New Beginnings at The Cosy Cat Café tells the story of Tori who, after being dumped and left stranded by her long-term boyfriend Ryan on a trip of a lifetime to Asia, returns home to the sleepy Sussex village of Blossom Heath with her tail between her legs and her dreams shattered. Donning her frilly apron to help her Mum, Joyce, behind the counter at The Cosy Cup Café, Tori starts to believe – with the help of a hunky fireman and a clowder of rescue cats - that perhaps the secret to her future happiness might lie closer to home than she ever thought possible. If you love your romance with a side order of cake, cats and cosy community dynamics, this is the purrfect uplifting, feel-good read from the winner of the RNA Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year 2023.Your favourite authors love Julie Haworth's 'A warm, romantic story about community, friendship and following your heart, Always By Your Side is a feel-good delight, I adored it!' HOLLY MARTIN'Always By Your Side engages the reader from the very first page, and immerses you into the lives of Rose and her aunt, in the delightful setting of Blossom Heath. I loved it' PATRICIA SCANLAN ‘Warmth, charm, romance and a dog named Scout, there’s SO much to love about Always By Your Side! An absolute delight!’ FIONA COLLINS 'Heartfelt and a joy to read' ROSA TEMPLE '‘Heart-warming and delightful. I completely devoured it!’ LAURIE ELLINGHAM
My goodness I needed this book. Is New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe most challenging book I’ve ever read? No. Is it the most literary book I’ve ever read? Also no. Is it utterly charming, being filled with romance and community with a wonderful story that allows the reader time away from the stress of real life? Absolutely. I so enjoyed escaping between its pages.
The plot is relatively gentle, and although it has moments of drama and tension, what I enjoyed most was the way the story is entirely believable. What happens in Blossom Heath feels relatable, authentic and engaging. The petty rivalries between some of the villagers, the sense of community and place are pitch perfect, making the reader feel as if they live there too.
The characters are warm, vivid and relatable. New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe may have Tori as the focus, but I loved meeting all the villagers. They have their strengths, weaknesses and foibles, and there is a moment with Violet that I felt showed incredible humanity but you’ll need to read the book to discover that for yourself. As a result of reading this book I rather fell in love with Leo and thought the fact that his name is linked to large cats was inspired! The cats themselves are quite wonderful. As a cat lover, I felt New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe depicted them to purrfection!
So many interesting themes are woven in to the story, as well as the romance one might expect. I really enjoyed the reality presented of creating a business plan, charity work, fund raising, the place of social media in our lives and so on. The concept of community and belonging is strong, but I think I enjoyed the idea of self knowledge the most. Several characters from Tori to Violet, Cora to Claire, and Leo to Ryan all discover something about themselves at so that there’s a real sense of growth as well as entertainment in the story.
New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe is a gentle, authentic, heart-warming story and one I very much enjoyed because it allowed me to escape the cares of the world and be entertained by an author who really seems to care about people and who writes with humanity.
This improved dramatically after the initial 150 pages,which were slow. Once the story picks up and the slight mystery element kicks in it becomes quite interesting and keeps you reading.
I liked the ending but it did all feel a little rushed and convenient- especially considering how drawn out the beginning of this book was.
I appreciate this is in the “cozy” lit genre, but I would have appreciated the “bad guys” to actually have a bit of depth. I thought we were getting somewhere with the ultimate villain of the story but once they are caught in the act they apologize and change their ways immediately and that just felt like a convenience to the story. This person has been actively sabotaging Tori for 200-300 pages of the story and then as soon as they’re found out they turn into a perfect citizen and immediately acknowledge their faults?! It just didn’t ring true for me. I would have preferred for the villain to have promised all the changes and then fled the following day having not followed up on any of the promises. Only to find out they had been meddling in various other ways that the MC has to then fix. It would have been a more interesting ending to that plot line and would have avoided the story ending in a perfectly neat bow, which isn’t how life works!
Despite this personal preference, I ended up enjoying this read and it was perfectly pleasant. It wasn’t really a romance (two tame kisses does not a romance make!) but it was cute, with light hearted moments and if you’re a cat lover you will be hard-pushed not to enjoy at least some moments of this book.
I can’t thank Sarah -Jade Virtue enough for introducing me to this author by way of winning her giveaway for a copy of the book.
