.

Heidi Swain stole my book heart many moons ago with her fantastic characters, wonderful communities and stories that warm even the coldest of hearts. With each book we fall more in love with one of her fictional settings and have another character to adore.
A little biased you may presume, but honestly, Heidi never delivers a book I don’t love. I know exactly how I feel by the end – like I’ve spent time with a really good friend.

The Summer Fair is fantastic, another trip to Nightingale Square and back to catch up with friends of old. We also meet Beth, who has shut her beloved music out of her life as it is too painful to hear. She is a broken woman who is desperate to forget her passion for music because it brings back memories. She wants to move on from the past but her arrival in Nightingale Square might mean that is going to be more difficult than she ever thought.
Oh how I felt for Beth, I was willing her on at every opportunity – at work, getting away from awful housemates and once she settled into Nightingale Square. I could empathise with her aversion to shut out parts of her past, but she didn’t make it easy for herself at all.
As Beth works in a care home (you may recognise a certain someone there) and what a brilliant, often funny, inclusion – full of funny, quirky characters. This is also where we see Beth come into her own and blossom.
Eli is a great character and although he had his own thing going on, he helps Beth more than he realises ay first. He is an important part of helping Beth heal and believe in herself again.
Music is such a powerful and emotional tool in terms of mental health. It can break us down or build us up and this is a theme that is woven into this story.
Heartwarming, charming and probably one of Heidi’s best, I cannot recommend The Summer Fair enough. What a treat!
Until next time Nightingale Square….

Yes! We are back in the delightful Nightingale Square where community is at its core, friendships are plentiful and everyone is so kind and helps each other out. It was lovely to be reunited with previous characters and see the development and growth of the community and wonderful Grow Well garden.

I loved Beth, she was just magnificent in every way. Working at Edith Cavel Care Home, Beth will do anything for her elderly residents, apart from one request - she will not sing. The loss of her Mum, her rock, her guiding light in her life, the lady who gave life to the silence in her world has devastated Beth and the one thing she is unable to cope with is music as it was such a huge part of her and her Mum's life. Beth cannot cope with hearing music or singing which was one of her passions. But does blocking out the one love you both shared, even though one of you is not here anymore, help heal your heart?

Moving into a house share in Nightingale Square with Eli is just the best opportunity for Beth and opens up her world, her life and her heart ... I think Beth is just the best, so caring and compassionate and the residents are at the centre of everything she does. I think every care home needs a Beth! Organised activities, keeping the residents busy and the enjoyment that they have from everything Beth does for them, radiates from every page. I loved all the characters, from Eli to the care home residents - Greta is just brilliant! They are all enjoying their new activities and the Summer Fair that Beth has organised was amazing! Beth has brought sunshine into the residents’ lives and put smiles on their faces. I don't know how Beth fitted everything in! Always on the go, always busy making sure everyone had a smile on their face. And now Beth has one too :-)

The Summer Fair is an absolute must read. It will bring you comfort, happiness and some tears but it will bring you so much joy. One of my favourite Heidi Swain books - every page is an utter delight to read.

Thank you, Heidi, for such an enjoyable read. 5 big big stars!

Thank you very much for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

THE SUMMER FAIR by HEIDI SWAIN.

Settle in for another trip to Nightingale Square, full of love and sunshine that will warm your heart.

Beth loves her job at a local care home for the elderly. She isn’t so keen on her living arrangements, so when a house share on Nightingale Square becomes available Beth jumps at the chance.
Sharing with neat freak Eli isn’t all plain sailing, but as their friendship grows they may just be exactly what the other needs to put ghosts to rest and move forward with life.

As in all Heidi Swain’s books that are set in Nightingale Square, the sense of community positively radiates from the pages.
It was lovely to catch up with existing characters and a real treat to meet some fabulous new ones.

I love the musical theme that is woven into this book. It really adds to the depth and feel of the story.

Heidi Swain has written another reliably feel good, heartwarming and utterly charming story.
A delight from start to finish.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This title will be published in paperback, audio and ebook on 12/5/22.

