please help me find my next comfort read (I'm v fussy!)

[Namechangetimesigh]

(reposted as I put it in the wrong topic to start with)

I'm a total escapist comfort reader and I know exactly what I like, but having exhausted the back catalogue of my favourite authors (Jenny Colgan, Trisha Ashley and the comfort food cafe series) I'm always struggling to find another that hits the comfort-reading spot:

• set in the UK countryside or seaside
• featuring a sensible woman who makes the best of her situation, often through organisation, home/shop renovation or cooking
• quirky friends and/or family provide comedy
• nothing horrible happens
• romance optional

If it helps, I liked Cathy Bramley until her style changed slightly, I can't get into Debbie Johnson's non-comfort food cafe books and Heidi Swann very nearly hits the spot. For some reason, Kate Forster, Phillipa Ashley and Jo Bartlett didn't click for me.

Thank you!

Very obvious but have you read Rosalind Piltcher? Good solid comfort reading

Rosamund

I never re-read books, but make an exception for Pilcher's "Winter Solstice" at Christmas. Definitely a cozy comfort read.

Jodi Taylor's St Mary's chronicles
Anything by Sarah Addison Allen
The euphemia martins series
Maisie Dobbs series by Jaqueline Winspear

Fabulous. I’m making a list myself now!!

She left us before we were blessed with enough of her writing.

I thought about mentioning Sarah Addison Allen earlier but decided she was a bit too American. But in case that is not critical, I think they are supremely comforting and just the most lovely reads. (Did you know she published a new one last year after a massive gap - I think she's been unwell? I'm saving it for the right time to read it)

+1 for Rosamunde Pilcher.

The Shell Seekers is lovely as is September. It's all very comfort cosy reading often set in Cornwall. I'm feeling all nostaligic that I can't read them again for the first time.
Her longer books like those I mentioned tend to be better than the shorter ones.

The Agatha Raisin series of books may fit your requirements although its a very different beast. It's more light hearted quirky - very cosy though. I read a bunch before Agatha got too annoying. The books are way better than the tv series. It's sort of comedy parody of Miss Marple in a cosy village with problems like who poisoned the quiche at the fete.

I recommend Rhys Bowen books for a good read.

Me too with her books. I read her first, with shell seekers and it took my love of books to a different place.

Placemarking thank you

Are you me OP?
Looks like we have a very similar taste in books/authors.
I'm currently reading Holly Martin (saw someone recommended it already), and I can't put it down.

Stacey Halls writes beautifully.

Isla Dewar. 100%. They are exactly what you want.

These kind of books are almost always available in libraries btw so I'd go there before you spend all the housekeeping cash. Check and see if they do BorrowBox which is an e-reader app. You can download load e-library books and e-audiobooks. Totally brilliant thing.

Some Judy Astley books would fit your seaside brief. They're engaging without being demanding, and main the characters are generally already in relationships, so we can just get on with being amused at the vagaries of spouses, neighbours and children. Start with Just for the Summer for the seaside vibe, then you get to see if she suits you. Loads of books. As so often, I prefer the earlier ones.

Five now ordered and six more in 'save for later', there's bound to be a new favourite author in there and my 2023 reading is pretty much sorted thanks!

I loved 'My Not So Perfect Life' by Sophie Kinsella. I think that ticks all your boxes!

What did you buy @Namechangetimesigh ?

I love this type of book so would be interested if you come back to report on what you liked and didn't like so much of ones you hadn't tried before.

Here you go @ABoyCalledBasil the current ordered and save-for-later list. Mostly from Amazon because a sideline of mine pays in Amazon vouchers (but not the Judy Astley at that price!).

The Judy Astley is £2.42 on AbeBooks. A much better price for something that's a bit of a punt for you.
www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?kn=judy%20astley%20paperback%20books&sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF--TopNavISS--Results

I don't know if it's my browser- MN has been ultra tempremental for me today with repeat slow loading/page causing problems notification - usually it's the ads - but I can't properly see your image as it's a blurred for me even if I open the image in a new window.

I can tell one of the books is Winter Solstice (hooray for Rosamunde!) as I know the title and can see the word patrtern.
I think one is by Holly Martin but can't work out the rest.

Is it just my browser?

Has anyone suggested Gil McNeil, @Namechangetimesigh?

She wrote a trilogy where the main character has a yarn shop by the sea - they are very funny and a definite comfort read for me. The first one is Divas Don't Knit.

Some of Nora Roberts’ books are good comfort reads - the Bride Quartet is a favourite. I think A Vision in White is the first book - the books feature four friends who run a wedding venue - one does the photographs, one does the flowers, one makes the cakes and the other is the coordinator.

Nancy Thayer and Freya North are good comfort reading too.

@ABoyCalledBasil It's blurred for me in the thread, but when I click on the image, I can see all the covers properly.

Hi OP here with comfort-reading book reviews following all your recommendations.

I loved:
Coming Home to Brightside Bay by Holly Hepburn, I'll definitely try some of her others
The Vintage Teacup Club by Vanessa Greene, not quite on brief but a good holiday read nonetheless
Worth mentioning that I also loved the latest in the Thursday Murder Club series, I just wish they'd printed the paperback a bit smaller for holiday packing!

I did like, but won't re-read:
The Cornish Cream Tea Bus by Cressida McLaughlin - OK to dip in and out of, but you could see the plot twists coming from a mile away, it was really predictable
Sushi for Beginners by Marian Keyes - pretty off brief, a good read but not really my kind of thing, I get enough office shenanigans at work!

I didn't enjoy:
Poppy's Recipe for Life by Heidi Swain - it started off as one thing, then morphed into something else entirely
Summer at the Castle Cafe by Donna Ashcroft - I gave up after a few chapters, it just didn't hook me at all

Hope that helps someone with their own summer reading list x

I haven't read the full thread but I've just discovered Jessica Redland and they were lovely cosy reads. There is some romance in them but they are nice enjoyable reads set in the countryside.