Book Review - Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon

 

Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon tells the story of two people trying to reconnect after a painful breakup. Christi Reece is desperate for money, which marks a significant change from her former lifestyle. She once had more money than she could spend, but after a series of unfortunate events, her situation has worsened. She needs help, and she is certain her ex-boyfriend, Jack Colby, can provide it for her.

When Christi arrives in Hope Harbor, Jack wants nothing to do with her, especially since she broke his heart years ago. He has moved on and built a new life there, leaving no time for Christi. However, it becomes increasingly difficult for Jack to ignore her when she moves into the mysterious cottage nearby. Will they be able to heal from their past wounds?

The novel was an okay read. It didn’t feature any unexpected twists or turns, and it felt very predictable. Even though I didn’t read this book before, the story struck me as uncannily similar to another, creating a sense of déjà vu. The book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I had previously read several other books in the series, and some characters make a reappearance.

I found some of the characters unlikable, and the numerous coincidences undermined the story’s realism. I don’t understand why Christi thought Jack would help her after their rocky breakup. While I recognize her desperation for options, her situation didn’t seem as life-or-death as she portrayed to secure the money. Additionally, the mysterious cottage owner felt random. They didn’t appear to be someone Christi and Jack knew, yet their timing for certain events was always perfect. It seemed illogical for the owner to be a random outsider instead of a local invested in the couple. At times, I felt the story dragged, but Christi’s festival, which she spent much of the book planning, was discussed in only a paragraph or two. I would have loved to see the other locals’ and characters’ thoughts on the event and their interactions with it. Overall, if you are a fan of the series, you would likely enjoy the novel. It explores themes of second chances, forgiveness, and finding faith.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.