The Comfort Food Café

Comfort Food Café #7

by Debbie Johnson

Staff Wanted – Must Be Comforting!

Maxine Connolly has had a rough year with the loss of her mum, marriage, and job in quick succession, and she’d be the first to admit that she hasn’t been coping. But when her teenage daughter, Sophie, applies for a job at the Comfort Food Café on her behalf, Max realises she’s let things get out of hand.

So when the job offer comes, Max decides to embrace this unexpected opportunity and uproot her life for a fresh start on the south coast. And even though it starts with a vicious storm that rips apart the cosy cottage that was meant to be their new home, the warmth of the people of Budbury, and the reluctant hospitality of gorgeous local recluse Gabriel Moran, show Max that there’s always reason to hope, and with cake in your belly there’s nothing that you can’t face…

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Rom Com, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2024

About the author

Debbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework.

She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.

Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.

She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[ypezza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what a needed.. a lovely cosy read 💘

[Gales Tales70 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable, cosy read based on Dorset. Following Maxine and Gabriel - just sweet!

[Kerrie ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

i was so bored

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Johnson - You heal my heart with every book. Your comfort food cafe is one of my absolute favourite series in the entire world. I saw this book and the news that there were more to come and I could not have been happier.

And oh my did you break me from the first page. I fell in love with your new (& old) characters all over again and your books are honestly like no other. I feel so deeply for them as they are so relatable and real, cosy and feel-good.

I loved this plot too and Maxine was wonderful to follow. She’s somewhat lost her way and on the intuition of her daughter, Sophie, she applies for a job at the Comfort Food cafe. They upsticks and move, and what they find in Budbury is healing in more way than one. It was just so heartwarming and aw. I’m so so happy there’s another to follow on from this one and I could read these books forever. If this was a 50 book series I would not want for anything more (:

[Nicola (Not Just Books) Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like coming home to a group of friends who give you a big hug. I instantly felt at home and supported by the other characters. The story of Max and Gabriel was heartwarming and I was willing them to get together from the start. The descriptions of the area and the houses were well done that I could picture them easily.

[Στεφη Λουλη · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and cozy! The perfect winter read with the most lovable characters! Now all I want is to read the whole series and learn about the stories of every single character from the Comfort food café!

[TiffanyLRM_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

[Aglaea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may not be the targeted reader for this one. The chicklit parts of warmth between family and friends was really nice, but honestly I don't feel what Maxine felt for Gabriel.

The romance parts were odd in that I felt like an observer of a logical tennis match, with barely any emotions applied. There was absolutely no warmup for the first sex scene, so I was taken by complete surprise ("That's it!?"). And then a whole bunch of telling, almost like a teenager would talk about it, but not really any showing. We were told he was great and her experience the whole long night was fantastic, so I have to trust her word. It's almost like that teenage snicker could have topped it off.

I'm not fond of how it seemed impossible to just say it—penis—because we don't have to jump into erotica with its enticing cocks and cunts or what have you, to make it slightly more mature. Sex isn't embarrassing, so in the end I would have preferred not to have anything graphic apart from the occasional embrace and kiss. This really bugged me too, because what was a 4/5 dropped to 2/5 like a tower-based attraction in an amusement park.

I would also have been fine with them splitting up and her continuing on her path of joyful work, family and friends. But then I'm so over all the red-flag douchebags out there of today that it would take a lot of convincing for me to even consider dating these days. Gabriel and his tantrum was a total no go, and he should have been the one to reach out eventually. "But I miss him..."

Why are women such pushovers when it comes to romantic love? Get your shit together, seek help from a therapist if necessary, and come back with a real apology including what you intend to do for it not to happen again.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartwarming story.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book #7 of the Comfort Food Cafe series. Whilst it is part of a series, it can be read easily as a standalone. We are back in the little Dorset village of Budbury, and this time the story focusses on Max (Maxine) and the very lovely Gabriel!!

