Such a beautiful cover, but I just never got into the story. I found it slow and dull. The characters felt flat. I generally love quick, beach reads and romantic comedies, and don't usually mind that they are formulaic, but there has to be something to hold the reader's interest and this book just never captured mine to begin with. To me it was so generic that I doubt I will even remember anything about it in a few weeks. Other readers seem to have enjoyed it so maybe it just isn't my cup of tea.
Thank you NetGalley, author, and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great family drama story. It is everything a reader needs. I love how well developed the characters are and how you feel like you truly know them by the end. I am hoping for a sequel. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

In the midst of this Covid-19 season, I've found myself reading quick, easy, fun books and The Waffle House on the Pier hits the spot. I did find the storyline a bit repetitive, but the heart of this book was endearing and well told. We are or will face aging family members and knowing how to help them is always going to be hard. I feel the author did a good job of portraying the emotions of each family member.

I was desperate to read this book as soon as the cover of it was revealed over on Twitter. The Waffe House on the Pier by Tilly Tennant looked & sounded like the perfect escape for these monotonous days of lockdown, a wonderful seaside getaway to look forward to amongst the endless 'groundhog day' vibe. I put my request in to read this book as soon as I could possibly could, and I looked forward to the moment I could step into the pages and say goodbye to reality for a little while.
The Waffle House on the Pier by Tilly Tennant follows Sadie as she tries to rescue the Waffle House which has stood proud on the pier in Sea Salt Bay for as long as she can remember, following the death of her beloved grandfather. Owned and run by her grandparents, Sadie refuses to let the old place crumble and be sold on to someone else, to be replaced by a nail or hair salon. So, determined as ever, Sadie quits her teaching course and steps up to help her elderly grandmother keep the place running. But with her husband gone, Sadie's grandmother isn't the same as she once was, and Sadie begins to wonder whether she's bitten off more than she can chew...
I loved this warm, uplifting and cosy tale of friendship, romance and family. It really hit the mark for me, and the setting of Sea Salt Bay was exactly what I needed. There really is nothing quite like a pretty seaside escape, and Tilly Tennant wrote this one beautifully. With its fish and chip bar, gift shops and arcade, it whisked me far away and dropped me into the heart of a place I wanted to call 'home' by the time I'd reached the final page. Tennant writes warmly and invitingly about the Dorset coast and I adored my time spent here. It was no wonder, really, that Sadie finds herself returning to the town she grew up in, because I think that if I had been in Sadie's shoes, I definitely would to.
Within this story, Tilly Tennant touches upon many subjects. We see Sadie battling with herself in regards to her career choices, and the awful reality of losing a loved one, not only to death but to dementia. We watch as Sadie is reunited with a love from long ago, as well as a new love interest who completely takes her by surprise. We're also witness to many tricky family discussions in regards to the Waffle House itself. Tennant really focuses on family in this story, and the different aspects of family relationships and the different generations within. This was thoroughly enjoyable and I really loved these moments around the dinner table, as the author made them feel so real and convincing with her exceptional dialogue and ability to bring her characters to life. With sensitivity, Tennant adds so much weight to her characters and their lives, and it really made the story shine.
Amongst everything else, what stood out to me most was how much I came to care about these characters and the future of the Waffle House. Tennant conveyed perfectly the importance of the waffle house in her characters' lives, and I particularly enjoyed the memories of Sadie being there with her grandparents when she was younger. Through these flashbacks, I was able to understand exactly why Sadie was so determined to keep the waffle house in the family, whether it was actually doable or not. Tennant writes with so much heart, it's impossible to not come to feel for the family within this story, and not want the best for them before the book reaches its final conclusion. I adored Sea Salt Bay and the people who lived there, and I wanted nothing more than for the Waffle House to remain at the end of the pier for many more years to come.
The Waffle House on the Pier by Tilly Tennant was a joyful, scrumptious dessert of a story, with so much filling and flavour, I just couldn't get enough. It made me smile, it induced a severe craving for something sweet, and it absolutely whisked me away to the seaside and provided me with a very welcome escape. I really enjoyed this tale from Tilly Tennant, and can't thank the author enough for providing me with someplace to escape to when we all need it most. With thanks to the published for the advanced reading copy of this book, that of which has no reflection on me providing a fair and honest review.