With thanks to @Netgalley and @SimonAndShusterUk for a digital arc of this lovely book.

irstly can I just point out this beautiful cover, its completely eye catching, the colours are so summery, I love it.
Anyway back to the story itself, and it was a real joy getting back go Nightingale Square where we have been so many times before in previous books. It’s a place we have all fell in love with, a place we would all love to live. The community is my favourite the way they all look out for each other and the love and kindness they have for each other is just amazing.
Beth is the main character in this book and instantly you just warm to her, you can really feel she bas been through a lot the last few years and you just know it is her time for happiness. I loved being on the journey with Beth and seeing what was going to happen for her.
Another character that features heavily in this is Eli, and my goodness you will just fall in love with him from the minute we are introduced to him. You don’t find too much out about him at the start but it all starts to unravel and you just know he’s one of a kind, a real gentleman.
A lot of the story takes place at Beth’s workplace which is a care home. After spending many years myself working in a care home I found it all so easy to imagine and I just felt that loving, caring atmosphere straight away. The residents there just warm your heart.
I have to say this was one of my favourite Heidi Swain books, I read this so quickly as I couldn’t put it down, I was so gripped with it. It’s a really beautiful story that will leave a smile on your face. I need more from this gorgeous Nightingale Square and I can’t wait for the next one.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Working in the The Edith Cavell care home is a job Beth really enjoys doing, but the thing she’s not keen on is the house she shares with other people.

An opportunity comes her way to live in Nightingale Square, in a house that she’ll share with Eli, but when Beth views the house, Eli is not around. After moving in, she finds out that Eli loves music, and that too loud. Beth removed music from her life after something serious happened in her life. It was lovely catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

I loved the residents of the care home. The story had relatable characters and was uplifting as well as romantic.

Fast becoming a favourite author of mine. Although part of a series it's fine as a standalone. Enjoyed reading it in the sun.

Heidi Swain has become a treasured favourite author.

This was such an enjoyable and relaxing read. I loved returning to Nightingale Square, and seeing some of my favourite characters again, as well as getting to know some new ones.

I really liked the music theme that ran all through this book, and the way that Eli and Beth both worked out ways to let it back into their lives how they wanted. I really liked Beth she’s been through a lot, but although she’s obviously still grieving, she’s still a kind and compassionate person, and hasn’t become bitter.

Overall, this book was a joy to read, a lovely combination of romance and character development. I highly recommend it.

TW: grief is a part of this story, but it’s in no way an unhappy story.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

It has become a tradition to kick off my summer reading with the latest Heidi Swain book. This year she takes us back to Nightingale Square. Don't worry if you haven't read the previous books in the series as they all work well as stand alones.

As usual Heidi's writing is easy to read and totally absorbing. I was drawn into the story and the characters from the very first chapter. I could see myself visiting the places mentioned in the book as Nightingale Square has become to feel like such a real place.

The story does deal with overcoming the loss of a loved one, but you know that by the end you will be left feeling uplifted with a happy ending.

Roll on the Christmas novel now

The book is told from Beth's perspective, she starts off working as a carer in a care home and sharing a house with 3 disgusting housemates. After a chance visit to Nightingale Square with Harold, one of the care home residents, she decides her life has to change and she moves into one of the houses in the square with a room to rent. She takes on a new role at work and sets out to liven up the residents lives, while joining in the community at the square.

As her past starts to catch up with her, the grief at losing her mum, the guilt at ditching her best friend and the difficulty of forever banishing music from her life she begins to realise that music and friendship are maybe exactly what she needs.

It's a lovely book, well written and the characters come together well. I enjoyed the story, clever without being overly complicated, a gentle summer read. I particularly liked the care home residents, especially astute Harold, cheeky Greta and sweetheart Freddie. Would love another book to catch up on their escapades!

The only negative I found personally with the book was how many times Beth explained that she'd given up on music and singing, it started feeling really repetitive and I would almost impatiently think to myself "yes I know we've been over this".

Otherwise, I really enjoyed it. It's the first Heidi Swain book I've read and it won't be the last (genuinely, I just ordered some).

#netgalley #heidiswain #thesummerfair

Review also submitted to Goodreads but unable to link account.

I read this over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend when the sun was shining and it really helped transport me to Nightingale Square.

As this is book 4 (but could easily be read as a standalone), it was so nice to be reunited with some of the previous characters. I'm sure I have said it before but the Square and the Grow Well garden really does sound idyllic with all the wonderful residents and a proper sense of community.

This book was heavily influenced by love of music and I have to confess, listening to music is actually not one of my favourite pastimes, however I loved how it brought Beth and Eli closer and helped them battle demons. The lost friendship between Eli and Pete was a really clever aspect, not usual to have a male friendship as such a focus.

The residents of the care home were very entertaining and Greta in particular raised a few smiles. I can only hope when I'm so old I am taken care of at a place like that! Beth's activity ideas were brilliant.

Overall just a lovely summery read, perfect to while away the hours and get lost in on a warm day in the garden.

My many thanks to Simon and Schuster via Netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy which I have reviewed honestly.

