Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

What a lovely book this was. Set in the Lake District 3 friends plan a 6 week summer holiday to the place where the film adaptation of their favourite book was set. Fabulous read.

When I heard this ws a standalone, I was a little bot wistful for the characters in Heidi's previous books. However once I started reading, I was so so glad this world with these characters had been created.
Everything is just perfect, the setting, the characters, the plot is just gorgeous!

Not only is it a feelgood heartwarming read, it also addresses important issues that need to be highlighted, but it's done in such a gentle and sympathetic way that it's still a fantastic read.

Another brilliant book from Heidi Swain.

When I heard that the latest book by Heidi Swain would be a standalone book not in the fantastic fictional world she has built in all of her previous books which I openly consider my favourite fictional location of all time, I was more than a little apprehensive. Seriously, I worried for nothing, The Book-Lovers’ Retreat was an absolute gem of a book, set in a fictional location in the Lake District, an idylic cottage built at the side of a lake that had a little island in the middle. When the characters went out to the island I felt like I was reliving the dreams I used to have when I read Swallows and Amazons as a child!

The main characters in this story were all massive fans of a book, and movie, called Hope Falls, that they had been introduced to at an earlier age and were all equally obsessed with it, regularly rereading or rewatching it. By the end of the story I felt like I loved the book as much as the characters!

I loved the interactions between Em, Rachel, Tori, Alex and local pub owner Connor who quickly became firm friends with the others, also connected by his love for Hope Falls. I found the story so immersive I could picture the veranda at the cottage, the fire, even the path down to the lake and the jetty.

This was a beautiful novel about friendship, loyalty, secrets, and new futures. The Book-Lovers’ Retreat by Heidi Swain is published by Simon & Schuster on 13th April 2023, and will make the perfect summer holiday read.

Wow another fab read I was pulled into the plot loved the characters I can relate to them it just follow so easy
I was hooked another great read I recommend to you all to read

I always know I’m in for a treat when a new Heidi Swain book comes out! This latest offering was no exception. A really heartwarming tale of love, friendship and hope. I really enjoyed it and will be recommending it to everyone.

Heidi Swain is one of my go-to authors when I need cheering up. Her stories are always heart-warming, charming and sweet. But that's not to say there is no drama and angst too. The BLR is absolutely typical Heidi style, but it's also much, much more.


This story about a group of friends who are fanatics of a certain book and the subsequent film adaptation, which is set in the Lake District. I absolutely adored a book being set "oop North", particularly as Heidi usually writes about locations I've never visited, but am desperate to. The book and film featured is entirely fictional, (I had to ask Heidi, as it all seems so real and plausible, and I want to read THAT book too!), but would make a great follow on book for all of us who have read and loved BLR. I feel like that made no sense, but I know what I was trying to say! 


The characters are absolute perfection (except one, and IYKYK). The tension and drama was delicious and the connections between them all was so real. I want to go on holiday with them! The dialogue was so easy to follow, and flowed perfectly. 


Honestly, I can't fault a single second of this book! Next time someone asks me which fictional book I would most like to live in, it will absolutely, no hesitation, be The Book-Lover's Retreat by Heidi Swain!! I adored this book, I have already read it twice and I will recommend it to EVERYONE! 11/10

Have you ever desperately wanted a book location to come alive? That’s exactly what happens in The Book Lovers’ Retreat when a group of friends head off to the Lake District to stay where their favourite book was set. And oh I want to do this with The Book Lovers’ Retreat - a book location within a book location! Because it was just simply beautiful.

I have adored Heidi Swain’s books for a long time, her characters, the settings and the situations that she puts them in. Whether it’s a summer read or a festive one, it’s always an escape. But there has always been a connection between the books, they have never been standalone. Until now. And I feel that it’s exactly what we needed from the queen of fiction - a fresh group of characters built up from scratch, to know and love all over again. These characters were also built so well (Emily’s creativity, Rachel’s vulnerability, Alex’s strive to keep a memory alive) that I couldn’t pick a favourite, I loved them all.

If you love the Lake District, Books, Cosy reads, starry skies, strong female bonds and the curveballs (bar men and surprising guests!) then this is the book for you. You won’t regret making The Book Lovers’ Retreat your next escape.

Having so enjoyed the author’s last book, I went into this one with a few expectations – and although it’s really no way to start a review, I must admit I thought at first that I might be disappointed. It’s the story of three friends – Emily, Rachel and Tori – who are about to live their dream with a six week holiday in the Lakes at the cottage where their favourite book, Hope Falls, was made into the film they’re equally obsessed with. The voice of the story is Emily – and again, I have to say that I found her difficult at first, often short-tempered and abrasive, snappy with her friends. And I was almost glad that Tori was unable to make the trip – I think I liked her even less at the outset – with her place taken by last minute replacement Alex, who they’ve never met before.

