Sunrise by the Sea (Little Beach Street Bakery #4) by Jenny Colgan

5*

It’s always a treat to visit with Polly, Huckle and the colorful cast of characters who make up Mount Polbearne. In this latest installment of the Little Beach Street Bakery series, Marisa Rossi, an agoraphobic registrar from Exeter, has fallen into a long, deep grief following her grandfather’s death. She’s fighting depression and anxiety so profound that she hasn’t left her apartment in months, shifting to a work-from-home admin position. When her colorful, handsome roommate Caius gently kicks her out and relocates her to his uncle Reuben’s vacation rental in the hopes that she’ll heal on the secluded island, she finds that the silence she craves is impossible. Her new neighbor, Russian music teacher Alexei, gives piano lessons during the day and plays loud, discordant music at night that the paper-thin walls do nothing to muffle. So begins this unlikely, and at times contentious, friendship based on proximity, misunderstandings, thoughts and words lost in translation, and inherent kindness.

Marisa slowly begins to re-enter society thanks to Alexei and her therapist, but also through a serendipitous meeting with Polly whose young twins are taking lessons from Alexei. As Polly and Huckle face a looming financial crisis, a damaging storm forces change for the bakery. From the flotsam that floods it, a partnership is born that has the potential to improve all of their lives. If you like slow-burn romances, small village life, the tastes and smells of Italy, and the comfort of revisiting favorite characters, it’s time to discover Jenny Colgan. Although this can stand alone, it’s best to read the previous books in the series to appreciate her gift for storytelling and creating strong, complex characters who not only weather tragic storms, but also find hope and joy in the simple things shared with those they love. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.