I love so many things about Ireland: the landscape, the people, the Irish accent, the attitude to life and Guinness 🙂 Where does this love come from? Because I have a very special connection to Ireland. When I was 20 years old, I lived in Dublin for about 8 months as an au pair. So I was even more excited when I found out that one of the Romatic Escape Series had Ireland as its setting. If I hadn’t been kind enough to receive an ARC from the publisher, I would have bought the book without a second thought, I wouldn’t even have read the blurb. I feel quite guilty that this book has been on my TBR for so long. Anyway, when I lived in Ireland, I traveled around the country a lot and I know exactly how beautiful the irish countryside is that Julie Caplin describes in her book. So I was able to empathize with the book even more. But let’s start from the beginning …

The novel centers around Hannah Campbell, a young woman who decidedes to leave her high-stress Manchester (single) life as a lawyer behind to attend a cooking the Killorgally cookery school for six weeks. Well, Hannah is a great lawyer, but she can’t cook. Nevertheless, good food is her great passion. She simply wants to learn to cook and become more more confident about it. During a stopover in Dublin, she meets the charming Conor. The two spend a romantic evening together, but falling in love seriously is out of the question for both of them. The following day, Hannah travels on to tranquil County Kerry. The place is idyllically situated between green hills and breathtaking cliffs, everyone knows everyone here. And Hannah soon realizes that she cannot forget Conor – and that secrets are not in good hands in Dublin …

The characters in The Cosy Cottage in Ireland are well-drawn and relatable. Hannah is a likable protagonist, and her personal growth is believable and satisfying. She starts off insecure and uncertain, but as the novel progresses, she gradually regains her confidence and learns to embrace her strengths. Therefore, the cookery course is symbolic of the transformation that Hannah undergoes, which she herself begins to recognize (calling it ‘Ireland Hannah’ when she sees that difference emerging).

Living on the working farm/cookery school, Hannah learns not just about the importance of food, but to take time out for herself. Hannah is able to admit that her life in Manchester isn’t really living: her apartment is just a place to sleep; she is fully dedicated to her job with little room for anything else; and she lacks the confidence to take risks and make a change. Her journey feels authentic, and readers will root for her as she navigates her new life in Killorgally.

Julie Caplin’s writing is vivid and engaging, making the reader feel as though they are truly wandering along the beach of Inch or the fields of the land of the Byrns. The descriptions of the setting are one of the novel’s highlights, as she paints a quaint and idyllic picture of Irish life. Caplin greatly captures the magic of rural Ireland, from its rolling hills to its close-knit community, and makes the reader yearn for a simpler, slower-paced life

Caplin has a knack for creating comforting atmospheres, and this book is no exception. The story feels like a hug in book form, with plenty of scenes set around cozy firesides, bustling kitchens, and local pubs where warmth and laughter abound. The food descriptions alone – from hearty stews to freshly cooked goods – are enough to make your mouth water and add an extra layer of comfort to the overall experience.

The Cosy Cottage in Ireland is a warm, charming, and uplifting read that transports you to the beautiful Irish countryside and immerses you in the life of a woman rediscovering herself. Julie Caplin’s ability to craft comforting settings and endearing characters makes this book a perfect escape for readers who enjoy lighthearted, feel-good romances with a strong sense of place.

The Cosy Cottage in Ireland was published in 2021 but it took me a while to get around to reading and reviewing it which is unfortunate because I really enjoyed it! Fans of The Great British Baking Show will probably like this romance set at a baking school in the Irish countryside. Hannah is an English lawyer who decides to go to the Killorgally Cookery School to improve her almost nonexistent culinary skills. On her first night in Ireland, she has a fling with a handsome stranger named Conor. Sure she'll never see him again, she makes her way to the school. Imagine her surprise when not only does she find out that Conor is a bit of a celebrity in Ireland, but his family also runs the cooking school! This book is a sweet and fun romance set in a gorgeous location.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Such a fun read! Loved this one!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #thecosycottageinireland #netgalley

Hannah is a lawyer and to be a honest a workaholic. She never takes her leave, turns up to work on time and always fights the gold fight. Until she decides she needs a change and signs herself up to a 6 week cookery course in Ireland. When she arrives she is meet by the Burn's family who are all well renowned for their master cooking. The only thing is Hannah doesn't have a clue who they are. Connor is her first encounter but will he be the last ?

After reading "The secret Cove in Croatia." I knew I must read all of Julie's books.

This book has the most beautiful setting. Not only is it in Ireland close to the coast it has a cottage which Hannah begins to see as home. I loved the description of Ireland and it really made me feel like I was their as well. Which is something Julie does in all her books. However unlike "The little Paris Patisserie." This is where the description stops. I felt like the precedent of such glorious food being described was lost in this book. Largely I think due to the fact that you spend very little time in the cooking school itself. Whereas the other books were centred about the businesses this one, as per the title, was centred around the cottage. Hence you loose a big portion of the food aspect of things which for me was a shame and makes me feel the author lost the shape her series has taken.

I loved the story and plot line. Its well written and felt myself connecting with the characters. Definitely recommend

Cozy, cozy, cozy is this books best description. It was a curl up with a blanket and coffee and just melt away to Ireland for a few hours. I will be constantly recommending this book and author to anyone looking for a feel good story. The writing was great. Once I dove in it was like no other place existed. I look forward to coming back to this one again and again.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley

Loved this charming and well written book. Read in one sitting and I'm looking forward to reading more by this writer.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

When you start a page and fall in love already. Get me to that boutique hotel

I loved the story so much. Hannah was a fab strong independent woman and I admired her so much for what she was doing. I love how the trip changed her and how she was on a journey of self discovery.

