I found myself getting unexpectedly emotional towards the end of this book. What a sweet, lovely read, a story about coming back to where you belong and finding yourself after so many years. You're rooting for Becca the whole way through. Her compassion, determination and overall sweet nature makes her a hugely likeable character. I've the biggest smile on my face after finishing this book and I can't wait to read more from Jo Thomas in the future.

As always Jo has written another lovely book.

You know there will be lovely characters and food!

This one was as brilliant as her previous books. A real easy read. Ideal for summer chilling.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #TransworldDigital for the copy of #SummerAtTheIceCreamCafe by #JoThomas
You know when you pick up one of Jo’s books you’re not going to be doing anything else till it’s finished. Heartwarming and life affirming, what’s not to love. Lose yourself on the beach with a large ice cream !

This is such a fantastic heartwarming read, perfect for the summer.
I loved reading about Beca and how she was trying to start again and also become a foster parent. The ice-cream sounds amazing and I really wanted to try some! This is an enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

A lovely story of friendship, family and community. It brings warmth and cheer when you read it, you can't help but smile! Jo Thomas is an exceptional writer and I love reading her books. I cant wait for the next one.

Yet another fantastic book from Jo Thomas, She doesn't just write the average story her stories always go deeper and are full of real life issues, not only that but there are lovely friendships and the most amazing descriptions of food!

Absolutely fantastic story! Highly recommend!

Just loved this summer read by Jo Thomas. The characters were very real and I loved Beca's perseverance in spite of everything to get Valentinos up and running. She left home a long time ago but is back where she belongs in her favourite place.

I thoroughly recommend Jo's book as a lovely beachy Sumner read set in a beautiful location with lovely characters.

What a lovely story.

Set in wales an easy read that lets you escape and made me smile.

Loved it

An novel by Jo Thomas is going to be a good one and this one is another brilliant one. Following Becca and her life was so good and it made for a great read. I won't give anything away except to say , you need to get a copy and enjoy this lovely story. Well worth 5 stars and I recommend this to all.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this A|RC

I adore this author's books; this one is another superb story of new starts in old places. I will admit it took me a minute or two to get involved with this one, but after a few chapters, I was hooked.

After years away from where she grew up, Beca has decided it is time to return, she moves into a wonderful-sounding house and has a new plan in mind. She had run a successful business and had made a good amount of money for herself. What she plans to do now is something that is very different and she wonders if she will be up to it. Moving into a tourist spot where second homes, B&Bs, tourist shops and outsiders have their own opinion as to how villages should look, she finds herself in the midst of a village that looks familiar but does feel as familiar. Luckily there are some old faces that soon remind her, not all of them are as appreciated as others.

Beca is dropped in at the deep end when her next plan suddenly springs up on her. She was expecting to have more time to get things organised, but sometimes this is the best way of approaching things. Less time to overthink. What is this new venture, well it isn't mentioned in the synopsis so I am not going to mention it here :)

The story is fabulous and tells of Beca and the gelateria that her grandparents used to run. The local shop is nothing compared to what it once was, and it is run by someone she doesn't expect to see. Old friends are still around and it is one in particular that she always relied on, Griff. He got her out of trouble, scrapes and close calls on several occasions growing up. But growing up is something that people do, especially those who you haven't seen for many years. People move on and have their own families.

The author once again weaves her magic with some great characters, tough dilemmas and some emotional scenes. There are tourist spot politics, regattas, crabbing competitions and new ideas for the village to embrace while remembering those of the past.

This is another heartwarming contemporary fiction and romance story that is simply wonderful. It is one I would definitely recommend.

This was a lovely summer read. I loved the storyline with griff and becca and the fact she was gonna start fostering to try to give a few kids a good start. And the fact that she is trying to replicate her grandparents famous gelato. For a summer holiday read this is perfect.

Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe by Jo Thomas was a book that you will love from start to finish. Its a perfect feel-good summer romance and a great book for your holiday or sitting by a beach eating ice-cream. Summer at the ice cram cafe bought me warmth and made me smile throughout, when I was reading it........It was a lovely read about friendship, community and family.....Now I am craving ice cream.........Any will do.

I highly recommend this beautifully written book. Jo knows how to write a book and this one comes from her heart.

I loved the cover.

Big Thank you to by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Penguin and NetGalley for my copy.

Jo Thomas never fails to draw you in . Full of emotion , a heart warming and rending story about making a new life in old haunts. She pulls together storylines of refinding one’s self , realising an ambition and finding what is important while introducing the reader to making gelato
An excellent summer read

Food, love, family and fun - what’s not to love about a Jo Thomas book?