Sea Salt Bay: that's a name that makes me want to pack a suitcase and head over there. Sea, sun, sand and a lovely book. What more do you want?

This story is filled with all sorts of emotional moments. There are some heartbreaking ones, some that leave you gasping, some that have you sniggering, some that have you laughing, some that melt your heart.

I love the strong bond between the family members. They do disagree, they do have fights, but in the end they stick together like glue and figure out what's best for everyone.

Old love never dies, but it changes. New love is the way to go.

Why do I have the feeling that there is room left for a sequel? I most certainly would not mind, because I said goodbye (hopefully not for ever) reluctantly.

A great summer read that I enjoyed a lot. Not on the beach but in my sunny garden which is also very nice. :) 5 stars

Thank you, Tilly Tennant and Bookouture

The story is a good book. Not the type that makes you want to cry or smile with the characters. But it is the type of book that can be read on a Sunday evening, for light relaxation.
The characters are well developed and the plot is good. Even if it is a bit obvious, I feel like the story is beautiful.

The Waffle House on the Pier is a fun beach-read that seems perfect for the season. Sea Salt Bay is a charming little town by the sea where everyone knows each other. Sadie and her huge family are residents of this lovely town and own the Waffle House on the pier. Due to an unfortunate event, Sadie's grandfather passes away, leaving it in the position of April, his wife. While the family thinks it best to sell the waffle house, Sadie argues that the waffle house is something April needs in her time of grief.

Amidst the crisis of whether to sell or not to, Sadie also finds herself lodged in an awkward space in her love life. Her regret over dumping Declan, the near perfect ex-boyfriend, only seems to increase every time she sees him. Meanwhile, Sadie is bonked on the head by a boat. Fortunately, the guy who bonked her with the boat is incredibly gorgeous. Should she go back to dating Declan, her comfort zone, or give Luke, the new member of this town, a chance? Will Sadie be able to save the waffle house?

This book started by being very promising. I loved the visualizations involved, the description of Sea Salt Bay, the Waffle House and even the amusement park. Sadie is a character that I cannot say I cared too much about since I could not connect with her. She seems to be taking wrong decisions all the time and while that may be out of her control, she still does not listen. However, I did love the whole family dynamic that was going on. It is so rare that you read about a big family and it was wholesome. In fact I cared a lot more about Sadie's brother Ewan and his wife, Kat who is such a reasonable woman. Ewan was such a fun character to read, he was dripping love and sarcasm at the same time and I could not get enough this character. He looks out for Sadie and hates Luke for a long time for almost killing his sister.

As far as characters go, April was a cupcake too. I love how she would go from super sweet to the queen of sarcasm when she felt her family was playing her. Declan was adorable and if I were to say, I am Team Declan. Everyone in Sadie's life seems to mature, except for her. Even Melissa, who I started out by hating, comes around.

The story was not as strong as it could have been and the climax scene did not feel like one. But if you want to travel to a beach city without violating the international travel rules, this book will teleport you there. I swear, there were parts of the story where I could smell the sea and the waffles. What else do I need?

This book was so slow…at 40% in we finally meet the possible love interest and we have heard so so much about “The One” that she let get away but really nothing has happened and I’m bored. So I’m sorry I’m bowing out of this love story and jumping on board to another.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A sweet, quiet rom-com that’s ultimately more about family than romance, I quiet enjoyed “The Waffle House on the Pier.” Though the fairytale ending didn’t quite come how I expected it to, I really appreciated the adult, realistic look at what “having it all” really is: not a high-powered career and forever with your high school sweetheart, but a place in the world with your family by your side and someone you might never have expected to find. This was not the standout book of the year or anything of that ilk, but it was sweet and an enjoyable escape.

I just finished "The waffle house on the pier" and now I only wanna eat waffles so badly! I think I can even smell them. Instead I'm eating an apple. Life's not fair.

Once again Tilly Tennant manages to create a picture perfect scenario full of warm and relatable characters. I loved Sadie's endeavor to save the family business even with her whole family's opposition. I thought they weren't as fair as they should with her sometimes as her love for her grandma shined through every decision she made. It was sad reading about April's struggle with dementia as I'm sure most of us have lived through something similar with someone in our own family and could see ourselves in Sadie's shoes.

