What an amazing book! The love and emotions captured with each and every character were so realistic. The deep love and friendship between both Ivy and Sylvia was beautiful, especially when the ‘secret’ is revealed at the end it makes all the more poignant.

The twist at the end totally blindsided me, it was an excellent piece of writing that had be reading through tears more than once. The love Zoey has for her family was so moving at times. The descriptions of the Island, the house and the garden were beautiful and I really felt like I was right there sweltering in the heat along side Zoey.

This was a wonderful family saga with so many secrets, but each one sealed with love.

I am a big fan of cozy family stories. Try including revealing a dark secret or two and I am hooked. Aunt Ivy's Cottage by Kristin Harper was all that. While the book delivered all it promised, I was a bit disappointed with its ending. Whenever I sit down to read the book I want the ending to be fitting length-wise. Please give me a solution worth the amount of time I put into reading the book. Unfortunately, while I loved the book, the setting, and the characters, the ending was rushed and to some extent, unbelievable.

Aunt Ivy's cottage is the story of Zoey who lost her job as well as her life savings shortly before she returned to Dune Island to live with her aunts. Ivy and Sylvia have spent nearly their whole life on the island and even more important, they stayed together when cruel destiny took both their husbands. Unfortunately, aunt Sylvia dies but not without foreshadowing a family secret on her deathbed. Now, Zoey has to take care of her grieving aunt, her rebellious niece, and her overreaching cousin while figuring out a solution to her problems.

I loved the fact that Zoey actually took her destiny into her own hands. I've read numerous books where the heroine is just waiting for someone to come and save her. She is also a torn character between her own wishes and finding the strength to conquer them while meeting her own expectations when it comes to caring for her family. I love her relationship with her aunt Ivy. Actually, all the characters in the book were well-writing and offered a lot of backstories. (Maybe exclude her cousin Mark. I was a little lost on his character)
Reading about Ivy and how she manages to go on with her life after her lifelong companion left her made me teary sometimes but on the other hand, the book offers many feel-good scenes and highly emphasizes the importance of having family and friends.

The setting was gorgeous. The small island was easy to imagine and by now, I know there is another book set on the same island (Summer Hope Haven) which I will definitely check out. Being from a small village myself I can well imagine how fast rumors travel and how much they change over time because everyone is adding to them or leaving something out.

I was well-prepared to award the book 5 stars until its ending. I don't care much about its predictability but I was disappointed with its shortness. The book had rather slow pacing that fitted the story well but the ending was rushed. Everything just resolved themself and the explanations given weren't too convincing.

All in all, a great read I am happy to have read the book and discovered a new author to watch for me.

A poignant and heartwarming story, well written and engrossing.
It's a bit slow at times but I was hooked by this story about family, secrets.
I fell in love with the cover and I liked the story.
Good character and plot development, a lovely setting.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I was pleasantly surprised when reading Aunt Ivy’s Cottage by Kristin Harper. Harper is a new author to me, and I was charmed by her tale of a woman who lost her job and was staying with her great aunts Ivy and Sylvia in their beautiful old victorian house to take care of them while she decided what to do next. Zoey’s life has taken a downturn since she lost her job, and her ex-boyfriend lost all her money in questionable investments. Her aunt Sylvia dies, and now she is in an ongoing disagreement with her obnoxious cousin Mark, the heir, over Aunt Ivy’s care and the property. A local carpenter who has been doing work enters the picture, and he and Zoey form a tenuous friendship.

As much as I enjoyed this story, there were parts I thought could be better. Some parts were very slow and could be shortened to make the pace flow better. I also felt the burgeoning relationship with Nick the carpenter could have had a little more pizzaz. Finally, the storyline around the unlikeable cousin Mark was just suddenly wrapped up at the end, so quickly that I had to scroll back to make sure I didn’t overlook something.

All in all, I enjoyed this sweet tale and would have probably given it four stars, but with the abrupt ending that threw me for a loop, I gave it three stars. I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it. #netgalley #AuntIvysCottage

Not only is this an attractive book cover, but it has my cousin’s name on it, too! Yes, I requested this book because it says Ivy. I only know a few people with the name and thought it might be a fantastic book based on the title. Have you ever got a book just because of it’s cover and title?

The story is as cute as the cover! No seriously. The characters are adorable, well most of them are. Haha. The main character is Zoey does a lot of reminiscing at her Aunt Ivy’s cottage. She shares about her experiences there on Dune Island where she spent many summers with her parents and sister. Even her Aunt Ivy shares a lot that’s happened there at the cottage. It’s a book about remembering the past while slowly venturing into the future.

There are some mysteries on Dune Island that answers seem to become so far fetched. For decades rumors have spread in the schools and around the island. How much truth do these hold? All hope is not lost, there’s got to be answers somewhere, right? This book had me jumping to all sorts of answers, none of which actually happens as I kept reading well into the night.

My favorite character has to be Ivy. She’s widowed and has a heart condition. She seems to constantly be trying to please her grand nephew, Mark, who isn’t one of my favorite characters. Ivy loves to play cribbage with her guests because she says you can tell if a person is a match by how they play as a team. It makes total sense in my head, but I do wonder if older generations used to do things like that to see how people interact with one another.

I’ll have to admit having a single, hunky and handsome handyman around to fix up around the house and renovate the kitchen while his son worked on the yard sounds dreamy! He was also available to help keep Ivy company or to calm her when things went a little crazy. Nick seemed to always be there with perfect timing.

A digital copy of Aunt Ivy’s Cottage by Kristin Harper was provided complimentary in exchange for an honest review by Bookouture via NetGalley. I give this book 4 out of 5 tiaras. I feel the ending didn’t seem to fit well for the flow of the story. Most of the book, however, is absolutely enticing!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoy this authors books and this was no exception, fantastic storyline, great characters. Loved it.

