Another good book by this author about life, love, community and forgiveness. In this book we see former journalist turned café owner Kate Jackson disappear leaving her baby behind. The community steps in and like an family (and that is what the community becomes) there is plenty of emotion, arguments, control but plenty of love and laughter as well.

This is an uplifting story of what happens when people come together over a somewhat tragic incident and how the lives and stories of all the characters unfold. A great read and some great characters as well. I enjoyed this book and was well entertained by it.

Thank you NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was half way through Finding Joy in Oyster Bay when I discovered the author, Aussie Susan Duncan, had passed away today. Such a sad, terrible loss. She, and her writing, will be sorely missed. RIP.

Kate Jackson, well known for her work in the popular Briny Café in Cooks Basin, did a runner in the darkness of night, leaving her partner Sam, and their six month old baby alone, with just a note of apology for Sam to discover in the early hours. Sam loved and cared for Claire, but working on the barge five days a week wasn't the life for a baby. The dangers were great and the barge wasn't designed to cater for a baby. Sam took Claire to the Briny Café, to Ettie, and she took control. Caring for Claire during the week, with Sam having her for the weekends looked good for the foreseeable future - hopefully Kate would return before too long...

But Ettie could see Marcus, her partner, was tiring. He had retired, but with Kate gone he needed to work in his old job of Chef, a job he loved. The exhaustion of being on his feet all day, then a baby to contend with at night was taking its toll - and on Ettie. What could they do? It was then a group of retirees - the GeriEcstasies - decided to step in to clear the way to a more positive future. Lizzie, Ettie's good friend, was part of the group. But would their plans succeed?

I have always enjoyed Susan Duncan's writing and Finding Joy in Oyster Bay is no exception. The characters are down to earth, a jovial group, close and always there for each other, helping out when necessary. Set on the outskirts of Sydney, in Pittwater, Oyster Bay is a close community, both in the fictional stories created by Susan Duncan, and in real life. A story of love, life, hardship and community spirit, Finding Joy in Oyster Bay is one I recommend highly.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read and review.

E-book Review

Finding Joy In Oyster Bay is a book about a book that gives you a mix of emotions while reading as it goes through things such a grief, abandonment, joyfulness, old age talk, relationships, family, friendships.

The community in Oyster Bay is like one big family that when one falls, everyone else steps in to help no matter the cost. The characters in this I truly enjoyed except for one who I found quit rude and not understanding and didn't like how one could leave a baby.

Thank you netgalley and Allen and uwin for letting me read this wonderful story ❤️

ARC REVIEW:

This is a book that has me feeling a mix of confliction and confusion. The writing is excellent and there is lots about the story that I love, but somehow Kate’s abandonment of her baby and the way things ended for her in this series, just didn’t sit well at some level.

This is a book about a community filled with well meaning people with good intentions, who like to interfere in the name of help. Whether their help is asked for, whether they count the cost of the help they give both to themselves and to others, is something that they only briefly consider. At times this leads to rushed decisions and untimely ultimatums.

I love the characters of Sam, Cliffy and Jimmy and yet feel sorry for all three particularly Sam who is constantly taken advantage of because of his good nature and desire to help. There are so many other great characters within this book and rich backstories, including Marcus with his cooking and all the geriecstasies who try their best to offer help to Kate.

Thanks to Netgalley and Allen & Unwin for letting me read an advanced copy in exchange for a review. Available for purchase from 3/12/24.