Warm and heartwarming simply everything you expect in a book from Alice. Another brilliant one from a fabulous author. Definitely add this to your to be read pile.

We meet Holly, whose husband has died. She finds herself volunteering at a local soup kitchen/cafe to take away the overwhelming sense of grief that she finds herself in. Here she meets many different people who become good friends to her, but in particular fellow volunteers, Angus and Lauren. They all have their own different problems and reasons for being there, but with each other's support there might just be a way for them to get through all these.

I absolutely loved this book!! It's been a while since I've read a book by this author, but I'll definitely be finding any I've missed. The storyline is just so lovely. Holly is a wonderful character who's going through a very hard time. To find the strength to go and volunteer was amazing and I loved how cooking the desserts in the cafe really brought the old Holly back! Angus is also an wonderful character, but he has different issues to Holly which are revealed slowly throughout the book. Lauren took a little bit more warming to, but as her story moves on and you get to hear what she has been through, you can't help but love her too. How the relationship between the three friends develops is lovely and whilst it's obvious where it's going, there are a few little twists in their stories which stops and makes you think about it all again.

Taking out Holly, Angus and Lauren's stories, the idea of the cafe which caters for disadvantaged, homeless and lonely people is great. I loved the kitchen scenes, watching how each Saturday's meal came together and trying to work out what I would make from their ingredients!! Whilst the story focusses on the three main characters, there are some lovely supporting characters from the cafe, and friends and family of the three to bolster the storyline. It was an emotional read in parts, and whilst some parts did make me laugh, I did find myself wiping away the tears in the end. It was such a beautiful read, and whilst I would have liked a different ending, it was so heart-warming that you couldn't not like it! Would definitely recommend!

I loved the plot and how it covered many of the key human emotions. The author really bring the characters to life. I couldn't put it down and read it in one go. Worth a read.

The Saturday Place is the kind of book that we all need to read, it is heartwarming and uplifting and will put you in a good mood and it was such an easy book to read too.

The blurb says, ‘open for food, friendship and finding your way’ and that pulled me in and made me want to read it all.

If I’ve learned one thing from reading this book, it’s to not take life for granted as we really never know what is around the corner.

I was hooked on this story right from the very beginning and loved being a part of these characters lives.

A truly beautiful and emotional, heartwarming story…….

I have enjoyed previous books by their author so was looking forward to reading this and the Saturday place is one of my favourite reads so far of 2024 and a book that will stay with me for a long time.

It is a story of hope and piecing yourself back together again bit by bit to emerge from the traumas hat life has thrown at you and covers a lot of relatable issues in a sensitive way.

It also highlights the importance of community and friendships and how we never know what is going on in others lives behind closed doors

This was an uplifting emotional and powerful read with engaging characters and a relatable storyline and I was gripped from the first page and read it in almost one sitting and highly recommend every ones reads this book this year as we all need a bit of the warm fuzzy feeling of the Saturday place in our lives.

"The Saturday Place" by Alice Peterson is a poignant tale of unlikely connections and second chances. Holly, grieving and adrift after her husband's death, finds solace and purpose in a volunteer cooking job, where she encounters the enigmatic Angus. Despite their troubled pasts, their meeting ignites a spark of hope. When Lauren, a frightened young woman with a harrowing past, enters their lives, the trio forms an unexpected bond in the Saturday café. Peterson delicately weaves their stories of loss, redemption, and friendship, reminding us of the transformative power of human connection. A heartwarming and uplifting read that resonates long after the final page.

Holly lost her husband and is still coming to terms with her lose. What better than to help people and make new friends.

Lauren as a character made me quite sad but ended up willing her on to succeed.

An enjoyable well researched novel

Another great read from Alice Peterson. Loved the characters and the plot, such lovely characters in the community kitchen, all with astory to tell and a journey to follow. Highly recommend

A great uplifting read with added feelgood. It shows how whatever life throws at you, you can find the positives and people are there for different parts of your life and bring you to a better place.

I chose this book because I remembered reading a previous book by this author some years ago. That one was called Look The World In The Eye.

The Saturday Place follows a grieving woman finding herself again after the death of her husband. I felt it was a book that made me feel very connected to the main character and what she was going through. I found that with Look The World In The Eye too.

It was a tearjerker in places, but also heartwarming too. I think this is the type of book that I would choose only when my reading mood is suited to it, but I did enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Alice Peterson is a fabulous author & this book gave me all the feels!
Such a lovely, heartwarming book that kept me captivated by it all.

This is such a heartwarming, emotional, encouraging read. Our main character, Holly, is a widow who needs to save her so volunteers at a community cafe on a Saturday. Whilst there she meets Angus who is one step away from self-destruction. Lauren is the the member of our gang, she is terrified of life and people and needs help to learn to live life freely. The story follows these three as they team up to make an unlikely trio, helping each other through the challenges they face.

The Saturday Place is the first book I have read by Alice Peterson and after reading it, I will certainly be seeking out more of her other fiction and non-fiction books.
Holly suddenly finds herself a widow, and is lonely. She seeks solace in her work, but as at a loose end at weekends. She decides to volunteer at a Saturday community cafe. She meets Angus, who is separated from his wife and family, and feels deep remorse about the background to the separation. Then they are joined by Lauren, a 19 year old living in a shelter for people who are homeless. Lauren is desperately sad and lonely. The three make an unlikely group, brought together by the cafe, but they seem to be able to offer each other something.
The Saturday Place is a very good book, well written with an excellent mixture of characters demonstrating about loneliness and how it can happen to any of us (there is a lot of lightness and hope in the book as well).
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book touched my heart. Loneliness comes in all shapes and sizes and just because someone looks happy and smiles doesn’t mean they are.

I could identify with most of the characters at one point or another. Having routines to help you feel in control, to know you have something to do. Hanging on to guilt and punishing yourself, and feeling as if you are worthless and invisible and really would. By one even notice if you weren’t around?

The friendships developed were lovely and the surrogate parents Angus and Holly became to Lauren was lovely. Even when they each were hurting and had their own demons they were still there for each other.

This was my first book by this author but I’ll be looking out for others if they all have as much heart as this one.

Another great read from Alice Peterson. I loved the community kitchen and all of its characters. I do wish there'd been a bit more in the way of romance, but I understand the focus was on people's personal journeys and healing. Very insightful, with lots of food for thought (excuse the pun). With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Alice Peterson book, I was instantly captured by the description and just as captured when I started reading it.

Holly, grieving from the loss of her husband comes across a voluntary role at a community kitchen helping those in need. Here she meets Angus and Laurie who both have had struggles they are working through.

Although a unlikely trio the story unfolds and it's heartwarming, alot of emotions and tears were shed!

A beautiful story, really enjoyed this one

Thanks to NetGalley for the download

What a fantastic read this was, it was one of those books that I just settled straight into and loved from the start. Told from the viewpoint of grieving Holly who starts volunteering at a community kitchen in a bid to help her make a positive step forward it features a wonderful bunch of characters including Angus and Laurie. Angus has hit rock bottom since losing his job and his marriage collapsed and Laurie currently lives in a night shelter after becoming homeless due to horrific family circumstances and trusts no one. They are a very unlikely trio but it’s interesting to see how each develops with the support of the others, there’s a lot of emotion to this but some really upbeat moments too. It doesn’t follow an obvious path which made it all the more interesting to me with its bitter sweetness and wonderful character development. It’s a gentle story but still packs a punch and balances the heartbreak and joy immensely well.