But worry not! As the group threw themselves (sometimes quite literally) into the whole experience, their real characters slowly emerged, along with their lives’ complications and the journeys towards their resolution and whatever the future might hold – and I felt for every one of them, laughed and cried with them, enjoyed every wonderful film-based moment they experienced along the way, and really took every one of them to my heart.

The setting is just wonderful – the cottage itself (I might not have the emotional connection to the film that they do, but I’d rather like to stay in that main bedroom too!), the nearby lake, the village of Lakeside a manageable walk away with its friendly pub (and equally friendly landlord, who becomes part of the story) and village shop to cater for all their needs (including many they didn’t know they had). And that wonderful wild waterfall they found after a tip-off, that more than made up for the disappointment of the one used for the film, now rather spoiled by being turned into a tourist attraction.

And each of the friends is at rather a crossroads in their lives. Emily herself has a new job to start on her return, but her true passion is her patchwork creations, clothing and pictures made with materials precious in various ways – she’d love to make it a full-time business, but worries that it wouldn’t pay the bills when Rachel moves out of their flat to live with her controlling boyfriend. In fact, she worries that Rachel might feel she shouldn’t make the move at all – but maybe that might not be such a bad thing. And Alex proves to have quite a back story too – a particularly touching and emotional one, as they struggle to get to a point when they’re ready to move on. And then Tori joins them again – a catalyst for a few big decisions, causing some chaos, but also on a particularly transformative journey of her own.

This was such a beautifully told story, with tears and laughter along the way – filled with love and very real friendship, and with some superb character development as each individual discovers what will truly make them happy. And, after that slightly shaky start, I enjoyed their company every step of the way – I felt I was part of their story, understood entirely the way the book and film became such a big part of their lives (as any book-lover would), and was entirely invested in their hoped for happy endings. A lovely and particularly heart-warming read – and one I’d recommend to all.

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

Oh wow Heidi has done it again! Can I just run away to Hope Falls now? I absolutely adored this book. From the very first page to the very last page I was engrossed in the story.
Three friends book the summer trip of a lifetime to the setting of their favourite book and film. I instantly fell in love with the cottage and the local area. Heidi always manages to write such vivid settings and this one is no exception.
Our three friends are Emily (our main character), Rachel and Tori. Unfortunately Tori has to pull out of the trip but in steps stranger Alex. I loved all of our characters but there were times when I wanted to bash all their heads together. Rachel and jealous Jeremy really irritated and frustrated me. Emily also at points needed a shake. Tori clearly is the one that brings the no nonsense to this group.
Our stranger Alex has quite the reason for wanting to visit the cottage and his story really touched me.
I would say this book has a bit of a different vibe to Heidi’s previous stories. I can’t put my finger on what it is but it was a bit different. I absolutely loved it and would love to hear Rachel and Tori’s stories in the future too. If you are in need of a summer escape then this is the one for you!

I have read all of Heidi Swain's books & I've always enjoyed them, but this one is just a little bit more special!
Emily, Rachel & Tori, who are great friends who have booked a six-week stay at a cottage in the Lake District for the summer. This is no ordinary cottage but where the film of their favourite book, Hope Falls was made & they are superfans who want to relive the book. Circumstances change & Tori is replaced with Alex, a stranger, who has been waiting a long time too to stay at the cottage.
They all come to the cottage with problems & decisions to be made. Heidi builds such wonderful characters & you wish you were there with them. You feel laughter, sadness, joy & belief in this wonderful book. Highly recommended read, certainly Heidi's best book to date for me.
I look forward to the next one!

An awesome book. I loved this from the start, wonderful characters with back stories that are gradually drawn out as they explore the setting of a film from a much loved book. Beautifully written and will keep you gripped to the end.

The perfect summer read about 3 friends, Em, Rachel & Tori, who plan to spend their summer in the real life setting of fictional HOPE FALLS, their favourite book.
The holiday of a lifetime!!!
When Tori, due to circumstances has to forego her place, Alex steps in last minute - with his own story to tell, changing the dynamics of the friends and offering support to all the women.
The six weeks away gives all three a chance to re-evaluate their life choices, with their complicated lives, troubles and issues.
Loved the idyllic setting of the Lake District and it would be my ideal choice for a book lovers retreat.
It was the perfect blend of friendship, romance and reflection, inspiring you to choose your future holidays by your favourite book locations
Thanks @netgalley @simonschuster & @heidiswain for the preview copy

