Jasmine McCarthy - Broken Hearts & Fresh Starts 

3.5⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Book Series

Pages: 287

Format: Paperback 

Publisher:  Independently Published 

Date Published: 24th September 2022

 

Book Blurb: 

She has learned to shield her heart, trust no one, and definitely never fall in love.

In desperate need of a new life, Amy decides to disappear and set up somewhere new. She crashes lands in Thesby Sands, hoping to live a solitary life in the dreamy, quaint coastal village. But life isn't as easy as Amy thought it would be.

Life—and love—are catching up with Amy. But does she have the courage to open her wounded heart and let in the eccentric crew she's discovered in Thesby Sands?

Escape to the coast with Amy in this refreshingly heartwarming story of self-discovery and romance.

My Review: 

Very feel-good book, perfect as a cosy read for everyone who loves small-town vibes and sea setting. It is also a very easy and quick read with so many lovable characters that makes you want to read more about them. Thesby Sands does sound like a perfect escape and holiday location and also a perfect community to live in.

The story follows Amy, who wants a fresh start in a new place, far away from the past. She moves to Thesby Sands, a beautiful small seaside town and is completely head over heels for the place. She finds that all the locals are super friendly and she quickly makes many new connections and friendships. With the helpful hand of the local community, Amy is also preparing to open an ice cream shop to continue her grandmother’s legacy. Although moving to Thesby Sands definitely feels like a fresh start for Amy, some things from the past she cannot outrun and she will need her newfound friends to help support her moving forward…

I enjoyed that this book very openly discussed mental health and the stigma that usually surrounds it. I also loved the fact that it mentioned different ways of getting support and help. It sheds the light on the importance of friendships and connections we make in our everyday lives, and how those people help and support us through both, our hardest and happiest moments.

I enjoyed the variety of characters in this book. It felt like an amazing community to live in and be a part of. I hope that each of the characters will get some sort of story so that readers get to know them even more.

I only wished that there was more romance in this book. Although I very much enjoyed Amy’s storyline about finding herself and her mental health struggles, I just felt that the romance segment was only at the very end of the book and happens quite instantly. I wished it was a more slow burn and happens throughout most of the book. However, it is still a very enjoyable read with a very beautiful ending.

Overall: very feel-good, cosy, quick and easy read. Transports you to the beautiful seaside town of Thesby Sands and leaves you wanting to go drop everything and live there. Recommend if you want an easy escapism book with some important topics discussed, this book is definitely for you. Superb debut! Can’t wait to read more about Thesby Sands soon!

About the Author:

Jasmine McCarthy always dreamed of living by the sea, so she decided to write a series based on a fictional coastal village and live vicariously through her characters. She lives with a husband, three young children and a cockerpoo, Rosie. She is also obsessed with nachos, going to the beach, Christmas, spin classes and playing the piano whilst singing away. It's always been a big dream of McCarthy's to write. So one day she just sat down and decided to write a book. That's how Broken Hearts and Fresh Starts were born.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jasmine-McCarthy/e/B0BFHQSGTF/ref=aufs_dp_mata_dsk