The first night her and Connor met - wow the chemistry.

What I loved
The setting
The easy style of the writing
The cookery class concept - such a great idea.
The family element.
The romance.

I would definitely recommend this

I like Caplin's work a lot, but I didn't realize how short of a time frame I had to read this book before it came out.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ecopy of The Cosy Cottage in Ireland in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy the Romantic Escapes series and this is one of the best yet! It was a real page turner, I was hooked from the first page!

Can't wait for the next one!

P.S. Can we please have some more in exotic locations 🤞

Love all of her books. They have warmth, love and humor. Loved the setting in Ireland. It had great discriptions of the place. Love and cooking!

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book

This was a cute story. I loved the setting and liked the characters. At times I wished there was a little more happening, I felt the story dragged. I will definitely read another book by this author.

A heartwarming story and definitely want to get cosy and curl up with.The story centres around Hannah who is looking for time out from her busy life as a lawyer, she books herself onto a cookery course in Ireland, where she meets Conor, a handsome guy that might just make this trip a little more fun. All her life Hannah has been brought up to be levelheaded and sensible one and someone who definitely doesn't take risks. Alone in a Dublin hotel Hannah acts totally out of character, after all it's one night or will fate have other plans? The cookery school plays host to a group of students from different backgrounds and with different personalities, cleverly written to bring the characters together and form friendships. Not a usual cookery school, this one teaches the whole concept of food to table with students needing to help around the farm as well as learning to cook. As always in romantic fiction the path for Hannah and Conor isn't straightforward, and you will be drawn in with their trials and tribulations on the path to finding love.

Loved this book from start to finish. Set in the countryside of Ireland Hannah begins a cookery course where she falls in love in more ways than one. It's a journey of self discovery and enlightenment with added humour, colourful characters and a touch of suspense.

The Cosy Cottage in Ireland is the second book by the author that I have read, and it will probably be the last one.
I don’t think her books are particularly bad, I just don’t think they are for me.

This was a buddy read with Amanda. Last year (or maybe in 2020) we read Julie Caplin’s novel set in Croatia (my country) and although we didn’t really enjoy it, we knew we wanted to try her other work.

Just to give you an example how forgettable this story was, I will mention that while we were reading and discussing it, I surely favorited one before the other, and now I don’t even know which one I thought was better: the one set in Croatia or this one set in Ireland (but my bet is on this one).

The writing style was simple but still it wasn’t as easy to read as one would assume.
It felt like we were reading 500+ pages when the book has 373 pages (which is still too long in my opinion).

I didn’t like the guy who was the love interest (and whose name I have already forgot) nor his mother.
He was a sexist full of himself (ok, he had some sexist comments but I don’t think he was a man schwain or anything similar to that) and his mother was cold bitch who didn’t even realize it (and I am not sure the author did either).
If I was Hannah I would ask for money refund and run away.

As for the setting, it was good. Also, it was nice to read about the smaller town from that country.
Do I think I’ve learned something new about Ireland? Not really, but it was still a good escape and I appreciate it.

I love everything that Julie Caplin writes and this book is no exception. It is the perfect book to feel 'cosy' with by curling up and reading on your sofa as fictional escapism. I'd highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the Author for my copy of The Cosy Cottage in Ireland. I buddy read this book with Irena. We both chose to read this after reading a previous book by the same Author which was based in Croatia.

Caplin has written 8 of these 'Romantic Escape' novels, and the cover and descriptions of all of them are so inviting. This particular one appealed to me because it was based in a cookery school in Ireland. Being a real foodie, I hoped for plenty of foodie descriptions to delight in.

The story follows Hannah who is a lawyer travel from her home town of Manchester, UK to a small village in Ireland to do a month long cookery course. Of course this is a 'Romantic Escapes' book, so of course there was romance with the very tasty sounding Conor.

Although, I enjoyed this book, there was not enough drama for me. It was an easy read, with amazing descriptive surroundings. It sounds like an idyllic place to live or holiday. I'd have liked more foodie talk, but that could be just me wanting overkill on the food talk. I was grateful that they learned to cook a range of foods, like breads, vegetables, etc, not just cakes.

I got a good sense of who all the characters were. Some I took quite a dislike to, and some I liked. I was critical of some of the things that a few characters did, for example the owner of the cookery school seemed to me to be quite selfish money orientated woman, which is not the kind of person I'd expect to run such a school. She didn't seem to care to much about her guests, as she made them work for her and punished them for swearing, by making a swear pot! Not what I'd expect after paying a fortune to go to a high end cookery school.

The book was ok, but it didn't grip me as much as I'd have hoped it would. I wanted a bit more drama towards the end, and I found myself wanting to finish it quickly so I could go onto my next book.

My favourite part of these books are the covers and descriptions, they really make me want to read them all. But sadly, this one has put me off reading anymore of the ' Romantic Escapes' series. After reading many reviews of this book, I think I am in the minority with this decision.

Another success by Julie! This was a great little story; I love the plot, the setting, the characters and the relationships. I think it could have benefitted from an epilogue, just to finalise some of the other potential ‘will they won’t they’ relationships, but leaving it open has spoilt the story. As always, very much looking forward to the next instalment in the series.

When Hannah wants a change of pace from her life as a lawyer she books a cookery course in Ireland
There are wonderfully drawn characters, the other cookery course participants and cookery school owners. The food is beautifully described making a mouth watering read throughout. They have to complete tasks to show them how the food they are cooking is grown and collected daily. Wonderful setting in Ireland makes for a great read.