I loved this story. The story line was completely new I had not come across this concept before. I just goes to show if you want something it is certainly worth going after it. This gripped me fully and I found it hard to put the book down.
An absolutely wonderful book. I want a follow up

Beca has finally bought her dream home from when she was growing up but will coming home be all that she hopes will she be able to foster and have the life she’s been hoping for?

I loved the characters in this story. Beca and her internal struggles to constantly try to do the right thing. Joe and Blake the way they open up and find love and of course Griff Becas childhood friend.

A fab read that will fill you with all the warm feelings!

I try never to miss a book by Jo Thomas, and this one is one of her best, in my opinion. The story of Becca's return to her village, the buying of the 'big house', the idea of fostering, all are so beautifully described. The interactions between the tow boys is so cleverly written. I really didnt want to finish this book! Thank you for the chance to read and review this novel.

Beautiful! Brilliant! Amazing! I am a huge fan of Jo Thomas and have read all of her books and this one certainly doesn't disappoint.
Jo has an amazing talent of drawing the reader in within the first couple of pages and making you feel like these are real people with real lives.
I loved Beca's, Griff, Blake & Joe's characters, the setting, the whole feeling of the book and wish I was at their BBQs on the beach right now!

Another lovely story from Jo Thomas. I’ve read all of her books and this is one of her best. I really loved the characters, especially how Beca built a relationship with Blake and Jo. A lovely way to escape a long winter by being transported to beautiful West Wales. This was a story I just couldn’t put down and was really sorry to finish it. Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book

A really enjoyable book all round. I always love to read novels by Jo Thomas and this one was no different. It was uplifting and I savoured every page. Love the character of Griff and the involvement of fostering with Joe and Blake. Plus the descriptions of the gelato made my mouth water!

Because Beca Valentino live in the 'city and then  wants to escape life..'
And then  a house 'leaping though a window of opportunity. Nothing planned!
And, right now, that feel wonderful! Ty Mawr name of house and 'This could be the perfect for children' well learn she has been approved to Foster children she believes under 10. So they can go out and play outside and help tend the animals.
This novel is set in the Pembrokeshire coast, in her hometown.
'I turn and stare at the house. I can't believe it's mine. I've loved it, wondering what it's like to what's it's like in it, too look right out to the sea from the back back

Isn't love at first sight because I've seen it before'. 'I've loved it all my life' the house is overlooking the west Wales coastline from Ireland 🇮🇪,  dotted with sailing boats enjoying 😉 the sea breeze'.

Beca build's up the pop up cafe on the  beach where she sells 'Mouth wate
ring homegrown  gelato' from old family recipes 😋 'it's exactly where I'm meant to be right.'
Fostering kids is a chance to have a taste of the sort of childhood I had. States Beca
Her best friend Greff, I happy to see her back. Nothing changed

Grand parent used to own ice cream shop, and her parents Mo social worker wants to know how long it will be before she can take children in 🤔
'Here, we celebrate our imperfections' swimming in sea 🏊‍♀️ with others 'welcome to the Swn Y  Mor Mermaids 🧜‍♀️ This place felt so alive'

Finally Beca has her first foster placement, ages she added they are around 10 and around 13. A lot older than she'd had hoped for.
Mo. the social worker gives her a quick 'hand over' about the boys.
Keep an eye on Joe the youngest brother  as he has as he has learning disabilities, nonspecific, but he can look after himself anxiety issues but generally he's very content when he knows what happening and is kept to a routin. He likes helping people as he feels like a hero in the making.
Blake ok, say Mo. But is always on the his phone.

To get the boys working together, making gelato with boys. Just like the way she used to make it with her Nonna's using her old recipe. 

"Just for a bit of fun, not as a businesse' However that'd what it beco


Griff 'is always there when I needed him.
There is a large regatta on the beach ⛱ and Beca describes herself as being 'Happy,  content and excited all at the same time!

Will the ice cream 🍦 business be successful, will Beca  ever find love in her small hometown and how long will the boys get to stay with her? This novel leave you guessing till the end!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a complementary digital copy of this ebook in exchange for a full  frank and honest view. All options are completely my own.

This is a lovely heartwarming sweet tale. A story of past meeting present and giving hope for the future. The characters are many and varied and all working together to make everyone happy.

I never miss a Jo Thomas novel. She is adept at combining an excellent story with believable characters, good food, (In this case home-made ice cream) and descriptions of the local countryside that almost takes you there!
This time a fostering theme is included which is unusual and rewarding and adds much to the story, although sometimes not as happily as in this case. I know as I fostered for over 10 years. However it adds to the feel-good novel and brings some summer warmth and happiness. A lovely satisfying read which I highly recommend.

Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Oh my days what can I say about this book… Straight away you are transported to the beautiful picturesque setting. I instantly liked Beca and was constantly rooting for her throughout the story. I genuinely couldn’t put this down and finished it in one sitting. It certainly brightened up a cold, wet and windy day for me

Easy, escapism readin at it's finest. This is a charming tale, Beca returns to the Welsh town she grew up in and begins a new life... but soon enough, her old life creeps in.

