Member Reviews

Can I please just find a van big enough to pack my family, 3 dogs included, and have enough space to use it as a bookstore? One of the downfalls of being so rooted. I did not read the first book which focuses on Rosie, but it didn't take away from the story. I found it very sweet and quick read. I loved the love interest though it was a bit repetitive in the fact that yes Aria did vow to her dying husband that she would love no other. That was very drilled into the reader mind and bought up over....and over....and over. Still a comfy, snuggle up on a rainy day read. I received this arc from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this book whats not to love about a camper van books and travelling and selling books its my dream this book hadlaughing and crying but happy tears. Loved the story line loved the characters did not want the book to end.

Was this review helpful?

I loved Rosie's adventures in the first book in the series but you don't need to have read it to enjoy this one.
Aria is sad, quite rightly but what can Jonathan do to help her move on and does she really want to. A lovely story in a beautiful setting
Just right for these times.

Was this review helpful?

This has been one of those magical reads that hooks you from the first sentence. I came into this world having not read any of Rebecca Raisin’s other books. I didn’t know Rosie or Aria, from Rosie’s Travelling Teashop, but that didn’t hinder me. In fact, it’s made me tempted to want to go back and read it now.

As a bibliophile I love nothing more than a book that contains books. And Aria is a bibliophile at heart. She adores reading romance novels, the warmth and joy that they can bring no matter the occasion. She lives in her own little camper, selling books with her fellow nomad friends. Yet, despite her love of romance, Aria has sworn off love after loosing her husband three years before. But ... well love always finds a way

The writing was wholesome and depicted a love of reading and travel so well. Bringing forward characters that you can meet in every day life. It was filled with moment that will make you giggle and sob - something I did several times during my single reading session.

With the state of the world as it currently is, being stuck at home and any travel plans thrown far out the door at the moment, this made me feel like I was out there myself. Snuggled up in the back of a book packed campervan. A perfect distraction that has kept me up well into the night not wanting to put it down (it’s almost 3am as I’m writing this). Enough joy to distract but still drawing you down to Earth with some of the heartwrenching moments.

It’s almost perfect, hence the 4.5 stars. The only thing I want is more. A tad more substance, greater descriptions of the travel and more interactions with some of the guests in Aria’s shop. Those few interactions we had were sweet but it felt like we needed some more. It is her business after all yet it seems like she spends hardly any time there!

However, if you’re in the mood for a summer romance that’ll fill you with wanderlust and brighten up even your darkest of day’s, then please, look no further!

Was this review helpful?

This book was nice, but unfortunately didn't grab me the way I hoped. It was hard to handle so many similar words reused over and over and it relied a bit too much on cliches.

Was this review helpful?

Such a great escape! I was hoping for a light read that I could read cover-to-cover on a dreary day, and this did not disappoint. This book helped to imagine my dream life - touring France, consuming their delectable eats, reading voraciously... It’s my type of dream life. The love that the friends share for each other is truly heartwarming. The author didn’t shy from weighty topics, and I found myself shedding an unexpected tear. I’ll be rereading this one!

Was this review helpful?

Aria loves living her life traveling her van and reading tons of romance novels. When her friend, Rosie, suggests the next place they travel to is Paris, France, Aria is up for the challenge. The city of Love. Ever since the death of her husband, Aria has not considered the possibility of ever loving a man again. Could Paris change that?
First of all, Aria lives the life I would like to live. Live in a van, travel all over and read books. She is a very relatable character and would love to read more books with her and her friend Rosie.

I graciously received an advance e-copy from Netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the idea of the story, but when I started reading the book it didn;t really grab me. I did finish it, but I had to put an effort.
I can't say that I didn;t like the style, but in the same time there was no flow.
The book is good for a day on the beach, but not one that I would come back to.

Was this review helpful?

A bittersweet read of letting go and finding new love and a way forward. I loved the preceding book and it was great to catch up with known characters. This book didn’t share the same frothiness but is enjoyable none the less. I hoping further adventures with Aria and Rosie are on the cards in the future.

Thank you Netgalley

Was this review helpful?

DNF at 21%
I've read the word 'nomad' 12 times and I cannot take it anymore. I understand that this is a "light" read, but the quality is just too low. "Liarbetes"?!

Was this review helpful?

This book was just my cup of tea.

It is so well written. It had a couple of difficult topics in and they were handled delicately and honestly. I loved the characters and travelling to festivals selling, books or coffee etc is my idea of heaven.

This book is good for readers who are book worms, single, people who struggle having lost someone and don't know how to move on and many more.

Was this review helpful?

I adored this book, it has everything I love….a heartbroken bookworm trying to escape her feelings in a camper van turned bookshop, a mysterious author, a stunning location and a bunch of quirky and kind hearted nomadic friends!

I loved how Aria spoke of her love for books and how she read avidly into the small hours with the characters coming completely alive in her imagination.

It’s obvious from the start that Aria is desperately running from her past and escaping into an imaginary world. I’m so glad that she had best friend Rosie and her partner Max by her side, patiently guiding her into the next step of her life.

The trio travel through France with other ‘van lifers’ stopping off at various fetes and fairs along the way. They keep bumping into author Jonathon at book events and Aria can’t help but feel a strong connection towards him. She reads chapters from a diary written by her late husband TJ and gains the strength she needs to open her heart again.

This is truly heart warming, written with great love and warmth. There’s a strong theme of forgiveness, friendship and new beginnings. The plot just carries you along and Aria and Rosie become like the friends you always wished you had. The descriptions of France in the summer just transport you there and the story gives you a feeling that good things will return.

For bookworms, hopeless romantics or anyone who loves a heartwarming, uplifting read.

