This is a glorious book which you could chill out and relax reading while on holiday, it is the perfect holiday accompaniment.

Beca has come back to her roots and bought a house in the Welsh town she grew up in and ran away from. After selling her successful business she wants to farm and be close to her family, even though they have all now passed away. Finding joy in this and fostering she meets two men who were there in her past, one a great friend and the other the love who discarded her for a better prospect.

Lovely story and with likeable and realistic characters. An easy read which is difficult to put down once you start. A lovely ending which although not unexpected brings a smile to the face of the reader. Descriptions of the setting made me want to holiday there and eat lots of gelato.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely summer read.

If I had to nitpick, it would be regarding the research on fostering and the social worker - the children would have a social worker and Beca would have a fostering social worker, it is very unlikely they’d be the same person! I get though that this is probably a minor quibble, but this may irritate anyone who has experience of children’s social services or works in that area.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe proves that I can never tire of reading Jo Thomas’ books. She has written an utterly fabulous book which you will inhale in one sitting and you will certainly not feel like leaving the characters behind once you reach the final page. If the stunning and vibrant cover doesn’t attract your attention and urge you to pick this up than I don’t know what will. Rest assured, the story that awaits you inside with its picturesque location and varied cast of characters is one which you will devour in short order. You’ll feel as if you have been whisked away to the Welsh coast to enjoy a summer alongside Becca Valentino as she navigates new and unchartered waters. Becca is leaping through a window of opportunity and is determined to grab it with both hands and make a success of her life. Escaping the city, where she has sold her cleaning business, she buys a house called Ty Mawr with land attached in the village where she grew up and she sets about her new life. She wants a quieter and simpler life but life itself has numerous curveballs to throw in her direction and it was an absolute delight to read of her journey and adventures.

Becca is all set for her new beginning. Her business is sold, her marriage is behind her and although she is apprehensive about returning to the village which holds so many memories for her she is resolute in her attitude that she will make a go of the small farm that she has bought. She wishes that her grandparents were still alive to see her return to the village but sadly that is not the case but she still has the memories of their gelato shop and of her grandmother using her special recipe to create wonderful and tantalising flavours. When she was younger she had felt trapped and she left in a state of anger and upset. The specific reasons for this become much clearer further on in the story. I did initially think when the reasons were revealed that perhaps she had been a bit dramatic and over reacted but then as things were explored and developed more I began to understand where she was coming from and why she felt the need to leave and rarely visit. It allowed me to appreciate what a big step it was for her to come back and revisit things which you could sense had long lingered on her mind. There was an element of putting ghosts to rest and trying to move into a new and more positive mindset now that she is back in the village.

When she discovers the shop is now owned and run by Ed Wilde and is not run as a gelato shop as was the proviso when her grandparents sold it, well she is disgusted. Becca has past history with Ed and you can feel the tension and unease that exists between them. Ed, has turned the café into something it never should have been. It’s appearance and offerings have changed and the supposed gelato on sale is not a patch on what her grandparents produced and were renowned for. Becca has to cast aside her issues with Ed and what he has done and focus on herself. She had always wanted more than what the village could give her but now she is at a different stage in her life and Ty Mawr might just be the catalyst that will give her what she has been searching for all her life. I adored the descriptions of the house, the land surrounding it and how Becca tended daily to the cows. Not to mention the nearby coastline and the small cove where Becca meets a group of women called the Mermaids who swim daily in the sea. All the descriptions really helped me visualise clearly the setting and it felt like the story, the characters and the themes being explored just engulfed me in a lovely natural way and my enjoyment of the story just grew and grew with each turn of the page.

Becca reconnects with an old friend Griff who she had grown up with. He loves painting and fishing and he now has a grown up daughter Scooter who he co-parents with Nia. Scooter goes on to help Becca with the milking. As with Ed I sensed that Becca had a history with Griff. Not a bad one but there is a sense of things left unsaid but on whose part I wasn’t so sure. Throughout the book he is a stalwart support for Becca and as her adventure sees things on the ice cream side taking off all thanks to his truck blocking the lane and preventing milk been collected he is there for her every step of the way. I desperately wanted the pair of them to get together but as he was with another woman this didn’t seem at all possible. Becca has also decided to try fostering alongside working the dairy herd. Two boys arrive for the weekend, Blake and Joe, both much older than she had anticipated and both with differing approaches to life.

I don’t think Becca had foreseen the changes that both boys would bring about in her life. Blake was sullen and moody whereas Joe was full of life and just accepted everyone at face value. The time they spent with Becca wasn’t without its trials and tribulations and their stay is extended beyond a weekend which gives Becca the opportunity to get to know them and to get beneath Blake’s rough exterior. I loved the relationship that formed between Becca and the boys and as their adventures begin with gelato and a café forming the centre of them the excitement, happiness and all-round positive atmosphere throughout the story just increased tenfold. Becca has a summer of fun, pleasure and one where friendship and community is at the heart of it but that’s not say a few thorns appear in her side. But to see how it all pans out you will have to pick up this gorgeous read for yourself.

Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe was an utter joy to read from start to finish. Jo Thomas has given her readers a glorious read to enjoy during the summer months whether sitting in the garden or relaxing by a pool this will deliver all the feels. Becca comes to realise the value of what she has left behind. She attempts to try and work out where she belongs and how she can fit in and along the way she forms firm and solid friendships and helps two very special young boys in the process. The story evolves at a natural pace and you are rooting for all the characters along the way especially when things get tough and it appears as if Becca will let people down and her hopes and aspirations will go down the drain. I loved every minute of this warm and engaging read full of love, friendships, family and of course lots of delicious gelato along with plenty of twists and turns which keep the reader on their toes. Don’t let this one pass you by it’s a gem of a read.

This book has received so many five star reviews, but for me, it didn't quite hit the spot. I thought it very twee with so much talk of Nonna and reminiscing. There was a lot of repetition. And as for Blake's transformation, I thought that was a bit quick. Whilst there was angst, it wasn't prolonged, plus the romance was very low key. I didn't enjoy this book as much as some of Jo's older books. It's a pleasant summer read though. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely gentle bank holiday read. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Beca and seeing how she navigates life. A feel good read that you will not want to put down. Slightly predicatable in places but this just added to the cosy feeling because you were willing these thigs to happen and they did. I would love to vivst the boatshed for gelato.

When Beca finds the perfect home for her dream of becoming a foster parent, she moves back from London to her hometown on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast.

Slowly easing herself back into a once very familiar community, she reacquaints with childhood friend Griff. But also discovers her ex-boyfriend has bought her grandparents' ice cream parlor and turned into an aweful winebar with even more awful icecream.

When Beca is asked to temporarily foster two teenage boys, she puts her request for younger children aside and welcomes Blake and Joe in to her home. After a couple of hurdles in the beginning, the summer turns out better than she hoped for- especially when she decides to recreate her grandparents' ice cream recipes.

This is my first book by Jo Thomas and I absolutely loved it! It has summer written all over it :) Very lovable characters and the well described story settings made me put Pembrokeshire on my travel bucket list.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review.

A perfect summer romance and so much more. This was an easy read and very enjoyable. The characters were well defined and it was lovely to see how they developed throughout the book. I loved seeing Joe and Blake come out of their shells, finally enjoying life and feeling like they belonged somewhere, after their rough starts in life. Griff was a great character and it was good to see him building a relationship with the boys. This is a must have for your summer reading list, and I can highly recommend it as a feel good book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allocating me to read this book.

It made a change to read about a UK destination, instead of a sun-drenched French or Italian village, but I still found myself captivated by the story. Jo Thomas writes about romance, food, and drink, in a way that leaves me craving the delights on each page. This was no exception because ice cream is a firm favourite in our household, no matter the weather.
I immediately took to Beca and felt myself willing her to succeed in her bid to recreate some of her grandparents’ ice cream magic. There’s something rather special about finding a perfect recipe and recreating the tastes of years gone by. Of course, this requires trial and error and there’s a process to get it just right.
Beca has big plans for her life in the farmhouse and she’s thrown into the deep end almost immediately. Leaning heavily on her childhood best friend, Griff, she starts to take charge and is soon rewarded with the knowledge that she can succeed. Of course, like with the ice cream, there’s some trial and error, and not everything goes smoothly.
I simply adored Griff. His love and loyalty shined through from every page, and I felt myself viewing him differently as the book progressed. I imagined him like Liam Neeson’s Blackie from A Woman of Substance. I digress! His friendship with Beca was unfailing and loyalty like that is worth more than gold.
I must admit that I like the romanticised concept of moving to the countryside and running a small farm, but I would need help with the twice-daily milking, that requires a special type of dedication. Of course, Beca finds the help and support that she needs to ensure that she can provide the milk and shelter that her new venture requires.
Even the less savoury characters like Ed, are not irredeemable and Jo’s careful hand brings a satisfying conclusion to what could have taken the story in an unwelcome direction.
I have a strict policy of not including spoilers in my reviews and sticking within the constraints of the synopsis. I will not break that but must hint that there is a whole chunk of story waiting for you. Two more characters who bring stress and worry to Beca are waiting for you to discover them. You’re in for a real treat.
As anticipated, this is another wonderful escape and I hope you love it as much as I did.

I really enjoyed this book - it is every bit delightful as the cover.
the story is fun but takes you on an emotional journey as well. The characters are so well written, you really can relate to them, but what I absolutely loved were the descriptions of the town and scenery and I just want to get away to escape and experience it all for myself.

