Thank you to Little, Brown for sending me a copy of the novel and inviting me to be a part of the blog tour.

One summer, property seeker, Serendipity Parker finds herself on the beautiful west coast of Ireland, hunting for a home for a wealthy Irish client. But when she finds the perfect house in the small town of Ballykiltara, there’s a problem; nobody seems to know who owns it.

‘The Welcome House’ is a local legend. Its front door is always open for those in need of shelter, and there’s always a plentiful supply of food in the cupboards for the hungry or poor.

While Ren desperately tries to find the owner to see if she can negotiate a sale, she begins to delve deeper into the history and legends that surround the old house and the town. But for a woman who has always been focussed on her work, she’s remarkably distracted by Finn, the attractive manager of the local hotel.

But will she ever discover the real truth behind the mysterious ‘Welcome House’? Or will the house cast its magical spell over Ren and help her to find true happiness?

SOMETHING ISN’T SITTING RIGHT WITH ME ABOUT THIS, AND I RESOLVE TO DISCOVER JUST WHAT IT IS ABOUT THE PLACE WE’RE IN, THAT ON THE ONE HAND I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND, BUT ON THE OTHER FEELS SO VERY FAMILIAR.

As a massive fan of From Notting Hill with Love, Actually, I was giddy with excitement when I was offered the chance to read Ali McNamara’s new novel.

Packed with the usual feel good factor you’d expect from Ali McNamara, I had great fun following around our two strong female leads, Ren and Kiki, as they explore Ireland in search of properties and what a dynamic duo they are! Ren, short for Serendipity, is guarded, yet likeable, but in the first few chapters it was the brilliant and humorous characterisation of Kiki that stole the show!

Summer of Serendipity is escapism at its finest. The way McNamara writes about the fictional Ballykiltara (based on the very real location of Killarney) is just gorgeous. With lush, detailed descriptions, it is very easy to lose yourself in the surroundings alone. The Irish tourist board should take notes because McNamara’s writing will persuade you to change all your holiday plans and head off to the Emerald Isle!

Despite seeming like a fluffy, light-hearted read on the surface, there’s a dash of mystery to the story as it’s not just the house that has secrets dying to be uncovered with Ren and dashing hotel owner Finn both sharing tragedies in their past that they need to confront. With fascinating tidbits of history, folklore and customs, McNamara brings a real warmth and heart to the story.

A magical and charming read, rich in scenery and community that’ll make you fall in love.

RATING
★★★★

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