What a transportive read ‘That Summer on Nautilus Cove’ by Julie Holland is. Mixing summer and festive vibes, I think that this is a relationship story to be enjoyed in all seasons. Marnie Fawkner heads from Melbourne to Queensland to house sit for her sister, divorced and unemployed Marnie is at a crossroads and the time in Nautilus Cove will give her the seaside break she needs. Once there, Marnie becomes involved with the community and her sister’s business, but with her stay there only supposed to be temporary and plenty of troubles still waiting for her in Melbourne, will there be an opportunity for a fresh start? This is a really sweet and entertaining relationship story that reminded me of Carole Matthews. Marnie is lovable although frustrating in her attempts at self-sabotage and I was invested in seeing what would happen to her throughout the book. Interweaving family dynamics of a divorce, grown up children and new relationships, I feel that this is a nice and romantic story that will have broad appeal across the age ranges. A slice of sunshine with a side of feel-good that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and would highly recommend.
“WHAT DO YOU PACK TO PURSUE A DREAM, AND WHAT DO YOU LEAVE BEHIND?” Marnie Fawkner just wanted to escape the demands of adult children, job hunting and selling her house. So when Marnie’s sister, Libby, asks her to mind her house and dog, Marnie jumps at the chance. Who would knock back a couple of easy weeks in Nautilus Cove, a popular coastal town in sunny Queensland? She never expected a simple favour would change her life. When Libby delays her return, Marnie reluctantly steps in to manage Libby’s homewares store, Whimsy. What could possibly go wrong? Marnie finds that Nautilus Cove is offering more than just a temporary escape – an intriguing sculptor called Harry Mitchelton for a start. It is here, whilst tackling personal change, welcoming new friends and second-chance love, and embracing the opportunity to start over, that Marnie confronts what she needs to pack to pursue her own dreams. “That Summer in Nautilus Cove is a heart-warming sea change story of self-discovery. It may even prompt you to research coastal real estate.”