The beach is calling and I can hear the familiar tune of the ice cream truck!

This book was a particularly heartwarming book as I work with teens and am overly attached to anything with provenance/family ties. I loved the ‘hand up’ focus in this book - helping others and sharing the love - as much as the exploration of how difficult it is to return home.

Like every lick of ice cream, this book kept getting better. I appreciated Thomas’ exploration of memories and second chances and how she stuffed this one full of hope and love.

Don’t forget to visit her website for the No-churn Salted Caramel Ice Cream recipe.

This one needs to be in your beach bag this summer!

I was gifted this copy by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Penguin and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Another great book from Jo Thomas, this time set in Wales. Beca returns home having bought a cottage that comes with a dairy herd! She had left the village under upsetting circumstances but is now back and wants to make a go of it. A great book with lots of lovely moments.

A perfect summer read. I loved everything about this book it was very easy reading with a fantastic location, lovely warmhearted characters and the story was fantastic and beautifully written. A big 5 🌟from me and highly recommend this novel

I always love everything that I have read by Jo Thomas and this book didn't disappoint. Starting over in a perfect location with some surprise developments made for a thoroughly enjoyable read. I love the food elements to Jo's stories and I was left salivating over the gelato. Can't recommend enough.

📱E-Book Review📱

Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe
Jo Thomas

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

For all you Jo Thomas super fans - look away briefly now!

I am ashamed to admit - that this is my first Jo Thomas book 😱
How have I managed to miss out on so much!?
And knowing how much everyone raves about her books!!!

Anyway, I've finally done it and what a beautiful experience!

The writing style is just perfect for those easy and quick reads - Great for warmer weather and brilliant to get you out of any reading slumps!

I absolutely loved everything about this - from the heartwarming storyline, the romance, the relatable characters and so much more.

After making her money and owning her own business, Beca decides it's time to leave the city behind to head back "home" and live her dream of fostering.
When she returns to a place she doesn't recognise, she wonders whether she's made a huge mistake - but of course we know that the journey will be tough but well worth it!

I loved how totally relatable the characters and situation Beca found herself in was. And the descriptions of the passages selling ice cream on the beach were just so immersive, I honestly felt like I was there (especially having read this in the garden in the sun!)

This has totally hooked me on Jo's books and I will definitely be adding more to my shelves soon.

The Blurb :
A dream home
Beca Valentino is ready to escape the city. When she sees the perfect house for sale in her hometown, it seems like fate. Is this her chance to build the foster family she dreams of, on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast?
A big mistake?
Returning home isn't as easy as she thought, however. Her family's beloved ice cream café is gone - turned into a soulless wine bar by her hateful ex-boyfriend. Reconnecting with her oldest friend, fisherman Griff, isn't straightforward either. And when, instead of the children she expected to take in, two wary teenage boys appear on her doorstep, Beca fears she's made a terrible mistake.
A recipe for change
But an old family recipe book is just the inspiration she needs. Soon, with a little help from friends old and new, Beca is selling mouth-watering homemade gelato from a pop-up café on the beach.
Then disaster strikes. Will the Valentino family legacy be lost forever? Or can Beca create a new recipe for happiness?

My Thoughts :
Having enjoyed previous books from Jo Thomas, I couldnt wait to get started on her new release.
We meet Beca Valentino, fed up with her life in London she decides to sell her business and return home to Pembrokeshire, Wales. Having found her dream home she sees this as a sign and makes her move.
This is where she decides to foster and soon we see the arrival of Blake and Joe, not quiet what Beca was expecting either. But soon we watch the relationship grow between Beca and the boys and its one heck of a journey.
Beca’s grandparents, many years ago owned the Valentino Ice Cream cafe there but sadly this has been turned into a wine bar selling tacky Ice Cream. Beca is not happy and soon decides to takes things into her own hands and starts to make her own Ice Cream (gelato) with the help of her Gran’s old recipe.
Soon Beca comes into her own and its a joy to watch her grow and gain confidence thats she didnt think she had. Griff her childhood friend is also on hand to help and its a joy to see the two reconnect.
The story is full of twists and turns to keep you hooked and has some great supporting characters aswell.
Who doesnt love a story filled with Sun, sand and Ice Cream.
Looking forward to more from Jo Thomas in the future.

A new novel by Jo Thomas is always a delight and this one is no exception. A beautifully written warm hug of a summer read has themes of homecomings, new beginnings, community and love. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.