Guest Review: The Little Flower Shop by The Sea by Ali McNamara

Poppy Carmichael, 30, certainly never intended to own a florist. But when she inherits her grandmother's beloved flower shop on the beautiful Cornish coast, Poppy has no choice but to return to the pretty harbour town of St Felix where she spent much of her childhood.

Returning to St Felix brings back sad memories for Poppy. But when she makes new friends such as local flower grower Jake, a young widowed father of two teenagers, Poppy begins to overcome her fears, and discover for herself what's so special about this little flower shop by the sea.

Review: Here's another lovely tale from the brilliant Ali McNamara. Set in the quaint little coastal village of StFelix, it is a perfect summer read. 

I wasn't sure that I was going to like the heroine of the story, Poppy, at the start, but she soon began to grow on me and I found myself willing her to succeed in everything. As well as Poppy, there are lots of other strong and interesting characters in the sleepy little Cornish village. I especially liked the humour injected by locals, such as bakers Ant and Dec, and a rather zany young lady florist who comes from New York to help Poppy get the flower shop of the title up and running. However, it is not all humour. Some characters, including Poppy herself, are working through some serious problems in their life, but StFelix appears to have some healing magic for everyone. 

Poppy has inherited the flower shop from her grandmother and, against her better instincts at the start, decides to try and make a go of running it. She discovers that there is more to the shop than meets the eye and gradually its secrets are uncovered. 

There is everything you could possibly want in this story. It had me laughing and literally crying as I battled along with Poppy. I particularly liked the fact that each chapter had the name of a flower and its meaning. The language of flowers played a big role in the story. 

I'm sure that anyone would enjoy reading this lovely summery story. Whether or not you can get away to the seaside for your holiday, this book can transport you to a peaceful coastal location with a wonderful spirit of community. I would highly recommend it.