I absolutely love this series, and this is such a lovely story! I really like Max's character and Gabriel is the kind of man every woman should have! It's based around Christmas, so it's the perfect book to be reading at this time of the year. The author does a fabulous job of writing characters that are so easy to relate to - we can all find a little bit of ourselves in each one of them! I've really enjoyed every book of the series so far, and this one is no different! It's full of love, life and laughter and it's a wonderfully light-hearted and uplifting read! Would definitely recommend!

[Susan Peak · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable last book in this series. Debbie Johnson does a jump of five years, here, avoiding the covid years but referencing them briefly. We catch up with the café and its regulars - and there has been change - otherwise it's the usual woman with difficult background meets handsome man. Fortunately, the book as readable and enjoyable as the others

[Ambs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cosy read, based in Dorset <3 Loved the self growth of the main protagonist.

(Got really irritated by the daughter!)

[Junior · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to DNF this by chapter 4. It was so similar to something else i had read but worse.

[Gem ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read most of the Comfort Café books I was so happy to see this latest offering, it's completely standalone but has all the old favourite characters in (especially Edie, my hero!) and a grumpy donkey called Belle.
The relationship between mother & daughter and their history was especially wonderful to read. Gabriel is a complex and quite dark character but with just enough heart and depth to endear himself. I felt that their story, and the transformation of the cottage, was really uplifting.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally outgoing and sociable Max Connolly has become a shadow of her former self after several life-changing events occurred in quick succession so her daughter applies on Max’s behalf for a job at the Comfort Food Cafe.

Everything is going well until a storm damages the roof of the house in which they were booked to stay. Now their only option is sharing with the rude and taciturn Gabriel Moran, a Heatchcliff-like newcomer who is doing up his great uncle’s farmhouse.

Max has always had a flair and a love of interior design so when confronted by a beautifully renovated but soulless room she immediately starts making it more homely and inviting.

Romance blossoms, but both Gabriel and Max have to come to terms with their respective pasts.

Initially I thought I had read this before as the beginning felt familiar, and to be honest this treads a familiar and well-worn path for this series. But it’s well-written with great characters and a strong storyline so I loved it!

[Bookworman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed returning to Budbury and catching up with the wonderful people there. This was a short but satisfying story filled with romance, heartwarming family relationships, and, of course because it's the Comfort Food Cafe, lots of cake!

A smattering of profanity and R-rated love scenes.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️
This book was underwhelming for me, I feel like the comfort food cafe series should have been complete as this felt predicable. DJ tried to make it more in tune with today’s world with references that felt cliche and the four year jump from the last book didn’t excite me.

[Nhi Nguyễn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the “Comfort Food Café” series by Debbie Johnson that I read, and I’m glad I was welcomed into the cozy world inside this story. The story centers around Maxine Connolly, a 43-year-old divorcee who has hit the lowest of low point in her life. Her marriage disintegrated because her ex-husband cheated on her, her mother passed away after some time dealing with illness, her oldest child has gone off to Manchester for college, leaving Maxine and her younger child alone. After spending her whole life caring for her family, Maxine suddenly loses her life purpose. She slumps into a depressing time, not moving forward with anything, suffering from low self-esteem, and not believing in her own values anymore.

All of that is about to change when Maxine’s younger child, Sophie, sees an advert for a position at the Comfort Food Café - a unique café perched on a cliff overlooking the beautiful sea in Dorset - and decides to nominate her mother as the ideal candidate. Feeling that a change of scene will do her good, Maxine reluctantly accepts the job offer to work at the Comfort Food Café, thereby opening up a whole new chapter for herself. But the journey to get there (both literally and figuratively) is not easy. The mother and daughter’s first day at the Comfort Food Café is wrecked by hurricane Linda, which destroys Hyacinth House - their lodging. Having no other places to stay, Maxine and Sophie have to come to temporarily live with Gabriel - a local who has a strong tie to the land - while waiting for their lodging to be fixed and refurbished.