What a gorgeous, emotional, cat filled, feel good story of new beginnings and a supportive community. Just what I needed.
I was fully immersed in Tori’s story and new venture - to update her mum’s successful village café to a cat café. Having just returned from Thailand, minus her boyfriend who dumped her after four years, she brings the idea of the many cat cafés she visited, as well as ideas to add some of the food she enjoyed on her travels into the new menu. If anyone is thinking of opening a cat café, this book has so many ideas! I’m delighted to read there is a real Cosy Cat Café in Kent.
Of course there is a spanner in the works. Violet has been against the cat café from day one and Tori believes she is running a campaign to put people off visiting the café.
There is a new love interest and none other than Leo, a fireman *swoon*, but is Tori ready to trust her heart to a new relationship after being so badly hurt by her ex?
Delighted to see this is the second book in the Blossom Heath series which I shall be reading whilst I await book three.
"New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Café" by Julie Haworth is a heartwarming blend of coffee, cats, love, and warmth.**
The story centers on Tori, the protagonist, whose life becomes entangled with two men, Ryan and Leo. Inspired by a trip to Japan, Tori dreams of opening her own cat café, and her warm and supportive mother, Joyce, is by her side every step of the way.
This book radiates positivity and optimism throughout its pages, offering inspiration for those who aspire to achieve something unique in life. However, the detailed descriptions and numerous characters can make the story feel a bit lengthy. The pace is somewhat slow at the beginning, and the frequent use of "love" by Joyce in her conversations with Tori becomes a bit repetitive.
The book is a rich tapestry of emotions—love, heartbreak, friendship, empathy, betrayal, and more, all woven together beautifully. The chemistry between Leo and Tori is well-portrayed, while Claire's suspicious nature, hinted at from the start, is eventually confirmed. Tori’s friends, including Rose, stand by her from beginning to end, adding depth to the narrative. Tori’s relentless effort to achieve her dream is a key element that leaves readers satisfied and happy with her success.
If you’re in the mood for a feel-good story filled with warmth and positive energy, this book is for you.
This book was cute, but SIMPLE and also long. The writing style felt like an elementary school book? It was so basic and so repetitive--some of the same points/sentences were literally said multiple times. I did spot a noticeable amount of typos (like 5 or 6) which always blows my mind that editing lets those slide! However, I loved the mention of Japan and all of the cute cats in the book made this an enjoyable read.
This is a wholesome book and it was a good way to start off my 2025 reading. ☺️
2.5⭐︎ rounded up A lazy, uncomplicated read - almost too much so at times, it did feel almost shallow/too easy at points and a little dialogue-heavy for me. But a cute little story, with a group of soft supportive characters.
I was so excited when I saw the author was writing another story set in Blossom Heath. I loved Always By Your Side, such a feel-good story. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on New Beginnings! Did I love it as much? Oh yes. So much so that I was sad when it ended…
When Tori returns alone to Blossom Heath from her travels, her confidence is low and with her planned future no longer something to work towards, she’s lost her way (and lost her faith in relationships). It’s not long before she’s in contact with the friends she went to school with and when her mum makes a suggestion, she starts to feel excited about life in Blossom Heath.
I loved the bond she has with her mum Joyce – so nurturing, caring and looking out for each other. The same can be said for Tori’s friendship with Rose too. You know when characters make an appearance from previous stories in a series it’s often just a passing reference? Not so with Rose. Brilliant to see her involved in Tori’s life and as a result, how things are with Jake and her school job. I really liked this continuity.
I enjoyed the Cosy Cat Cafe taking shape with all the planning, support and conflict with the village. Plenty happens to provoke emotions 🙂 There are scenes that made me want to rage but balanced so well with heart-warming scenes. Adding new items to the menu alongside customer favourites is not only a hit in Blossom Heath but inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. I haven’t been disappointed yet!
The stories that thread through of customers and the impact of being with the cats (and adopting them) is really touching. It was great to see Mason and his mum Hayley pay a visit 🙂 I loved that the resident cats have their own personalities. The welfare of the cats, Grace (the vet) and the charity are so cleverly woven through the story.
The ‘will they won’t they’ isn’t forced at all for Tori and Leo. I’ve got to say, Leo is pretty hot! Not only does he have the looks but when we meet him (might not have said the same before haha) he is considerate and thoughtful. And those sparks between the two of them… Leading up to the barn dance I did wonder if the past would pull her in though and kept shouting at her to go with her instinct, to trust herself. There’s more than one romance building up too.