Another great read from Heidi Swain. Lovely to be transported back to Nightengale square. Lovely characters and an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an Arc in exchange for an honest opinion

If there is one thing certain, you can never go wrong with a Heidi Swain book!

This book was just the ticket to read and transport me back to Nightingale Square.

An absolutely delightful read and I cannot wait to buy the book to add my dedicated Heidi Swain shelf!!

What's not to love about Heidi's writing. Another winner.
We return to Nightingale Square and bump into many of the previous books characters.
Here are two new characters Beth and Eli.
After the death of Beth's mum and having to leave university where she was studying and wanted to become a singer, Beth has removed music from her life.
Eli loves music and plays it at top volume at every opportunity.
So how are these two going to vet on when they end up sharing a house?
I loved returning to Nightingale Square and catching up with what's been happening at Prosperous Place. It's definitely somewhere I could live. Great community spirit.
I loved the characters in the care home that Beth works at, especially Harold.
I devoured this in two sittings as it was so hard to put down.
The only negative is that it is a long wait to Heidi's next book.
Highly recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Ah, a much awaited return to Nightingale Square! Yet another of Heidi's books that I loved, you feel like you want to live in the book with the characters as you know them so well.

A definite 5 star review for me, already looking forward to her next book!

Beth works in a care home, a job she enjoys but hates the house share that she lives in. She has the opportunity to move into Nightingale Square, sharing with Eli who she didn't get the chance to meet before she moves in. The only problem is that he likes his music - loud - whilst she gave up the music that she love after a traumatic event.
I always look forward to a new book by Heidi and, yet again, I wasn't disappointed. I feel drawn into the community there, meeting friends old and new. It is like wearing a comfortable pair of slippers in front of an open fire (more clothing is, of course, optional depending upon your surroundings) and being enveloped in a lovely warm hug. An ideal way to escape the world at the moment, refreshing your soul and starting out in a much better frame of mind. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a sweet, but not sickly, romance.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review.

Another brilliant read from Heidi Swain. I love the new additions to Nightingale Square and this book is the perfect update for this gorgeous series!
This book really built the community that I have become so fond of. It really delved into grief and how you can build back from really low points. It was heart warming and lovely to follow how the characters grew and developed throughout the book.
I really enjoyed the different types of theme in the book, following artists from a musical background was refreshing and different. I was so interested to see how music could be used to help and heal people in all different scenarios and the look into the care home and the quirky residents was lovely and absolutely hilarious at times.
Again its been an absolute treat to read another of Heidi’s books, they are an absolute tonic and I will look forward to the next and am excited to see which lovely community we visit next!

A really lovely read. Another charming and heartwarming novel from Heidi Swain. Lovely warm hearted characters that are bought to life as you get into the story..Beth has struggled since she lost her mum but when she moves into a new flat and into a welcoming community things begin to slowly change and music which was once a big part of her life will once more help her get over her loss. and with the help of old and new friends she can finally find happiness again.

Loved meeting the old characters and lots of new ones too. The residents of the old people’s home were great fun and entertaining characters to read about. Although I would recommend all books from this author, this book was definitely on another level! I can not recommend this book enough.

Time to start a new book and I was desperate for something uplifting, a hug through the pages and one author I know I can always rely on to deliver this is Heidi Swain so The Summer Fair was an easy choice to make.
We are welcomed back to Nightingale Square with open arms by the friendly and supportive community and what a treat it was to see how our much loved characters are doing and that they are still working tirelessly to bring more help and opportunities for everyone.
We have a few new faces this time around not least with our main character Beth who is clear to see early on that with a pure heart of gold and her natural longing to be able to help others that she was going to fit right into the heart of the community but she also has her own troubles that she has struggled so hard to bury but as she moves into her new home with a gorgeous live in tenant and starts her new job role her troubles begin to bubble to the surface.
Pete and Elijah are both loveable gentlemen, Pete was like a big friendly bear who everyone needs as a friend he hasn’t been treated well by those he held dear and yet he was so forgiving. The inclusion of that care home residents brought an unexpected cheeky humour to the book which I loved and I hope these folk will pop up in future Nightingale Square books.
There is an exceptionally quick developing romance that wasn’t without its bumps along the way and although this relationship was really predictable , the hopeless romantic in me still enjoyed watching their relationship blossom.
The storyline explores the effects that grief and heartbreak has on our paths and passions often sending us on a different path to the one we wanted and it also shows that sometimes wrongs are really worth trying to make right.
This book certainly didn’t disappoint and I got everything I was hoping for and more. Heidi Swain has pulled another beauty out of the bag and I am still not ready to leave Nightingale Square and its residents behind.