Gabriel is a recluse who prefers to keep his contacts with other humans to a minimum. This is why, at first, he is not warmed up to the idea of having Maxine and her daughter at his place. However, the more time Maxine spends with Gabriel, the more they click with each other and find out they make each other comfortable. He even takes Maxine out to watch the badgers around his house and accepts Maxine’s effort to redecorate his place to bring more life into his monotone living. I must mention one of the biggest reasons I quite enjoyed this book is how I could resonate deeply with Maxine, someone who has an eye for interior design and a natural talent to make the living conditions of everyone she meets better. That is one of her own values that she now learns to realize and appreciates after such a tumultuous time in her life. I’m not an interior designer myself, but I love decorating my living space, so reading all the details about choosing the right colors and textures for the furniture was so fulfilling.

Soon enough, a sexual relationship starts between Maxine and Gabriel, although I must admit it is quite fast and out of the blue. What starts as just some fun between the sheets quickly turns into something more serious that both are willing to explore. However, Gabriel has his own pains, scars, and demons, as he was also at the receiving end of cheating. His ex-wife had an affair behind his back, just like what Maxine’s ex-husband did to her, which led to the end of his marriage and a feeling that he just can’t trust anyone, especially in romantic relationships. Clearly, Gabriel has a lot of things to work on, and much as cozy as the story is, with such a gorgeous setting and heart-warming human connections at the Comfort Food Café, it also features some heavy emotional baggage that adds more depth to the story. There are moments I just wished Gabriel could man up a bit and try to think things through so that he wouldn’t hurt Maxine. However, I also understand where he comes from and how being cheated on can cause people to close off their hearts to protect themselves.

Of course, in a story like this, a happy ending is guaranteed. Thankfully, in the end, Gabriel comes to his senses and realizes how deeply in love he is with Maxine, and that she is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. Of course, it is not without some effort from Maxine (and since the story is told from her point of view, we’ve got to see more of her thoughts and actions anyway). Overall, despite some weak parts, “The Comfort Food Café” still delivered a solid reading experience that put a smile on my face. Not to mention the beautiful cover (this one has the best cover out of all the books in the series, I must say).

[Susanne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great to be back at the comfort food cafe and among old friends. I love how that place sucks you in and gives you everything you never even realised you needed, then it gives you the strength to move forward with a fully and happy heart.

Max was a great character and I could identify with her a lot. As a woman of a similar age with teenaged children I could certainly understand how when your children grow up and fly the nest you are left with a gaping hole, for decades your identity has been wrapped up in bring their care giver and it feels like it’s gone over night, and worse, they seem delighted by it! It was nice to see her daughter Sophie stand by her and help give her the tools to fix herself and be strong again, she is a very insightful and caring young lady.

Gabriel was an interesting read, I really enjoyed watching him grow and change. The small things that Max did when she and Sophie stayed with him, someone to care if he has a hot meal, if his living room was cosy, someone to care about him. Like Belle the donkey she won him over one small step at a time.

How they initially snuck around thinking they were being subtle was great and made me laugh, you can’t have any privacy with teenagers around, but again Sophie was great and so funny and supportive of her mum getting her smile back. The ending was amazing, I loved how they ran to each other. I really hope we get to visit Budbury again, it’s such a magical place.

[Sharon Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful once again....

The absolute worst part of a Debbie Johnson book is turning over the last page and there is nothing more to read. However, I am truly thankful that the story I have just read means that by the time I get to the end my heart is full of all things fluffy and gooey - in a good way, of course!
Every book starts with someone being in a bad place and they find themselves among the Budbury collective with a job to keep them busy and new friendships to be made..and this story..book number 7 of the Comfort Cafe book series...is no exception.
By the time I get to the end of the book, I know,that all is right with the world for every single character and that they are starting a very happy new beginning (or continuing as we catch up with previous characters)...which means it isn't really the end...just the end of the words in the book.
Many gorgeous characters are brought to life and the stories told are based on reality, generally, so that we can truly relate to them all and we root for these people to find their happy place and live content for ever and ever..and that is why I love these books, these truly inspiring, feel good books..and we all need to escape to places like Budbury once in a while. Many thanks, once again to the beautiful Debbie Johnson❤❤5*

[Margie Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

In another quiet, heartwarming novel, The Comfort Food Cafe, Debbie Johnson continues her series about the aforementioned café (none of which I have read but which I will now seek out). Max (nee Maxine) has been betrayed by her (now) ex-husband and let go from a supermarket job she loved .And her beloved mother has passed away. So when her 19-year-old daughter, Sophie, sees an ad for someone to work at a cafe in Dorset, she replies on Max's behalf, applying for the job. Laura, the cafe proprietor, sees the skills she was seeking in Sophie's letter about her mom, and the wheels are set in motion for Max and Sophie to rent out their home and take a chance on life in Dorset.

