A Home In Sunset Bay

After stopping halfway through, author Rebecca Pugh's debut novel, Return to Bluebell Hill. It unfortunately went into me CNF pile. For people who don't know what that is, it is my list for books that I cannot finish. No disrespect to Rebecca at all here, I think she's a cracking girl and I have the utmost respect for her, but the book wasn't for me. Now, because of this I wasn't going to read, A Home in Sunset Bay, but as the early reviews came in from bloggers and one ex-blogger who I really respect and know have similar tastes to mine, I got a copy from NetGalley.

A Home in Sunset Bay isn't a bad book at all and I know it's going to do very well. For me though, it just wasn't my thing. I need to get something of my chest here so you will understand where I'm coming from. I'm just so bored with the repetitiveness in the styles, titles, and plots that we have been given over the past two years within the Chick-lit and Romance genre. All based in adorable little towns with characters who are all sickly sweet and with a storyline that you see within the first few chapters. I've just had enough with it, and unfortunately this is exactly what, A Home in Sunset Bay is. That isn't author Rebecca Pugh's fault that I feel that way though. So it's a very hard place to be in. I did read the book with a fresh and open mind though, I tried, I really did try.

It's based upon two estranged sisters who need some changes in their lives basically. Older sister, Laurie, who is a London solicitor, and younger sister, Mia, who owns and runs a retro diner passed down from her grandmother Dolly.

It reads pretty well after the first few chapters and when the flow and pace picks up. It is incredibly descriptive in every single way, so you get clear pictures of exactly where you are, who you're with, what they're eating. That's all well and good, but I just don't want descriptions, I want depth and intrigue and a plot that I can get my teeth stuck in too. I want to be pulled completely in and become the third chap man sister. This was not that type of book though, it is a sickly sweet, short, romance read with cliched lines, and for me, was a bit stuck in the past. For a young writer, RP writes old school, and obviously that's her choice of style, but I don't know, it just needed her daily spark in it, I missed that and it would have updating it slightly.

The characters are kept to a minimum which helps both Mia and Laurie's voices come through, however, Mia does get overpowered by Laurie. As for, Mia's, character. It is it obvious that she is RP. I just could not get that out of my head at all which resulted in me finding it difficult to push her aside to get to Mia. That's not her fault obviously that's mine.

I know this isn't the best of reviews and I'm sorry for that, but I can only be honest. There are so many readers worldwide who want this in their reads still, and as I've said it will definitely do well. It just wasn't my cup of tea is all.

I wish all the luck in the world to Rebecca and her books. She really is a great girl.

2/5

Rebecca Pugh’s debut novel, Return to Bluebell Hill, truly placed her as someone to watch in the chick-lit/romance genre’s last year. Yesterday her second novel, A Home in Sunset Bay was released and Rebecca has leant her voice to a novel which will truly touch hearts and welcome’s her into the world of women’s contemporary fiction aswell.

It’s easy for author’s to stay safe, to write what they know and not take risks, but Rebecca Pugh, has not done this, instead of staying firmly in chick-lit and romance she has branched out with this novel writing something which is far more about the lives of sisters, families, careers, and finding true happiness. Her writing is so unique, yet friendly, bubbly and supportive. It is always so disappointing when her book ends.

Mia, has spent most of her life in Sunset Bay, she now runs Dolly’s Diner, inherited from her grandmother. She loves it, lives and breathes it. Enter Laurie, Mia’s older sister, she followed the career path and became a lawyer. After some devastating blows she has come to Sunset Bay to be with her sister for a while.

This novel, tackles family feuds, sisterly bonds, and how to find happiness. Rebecca Pugh has, of course, included some romance and our romantic leads are the perfect matches for our sisters. But for me, this book was about the sisters, their relationship, their bonding.

As a sister myself I felt everything they felt, good and bad. I’ve been though similar arguments, make-ups, and I understand the strength of a sisters bond.

This book is truly for everyone who has a sister and everyone who wants a sister.

Rebecca Pugh has yet again written a beautiful novel and I certainly can’t wait for her third.

Thank you to Rebecca Pugh and Carina UK for the ARC via NetGalley so that I could review this book.