I also loved the love triangle situation. Should you choose the one everyone says is your soulmate or the new guy everyone distrusts but you feel could be THE ONE? I rooted for one of them from the beginning and I could't be happier when at the end Sadie chose him.

This was a perfect summer read and it will surely bring a smile to your face...and a craving of waffles!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sadie is in school to be a teacher, and it's just not working out. Her grandfather dies, and she returns home to help her grandma run the waffle house. On the romance end of this novel, she's torn between a newcomer Luke or her former flame Declan.
I would definitely read another book about Sadie and Sea Salt Bay!

I received this ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

Longer review available at: nodistancebooks.com

Sadie has a reputation in her family for starting things up, regretting them, and leaving them unfinished, including all the short-lived relationships following her break up with Declan--a mistake that no one, including herself, can forget about. But after her grandfather dies and their family's waffle house is on the verge of being closed for good, Sadie finds herself making some big decisions that could change the course of her life.

I am so happy to say that this story didn't go the way I was afraid it would. Sadie is so annoyingly human that you can't help but love her. Her flaws and insecurities are extremely relatable. She feels overshadowed by her older siblings who have their lives together. She can't seem to find a partner for the long haul after making the mistake of letting go of the man who may very well be the love of her life. Sadie always seems to be looking up to someone else--her older sister Lucy who has left their town to greater things and her parents who have the perfect marriage.

Even when I was frustrated with Sadie's stubbornness, I had such a soft spot for her because I also know what it's like to want to prove your family and even yourself wrong. Even Sadie's pride has a limit and she knows, deep inside, when she's in over her head.

I was worried that this story would focus too much on Sadie getting back together with Declan, a worry that was further pressed upon by the fact that everyone in their small seaside town was hoping they'd rekindle their love, despite Declan being in a relationship with someone else. Fortunately, Sadie is a good person and a handsome newcomer moves to town. Their meet-cute is probably one of the more memorable ones I will have read about!

A quintessential beach-read about letting go of what needs to pass and holding onto what matters most.

Sadie isn't happy learning to be a teacher. She is still in love with her ex Dec. She's stuck in a rut. Enter Luke who nearly kills her and an opportunity to run the family waffle house. A romantic summer read. Enjoyable. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

I couldn't wait to dive into this gorgeous new novel by Tilly Tennant. I've been a fan of her novels for a long time now, they always leave you feeling positive and uplifted. The cover is possibly my favourite of Tilly's, the bright beautiful colours, the pretty Waffle House, the stars in the sky and the pretty coloured fairy lights make such a beautiful cover and really catches the eye.

The story follows main character Sadie, who has an issue on her hands. Sadie's grandpa dies suddenly and leaves her grandma, April, looking after their family Waffle House business that's been open as long as Sadie can remember. Sadie is heartbroken to learn that her family have decided to put it up for sale, so she packs in her teacher training and re-opens the eatery with her grandma, but all isn't what it seems at first.

April seems to be getting ever more forgetful and Sadie is worried. When April locks Sadie in the Waffle House one evening and goes wandering off down the promenade, that's the final straw in their families eyes and they make Sadie withdraw her help in the restaurant. However, during all of this, Sadie's ex Declan makes an appearance on the scene and so does newcomer Luke and Sadie must decide which one of the two men she truly loves.

The location of the novel sounded absolutely delightful. The descriptions of the sea, the sand and the other eateries and amusement arcades left me wishing to live in such a place! The characters as well were also really relatable and I found myself taking a liking to most of them. Sadie seemed a bit childish at first, and I wasn't too keen on Luke but the more I read the more I enjoyed.

Overall, a happy, bubbly and romantic read. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgally, which I have reviewed honestly.

Thus us the first book I have read by this author.
This is the perfect read for a lovely sunny day whether on the beach or at home.
The story follows Sadie, a trainee teacher who chooses to give that up to help her grandmother run the family waffle business after her grandfather's death in a seaside village.
She also deals with her past relationship & her new one, friendships & family ties.
Thus boom is an easy read romance but it also has a lot more within it, which makes it a good enjoyable read.
Thanks to netgalley & the publisher for allowing to read.