Another fabulous read by Jo Thomas. She has a real talent for producing wonderful characters and their life stories. Beca left her hometown under a cloud several years ago and very rarely returned until it was too late and all her family were gone. Her cleaning business in the City had taken off and became very successful. When she learned that the big house in her hometown was up for Auction, the one she had always said would one day be hers, she sold her business and was the successful bidder. She was divorced following an unhappy marriage and decided the time was right to go home. She decides to use her home to foster children and this story is delightful. I fully recommend that you read it. There is family, first loves, long term friendships and of course a few twists along the way. I loved it.

As a regular reader of Jo Thomas’s books, I thought I knew what to expect but I was once again surprised.

This book was wholesome, funny and at times, pricked on my emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.

I found myself rooting for Becca to go after what she wanted and I love how it had a romantic element to it but also focused on building different relationships with other people.

I couldn’t put the book down and I just wanted more.

It made me long for summers on the beach and eat delicious gelato.

Another wonderful read by Jo Thomas.

Thanks to Netgalley and random house for the arc. Perfect summer read while you laze about in the sun. I loved everything about this book, it had everything you could possibly want if this is your genre. Definitely recommend. 4/5

This was the perfect summer read but I must warn you… it will leave you wanting all of the gelato! Sat in the sun while writing this review I wish I had a bowl of the cold stuff sat beside me ready to accompany my next read!

It’s not all about sunshine and gelato though as this book has so much more. I loved the relationships that we see developing throughout the book but none more so than Blake’s story. Your heart just goes out to him as he’s definitely not had it easy so far but you can see this being the big turning point for him with Beca’s help.

Jo Thomas has such a knack for creating amazing characters and settings and this one doesn’t disappoint at all, it’s just as good, if not better than her others and I’m already wanting more!

Beca ran away from her life when she was a teenager. After becoming successful she decides to return home and foster two boys, in the hope that she can improve their childhoods. A slightly rose tinted view of the world but a great romantic book to read on the beach this summer. Just what is needed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the advance copy of this book.

Thank you for my copy of this book to review.

Jo Thomas is my guilty pleasure, not my usual genre at all but I have read a few of her books now and have always enjoyed them. This latest one was no exception. I love the cheeriness and escapism of the stories. This was a nice one to read in the run-up to Summer with the coastal setting and warm weather. I particularly liked the fostering storyline in this book, it was something a bit different to her previous books.

This author always manages to make you feel as if you’re in the actual setting with her descriptions. I could almost feel the sun and taste the gelato. I wanted to be there.

Although these books are always predictable, what starts out as a conflict with a small knit community and a hostile man, ends up in acceptance, friendships and romance, that’s what I love about them. You know what you’re getting and you know you’re going to enjoy it. These books are always easy to read and very enjoyable...they are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

I would definitely recommend this book, and any of her previous ones too. Can’t wait for the next one.

Wow! Just wow! More than once I was reading with tears rolling down my cheeks. Beca is a 40 something who’s still searching for her place, I found that quite refreshing, that she didn’t have all the right answers, that she still felt awkward and anxious and at times still felt like a child and not the mature adult she was meant to be. I loved seeing her blossom, her growth was mirrored in the two boys, Blake and Joe who she fostered. With the quiet love and unwavering support of Griff they all grew and it was beautiful to watch. Beca might not have felt she fit in but that moment in the beach when Joe is missing and everyone jumps into action to find a ‘local’ boy, I confess I cried. I loved the feel of family and community coming together in this book and it made it very easy to read, in fact I couldn’t stop until I was finished. Excellent, excellent book. Perfect summer beach read.

When the city becomes too much, there is only one thing for Beca Valentino to do: to go back home to the town she loves.

But returning home she thrown a curveball when she becomes guardian to two teenage boys. Then she finds recipe book that could change everything.

I loved the fact that Beca keeps on fighting, opens up a new business all the whilst trying to be a guardian. A gorgeous summer reads that fills you with love, hope and the courage to follow your dreams. Besides its set in gorgeous Wales!

I don’t know where to begin! What an absolute smash. I really really enjoyed this book, I didn’t want it to end. A story of finding love with old friends and discovering what having children in your life is really about.
Beca returns to her home town after her failing marriage and giving up on her business. She buys a farm and decides to foster children. When Griff comes back into her life they resume their friendship. Ed is Becas ex and is sitting on the sidelines waiting to spoil everything she tries to do.
Everything has changed and Beca can’t forget her grandparents business Valentino’s the local Gelato Parlour.
Can Beca put her past behind her and find happiness with her two foster children.
Definitely worthy of my 5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this totally fantastic book.

Such a lovely story and a good read, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Beca's homecoming and her reconnection with old friends

Another truly special ,enjoyable book from Jo. I really felt totally engrossed, hoping that all would turn out okay in the long run. Excellent!