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REVIEW
Summer at the Cornish Beach Cafe is an exceptional powerful story about community, love, friendship, believing in yourself, realising the true meaning of beauty and not letting bullies crush your self-esteem. It is also about healing and finding your place with that ideal person who lets you be yourself and appreciates who you are. And Indigo Cove is the perfect coastal haven to invigorate the weary traveller, relive cherished memories, create new experiences and enjoy nature’s wonders.
Jessie Levine is jilted a fortnight before her wedding. Trying to recover from the shock of a cheating fiance, she decides to take a journey with her grandfather. They head to a special summer location on the Cornish coast where she had many wonderful childhood summer vacations and where he and, his late wife, Dorothy, had their heavenly honeymoon. Thus, the return is twofold. Jesse hopes it will give her a chance to heal and refocus her heart but also help her grandfather reclaim his cherished memories and reinstate some joy back into his life. Dorothy was a top photographer and created a beautiful photobook of their honeymoon experiences. Sadly, the precious book went missing when George moved into a new flat. So, he has booked a cottage in Indigo Cove to revisit their steps. But a week before the proposed visit, he has a hernia operation and is now unable to drive. Jesse offers to accompany him so he does not miss this important holiday mission. On top of this, she agrees to recreate the photos of the missing album. For like her grandmother, she has a gift of photography—even though she abandoned it for a time due to her ex-finance’s negative influence. So, Jesse strikes out to Indigo Cove with her grandpa in a vehicle named after Dorothy with plans to practice her talent once again. Will they both achieve the happiness they seek by reliving the past? Or will they find that history is a stepping stone to a new future?
Of course, there is romance in this story. Upon Jesse’s arrival at the Cove, memories from her teens come flooding back of a visit when she kissed a boy named Ashton. He set her heart aflame that night but then fled after the crucial moment. She was deeply hurt by the event and it added more fuel to her low self-esteem that was continually reinforced by a bad stepmother. Now fourteen years later, she bumps into Ashton again and all the suppressed emotions rise to the surface. What follows is a romantic story that oozes with depth and heartfelt meaning. Many relationship issues are explored and the sources behind them. Will broken hearts be mended when truths are discussed? I can reveal that the search for understanding gives this story a bold maturity. Its message of faith, hope and love shine like a beacon across the shores of these characters’ lives.
I’d like to note that making Jessie a photographer was so right for this story. For it is about perspective and perspective is very much a part of photography: looking at the world through a camera lens. Seeing yourself and others through one, puts the important things into focus. And we know that un-doctored photos don’t lie.
This journey of self-discovery and realisation unveils some wonderful truths in this novel. We learn more about why Ashton is in self-preservation mode, why he does not get close to anyone. He has had emotional injury inflicted upon him by his family (just as Jesse has grown up with negative reinforcement from her step-parent and other relationships). And then there is the issue with his sister. It all comes to a head and thoughts and dynamics get shifted. A lot is presented and unpacked in this tightly rendered story.
I love the fact it is also about a granddaughter and her grandfather. About families in general –broken ones, substitute ones, caring and non-caring ones. Animals, too, fit lovingly into the text. Donna’s stories always include them as they offer comic relief, liberating moments, companionship and happy movement in the story.
A writer weaves elements into their stories from the things their imaginations gather or collect. Sometimes memories, wishes and dreams flood to the surface and trickle into characters and events. It is obvious Donna has delivered a beautiful, honest and genuine story with pieces of her own heart, family and friends. These gem imprints captured and delivered in her words become like photographs in our minds—spilling into our own memories. Art is living: organic in that it is always growing, swelling and spilling from one wave into another.
A community that gives will receive—new members, new memories, new experiences. The Puzzle Club in this novel is one such example. It is a genius way to bring people together. Those who may feel alone, lost or forgotten meet in an activity where they develop purpose, friendship and joy. This novel offers a tender space where hearts can heal and have second, third, fourth or endless chances to begin again.
I loved, loved, loved this story which may be Donna’s best yet! There’s so much depth, desire, dedication and delight on these pages. Wisdom, too. I highly recommend Summer at the Cornish Beach Café. 5 Passionate Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.