Review: A book about book lovers set in the lake district? Yes please! Even before I knew the setting of this one I knew it was going to be special. Heidi Swain is an autobuy author for me but I was extra excited about this book because this is her first standalone. Her Wynbridge series and her Nightingale Square series as well as her Wynmouth series all tie in together in some way and so I was excited what she would do with all new characters, a new setting and it doesn’;t hurt that one of those characters was named after me!
I loved getting to meet Emily, Rachel, Tori and Alex. They were all such well-rounded characters in themselves, I really hope we get to hear more from them in the future. I need a spin off to find out what happens next for Tori for sure! Emily is our main character and so we get to find out about her thoughts and feelings about her retreat as things progress and we get to see the other characters through her eyes too. Her best friends are Rachel and Tori and I had a special connection with Rachel because she is a tired teacher just starting her summer holidays. I will admit that I was jealous because it was already summer for her and just Easter holidays for me. Heidi always writes about people who work in education so well and as an educator I always appreciate that!
Tori was a really interesting character for me because I think she is the character who is hardest to empathise with because she comes from money. She reminded me a little of Sophie Kinsella’s Becky Bloomwood because she might like to spend but she always has her friends' best interests at heart. Then the wildcard in the group is Alex. Part of the story is getting to know Alex and finding out how this new person adds to the dynamic and mixes things up with the plot of the book. Now the premise behind this onel, going away for the summer to retrace the steps of a famous book and its movie adaptation might sound a little on the slow side but believe me there is plenty of action in this book, plenty to laugh at and plenty to keep you turning the pages.
The best thing about this book is that it takes our characters out of their routine, out of their comfort zones and places them somewhere with no wifi, somewhere that demands introspection and reflection and what better place to do that than the lake district? I adored the setting. It made for some wild weather, some unpredictable moments and of course some beautiful evernings around a fire with a glass of wine. I defy anyone to pick up this book and not come away wanting to jump right into the pages and snuggle up with their own book or watch a movie under a cosy blanket-such hygge vibes! I loved the story, I loved the characters and most of all I loved the setting. I flew through this latest release from Heidi Swain and I know you’re going to love it too!

I love Heidi Swain and whilst I did enjoy this title, it didn’t tick all the usual boxes for me.

The story itself was a lovely premise, and the setting was brought to life in true Swain style. However, I felt it was lacking the feeling of community that I have come to expect from this author. I usually devour these books but I found this one took me longer as I just couldn’t gel with the characters. Considering they were such good friends they were very hostile with each other at times. Particularly main protagonist Emily. She was quick to judge but then quick to apologise, not a character trait I can get on board with.

I think fans and new readers alike will really enjoy this book, especially with Summer approaching and the idyllic descriptions of the Lakes.

This book has a different style to Heidi Swain's other books. It is set in the Dales, rather than Norfolk and has less of a community feel to it. However I really enjoyed reading it.
I loved how developed the plot was around the cottage being the site of a book and film location. It sounded so realistic and like the type of place that I would love to visit.
This is a fantastic book and I found it easy to read. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

A lovely read, perfect for summer reading. The descriptions of Hope Falls and the places they visit are superb and make you really feel like you’re there.

I really enjoyed seeing Tori evolve as a character, the way she comes back into the story and is like the ribbon tying everything back together was really lovely.

Alex was great, and I loved how he honoured his sister by doing all the things on her Hope Falls bucket list, but also I really enjoyed learning about how they bonded as brother and sister over the film and the book, until then they just cocked around each other, but Hope Falls brought them together, it was beautiful.

Seeing Emily grow and her business taking off, really it took wings and flew all by itself which just showed it was meant to be. The clothes she created were described beautifully and I really wish there was pictures in this book so I could see that lovely skirt she made. Her and Alex make a perfect couple, they complimented each other perfectly.

Rachel played her cards close to her chest, and I did wonder throughout the whole book, just how much she was aware of what Jeremy was doing, and if she was playing him in return. Turns out, she was blinded until she saw the light in Hope Falls and a budding friendship with Connor. Jeremy’s return was truly spectacular and seeing Rachel stand up to him was brave and empowering. She has her freedom back to be who she wants.

I do hope we get to visit Hope Falls again and see more of these great characters.

I loved this book, Heidi has done it again, this book had me hooked right from the start, I loved the characters and enjoyed their stories unraveling, I think I would enjoy reading to book they were discussing and I would enjoy this hide away

I didn't think this was the usual Heidi Swain book. It was quite enjoyable but got a bit repetative and dull. The description of the Dales were really nice and the typical weather.

I found it hard to believe that I was reading a book by Heidi Swain. I have read and enjoyed all her other books, but this one was quite different. I did not feel it had the depth of many of her others. Centred round three rather shallow girls and an extra man, it became very self involved, particularly with Emily. The good parts were the lovely descriptions of the Lake District, which seemed much more Heidi's style.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

This wasn’t my favourite book by Heidi Swain and it took me a while to get into it. I did struggle with the whole concept of the story and didn’t really love the main character. It did grow on me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy.