Food, love, family and fun - whatÂ’s not to love about a Jo Thomas book?

The beach is calling and I can hear the familiar tune of the ice cream truck!

This book was a particularly heartwarming book as I work with teens and am overly attached to anything with provenance/family ties. I loved the ‘hand up’ focus in this book - helping others and sharing the love - as much as the exploration of how difficult it is to return home.

every lick of ice cream, this book kept getting better. I appreciated ThomasÂ’ exploration of memories and second chances and how she stuffed this one full of hope and love.

DonÂ’t forget to visit her website for the No-churn Salted Caramel Ice Cream recipe.

This one needs to be in your beach bag this summer!

I was gifted this copy by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Penguin and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. 2023-reads netgalley14 s Hannah Wilson 386 17

This was the perfect summer read but I must warn youÂ… it will leave you wanting all of the gelato! Sat in the sun while writing this review I wish I had a bowl of the cold stuff sat beside me ready to accompany my next read!

ItÂ’s not all about sunshine and gelato though as this book has so much more. I loved the relationships that we see developing throughout the book but none more so than BlakeÂ’s story. Your heart just goes out to him as heÂ’s definitely not had it easy so far but you can see this being the big turning point for him with BecaÂ’s help.

Jo Thomas has such a knack for creating amazing characters and settings and this one doesnÂ’t disappoint at all, itÂ’s just as good, if not better than her others and IÂ’m already wanting more!8 s Sheila1,918 5

I received a free copy of, Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe, by Jo Thomas, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoy Jo Thomas' books, and this is another good one. Beca decides to go back home, foster a child, and start over. Becca ends up fostering to teenage boys, not what she expected at all. Her family business is gone, so Becca tries to recreate her family's gelato. A great read about family, starting over, and memories, good and bad.6 s Jade Potter28 3

ThereÂ’s nothing more to say other than, if you havenÂ’t read this book yet YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO! By far one of the best books Jo has ever written! 4 s Alayne Emmett1,318 94

I really enjoyed this sweet read. The characters were lovely and I loved the way the story developed. I do hope there is more to come in this series as I want to know what happens next. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.3 s Erica Robbin363 10

Welcome the warm, sun-soaked days of summer. The light beaming into your windows as you pick up this book. Take a stroll down a coastal path around a quaint Welsh village. Whether it's enjoying an ice cream cone on your way to the waterfront shoppes or taking in the cool mist of sea spray as you peer over the edge of the boardwalk railing, readers looking for a story that will take you on a lovely holiday getaway will look forward to diving in!

I would to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing me with an advance readers copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program.

Expected publication: June 8, 2023.

The Story
This one is a fun, heartfelt, and refreshing getaway.

A settling back into hometown. Reminiscing memories. Love tango. Life stage challenges and regrets. Speaking straight to the heart. Rediscover of self. Learning when and how to move forward.

Yacht-clubs. Zumba on the beach. Town gardening. FishermanÂ’s pier. Seagulls calling overhead.

Gelato sundaes topped with hot fudge. Paninis and fresh baguettes. Cider and sausages. Cheese sandwiches and a glass of bubbling Prosecco. Lobster rolls. A feast of fish and chips.

The Writing
I devour everything Jo Thomas writes. Writing you just melt into. I d the reveal of former relationships. The layering of subplot. Nothing too forced whether characterization or main story, the details always work themselves out, an effortless feel to reading about whatever, wherever any adventure is next.

Always a treat! Looking forward to the next one!

Where will the picturesque, immersive escape be next?

Blog postarcs fiction romance2 s Janet399

This is the perfect summer read. I laughed as much as I cried!

Beca moves back to the small town in Wales where she grew up. She left 29 years ago after a failed relationship and fled to London. She built up a successful cleaning business but now regrets moving away and not spending more time with her family.

The opportunity arose to buy one of the big houses, complete with resident cows, and she grabbed it. She has a plan for her future. She never had children but she intends to foster young children. Make sandcastles and fish fingers.

With a heavy heart, she finds the gelateria her beloved nonno and nonna used to run has been taken over, the name changed, and redecorated beyond recognition. And worse still it was bought by Ed, her ex!

When her first charges hastily arrive in the unexpected shape of two teenage boys, she wonders if she has made a mistake. How can she entertain a sullen Blake who is constantly stuck to his phone and a super positive Joe. Can she make a small difference to their lives in the short time they will be with her? Can she even keep them safe and stop them running away?
And will her old romance be rekindled?

Gorgeous book and IÂ’m going to be buying the paperback for my forever shelf and reading more from this author. Uplifting, feel good fiction at its best.

Now I need to get my ice cream maker out as IÂ’m inspired to make some gelato!blog-tour-kindle-books2 s Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey1,150 65

This is the perfect summer read in the sunshine. Great characters, a beautiful Welsh setting and gelato - what more could a girl ask for ?
Jo Thomas is one of my go to authors and this one is another cracker. BecaÂ’s journey is written so beautifully and I was full of admiration for her bravery in coming home. Her home sounded wonderful and was obviously just the place to heal old wounds and become a haven to anyone who needed it.
I loved how most of the community welcomed her back and the idea of the swim group, The Mermaids and their attitude to life was one IÂ’d love to be involved with.
If youÂ’re after a fun in the sun read but with all the emotions of a Jo Thomas story, then this one will definitely hit the spot and oh, that gelato sounded amazing. 2 s Justkeepreading1,874

A gorgeous book about starting again, second chances, returning home, love, and finding your spark. It's about family in all walks of lives, dreams and passions coming true, discovering who you really are and doing the things that will make you happy.

It's a really lovely book with a lovely message that families can come from all walks of lives and look completely different. But still be wonderful and perfect. Book Escapes Babs418 17

It made a change to read about a UK destination, instead of a sun-drenched French or Italian village, but I still found myself captivated by the story. Jo Thomas writes about romance, food, and drink, in a way that leaves me craving the delights on each page. This was no exception because ice cream is a firm favourite in our household, no matter the weather.
I immediately took to Beca and felt myself willing her to succeed in her bid to recreate some of her grandparentsÂ’ ice cream magic. ThereÂ’s something rather special about finding a perfect recipe and recreating the tastes of years gone by. Of course, this requires trial and error and thereÂ’s a process to get it just right.
Beca has big plans for her life in the farmhouse and sheÂ’s thrown into the deep end almost immediately. Leaning heavily on her childhood best friend, Griff, she starts to take charge and is soon rewarded with the knowledge that she can succeed. Of course, with the ice cream, thereÂ’s some trial and error, and not everything goes smoothly.
I simply adored Griff. His love and loyalty shined through from every page, and I felt myself viewing him differently as the book progressed. I imagined him Liam NeesonÂ’s Blackie from A Woman of Substance. I digress! His friendship with Beca was unfailing and loyalty that is worth more than gold.
I must admit that I the romanticised concept of moving to the countryside and running a small farm, but I would need help with the twice-daily milking, that requires a special type of dedication. Of course, Beca finds the help and support that she needs to ensure that she can provide the milk and shelter that her new venture requires.
Even the less savoury characters Ed, are not irredeemable and JoÂ’s careful hand brings a satisfying conclusion to what could have taken the story in an unwelcome direction.
I have a strict policy of not including spoilers in my and sticking within the constraints of the synopsis. I will not break that but must hint that there is a whole chunk of story waiting for you. Two more characters who bring stress and worry to Beca are waiting for you to discover them. YouÂ’re in for a real treat.
As anticipated, this is another wonderful escape and I hope you love it as much as I did.1 Julie Morris658 61

I love Jo ThomasÂ’s books and have never read one that has disappointed me yet. For me, this one started off a little unevenly and I thought this might finally be the one that I didnÂ’t love. I didnÂ’t take to Beca immediately and I wasnÂ’t sure I was going to be able to invest in her story.

Well, I was wrong. The minute that the two foster children came into BecaÂ’s life in the book, everything changed and all that Jo had laid out in the book before that moment started to make sense. This book is such a fascinating and moving exploration of childhood, emotions and how our own pasts feed into the way we parent. The minute that Beca became responsible for the lives of those two youngsters was the minute she became relatable to me and I totally fell in love with her, the two boys and their relationship and was so anxious for them all. By the end of the book, I was welling up, this whole storyline was beautifully done and, far from being disappointed, this has probably become one of my favourite Jo Thomas novels.

This wouldnÂ’t be a Jo Thomas book without a picturesque back drop (in this case, the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast,) delicious food (gelato, what could possibly be better for a summer novel?) and a love story. Fans of her books and the readers who come to JoÂ’s novels for these elements will not be disappointed. They are all present and correct and as delicious in every way as always. You will clearly be able to picture the secluded Welsh cove and the ramshackle boat house, feel the sea breeze, smell the salt and the barbecued fish and taste the delicious ice cream flavours. But all of this is secondary here to the moving story of a woman fighting to become a mother and two boys looking for a home. If this doesnÂ’t move you, you have a heart of stone.

Jo, I loved your book and I am sorry I ever doubted you for a second, I should have had more faith. Everyone should buy this book as one of their summer reads, itÂ’s blooming wonderful.1 Susanne Scott1,323 10

Wow! Just wow! More than once I was reading with tears rolling down my cheeks. Beca is a 40 something who’s still searching for her place, I found that quite refreshing, that she didn’t have all the right answers, that she still felt awkward and anxious and at times still felt a child and not the mature adult she was meant to be. I loved seeing her blossom, her growth was mirrored in the two boys, Blake and Joe who she fostered. With the quiet love and unwavering support of Griff they all grew and it was beautiful to watch. Beca might not have felt she fit in but that moment in the beach when Joe is missing and everyone jumps into action to find a ‘local’ boy, I confess I cried. I loved the feel of family and community coming together in this book and it made it very easy to read, in fact I couldn’t stop until I was finished. Excellent, excellent book. Perfect summer beach read.1 Vanessa2,369 20

Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe by Jo Thomas was a book that you will love from start to finish. Its a perfect feel-good summer romance and a great book for your holiday or sitting by a beach eating ice-cream. Summer at the ice cram cafe bought me warmth and made me smile throughout, when I was reading it........It was a lovely read about friendship, community and family.....Now I am craving ice cream.........Any will do.

I highly recommend this beautifully written book. Jo knows how to write a book and this one comes from her heart.

I loved the cover.

Big Thank you to by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Penguin and NetGalley for my copy.1 Emma Hardy1,132 68

Ooh this was just what I needed to warm me up on a cold winter morning. As always, Jo gives us a sentimental, heart warming story.. and the food of this read is clearly gelato! Swoon.
Love the west Wales setting, with a little bit of the language thrown in for good measure. Also came with it was the familiar sense of everyone knowing everyone, and their history, always good fun.
Great to see a fostering storyline at the heart of this read too. A subject not widely talked about enough in my opinion.
Overall a fun, lovely escapism read.1 Jenn Webley353 39

As with every read from Jo Thomas, mouthwatering descriptions throughout left me feeling very hungry after every sitting. I love every book as it takes us somewhere different, with a mix of various foods, flavours, smells and experiences and this book is no exception.
I read every page totally immersed almost as is if I was right there; the picturesque setting reminding me of holidays in years gone by. I could smell the seafood in the air, almost taste the gelato, it stirred memories of being by the beach and spending time with family.
I loved the range of characters and thought Beca was wonderful. Going back to her roots, both in terms of moving home and restoring the gelato making traditions her grandparents are fondly remembered for. Beca has plans, great intentions and I love that this story shows people from differing backgrounds. I immediately loved Griff and hoped that they would see each other as more than just best friends.
There was so much more to the story that I initially thought, it had me choked up with emotion on more than one occasion, and IÂ’m not embarrassed to say I almost shed a tear.
A gorgeous story of second chances, choosing your family and following your heart.
Great read!
1 Sally Tyrer596 21

Wow another fantastic read from jo, I have read and loved every book of hers and this is my new favourite!
Another delectable, totally immersive read based in picturesque Pembrokeshire, a tale of belonging, home, love and second chances!
Tantalising freshly cooked seafood,and wonderful flavoursome, creamy traditional gelato, great company, idyllic summer days at the beach, making peace with the past, fulfilling your dreams, providing love and stability and a fantastic sense of community!
Fantastic diverse characters of all ages add such a depth and intensity to the read, all adding to and embellishing Beca and Griffs story.
A wonderful totally entrancing read that I would highly recommend.
Thank you netgalley fir this early read.1 Joanne D'Arcy610 61

Beca is returning home to the seaside town, which she thought was too small for her all those years ago. Finding her ideal home, she moves in for a new start as well as to relive some of the memories of the past.

One of those memories is her Italian grandparents Ice Cream Café. However, it has been modernised by of all people her ex-boyfriend Ed. It has lost the soul of the place and the aim that her grandparents wanted. Determined and forthright, Beca decides she will create the essence of the place again as a way to honour what her family has taught her.

Beca hasnÂ’t made it easy for herself, the place she has bought is a small farm, with cows that need milking. And she has finally finished the long process to foster children. When two rather challenging youngsters come along for some respite on their way somewhere else, Beca is finding she is being pulled in all directions. Along the way she bumps into Griff, a childhood friend who made his life in the hometown they grew up in. And after all these years is still as loyal as ever.

Jo Thomas has packed so much into this story, you wonder whether Beca will cope. But she does and the joy she gets with recreating the ice cream, along with developing these two lost youngsters as well as rediscovering the beauty of her hometown would make your ice cream melt as well as your heart.

Thomas has done it again, with a food packed, fun filled book which is the perfect way to go on holiday without leaving the comfort of your own home.1 Emma Crowley941 158

Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe proves that I can never tire of reading Jo ThomasÂ’ books. She has written an utterly fabulous book which you will inhale in one sitting and you will certainly not feel leaving the characters behind once you reach the final page. If the stunning and vibrant cover doesnÂ’t attract your attention and urge you to pick this up than I donÂ’t know what will. Rest assured, the story that awaits you inside with its picturesque location and varied cast of characters is one which you will devour in short order. YouÂ’ll feel as if you have been whisked away to the Welsh coast to enjoy a summer alongside Becca Valentino as she navigates new and unchartered waters. Becca is leaping through a window of opportunity and is determined to grab it with both hands and make a success of her life. Escaping the city, where she has sold her cleaning business, she buys a house called Ty Mawr with land attached in the village where she grew up and she sets about her new life. She wants a quieter and simpler life but life itself has numerous curveballs to throw in her direction and it was an absolute delight to read of her journey and adventures.

Becca is all set for her new beginning. Her business is sold, her marriage is behind her and although she is apprehensive about returning to the village which holds so many memories for her she is resolute in her attitude that she will make a go of the small farm that she has bought. She wishes that her grandparents were still alive to see her return to the village but sadly that is not the case but she still has the memories of their gelato shop and of her grandmother using her special recipe to create wonderful and tantalising flavours. When she was younger she had felt trapped and she left in a state of anger and upset. The specific reasons for this become much clearer further on in the story. I did initially think when the reasons were revealed that perhaps she had been a bit dramatic and over reacted but then as things were explored and developed more I began to understand where she was coming from and why she felt the need to leave and rarely visit. It allowed me to appreciate what a big step it was for her to come back and revisit things which you could sense had long lingered on her mind. There was an element of putting ghosts to rest and trying to move into a new and more positive mindset now that she is back in the village.

When she discovers the shop is now owned and run by Ed Wilde and is not run as a gelato shop as was the proviso when her grandparents sold it, well she is disgusted. Becca has past history with Ed and you can feel the tension and unease that exists between them. Ed, has turned the café into something it never should have been. It’s appearance and offerings have changed and the supposed gelato on sale is not a patch on what her grandparents produced and were renowned for. Becca has to cast aside her issues with Ed and what he has done and focus on herself. She had always wanted more than what the village could give her but now she is at a different stage in her life and Ty Mawr might just be the catalyst that will give her what she has been searching for all her life. I adored the descriptions of the house, the land surrounding it and how Becca tended daily to the cows. Not to mention the nearby coastline and the small cove where Becca meets a group of women called the Mermaids who swim daily in the sea. All the descriptions really helped me visualise clearly the setting and it felt the story, the characters and the themes being explored just engulfed me in a lovely natural way and my enjoyment of the story just grew and grew with each turn of the page.

Becca reconnects with an old friend Griff who she had grown up with. He loves painting and fishing and he now has a grown up daughter Scooter who he co-parents with Nia. Scooter goes on to help Becca with the milking. As with Ed I sensed that Becca had a history with Griff. Not a bad one but there is a sense of things left unsaid but on whose part I wasnÂ’t so sure. Throughout the book he is a stalwart support for Becca and as her adventure sees things on the ice cream side taking off all thanks to his truck blocking the lane and preventing milk been collected he is there for her every step of the way. I desperately wanted the pair of them to get together but as he was with another woman this didnÂ’t seem at all possible. Becca has also decided to try fostering alongside working the dairy herd. Two boys arrive for the weekend, Blake and Joe, both much older than she had anticipated and both with differing approaches to life.

I don’t think Becca had foreseen the changes that both boys would bring about in her life. Blake was sullen and moody whereas Joe was full of life and just accepted everyone at face value. The time they spent with Becca wasn’t without its trials and tribulations and their stay is extended beyond a weekend which gives Becca the opportunity to get to know them and to get beneath Blake’s rough exterior. I loved the relationship that formed between Becca and the boys and as their adventures begin with gelato and a café forming the centre of them the excitement, happiness and all-round positive atmosphere throughout the story just increased tenfold. Becca has a summer of fun, pleasure and one where friendship and community is at the heart of it but that’s not say a few thorns appear in her side. But to see how it all pans out you will have to pick up this gorgeous read for yourself.

Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe was an utter joy to read from start to finish. Jo Thomas has given her readers a glorious read to enjoy during the summer months whether sitting in the garden or relaxing by a pool this will deliver all the feels. Becca comes to realise the value of what she has left behind. She attempts to try and work out where she belongs and how she can fit in and along the way she forms firm and solid friendships and helps two very special young boys in the process. The story evolves at a natural pace and you are rooting for all the characters along the way especially when things get tough and it appears as if Becca will let people down and her hopes and aspirations will go down the drain. I loved every minute of this warm and engaging read full of love, friendships, family and of course lots of delicious gelato along with plenty of twists and turns which keep the reader on their toes. DonÂ’t let this one pass you by itÂ’s a gem of a read. Sue1,074

Beca Valentino left her hometown of Swn Y Mor twenty years ago with a broken heart and, apart from a few brief visits home to see her dwindling family, she has not been back since - but now it is time for a change. After the break up of her marriage, Beca has sold the London cleaning business she built from scratch, and she intends to make Swn Y Mor her home once again. Beca has bought her dream home overlooking the sea (which comes complete with a herd of dairy cows), and she intends to become a foster carer to fill her house, and heart, with the family she could not have of her own.

Reconnecting with her past is more of a trial than Beca anticipated, especially as the family that anchored her to Swn Y Mor are now all gone. She is no longer seen as a local, but neither is she an outsider. She is unsure where she stands with her former best friend Griff after so long away, and to make things worse, her grandparents' beloved ice cream parlour has been taken over by the man who broke her heart and converted into a swish, but soulless, bistro.

When the young foster children she was anticipating turn out to be two unfathomable teenage boys, who she has no idea how to connect with, Beca thinks she has made a terrible mistake coming home to Wales. But then her grandmother's old notebook turns up, full of delicious recipes for gelato, which brings all those golden childhood memories flooding back. Beca begins to see a way to recapture something of her past, and make a new future, with a pop-up ice cream café by the beach. Can she turn her idea into reality, honour the legacy her family has left behind, and finally find the happiness she craves?

Summer at the Ice Cream Café is a warm and wonderful story about second chances, set in a sea-sde town in Pembrokeshire that is having as much of an identity crisis as the big-hearted Beca Valentino. Beca returns home regretting many of the decisions she has made, keen to make a new start in the place where she has realised she belongs all along.

However, going back to pick up the threads of a former life is never an easy thing to do. Swn Y Mor has changed, almost beyond recognition, as it is being gentrified to cater for the tastes of the tourists and second homers driving the locals out of their cottages. Worst of all, her grandparents' ice cream parlour, which was once the heart of the town, has been ruined by the man who did her wrong.

Although Beca has no intention of starting a new business enterprise, focusing on a quiet life as a foster carer for the children she could not have for herself, something within her stirs. She feel inspired keep the legacy of her family alive, and in working through the challenges she finds herself instrumental in bringing together friends and neighbours to bring life back to the community.

I loved how Beca opens up over the course of this story, learning to forgive herself for the mistakes she thinks she has made, and the way her relationship develops with Joe and Blake, the boys she welcomes into her home, is beautiful. There were many moments that brought a lump to my throat, and a delightful romantic thread, full of the necessary misunderstandings and longed-for declarations that make for the best love stories too.

Every little part of this tale comes out in the best possible way, with love, friendship, hope, and reconciliation, and the happiest of happy endings that made me sob. And not only that, but it is also full of delicious gelato. It is the perfect summer read. Joanne1,312 28

Jo Thomas’s last few summer books have seen us visiting sunny climes in places such as Spain, Italy and France. This time we are rather closer to home as the ice-cream café of the title is situated on a beach on the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales. Beca has returned to her small hometown and bought Ty Mawr, the big house, with great plans for it. Some of the locals aren’t too pleased thinking it’s been bought by a London type, pricing out the locals and out to develop it into expensive housing or a hotel. Others are annoyed that that’s not what she’s planning to do!