I adore Tilly’s books. Another great book. Perfect light summer sunbathing read. Transports you there when have to stay at home. Highly recommended

What a lovely book! The location is a coastal town in Devon, England which is known as the English Riviera. It sounded so delightful in the novel that I went online to learn more and look at lovely pictures of the area. Sadie’s family is mostly involved in catering to the tourist trade in their small seaside town. She, however, had wanted something different so she’d left her teenage boyfriend behind to go off to university to become a teacher. Now that she’s experiencing what teaching is really like she’s not so sure that she made the right decision. And when her grandfather’s death triggers painful decisions the family needs to make about the waffle house that her grandparents had run together on the pier, she decides to come back home to help her grandmother run the waffle house.

At first I thought this book was going to be a typical second-chance romance about sadie and her former boyfriend who seems like just the nicest guy even though he’s moved on and has had a new girlfriend for several years. But there is also a new guy who has moved to their town and who seems deeply attracted to Sadie as she is to him.

She will have very difficult decisions to make about her grandmother and how to help the business survive as her grandmother’s age and mental condition makes it increasingly impossible for Sadie’s original ideas to be borne out.

These are real people with real problems and I soon became quite involved with their story while eager to know if or how Sadie was going to resolve her difficulties...and which kind and charming hunky guy she was going to end up with.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley;
however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I love this author’s books and this book instantly appealed to me with it’s bright colourful cover! My mind was straight away filled with images of small seaside towns and their piers and, of course, platefuls of waffles and pancakes piled high with various toppings! We are introduced to Sadie, a teacher in training. Her family have lived in the little seaside town of Salt Sea Bay all their lives and, apart from Sadie and her sister Lucy, all of her family work in the tourist industry – her parents run boat trips around the bay, her brother runs a diving school and her grandparents run the Waffle House on the pier. Their lives are devastated when her grandfather dies, and knowing that her grandmother can’t run the Waffle House on her own, Sadie gives up her teaching job to help run it.

I loved Sadie’s character! It felt that she didn’t really have much luck in life and you find yourself rooting for her from the very beginning! Even she would admit that she was a terrible teacher, but her business sense when helping out her grandmother was also sadly lacking! Thankfully she has good friends around her, and when we are introduced to Declan, her ex-boyfriend, you are kept wondering whether they would rekindle their relationship. I really liked Declan’s character and thought he would be ideal to show Sadie some love in her life…but that was all until we are introduced to newcomer, Luke! Luke, initially, really doesn’t make a good impression on her, or her family, but he does leave me with a dilemma as to who I would prefer Sadie to end up with!!

The story is such a lovely read that takes us through the trials and tribulations of a close-knit family who are obviously still struggling in the aftermath of their grandfather’s death. I loved her grandmother, April, and felt it was such a sad storyline as it became obvious that she was suffering from dementia. Whilst I’ve just painted a very sad view of this book, it really isn’t like that at all though! It was full of light-hearted, loving, funny and downright sexy moments! In between wiping away tears, I laughed out loud, especially at the stories of Sadie trying to teach her class, and blushed at the antics of Sadie and her man (and no, I’m not going to tell you which one it is!)

Of course, we couldn’t let a review pass by without mentioning the topic in the title – waffles!! I think a waffle house on a pier sounds absolutely divine and I’d definitely visit it if there is one in the next seaside town I visit! The descriptions of strawberries, chocolate and cream was just too much and it certainly made me want to reach into the pages and take a plateful! As with every other book by this author, I was totally caught up in the loveliness which oozed out of this book! The characters were all likeable and down-to-earth, the storyline holds you until the very last page and the location is just perfect! Would definitely recommend!!

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another great book from Tilly. Sadie’s family own a Waffle House on the pier that is run by her grandparents. When her granddad dies she is the only one in the family who wants to keep it open with her grandma’s help. Can she succeed or will it be too much for her.

A fantastic feel good summer read, the plot was not predictable and I genuinely did not know how the story was going to end. The characters were likable and the book was just the escapism we need right now.