It's enjoyable from start to finish, a little predictable (in a comfortable way!) but entertaining and it feels realistic. The story is easy to follow, I love the fact it's set in Wales - it feels like the type of story usually set in Cornwall or Devon! A good read for when you need a little sun in your life.

Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe - Jo Thomas

What an absolutely brilliant read this was! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of it and I couldn't put it down once I'd started reading - it drew me in immediately and I cared about the characters so much that I needed to know if they got the happy ending!

Beca Valentino returns home to a small Welsh village, years after running away to London and starting a successful business. She wants to return to her roots, and also hopes to give some children some of the great memories she had, through fostering. However, when she gets home, she wonders if she's made a mistake. The place is full of second home owners, her family's old gelato shop has been transformed, her childhood best friend Griff has grown up and now has a teenager of his own, and Beca isn't sure she belongs there anymore. Added to that, she immediately has two boys in her care who have had difficult upbringings.

We follow the story through summer, as Beca navigates her way through settling back into her home town, and strives to give the boys, Blake and Joe, as many good memories as possible in their short time with her. And can she also reconnect with Griff?

I really enjoyed everything about this book, and how the relationships between Beca, Griff, Blake and Joe developed. It was such a warm read, full of love, friendships, community, and second chance relationships! The writing made me picture the settling clearly, and has made me very excited for long summer nights and lots of ice cream (or gelato!). The characters were all so likeable in their own way, and I just wanted them to all be happy!

It's the first Jo Thomas book I've been lucky enough to read, but I think I need to get onto the back catalogue as soon as possible!!

Thank you so much to Jo Thomas, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC. 💕

In "Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe" Jo Thomas has written another feelgood read, but including enough thought provocation to keep the reader interested. Beca Valentino returns to her old home town on the Pembrokeshire coast following the break up of her marriage and unmissable offer to buy her cleaning business.

She has purchased her dream house and sets about making it a home. However, her plans for this home are not popular with some of the locals, mostly the second home owners rather than the true local residents. As Beca struggles with this new venture the town is struggling with a decline in the number of tourists, who are essential to the survival of the community.

Can Beca find fulfillment and happiness, and help out the town at the same time time? This book will make you think about foster carers, the pros and cons of second home owners, what it means to be part of a community, and much more.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

Such a wonderful book. It brought back memories of summer and sun. A book about second chances and loving what you have. I literally couldn’t put this book down and devoured it in one sitting. I loved the relationship between Beca and the boys, liked both MCs and all supporting characters and wanted to move to the village and eat gelato in the cove. . Brilliant.

A gorgeous book about starting again, second chances, returning home, love, and finding your spark. It's about family in all walks of lives, dreams and passions coming true, discovering who you really are and doing the things that will make you happy.

It's a really lovely book with a lovely message that families can come from all walks of lives and look completely different. But still be wonderful and perfect.

As with all of Jo's books I was hooked from the start.
Jo writes such believable settings where you can't help but fall for the characters.
Can't wait for the next one!

When can I have some gelato, please?

Thank you so much for the publisher for asking me to review this book. I had no idea where it would end up, and thought that the themes included were fascinating. Beca is someone who felt that she had to leave her hometown as a youngster and comes back to put some things to rest. She is no longer seen as a local but with suspicion as a newcomer, with the issues taking time to work through.

Beca buys a herd of cows with her new home along with a boatshed, which causes a great deal of drama and is the focal point of a great deal of the tale.

The theme of fostering and the wards helping her rebuild her life, and the titular Ice Cream (GELATO) Cafe, Valentino's, is fascinating and one that can only make you smile.

Can we have a sequel please?

Absolutely wonderful read from Jo Thomas. She never fails to delight!

Beca returns to Pembrokeshire after years away in London. Things have changed, as has she, but the longing for home and for her family remains.

If you know Jo's writing you will know that food is always central to her books. This time it's gelato. Absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks for the early copy of the book.

Yet another fantastic read by Jo Thomas , this book really draws you in, and makes you realise how as a child how fortunate I was.

Set in Pembrokeshire , Beca returns to the seaside village she grew up in, her family all passed away, she has sold her business in London and buys at auction a house which she knew from her childhood .

Beca wants to give children some of the opportunities she had growing up in a seaside rural village and has been through the process to become a foster parent .

Moving back, she realises quite quickly things have changed, people have changed and her nemesis Eddie Wilde is now back in town .... transforming her grandparents gelato to a trendy cafe selling 'fake' flavours of ice cream in colours you can picture as she throws the uneatable goo.... to seagulls!😂😂😂

After a few weeks, Beca is asked to look after 2 boys for a weekend as their foster carer needed an operation, you can picture her face as 2 sullen boys arrive and she is left to fend for herself.

The story follows their summer, (the weekend was extended ), Beca gaining her confidence not just with the boys but with getting to know the local community again.

Lots of issues are thrown at Beca, but she survives and you can read from the book so does everyone around her!

Look forward to receiving the recipes which were not included in the ERC,

A summer feel good book for 2023. Follow Beca's story as she sees to escape city life and fulfil her dream of fostering in her home town. Its isn't all straight forward though. Can she succeed or not?
Lovely characters and set in a beautiful place,ace. Definitely recommend