Aunt Ivy’s Cottage – Book Review

Clearing out the attic, Zoey opens the carved trunk and smiles as she picks up the small, leather-bound diary hiding inside. Curious, she leafs through the pages, and realises this will change everything…

All Zoey’s happiest childhood memories are of her great-aunt Ivy’s rickety cottage on Dune Island, snuggling up with hot chocolate and hearing Ivy’s stories about being married to a sea captain. Now, heartbroken from a breakup, Zoey escapes back to the island, but is shocked to find her elderly aunt’s spark fading. Worse, her cousin—next in line to inherit the house—is pushing Ivy to move into a nursing home.

With the family clashing over what’s best for Ivy, Zoey is surprised when Nick, a local carpenter and Ivy’s neighbor, takes her side. As Zoey finds comfort in his sea-blue eyes and warm laugh, the two grow close. Together, they make a discovery in the attic that links the family to the mysterious and reclusive local lighthouse keeper…

Now Zoey has a heartbreaking choice to make. Nick’s urging her to share the discovery, which could keep Ivy in the house she’s loved her whole life… but when Zoey learns that Nick and her cousin go way back, she questions if the man she‘s starting to have feelings for really has Ivy’s best interests at heart. Will dredging up this old secret destroy the peace and happiness of Ivy’s final years—and tear this family apart for good?

No. of pages:- 294 pages

Date published:- 7th December 2020

Genre:- Literary

Thank You Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC! This review is based on my honest opinion.

Zoey returns back to the Dune Island to her aunt, Aunt Ivy’s cottage after her failed relationship and her loss of job. She loves hearing stories from Aunt Ivy particularly her whirlwind romance with a Captain Denny. When her other Aunt Sylvia dies, Zoey temporarily moves into Aunt Ivy’s cottage taking care of Aunt Ivy. Meanwhile, her cousin, Mark is determined to lease out the cottage as her thinks Aunt Ivy is old and forgetful and needs to be in a care home and Zoey’s niece, Gabi joins them from California.

I really enjoyed reading this book–I really like the sister relationship particularly between Jessica and Zoey, and Ivy and Sylvia. I also like the slow budding romance between Zoey and Nick, who is the handyman and who repairs around Aunt Ivy’s Cottage, This story is warm filled with family drama that will keep the reader into the story as if they were a part of the Winslow family. I also like that in between all the drama is a mystery about Mark as well.

Overall, this is a good, family story, talking about the bonding and relationship with family and a book that you wouldn’t want to put down. Worth four stars! I really enjoyed reading this book that I couldn’t put the book down!

If this book interests you, you can pre-order your copy now on Amazon as it will be released on December 7th 2020!