Was this review helpful?

Let's take a moment and admire this adorable cover.
Okay moving on. The beginning of this book started out really fun and cute. I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. Unfortunately that's where the fun ended for me. While I did enjoy the friendship between Aria and Rosie. I felt that there was so much time focused on Rosie and what she was doing or feeling. To the point that it almost felt like Rosie's Traveling Tea Shop part 2 from another prospective. I understand that the friendship between Rosie and Aria was important to the story however, majority of the book is just them talking about Jonathan or Tj and less time on Aria actually interacting with Jonathan or experiencing any real character growth.
I wanted to read more about Aria's thoughts and feelings. I wanted more character development and further discussion on her grief. I also wanted there to be more scenes and romantic development with Jonathan and it just wasn't there. However, I think if you enjoyed the first book in the series you will probably enjoy this one as it expands on Rosie and Max's story. I'm sorry to say this novel was just not my cup of tea but I hope to try another book from this author in the future.

***Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review ***

Was this review helpful?

I loved the idea of this story, books, camper vans and travel - what's not to love? It was an easy read but I'm afraid it didn't really grab me as much as other rom coms or indeed the first book in the series. However, it's a pleasant enough read for current times or even as a beach read for the future.

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's fun, inspiring, and engaging. I read the first book in this series, Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop, and it was nice to catch up with the characters again and follow them around France.

Was this review helpful?

Aria is a grieving widow who has left everything behind and devoted herself to a nomad life, since three years travelling around in her van full of books. Because Aria loves books - this is the only thing that she dares to love right now - after the unexpected death of her husband there is still no place in her heart for another relationship, and she's afraid to lose someone she loves so much again.
Together with other nomads like her, among them her best friend Rosie, they travel around the country and above, going to various types of festivals where they sell their wares - in Aria's case it's books. This time they travel through France, participating in festivals and enjoying the views. However, there is one person that pops up everywhere they are - or, at least, this is what Aria thinks. Can this be a coincidence? Will Aria let her guilt and grief and find the courage a new step in her life?

It was a very interesting idea with van lifers, I truly wasn't aware that something like this exist - or maybe that it does exist but not to such extent, it seems really well organised. Or it doesn't exist and is only fiction? Whatever, it was something different, that I really enjoyed. Maybe not for me but if it makes others happy then why not?

The characters are full of flaws, keeping secrets, making mistakes but I missed more depth to them. They seem a bit one - dimensional and the actions and interaction between them are a bit woody and forced.
Aria, instead of facing reality, escaped into the world of books, and I think we can't blame her for this, right? However, three years have already passed and perhaps it was really time for her to eventually confront her grief and not only live in the past, at least I think so, and it was somehow really hard to buy, this hiding behind the grief, taking it as an excuse for everything. Don't get me wrong but it felt a bit meh and overdone. Why was she so determined to never ever fall in love again?

While the book is rather on a sunny - side, all the butterflies and gorgeous places to see, the author also tries to touch in an engaging way about some heavier and deeper issues, such as loss and grief and how losing your beloved one may affect you and those around you. It was a nice try but it simply felt much too repetitive, staying in place, circling around the same thing, not moving forward, and I think this was my biggest problem with the book. The thing about Aria not wanting to fall in love again came every second page and the dialogues seemed to be only about it, and Aria's inner thoughts were only about this. Also, really - there was what I felt like a zero chemistry between Aria and Jonathan, and actually I couldn't get this subplot at all, I think they met each other even before the story started, and it is already an important starting point for a budding relationship, right? I didn't have a chance to see how they work together - the few elusive meetings were always awkward and there were no sparkles, nothing indicating that they really could be destined for each other. It was simply very optimistic and very rose - tinted but not that convincing for me to buy it as there was really no foundation for this relationship.

The writing style is lovely, full of chatter and humour and there was a lot of potential in this story but in the end I didn't find this "something" in it that makes a book a book that I want to read over and over again. It was a light - hearted, easy, comforting and relaxing read with beautiful setting and full of books and I have already seen that it gets many raving reviews, so perhaps it's the case of it's not you, it's me. If you're looking for a undemanding and cosy read, try this story, it may be a perfect book for you.

Was this review helpful?

This quick read, learning to love again story was just what I needed! The characters were perfect and their story was sweet but still believable.

Was this review helpful?

What a cute little book, with a surprising amount of depth. Aria is a “van lifer,” a woman who travels around France selling romance books out of her traveling bookshop. Years after her husband passed away, Aria is dealing with her grief through her travels, leaving her old life behind and meeting new people along the way. Her nomad friends Rosie and Max are adorable, her bookstore adventures are fun, and her budding romance is sweet. I loved the description of her travels across France. Pick this one up if you are looking for a sense of comfort, and want to find it in fun travels around the French countryside.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for a chance to read this complimentary advanced reader’s copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

A beautifully written book for romantics as well as those who like the idea of travelling in a camper surrounded by books. This was my kind of dream and with it a great storyline that I didn't want to end. Travelling through France with knowledge of the areas described as if the reader was there walking through the streets with Aria.

Will undoubtedly read again and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Was this review helpful?

A lovely well written gentle story about love on so many different levels.
Easy to read and not too challenging makes this the perfect book to read on holiday where you want a happy story that’s not too heavy going.
Aria is young but has experienced a lot of sadness and heartache in her life. She become a nomad making money as a travelling bookshop going around with a group of other like minded people as she tries to make sense of what’s happened and mend the heartache she’s suffered.
With her friend Rosie and Max by her side they set off travelling and it seems to be fate that an author is doing a book tour along their way.
This book explores true love and soul mates, love and friendship, relationships and encounters.

Was this review helpful?