Secrets of Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson - Book Review

Series: Starshine Cove #2 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 21st Nov 2023

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming and sweet 

Cally is stretched thin between caring for her mother and handling her teenage son. She is so used to being needed and having an overflowing schedule that Cally doesn’t know what to do when she has too much time on her hands. 

In the spur of a moment, she decides to take a trip to Starshine Cove, a remote place with no signboard. Cally and Sam arrive at their destination right before Christmas and are pulled into the warmth and beauty of the small town. As Cally meets new people and makes friends, she wonders if this is the change she needs in her life. 

The story comes in Cally’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I didn’t read book one, but this works more than well as a standalone. Of course, you’ll have ‘spoilers’ for book one, but don’t we all know how a love story ends? ;) 

Cally is a forty-two-year-old single mother to an eighteen-year-old Sam. Her first-person POV, though limiting in perspective, is quite easy and refreshing to read. The writing style is informal and casual, with a good dose of dry humor. This works well and maintains a good balance between lightheartedness and emotional depth. 

I absolutely love Lilly (the fairy-obsessed eight-year-old) and Meg (a dinosaur-obsessed four-year-old). They are such a delight to read. Archie is a wonderful character (even if his Viking hair and beard aren’t my thing). 

Sam sure acts his age, but he is also a sweet young man who really loves his mother and grandmother. His character is just right (apparently, the author has teens of her own, so no surprise it’s spot on). There’s enough talk of social media and TikTok, which is to be expected. 

Starshine Cove is a picturesque location and magical in winter. The locals are just as heartwarming. Since this is a feel-good book, we won’t find villains or nasty people plotting behind the scenes. 

With themes like moving on, finding love again, learning to live for one’s self, taking risks, etc., the book has some worthy discussions deftly handled. 

There’s a third-act breakup, which is very well done and feels necessary for the characters. No misunderstanding, though. They sit, talk, and decide, even if that may not be what they want. 

To summarize, Secrets of Starshine Cove is an absolute comfort read with a cozy setting and some beautiful characters. It’s Christmas-themed, too, so that’s a plus. It is predictable but sweet. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Strom Publishing, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #SecretsofStarshineCove

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P.S.: Not a critique per se, but I ended up with two back-to-back books that talk about Bangladesh. The previous one is quite understandable since the Liberation War (1971) was going on. Here, it rather seems odd that a remote small town that doesn’t even have a signboard on the highway and works with donors to support the community is collecting funds to send to Bangladesh. Savior much? Maybe focus closer home and fund the poor nearby. England isn’t exactly a thriving economy, is it?