BecaÂ’s plans are the focus for the book. She intends to foster and give children the chance to experience life in the countryside even if only for a short time. I loved that her memories of happy family times, particularly with her beloved Nonna, were what inspired her to want to create happy memories for the children who would be in her care. When she is asked to give emergency care to two boys, older than she was expecting, she is determined that she will make a difference in their lives, the way her parents and grandparents had done for her. Through the boys, eager Joe and truculent Blake, Jo Thomas shows that foster parenting can certainly bring its challenges. Joe is someone it is easy to warm to with his enthusiasm and open nature. My heart went out to Blake, even though he was more difficult, as he just expected to be let down as he had been so many times before.

A key theme of the book is about being brave, taking the plunge (literally in the case of the wild swimmers) and how sometimes going back can be the only way to move forward. Beca learned that life wasnÂ’t all about being faultless and providing perfect experiences for Joe and Blake but about being there and showing love, about embracing imperfections and differences.

And then of course, there is the ice-cream. Or, I should say, the gelato! Although the gelateria of her childhood was no longer in the town but was a trendy and expensive restaurant, Beca found through using her Nonna’s old recipe book that she too could make wonderful tasting gelato that was all the more wonderful because it was made with love. Some of the flavours sounded wonderful but some of them. particularly those suggested by Joe sounded awful! I loved the idea of running a gelateria from an old beach hut – now that does sound perfect to me.

This is such a lovely, lovely book. I was captivated by BecaÂ’s determination to do her best for the boys in her care and also to become part of the community again which meant so much to her. ThereÂ’s a lovely touch of romance in the book too of course which added to my enjoyment. Jo Thomas has done it again with a heart-warming story which left me with a big smile on my face. Claire164 1 follower

When I heard that Jo Thomas was writing a new book based in Pembrokeshire, I was very much looking forward to reading it. I am a huge fan of Jo Thomas and through her fabulous books I have travelled to Iceland, to Greece, to Spain and to France and experienced some wonderful food! And now we are off to Pembrokeshire! A place I have visited very many times, a place which I love visiting.

Summer at the Ice Cream Café is an absolutely exceptional heartwarming read. I loved it so much and I did not want it to end. Such an incredible story, with great food, wonderful characters, friendship and community at its core and a superb picturesque setting.

The love for Pembrokeshire shines throughout the book, the Welsh community and the language is written so brilliantly. I loved the inclusion of Welsh words and phrases and the fact that many people are known by their occupation with nicknames.

The main character in the book is the lovely, strong and very determined Beca Valentino who has moved back to her home village after being away in London. Beca has experienced so much in her life already that moving home to where she grew up, is the new start she not only wants but desperately needs. And the transformation which she makes not only to her own life, but to others is immense. She transforms the lives of two teenagers that she now fosters, she brings back the wonderful Italian gelato (with mouthwatering flavours!) that her grandparents used to make and the ice cream that everyone has been missing for so many years and she has had such an impact on the community and how they all help one another. The book is full of emotion, love, and laughter. The two teenagers came out with some cracking lines which we make me laugh!

I loved Griff and I was hoping and hoping that the ending that did happen was going to. Just the best ending! And without giving anything away, towards the end what happens with the spoon was a genius idea! Very clever!

Everyone deserves to be given a chance in life and should never be judged. You never know what a person is going through or their background or lives.

I think everyone will be booking a trip to Pembrokeshire after reading this superb book! Head for the coast for a BBQ and ice cream and fun and laughter! This book is such a page turner. An enormous 5 stars from me! Grass monster543 16

The Blurb :
A dream home
Beca Valentino is ready to escape the city. When she sees the perfect house for sale in her hometown, it seems fate. Is this her chance to build the foster family she dreams of, on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast?
A big mistake?
Returning home isn't as easy as she thought, however. Her family's beloved ice cream café is gone - turned into a soulless wine bar by her hateful ex-boyfriend. Reconnecting with her oldest friend, fisherman Griff, isn't straightforward either. And when, instead of the children she expected to take in, two wary teenage boys appear on her doorstep, Beca fears she's made a terrible mistake.
A recipe for change
But an old family recipe book is just the inspiration she needs. Soon, with a little help from friends old and new, Beca is selling mouth-watering homemade gelato from a pop-up café on the beach.
Then disaster strikes. Will the Valentino family legacy be lost forever? Or can Beca create a new recipe for happiness?