A pleasant read. Sady did not grab me. Well writen. But you knew Zoey would end up with the house and also fall in love. I liked the Gabi story.

Zoey has lost her parents, her job, her money, and her boyfriend (no great loss there!) so she heads to Dune Island to care for her Aunt Sylvia, who is dying, and to spend time with her Aunt Ivy. Sylvia makes an odd statement to Zoey, which pulls at her brain (no spoilers from me) as she deals with Mark, the presumed heir to Ivy's home. He's spending money renovating the place even as he tries to push the 86 year old Ivy into assisted living. Zoey finds herself bonding with Nick, the guy working on the house. Then she discovers some long hidden secrets. This warrants close attention as it moves around in time and there was, for me at least, perhaps one too many characters involved in the mystery. Nonetheless, it's a good read for fans of novels where there's more to an issue than meets the eye. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

Aunt Ivy's Cottage rally is an emotional page-turner! Zoey had been looking after her elderly aunts when one them dies. Her cousin Mark is set to inherit the house when when both ladies die. I didn't like the character of Mark but he is pivotal to the story. Weaving in Zoey's niece into the tale was a brilliant move - it added another perspective. All the way through, you believe one of two things BUT you don't expect the twist. Very moving novel.

All Zoey’s happiest childhood memories are of her great-aunt Ivy’s rickety cottage on Dune Island, being spoiled with cranberry ice cream and watching the tides change from the rooftop. Now, heartbroken from a recent breakup, Zoey can see her elderly aunt’s spark is fading, and decides to move to the island so they can care for each other.

When she arrives to find her cousin, Mark, sitting at the solid oak kitchen table, she knows why Aunt Ivy hasn’t been herself. Because Mark—next in line to inherit the house—is pushing Ivy to move into a nursing home.

With the cousins clashing over what’s best for Ivy, Zoey is surprised when the local carpenter who’s working on Ivy’s cottage takes her side. As he offers Zoey comfort, the two grow close. Together, they make a discovery in the attic that links the family to the mysterious and reclusive local lighthouse keeper, and throws doubt on Mark’s claim…

Now Zoey has a heartbreaking choice to make. The discovery could keep Ivy in the house she’s loved her whole life… but can Zoey trust that the carpenter really has Ivy’s best interests at heart? And will dredging up an old secret destroy the peace and happiness of Ivy’s final years—and tear this family apart for good?

I love the book cover. Yes,yes I know don't judge the book by it's cover and all that, but i just love it.
The book was good. Love.me some family drama. I read it in a day.
This is a 4 stars for me, because it has it all romance, drama, family, mystery...

Thank You Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC! This review is based on my honest opinion.

Zoey returns back to the Dune Island to her aunt, Aunt Ivy's cottage after her failed relationship and her loss of job. She loves hearing stories from Aunt Ivy particularly her whirlwind romance with a Captain Denny. When her other Aunt Sylvia dies, Zoey temporarily moves into Aunt Ivy's cottage taking care of Aunt Ivy. Meanwhile, her cousin, Mark is determined to lease out the cottage as her thinks Aunt Ivy is old and forgetful and needs to be in a care home and Zoey's niece, Gabi joins them from California.

I really enjoyed reading this book--I really like the sister relationship particularly between Jessica and Zoey, and Ivy and Sylvia. I also like the slow budding romance between Zoey and Nick, who is the handyman and who repairs around Aunt Ivy's Cottage, This story is warm filled with family drama that will keep the reader into the story as if they were a part of the Winslow family. I also like that in between all the drama is a mystery about Mark as well.

Overall, this is a good, family story, talking about the bonding and relationship with family and a book that you wouldn't want to put down. Worth four stars! I really enjoyed reading this book that I couldn't put the book down!

I loved this book the characters are good one or two I was not sure off but then like them loved the writting style a hard subject to do but goid plot a great read

Aunt Ivy’s Cottage becomes a safe harbor for Zoey, but while there she becomes embroiled in a dispute between her cousin whether her Aunt she be forced into a Assisted Living Center off the Island!
The Island has been her Aunt’s home for so many years. It has always been open to visiting family from the mainland as a respite and Aunt Ivy has loved the family visits.

Zoey meets Nick and then they discover some shocking secrets and twists that could affect the inheritance but the information could do more harm than good. Dilemma of what should be exposed is now up to Zoey and she is confused about all the dynamics of her family relationships and personal ones.
I think the author did a magnificent job at portraying the relationships between family members and her characters are believable and strong and emotional. The story has good flow that it kept me engaged with just enough air of mystery that I wanted to keep turning the pages.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

I was initially drawn to this book by its cover, I know we are told to not judge a book by the front cover but honestly I can confirm it has a huge impact on my decision to read ha! This book was such a fantastic read, I read it within a day as I just couldn’t put it down. Family drama is best described for this book, so many heightened emotions throughout making it very relatable for myself. I would highly recommend this book!

I really loved this book. It was so Heart warming loving and emotional book. While reading this it felt like I was there smelling the sea. I can't wait to read more from this author

Aunt Ivy’s Cottage is a heartwarming story about complicated family relationships, and long-buried secrets. Zoey returns to the house where her aunts live after losing her job, and along with taking care of them, she also becomes guardian of her troubled young niece. I enjoyed spending time with the characters in this book, as they overcame conflicts with love and understanding. The setting of this family drama was lovely, and the story is warm and uplifting.

This is a story about family. Grief and loss and secrets. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.

Great women's fiction book.
Likeable characters.
Emotional plotline. The whole story pulls you in.
Tissue needed, as there are many emotions addressed.
Love the multigenerational household.
4.25

A good heart warming read about love, family and secrets. The setting is beautiful but the plot is predictable in places and the story is a bit too long.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.