Ahhh. I have just returned from a visit to Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, courtesy of being immersed in Georgina Troy’s novel, Life Begins on the Boardwalk.

The main character, Bella, cobbles together a living by working as a hand model, running an antique shop on the boardwalk, and taking in two lodgers. All of these jobs provide some plot lines. For example, Bella is a hand model for a new reality star who ends up hiding out on the island. Bella also has a years-old crush on one of her lodgers, but he is the brother of her best friend and off-limits. However, my enjoyment of the book came from the matter of fact way Bella goes about her daily life, interacting with other characters in Jersey, and the descriptions of life on a small island. It was a magical escape from the realities of my life, and I was sorry when I got to the end. I could have stayed in Jersey a bit longer.

Characters grow; there is humor and romance, I do tend to like books about antiques, and there is a bit of that too. This is an absolutely charming book.