Aunt Ivy's Cottage: A totally gripping and emotional page turner

Aunt Ivy's Cottage by Kristin Harper was a delightful and couldn't put down surprise. This was my introduction to Harper's work and I'm looking forward to reading more. Harper's writing flows so well throughout the entire book and she weaves complex familial relationships. The setting of this book was enough to draw me in. Set in a beautiful old house on Dune Island not far from Boston and Providence, RI. It reminded me of being on Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard and admiring all the old, impressive family homes. I stayed for the great cast of characters, family drama and a mystery that grabbed me from the background. Zoey has lost her job and gone to visit her Aunts to help care for them. Zoey is also hoping to put her life back together after a break up that left her with very little money. Her cousin Mark seems to want to take the house out from under Aunt Ivy. Zoey's niece, Gabi, comes to stay with her as well. Zoey's sister, Jessica, was Gabi's mom. She passed six years before the book takes place but still is present in the family's memories. And there is a local carpenter that is handsome, a divorced dad and a true gentleman. Of course, the Aunts and their past play a big part of the story. This book is a super sweet and quick read. I think fiction readers would really enjoy it as much as I did. I wish the burgeoning romance with Nick had even more sparks! Looking forward to more romance in Harper's next books. You have to keep reading til the end for everything to be wrapped up! You'll never guess! Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC. #netgalley #AuntIvysCottage #Bookouture #KristinHarper

Aunt Ivy’s Cottage by Kristin Harper takes us to Dune Island where Zoey has experienced many happy memories. I thought the cover was just lovely for Aunt Ivy’s Cottage. The descriptions of the island and Aunt Ivy’s cottage are vivid. The author brought the scenery alive with her word imagery. There is a cast of characters with most of them related to Zoey. After the death of a close relative, Zoey stays on the island to take care of Aunt Ivy who is getting on in years. Zoey is then contacted by her niece’s stepmother. She would like to send Gabi, Zoey’s niece, to stay with Zoey with her while. She believes it is in the best interest of Gabi. Zoey is also dealing with the loss of a job and her cousin, Mark who is next in line to inherit the house. Mark would like his inheritance sooner rather than later and is trying to get Aunt Ivy to move into an assisted living facility. After a comment from a longtime island resident, Zoey begins to wonder if there is a secret that may help save Aunt Ivy’s home from Mark’s clutches. Aunt Ivy’s Cottage moved along at a meandering pace. The book needed action to help move it forward. The pace was very sluggish in places. The first paragraph of the blurb is completely inaccurate (finding a leatherbound diary in a trunk under a wedding dress). This paragraph is what made me pick up Aunt Ivy’s Cottage. My favorite characters are Aunt Ivy and Gabi. Aunt Ivy has a wealth of knowledge as well as family stories to share. Gabi is a teenager who lost her mother, her father has remarried—twice, and now her father is overindulging in alcohol. The poor girl has gone through a lot in her fourteen years. The mystery was not so mysterious. It is a cinch to figure out. The big “reveal” is a disappointment. I felt that one person’s reaction was dramatically understated. Based on how this character behaved throughout the book, I expected a big reaction and a dustup (there should have been fireworks). The scene was rushed, and I found it to be a disappointment. The romance between Nick, the local handyman/carpenter, and Zoey was okay. I did not feel any sparks between them. I like the premise for Aunt Ivy’s Cottage, but I feel the story needed a little more work. It needed continuity, action, and less focus on Zoey’s zigzagging emotions. I found much of Aunt Ivy’s Cottage to be gloomy. Death, grief, loss of job, and other topics are discussed along with the emotions. I wanted a heartwarming story, and I did not feel this met the mark. Aunt Ivy’s Cottage has a good premise but needs a little fine tuning (like fixing the inconsistencies). Aunt Ivy’s Cottage sweeps us away to a charming island where a family deals with two beloved relatives getting on in years and a long-buried secret.

Aunt Ivy’s cottage wasn’t really a cottage but a rambling old house that sounded amazing. The description of the interior made me want to see it in person. We meet Aunt Ivy, Aunt Sophie, Zoey, Mark, and Gabi. Aunt Sophie had just passed, Aunt Ivy still lived in the cottage, Zoey was there because she lost her job and was taking care of Aunt Sophie. Mark was there because he was selfish and wanted to see what he could do about getting Aunt Ivy’s house and use it as an investment. Gabi was there because her father needed someone to take care of her since he was in an alcohol rehabilitation center. I liked all of the characters - well all except Mark - as we learn about their life and loyalty to family. Mark wasn’t loyal. Mark was only out to get what he could from the family and kept looking for something in the house. There must be some secret in the family's past. When Zoey finds something out, she knows it must be what Mark has been worried about anyone finding out. AUNT IVY’S COTTAGE is a sweet read that will warm your heart because of the lovable characters and how they put family first. If you need an uplifting read, this book will be perfect. And look at that adorable cover. 5/5 This book was given to me for a tour by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.