My Thoughts :
Having enjoyed previous books from Jo Thomas, I couldnt wait to get started on her new release.
We meet Beca Valentino, fed up with her life in London she decides to sell her business and return home to Pembrokeshire, Wales. Having found her dream home she sees this as a sign and makes her move.
This is where she decides to foster and soon we see the arrival of Blake and Joe, not quiet what Beca was expecting either. But soon we watch the relationship grow between Beca and the boys and its one heck of a journey.
BecaÂ’s grandparents, many years ago owned the Valentino Ice Cream cafe there but sadly this has been turned into a wine bar selling tacky Ice Cream. Beca is not happy and soon decides to takes things into her own hands and starts to make her own Ice Cream (gelato) with the help of her GranÂ’s old recipe.
Soon Beca comes into her own and its a joy to watch her grow and gain confidence thats she didnt think she had. Griff her childhood friend is also on hand to help and its a joy to see the two reconnect.
The story is full of twists and turns to keep you hooked and has some great supporting characters aswell.
Who doesnt love a story filled with Sun, sand and Ice Cream.
Looking forward to more from Jo Thomas in the future.


Yvonne1,527 127

I adore this author's books; this one is another superb story of new starts in old places. I will admit it took me a minute or two to get involved with this one, but after a few chapters, I was hooked.

After years away from where she grew up, Beca has decided it is time to return, she moves into a wonderful-sounding house and has a new plan in mind. She had run a successful business and had made a good amount of money for herself. What she plans to do now is something that is very different and she wonders if she will be up to it. Moving into a tourist spot where second homes, B&Bs, tourist shops and outsiders have their own opinion as to how villages should look, she finds herself in the midst of a village that looks familiar but does feel as familiar. Luckily there are some old faces that soon remind her, not all of them are as appreciated as others.

Beca is dropped in at the deep end when her next plan suddenly springs up on her. She was expecting to have more time to get things organised, but sometimes this is the best way of approaching things. Less time to overthink. What is this new venture, well it isn't mentioned in the synopsis so I am not going to mention it here :)

The story is fabulous and tells of Beca and the gelateria that her grandparents used to run. The local shop is nothing compared to what it once was, and it is run by someone she doesn't expect to see. Old friends are still around and it is one in particular that she always relied on, Griff. He got her out of trouble, scrapes and close calls on several occasions growing up. But growing up is something that people do, especially those who you haven't seen for many years. People move on and have their own families.

The author once again weaves her magic with some great characters, tough dilemmas and some emotional scenes. There are tourist spot politics, regattas, crabbing competitions and new ideas for the village to embrace while remembering those of the past.

This is another heartwarming contemporary fiction and romance story that is simply wonderful. It is one I would definitely recommend.
family-life fiction netgalley ...more Bookshortie590 21

Beca has decided that it’s time to make a change and a big change at that. She sells her cleaning company and decides to return to her childhood hometown on the Pembrokeshire coast when she manages to buy her dream home. Beca has big plans for the new house because she plans to turn it into a foster home but her hometown isn’t as she remembers it and the family’s ice cream café no longer exists. Will Beca make her fostering dream come true? Is it time to bring back Valentino’s famous gelato?

I really enjoy JoÂ’s books. This is the third book I have read by the author and has been my favourite to date. It was everything I wanted in a story. What I loved about this book is it was a heart-warming read, filled with warmth, emotion, community and friendship.

This is BecaÂ’s story of moving outside of her comfort zone, taking on a new challenge and striving to achieve something that is very close to her heart. As a character I really admired Beca. She is such a strong character despite what sheÂ’s been through. Her marriage has ended and she has lost the only family she ever had i.e. her parents and grandparents. So moving back to her home town is very bittersweet for Beca because it holds so many memories for her both happy and sad, but also reminds her of what she has lost. Beca finds herself in some ways going backwards after leaving her hometown but moving forwards by returning there in order to fulfil her fostering dream. Beca is the kind of person that if I met her in real life my impression would be that she is a selfless person who puts others before herself. ItÂ’s quite commendable that Beca decides that she wants to help others especially young people and that she wants to share the childhood that she had with others. Initially Beca decides that she wants to foster very young children but when Joe and Blake are placed with her temporarily she becomes quite attached to them. Joe and Blake make Beca realise that she could foster older children, can connect with them and give them the family setup that they have never experienced.

