Book Review - Summer Dreams at the Lakeside Cottage by Erin Green

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Title: Summer Dreams at the Lakeside Cottage

Author: Erin Green

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Review

Publication Date: 20th July 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

Welcome to the Lakeside Cottage . . . a place to escape, where friendship awaits . . .

When Beth, Koo and Lulu wake up in the same hotel room in Bath, wearing each other's hen night attire, they are extremely confused - especially as they have never met before. But what begins that night is just the start of a week of surprises . . .

Beth has followed the traditional path in her relationship with Dale, and now their wedding is just days away - but is it really what she wants?

Koo's relationship with Judd has been anything but expected - especially by her family. Is she right to trust her instincts and go through with this marriage?

For Lulu, the big day approaching signifies nothing but heartache as the man she loves is marrying another. Should she fight for the happiness they both deserve?

The three women make a snap decision to escape to a beautiful Lake District cottage for one week, hoping that the gift of their new-found friendships will help them make the biggest decision of their lives.

So a nun, a flapper girl and a woman in a bathtub wake up in the same room together...  and I have to say that sounds like it should be the start of an epic joke. 

But what is is the very memorable start of this new Erin Green book, for the readers, not the characters as they initially have absolutely no idea why none of them even recognise the room or how they got there. 

It soon becomes apparent they all left separate hen nights and are all either due to be married, or is a maid of honour, all for weddings at 2pm the following Saturday. 

What follows is a story of self discovery for all three of our leading ladies, Beth, Koo and Lulu, who are all completely different, from different walks of life and all go through a massive journey of the heart and of working out what their heart desires throughout this story.  And amazingly for most of the book we only hear about the men third hand. 

For although this is about female friendship, building new bonds, it's not necessarily a romance, more an exploration of various relationships.

And honestly I couldn't have predicted any of this book if I had tried.  I love the fact they decide to retreat to a Lakeside cottage for a rather different "hen week" and to try to get their heads straight, and the fact they have to tell each other their back stories is a great device for letting the reader in on the same info. 

This is such a different premise for a book, and I loved it for it. I enjoyed getting to know our ladies, and seeing what decisions they would come to.  And I'm already looking forward to the sequel, which I have just opened but not started reading on my kindle!  Can't wait to see what will be in store next time. 

Highly enjoyable story. 

Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.