Published By: Aria
Pages: 320
Released On: 08/10/2026
Louise Dearnley has spent her life editing perfectly neat love stories, where heartbreak leads to fresh starts, charming small businesses bloom, and happily-ever-afters are guaranteed.
But now in her forties, she’s quit her job – and no, she doesn’t want to talk about why – and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Starting over doesn’t feel nearly so much fun in real life as it does in fiction.
It also doesn’t help that her mother is convinced she’s here to run the family bakery, especially as the locals can’t get enough of Louise’s legendary ginger cake and scrumptious scones. Between renovations, a quirky ex-stepdaughter (who’s unexpectedly come to stay) and a gorgeous Italian who seems too good to be true, Louise’s second chance begins to take shape.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is marketed as book 1 in the ‘Bookshop Bakery’ series, so that’s promising.
I do own Jennifer’s Board Game Café series but haven’t actually read them yet so this was my first look at her writing. And what more do you want than a bookshop and bakery? I’ve always loved the idea of opening a bookshop/bakery set up, but mine always comes with a florist too.
I read this during the 907th horrendous heatwave of the year, but I think it’ll be perfect for the best time of the year, as an autumnal or wintery read. It’s practically begging to be read under a blanket, in front of the fire, with a hot cup of tea in your hands. (Can you tell I hate summer but love the cold months?)
It has a truly beautiful cover.
I really liked Louise as a main character. It’s not exactly the same but she’s a book editor and I’m a freelance editor who has worked on books. She also enjoys baking – albeit for her own rather than in a professional sense – and I adore baking. I can’t cook but I can bake, so I definitely felt a kinship to her and was so hoping everything would work out. Her mum on the other hand…she took a wee while to win me over. I understand why she was the way she was but I didn’t like her to begin with for reasons I won’t spoil. There’s also an older woman from Louise’s past – again I won’t spoil it – who I really didn’t like, although that is the way she’s written. She was so childish and got under my skin.
When you get one of these happily-ever-after romance type books, you expect everything is going to be perfect but life isn’t perfect. SO I like that she’s added obstacles and things that the every day reader will be able to identify with.
I loved the romance storyline; it is that proper warming love story that you only get in novels. And who doesn’t want a dashing Italian man to come to your rescue.
I had read a number of hard-hitting, intense, emotional books before this so it was lovely t be able to curl up with a book that doesn’t ask too much of me, and it is just so cosy and heartwarming and effortless to read and really did put a smile on my face.
It doesn’t necessarily warrant a direct sequel (although it does say it’s the first in a bookshop-related series) I would be keen to revisit these particular characters in the future.
Is it predictable? Yes. Did I care? No. Did I love it still? Abso-bloomin-lutely!
Books By Your Bedside 