Blossom Heath is a community I would live in. Now my thoughts are turning to who could be the focus in the next story (fingers crossed there is more!). Nina would be great and even though I dislike Claire, her growth as a character would be worth reading about. Or maybe Jess. I’d like to see her stay and not move away.
You don’t need to have read Always By My Side to enjoy New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe although I would recommend that you do.
I dare you to walk past a book with a title like that! There I was, wandering through the supermarket ready meal aisle, into the books and this one mewed to me from the shelf.
Tori's dream trip around Asia with boyfriend Ryan ends with a single ticket back home to Blossom Heath, and lost luggage. Everyone loves Ryan, and Tori can't bring herself to tell people he broke up with her in Thailand and decided to stay out there. In fact, there is a good chance he'll come to his senses and come back to her so there's no point really in announcing a split if it's more of a... blip. So instead, Tori puts a brave face on things and keeps herself busy helping her mum behind the counter at their cafe.
It's not just tea and scones that help keep Tori's mind from wandering to white sandy beaches. Her mum Joyce was struggling to manage the cafe while her daughter was away and her health was deteriorating. Tori is only too happy to take on more responsibility and introduces a few things to the menu she experienced on her travels. When her cat Ernie gets himself stuck up a tree, an encounter with animal-loving firefighter Leo sparks an idea - why not turn their business into a Cat Cafe like the ones Tori visited on her travels?
Things of course do not go according to plan and there is some local opposition to the idea of cats in a cafe but eventually, with the help of her mum, old friends and new, the Cosy Cat Cafe opens with a lovely litter of purrrrfect feline friends all available for adoption. However, those initial 'teething troubles' don't seem to be going away. It soon becomes clear someone is trying to sabotage Tori's venture. Does she have the resilience to keep fighting, especially when a certain someone shows his face at the door?
I really enjoyed how the book showed visiting the cafe met so much to so many different people. The cats I'm afraid stole every scene with their antics and personalities (huge love for Mr Wiggles) but the human characters were also well rounded and relatable. The romance between Leo and Tori is a winner, just the right amount of sweetness. The scenes with Izzy at the cat rescue were interesting and important showing the cats were well cared for, and that animal welfare was top priority.
I'm a cat lover but cannot have one of my own. Reading this has moved a trip to a Cat Cafe at the top of my bucket list!
I would never thought a romance book would hit so hard like this one, (because I’m not a fan of romance in general), everything in this book was so wholesome I love it AND I CRIED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK STOP😭
First of all, the overall vibe Blossom Heath gives it just small cosy village which is exactly what it’s supposed to be, everyone knows each other, gossiping spreads like the wind and the residents supports each other no matter what
I’ve really enjoyed all of the characters, even though our main girly, Tori shines the most, other characters like Rose, Cora, Violet and Lara have captured my heart <3
The cats are ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE (I loved them all but Valentine, Daisy, Mr. Wiggles and Ernie are top tier)
While the romance was very simple, it still felt very strong and just overall sweet😭 For me it felt a little fast and also slow at the same time🤷♀️ But it became clearer and even better towards the end Leo is definitely a good man and I love him so much, not just because he’s handsome, it’s genuinely because of his amazing character and his relationship with Tori <3
The writing style is very simple, so I can understand that this book might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely worth a try!
