Snowed in at the Wildest Dreams Bookshop by Gracie Page

Fans of The Wildest Dreams Bookshop will be thrilled to have another stand-alone romance set in the picturesque seaside town of Fox Bay in Cornwall. Ivy’s first term at art college has been disappointing. Unable to afford to live in the college’s residential accommodation, she must travel to college and hasn’t made any friends. What is worse – she has lacked inspiration for her art and is failing her course. She returns to Fox Bay, with a job in The Wildest Dreams Bookshop, but feels isolated and depressed. Then Trip, a bright optimist, always cheerful and seeing the best in people, making friends with little effort, wants her to show him the sights of the town and when they work together on the school’s annual show, sparks begin to fly.

The trope of grumpy versus sunshine is managed well by Gracie Page, making Ivy the antisocial character and Trip the guy full of happiness. The reader can identify with Ivy whose dreams of leaving a small town and shining in a new environment are shattered, while Trip’s optimism is alluring. However there is a small cloud over Trip’s reason for being in Fox Bay that is subtly written by the author and readers will enjoy getting to know the backgrounds to the characters.

Snowed in at the Wildest Dreams Bookshop is an engrossing rom com that will have readers quickly racing through the book, eager to see how Ivy’s life and art progresses while enjoying the cheer and friendliness of Trip. This is a feel-good book, perfect for holiday reading and fans of Lynn Painter and Jenny Han. Readers may also enjoy Grumpy darling by Alexandra Moody. 

Themes: Romance, Art, Bookshops, Cornwall (England).

Pat Pledger