What’s it all about:
Polly Waterford is recovering from a toxic relationship. Unable to afford their flat, she has to move miles away from everyone, to a sleepy little seaside resort in Cornwall where she lives alone above an abandoned shop.
And so Polly takes out her frustrations on her favourite hobby: making bread. But what was previously a weekend diversion suddenly becomes far more important as she pours her emotions into kneading and pounding the dough, and each loaf becomes better and better. With nuts and seeds, olives and chorizo, with local honey ( courtesy of local bee keeper, Huckle), and with reserves of determination and creativity Polly never knew she has, she bakes and bakes….. And people start to hear about it.
Sometimes , bread really is life …. And Polly is about to reclaim hers.
My Thoughts:
As soon as i picked up one of Jenny Colgans books a few years ago i was hooked. Her books are all food based such as Rosie Hopkins sweetshops, Meet me at the cupcake cafe and the loveliest chocolate shop in Paris, as with all her other books its best not to read it on an empty stomach as you will find yourself craving some sweet treats.
This book is about Polly who has just come out of a bad relationship, she moves to this sleepy seaside resort called Polbearne into a little flat above an abandoned shop. Polly has a hobby of making different kinds of bread. whilst reading this part i was imagining being in a bakery smelling all the comforting smells of baking bread.
Polly meets quite a few people who live in Polbearne. All the characters in Jenny Colgans books are great no exception to these ones. I loved the way Polly and Huckle ( the local bee keeper) relationship evolves and the way that when a drama happens that everybody pulls together and tries to help one another. I actually could imagine myself looking out to sea and being there admist it all.
You have to look out for Neil the puffin who features in this book, there are no words to describe the smile on my face when he and Polly strike up this unlikely friendship, he seems to want to become a pet rather than be a wild animal. I can see from his point hoovering up the crumbs and eating cake does seem like a lovely life.
This book made me smile, laugh, and even shed a few tears. It’s a book that you can’t put down as you need to find out what happens next. I cannot wait for the next Jenny Colgan book. I hope Jenny publishes a sequel to Little Beach Street Bakery.