New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Café is not just any romance book, it shows you how you can overcome your fears and you should not be afraid to miss an opportunity for an adventure I definitely recommend it if you like cosy romances with lots of wholesomeness between the villagers themselves and no spice (only kissing and holding hands) and of course, especially if you love cats just like I do :D While this is a romance book it also follows the development of the Cosy Cat Café and the amazing characters that live in Blossom Heath💗
Avete presente quelle giornate in cui il mondo sembra correre troppo veloce e l’unica cosa di cui avreste bisogno è un abbraccio, un cappuccino caldo e le fusa di un gatto? Ecco, "La Piccola Caffetteria dei Nuovi Inizi" di Julie Haworth è esattamente questo. 🌸 Non è un libro con grandi pretese e lo si legge volentieri. La protagonista è Tori, una ragazza in cui è impossibile non immedesimarsi. Torna nel Sussex dopo un lungo viaggio in Asia e una rottura traumatica con il suo ex. Si ritrova a dover ricominciare da zero nella tranquilla Blossom Heath. In questa cittadina ritroviamo le atmosfere tipiche degli small town, in cui tutti si aiutano e sanno tutto di tutti. Tori decide di trasformare il bar della madre in un Cat Café. Nonostante lo scetticismo iniziale e qualche "intoppo" (di un misterioso sabotatore), Tori riuscirà a trovare la sua strada, realizzando il suo sogno. Lungo la strada la forza della comunità la sosterrà ma anche l'incontro con Leo, un pompiere dal cuore d’oro che sembra uscito da un sogno, ma con la concretezza di chi sa davvero esserci. Perché leggerlo 📖 ? • L’atmosfera "Cozy": È un libro che profuma di burro, dolci e caffè. Se amate le ambientazioni inglesi dove tutti si conoscono, vi sentirete subito a casa. • Tori è una protagonista reale in cui ci si ritrova, dubbi, paure, delusioni, Tori ci ispira simpatia perché è reale. • È una storia dolcissima, prima di tutto di amore verso se stessi e i propri sogni. A volte la vita ci fa tornare proprio dove non avremmo immaginato ma dove esattamente dovremmo essere, per mostrarci ciò abbiamo sempre cercato. 🌸 Se stai attraversando un cambiamento e cerchi conforto allora questo libro fa per te, tutto si aggiusta con un cappuccino e le fusa di un gatto tra le braccia 🐈
La pequeña cafetería de los nuevos comienzos es una lectura dulce y acogedora, perfecta para disfrutar de historias que combinan romance, crecimiento personal y ese toque de sentirse bien tan reconfortante. La ambientación es encantadora y consigue transmitir esa sensación de hogar que tanto se busca en este tipo de novelas.
Aunque la trama es predecible en algunos puntos y no sorprende demasiado, tiene un encanto sencillo que funciona. Los personajes son agradables, la historia fluye bien y deja un buen sabor de boca.
Una lectura ligera y agradable, ideal para desconectar y dejarse llevar por una historia amable y optimista.
e poi e poi e poi..................... ecco avevo grandi aspettative di curiosità su questo libro e invece............ allora parte bene, anche se a POV unico e qualche passaggio poco chiaro; il POV di lui arriva dopo metà libro ed è comunque poco sviluppato poco accattivante, anzi lui appare debole e indeciso la storia è tutto un e poi e poi e poi................e poi al finale cosa? resta tutto lì senza un senso, con un fine che non sa di nulla insomma indefinibile tre stelle
Certo non mi aspettavo il romanzo del secolo, ma sicuramente non è il “miglior esordio romance 2025”. Deludente, inizia con la solita storiella della protagonista che viene lasciata ma che non si chiede nemmeno il perché. Torna a casa, rivede tutti, fa progetti, si intravede questo “pompiere sexy” (che almeno per metà libro potrebbe anche fare a meno di esserci) e niente, ho mollato la lettura. Noioso, senza nessun colpo di scena o dettaglio che ti invoglia a proseguire oltre. Forse dopo migliora, chissà.
Una lectura tierna, reconfortante y con un mensaje claro: nunca es tarde para reinventarse. Tori, nuestra protagonista, regresa a Blossom Heath—su pueblo natal—tras una ruptura en Tailandia y un buen golpe a su autoestima. Lo que no imaginaba era que ese regreso marcaría el comienzo de un nuevo capítulo… ¡junto a gatos!
En lugar de empezar desde cero, Tori decide darle un giro a la antigua cafetería de su madre y convertirla en una cat café, en colaboración con la protectora local Nuevos Comienzos. A partir de ahí, el libro mezcla segundas oportunidades, rescates (felinos y humanos), y el poder de la comunidad.
💡 Lo que me gustó: • La idea del cat café, original y adorable. • La ambientación: Blossom Heath es de esos pueblos que abrazan. • El mensaje esperanzador sin caer en lo empalagoso.
Una novela feel-good con un extra peludo que encantará a los amantes de los animales.
Picked this up during a reading slump — I was looking for something light and simple to help reset my reading palate. At first, it did help in that sense. But overall, this just wasn’t the book for me.
