Moving to a Cornish seaside village, hoping for peace and solitude, lonely registrar Marisa Rosso, feeling like life is passing her by, unexpectedly finds her joy again with the help of her noisy neighbor, the community spirit and a campaign to save the local bakery.
Jenny Colgan creates characters who seem so real and approachable that we end up feeling as if we know them ... From the onset, we are engrossed in Marisa's life. Her job as a registrar is quite interesting, especially as it's so different from anything we have in the US. We sympathize with her when her grandfather dies suddenly, and it's fascinating to see Italy from Marisa's eyes ... Colgan poignantly and lovingly explores mental illness as we see both Marisa's struggle to return to normal life ... Colgan also writes beautifully and humorously about friendship and romance ... An unforgettable setting, quirky characters and food for thought are all guaranteed.
A delicate love story, told through food and music ... As with a lot of Colgan’s writing, some parts can feel cliched and a bit too perfect, but in her account of the effects of the long grief of Marisa, there are some beautiful and moving passages too.