Of course, it's a town, and a cafe, that soothe Max's soul and make her feel useful again. And if that weren't enough, there's an attractive man who lets them board at his house when their intended cottage is damaged in a storm . . . and it's Christmas! That encompasses just about everything I appreciate and expect of Debbie Johnson, and she never disappoints. The burgeoning relationship between Max and Gabriel is delightful and straightforward, although both have some baggage to deal with. Sophie is a delight, as are Laura and many of the others they meet. And, as the name suggests, it's comfort food for the reader.

[Carolyn Schaeperkoetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, a cozy, heartwarming story about second chances and taking a leap of faith toward love, in more ways than one for both FMC and MMC. Even though this wasn't completely a Christmas story per se, it DID give me all the Chrismassy holiday feels from start to finish.
We start off with Max, a middle-aged divorcee dealing with grief of her mother and loss of her job. Along the way, she loses herself. Her daughter Sophie, answers a strange advert from a strange little cafe, and they end up uprooting their lives in the little town of Budbury so work at The Comfort Food Cafe. Little by little, Maxine not only learns about the people of the town, she learns how to love herself as well as give love back. She learns a new sense of purpose and self-respect. But she also learns to take a chance and make herself vulnerable again after having been hurt in the past. The town loner also learned how to love and open himself up. Apparently they were both what the other needed.
I love how Debbie Johnson writes and creates this cute little world with a community full of loveable characters. They each have their own stories and nuances, but I love how none of their stories grandstanded Max's and Gabriel's, which sometimes tends to happen in other books. Here, the community's people and Max's story combine seamlessly.
I also love how Max found accountability for how her marriage dissolved and the way Richie handled her in the end so he wasn't portrayed into this cartoonish bad guy. He ended being sympathetic in the end.
The whole story finished with a breathtaking conclusion that's sure the leave anyone swooning and believing in the magic of love all over again.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a warm and comforting book. It was like a cosy bear hug of a story, and I was totally absorbed by every word of it.

And it was so good to be at the Comfort Food Cafe, after a few years of no new books in this series. I actually cheered when i spotted this book on the release schedules, as I love the series so much.

I felt right at home from the first chapters, even before Maxine and daughter Sophie accept the job and move to Dorset. These are some great characters and seeing how the developed as they get sucked into life in Budbury, really made me smile.

As did being reunited with Laura, Cherie (who is amazing as always), and all the other people that are familiar to this series. It was a total joy to read, and totally what is needed in these cold winter nights.

I devoured this book in a day, and I couldn't get enough of it. I loved every single word, and really enjoyed Gabriel's transformation too. There are even some dogs and a donkey - and I do love a book with animals .

There are some really lovely storylines, and it really is a true winter warmer of a read. Please can we have more from this wonderful series.

[Meg Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Comfort Food Café by Debbie Johnson
⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

📚 What It’s About:
A cosy, emotional story set in a seaside village where friendship, food, and community come together to heal old wounds and spark new beginnings. It’s all about finding comfort, love, and hope when life takes an unexpected turn.

💭 What I Thought:
This was such a lovely read! Debbie Johnson’s writing has so much warmth and heart — it draws you right into the world of the Comfort Food Café. I really connected with the characters and loved the sense of community that runs through the story. It made me smile, laugh, and even tear up in parts. While a few parts were a little predictable, it still completely charmed me and left me feeling uplifted.

💡 Favourite Part:
The café itself — it felt like the heart of the story, full of love, laughter, and second chances.

✅ Would I Recommend It?
Definitely! If you enjoy feel-good, small-town stories filled with warmth, friendship, and emotional depth, The Comfort Food Café is one to add to your list.

[Amberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started and finished date - 12.12.25 to 16.12.25.
My rating – Three and Half Stars.
I enjoyed is book and this book definitely a cozy christmas read but I didn't love it also I think people who like the cosy christmas chocolate shop by Caroline Roberts or a merry little christmas by Cathy Bramley may like is book. The cover of book was stunning, and I think the colour palette at was used on the cover of book was great. The writing was okay, and the writing was easy to follow also the ending of book was fine. I think the setting of the book was okay, but bit blend and the atmosphere was both cozy and well written. The book was very predictable, but it was very enjoyable and cozy.

I think both the friendships and relationships between all of the characters was written was pretty good, but I think it could use some flash out. I think the romance between Maxine and Gabriel definitely both cute and sweet, but it could use some flash out. I really enjoyed parts of the book at about the town and the cafe also I think it was favourite part of book. I think found the paced in the book was well structured and steady paced. The characters were decent, and I enjoyed my time with them also I think author did a good job at marking me care about them.

[Zoe Radley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a wonderful, heartwarming and lovely read. And like the title suggests incredibly comforting like the best comfort food when you really need it and also when you think you don’t. Loved all the characters and their flaws, quirks and their messes. From trying to build yourself back up after a marriage of twenty years that’s ended on a whimper and a bang it can be incredibly difficult to see out from the towering and looming wall of betrayal, grief and hurt… but because Maxine (Max) has a rather diabolical and angelic daughter she finds herself catapulted into the loveliest and warm villages in Dorset with a cafe that offers comfort food to everyone and a bit of magic to heal. I especially loved Gabriel’s who gruff exterior hides a heart that’s broken but still gold enough even if a bit rusty and vulnerable. I won’t go any more into this only to say this book is wonderful and I am certain to enjoy the rest in the series.

[Carolyn Shalhoub · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glad to see there was another Comfort Food Cafe book, as I had finished the Starshine Cove series. It was like the others, in that there was someone having a rough time in life who comes to Budbury to try something different. The teen daughter applies for a job for her mother, divorced and crushed by what her ex has said about her, at the Comfort Food Cafe. After some persuading, they sublet their house in Liverpool and head for Budbury for what they think will be 3 month. As in previous volumes, the offbeat but lovely townspeople take them in and help heal their wounds. We get to see the usual townspeople, with the addition of Gabriel, the great nephew of a deceased townsperson. A misanthropic person, of course, over time, he finds love. While formulaic, it is still what I need right now in this awful time in history.

[Jaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute cozy little book. I did not realise it was part of a series when I got the audiobook, but that wasn't a problem. Coming into the series at book 7 was fine, as all the regulars at the Cafe that you interacted with were introduced to you.

I did like the premise of this story with a middle-aged woman starting her life over after a divorce. All the characters were nice people, but I just felt that I didn't really connect with any of them.

There was also very little of the actual cafe in the book. I understand that it is just a central place where all these people meet over time throughout the series, but without knowing about the series, it was a little disappointing. I loved the idea of the cafe, but not enough to make me want to continue reading the series.

3 stars

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot believe this is book seven in the Comfort Food Café Series, I have to admit I have not read them all but I will be going back to them at some point. This read focuses on Maxine, who has had a tough time and really needs to find herself again so with the help of her daughter, they move to Dorset and Max starts a new job where everything starts to fall into place and they both see a brighter future for themselves. There are parts where she is working in the Café but it mainly focuses on Maxine and her attention to detail with her interior design and building a life for her and her daughter. I loved the cosiness of it all and the way it was a nice light and easy read. The characters were relatable and filled with warmth.

[Ashley Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t love this one which is a shame because it started off good. I found the writing humorous and the premise interesting, I was excited to go on this journey with Maxine and her daughter, at the cafe and the village. Then her cottage was wrecked in bad weather meaning she had to move in with Gabriel, which I get as it gave them a reason to get to know eachother but don’t think we got enough of the village, she was barely at the cafe which was a shame given it’s the book title. By the time she was settling into village life we were 2 chapters from the end and I felt like we’d gotten nowhere with the story other than a few saucy encounters to keep reading about which I don’t think we needed. Shame :-(