The dialogue was incredibly repetitive, with constant “said Tory,” “said Joyce” — it felt robotic and lifeless. Conversations came across as overly polite and forced, with no real spark or authenticity. The characters were flat, lacking emotional depth or distinct personalities.
There was no real conflict or drama — very low stakes throughout. The writing style was overly simple.
One subplot (Sarah) was mildly interesting — I might look into what happens with her later. But otherwise, this just wasn’t worth finishing for me.
No sé si será por la traducción pero las relaciones entre los personajes y las situaciones me han parecido un tanto vacías y demasiado happy flower. No se ve un gran desarrollo de los personajes y el uso constante de diminutivos y cursilerías da la sensación de que fuesen interacciones entre niños pequeños. Veo que los libros en inglés no tienen tan malas reviews, así que entiendo que seguramente la traducción sea el problema.
La historia en sí es adorable y cozy, pero tampoco sucede gran cosa. No hay un drama intenso y aunque lo hubiera, la forma de expresarse de los personajes no lo daría a entender.
Es una lectura amena y relajada, pero a veces cuesta retomarla por la falta de sustancia.
After being dumped by her boyfriend Ryan, while on a trip of a lifetime in Asia. Tori goes back to her home town, Blossom Heath in Sussex. She begins to pick up work at her mum's cafe, with small disasters happening every so often, and with the help of fireman Leo, things start to take a turn. With new plans to update the cafe, and some rescue cats. What can go wrong?
Cosy, cute, purrfect. As a cat lover. This was a sweet little book. A book that I will continuously recommend to people. It was filled with cats, drama, romance, family and new friends.
Sinceramente, compré el libro por la portada 😅 esperaba una lectura “cozy”, tranquila, con la que poder desconectar. Obviamente es un historia un poco predecible, pero está bien para pasar el rato.
Lo que no me convence es la traducción. Siento que había frases que se repetían muchísimo durante todo el libro. Las conversaciones se me hacían demasiado cursis, repetitivas, e incluso innecesarias a veces. No sé si en la versión original también serán así.
Aún así, si buscas un libro para pasar el rato, lo recomiendo 💕
When Tori's once-in-a-lifetime trip to Asia ends with her dreams being dashed, she returns home to the little village of Blossom Heath, in Sussex. Having been unceremoniously dumped by her long-term boyfriend Ryan, all her plans are now in disarray and she has no idea what comes next. While her heart heals, it is time to reconnect with old friends of the human and feline variety, and help out her mum in the village's coffee shop, The Cosy Cup Café.
Then inspiration strikes: what if her mum's traditional village café was to become Sussex's first cat café, like the ones Tori visited in Asia? With the help of family, friends, and a very hunky fireman, The Cosy Cat Café is born, and with it the chance of a brand new future that Tori never envisaged - right here in sleepy Blossom Heath.
Julie Haworth returns to the picturesque Sussex village of Blossom Heath for New Beginnings at The Cosy Cat Café, the follow-up to her engaging debut, Always by Your Side. This second book follows the story of, new character, Tori, who returns to Blossom Heath broken hearted, and discovers that you do not need to travel to exotic locations to find happiness. There is more than a sprinkling of familiar faces from the first book, whose stories continue alongside Tori's, but you can read this a stand-alone - I do recommend going back to take in the first book as well though, as it adds context to many of the characters (especially the relationship between Rose and Jake), and it is a lovely read.
This is a gentle story, all about reassessing your life and finding new beginnings in unexpected places. Haworth continues the warm-hearted, relatable themes of her first book to weave an enchanting story around friends, family, and romance, with a big side-order of cats - which, if you are a fellow cat lover, you will enjoy enormously, because the cat characters are very much part of the story.
There is a solid feel of community in Haworth's books, which complements the romantic storylines to perfection. Her characters feel very real, and they are made up of just the right mix for a rural village setting - with a range of ages and situations that are fertile ground for the mishaps and misunderstandings you need on the way to that happy ending. It is not surprising that the idea of something so 'modern' as a cat café divides the crowd, and Haworth cleverly uses the resulting tension to build in realistic dramas, and an enjoyable thread of mystery. Along the way she highlights a number of worthy topics around animal welfare and pet rescue, and she touches sensitively on the very real issue of loneliness too.
You know when you find a series that has a community you would love to live in that you are on to a winner, and Julie Haworth's Blossom Heath is that with bells on. I am already looking forward to my next visit!