I can honestly say that I d Griff as soon as he was introduced and I just adored how whenever he would see or say goodbye to Beca he would give her a peck on the cheek. They were best friends but there was definitely something simmering between then that was more that friends that never got the chance to surface. Griff always saw Beca as something more than a best friend but when she left abruptly he felt hurt and abandoned. It was lovely to see Beca and Griff reconnect and then for Beca to start seeing Griff differently the way that Griff has always seen Beca. I loved how Beca decides to resurrect ValentinoÂ’s and continue the family legacy. Although thatÂ’s not her initial intention when she returns home to find out that ValentinoÂ’s is no more and the structure where it used to be is completely unrecognisable it lights a fire in her that makes her want to continue and restart her grandparents and her familyÂ’s legacy. I did feel really sorry for Beca when she first arrives and realises that her familyÂ’s ice cream shop no longer exists and has been purchased by her ex-boyfriend Ed who treated her awfully but somehow she was the one who ended up with a bad reputation. To make matters worse he has stripped the ice cream shop of all character and it is no longer recognisable as the place where she spent a lot of time and that was the heart of the town.

I can understand why Beca decided to leave especially because of what happened with Ed. Due to circumstances she felt she couldnÂ’t stay and everybody was talking about her, but not Ed. Everyone assumed that Beca left because she was in the wrong and then the story became gossip with a mind of its own, but the true reality was that Beca was the one that had been wronged.

A book full of emotion, new beginnings and gelato.
Julie2,316 35

Jo Thomas brings the feel-good factor to her latest enchanting romantic page-turner, Summer at the Ice Cream Café.

Beca Valentino is desperate to leave the city behind and make a fresh start elsewhere. When the perfect house in her hometown on the Pembrokeshire coast comes on the market, Beca thinks that this is the stroke of good luck she had been desperate for. Will she finally find the happiness that has so far eluded her? Can she build the foster family home she has always dreamed of? Or will fate have other plans for Beca leaving her disappointed, heartbroken and alone once again?

Things have certainly changed in her hometown. Her family’s iconic ice cream café is long gone – thanks to her former boyfriend who has transformed it into a wine bar devoid of soul, heart and personality. Reconnecting with her best friend Griff also proves difficult and the foster children she had hoped to take in are not the cute kids she had envisaged, but two wary and very guarded teenagers. Has Beca just made a huge mistake moving back home?

When Beca discovers an old family recipe book, it kindles an idea deep within her that could honour the legacy her family had left her. With a little help from friends old and new, Beca is soon selling homemade gelato to locals who simply cannot get enough of her delicious ice cream. But when disaster strikes, will Beca end up losing the home and shop that have come to mean the world to her? Or will she find a new recipe for love and happiness?

Jo Thomas has done it again! Summer at the Ice Cream Café is a gorgeous, uplifting, escapist and wonderfully romantic tale that is simply irresistible. A fun, emotional and enjoyable read about coming home, finding happiness and new beginnings, Jo Thomas’ Summer at the Ice Cream Café is escapism at its best!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Kels19 2

What an absolutely brilliant read this was! I couldn't put it down once I'd started reading - it drew me in immediately and I cared about the characters so much that I needed to know if they got the happy ending!

Beca Valentino returns home to a small Welsh village, years after running away to London and starting a successful business. She wants to return to her roots, and also hopes to give some children some of the great memories she had, through fostering. However, when she gets home, she wonders if she's made a mistake. The place is full of second home owners, her family's old gelato shop has been transformed, her childhood best friend Griff has grown up and now has a teenager of his own, and Beca isn't sure she belongs there anymore. Added to that, she immediately has two boys in her care who have had difficult upbringings.

We follow the story through summer, as Beca navigates her way through settling back into her home town, and strives to give the boys, Blake and Joe, as many good memories as possible in their short time with her. And can she also reconnect with Griff?

I really enjoyed everything about this book, and how the relationships between Beca, Griff, Blake and Joe developed. It was such a warm read, full of love, friendships, community, and second chance relationships! The writing made me picture the settling clearly, and has made me very excited for long summer nights and lots of ice cream (or gelato!). The characters were all so able in their own way, and I just wanted them to all be happy!

It's the first Jo Thomas book I've been lucky enough to read, but I think I need to get onto the back catalogue as soon as possible!!

Thank you so much to Jo Thomas, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC.
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