Jenny Colgan – Book Journey

*Note – you may notice my reading of late has turned to a lighter side. That would be true. In light of my life at this time I have been reading books that are fairly light reads, not too heavy and easy on me. And with a cover like this one, how could I go wrong? 🙂 ~Sheila

When Polly’s life seems to be falling apart with a relationship FAIL, all Polly wants to do is get away and start somewhere new. When she goes with her friend Kerensa to visit a quiet seaside town she finds comfort in the extreme solitude of a small worn down flat above an old closed down bakery. Where Polly sees a new start, Kerensa sees nothing but a run down town with a tide that closes the road to traffic and leaves access to where Polly would live not only inaccessible, but dangerous.

To keep herself busy Polly starts to use her talent of making bread to feed the fisherman that come in by where she lives each day. When her hobby starts to bring more and more people to her door, with the help of a handful of new friends, a goofy but handsome local beekeeper, and a lot of elbow grease, Polly might just be on to something.

The Little Beach Street Bakery is being compared to the likes of Chocolat. My distance from the Chocolat read can neither confirm nor deny this comparison. From what I can recall of the other book, I would say that Little Beach Street Bakery is quite a bit lighter in writing and technique. While there is a little romance kneaded in throughout the read, it is not the deep compassion of Chocolat.

That said, LBSB is a sweet book of finding your own way in the midst of feeling directionless. I could relate to this book. The characters are a mix of fun and quirky – enough so that you never take the book seriously. The book itself could be compared to a hot loaf of bread; it is fresh, looks wonderfully delicious, and it is comforting. The honey on top is just the bit of sweetness it needs to bring it all together.

Little Beach Street Bakery is just the type of book I am drawn to this time of year. A book to read while sitting in the sunshine.