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Tilly's Tuscan Teashop: A gorgeously uplifting summer read

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Welcome to Tilly's Tuscan Teashop, the first book in a brand new series from the author of the Hummingbird Hotel and the Cornish Confetti Agency series.

When photographer Natalie Nicholson’s beach hut studio – and everything she’s spent the last two years working on – is destroyed in a fire, she doesn’t think things can get any worse. Until she sees her boyfriend Josh Clarke on Instagram frolicking on a palm-fringed Balinese beach with a fellow cabin crew member.

Devastated and heartbroken, she heads to Italy to help out at her sister’s English teashop in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, where she encounters sun-dappled hilltop villages with attractive terracotta bell towers, cobbled piazzas housing world-famous art and architecture, and a national fixation with getting from A to B as quickly as possible whether in a glamourous Ferrari, a scarlet Vespa, or a snail-like ape.

With handsome local filmmaker-cum-waiter Matteo Ferretti on hand to guide her, can Tilly learn to ditch her workaholic ways and embrace the Italian pursuit of la dolce vita? Or will she miss out on her chance at a happy-ever-after?

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2022

397 people are currently reading
501 people want to read

About the author

Daisy James

37 books165 followers
Daisy James loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plot-lines. She especially likes to create sunshine-filled settings in exotic locations - the Caribbean, Tuscany, Cornwall, Provence - so she can spend her time envisioning her characters enjoying the fabulous scenery and sampling the local food and drink.

When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea - china plates and teacups are a must.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah Kingsnorth.
456 reviews16 followers
January 28, 2023

The first thing that struck me about this book is it’s stunning cover. It’s so bright and sunny. You can almost feel the heat!

So, past the gorgeous cover, what do we find inside?
To be honest, what we find is a rather lovely, feel good story.

Tilly is a likeable main character and it was nice to see her rebuild her life after everything going so wrong.

The setting of the book is divine. Daisy James describes it so well, you’ll feel like you are there.

I loved all the food in this book. Although, I may have put on a few pounds just reading it!

I’m excited that this is the start of a new series and I can’t wait to head back for more Tuscan sunshine and adventures.

Daisy James is a talented writer. Her work is bright, funny, sweet and heartwarming. Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop is all of the above with added sunshine and romance.

One last thing i’ll say about this book - Matteo… YES PLEASE!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1,003 reviews21 followers
January 29, 2023
Tilly and Matteo were made for each other. A gorgeous book full of sunshine and sweet treats. Beautifully described scenery and delicious descriptions of yummy food made me devour this book. A perfect, sunny and sweet story.
Profile Image for Between The Pages (Gemma M) .
1,360 reviews30 followers
January 16, 2023
This is book one in the blossomwood Bay series, and I am already excited and looking forward to seeing what happens in the future for Tilly and her friends. Tilly is an Amazon character who is heading away for a break to help run her sisters tea shop in Italy. It is a feel-good, uplifting, romance, and fresh start story. A brilliant ending for all the characters and the town was a perfect setting. I adored this book and really enjoyed it. A breathe of fresh air from all my thrillers. Made me smile. I've got my eye on Matteo myself. Hotting alert. A well deserved four stars and highly recommend. Take a break to Italy with Tilly, you won't forget it.
Profile Image for Susanne Baker.
730 reviews30 followers
January 22, 2023
It was lovely to be whisked away to sunny Tuscany in this gorgeous book. Tilly starts off with very little colour in her life, both from her work and life. It was fantastic to see her blossom when she takes on the challenge of running a tea room in Tuscany. Watching her connect with the community and begin to throw herself into the challenges of running the business.
The food sounded scrumptious and you could imagine how wonderful it would be to eat there.
I enjoy books about food and travel, so this was perfect escapism for me!
Profile Image for Book Escapes Babs.
662 reviews27 followers
January 22, 2023
As the first in a new series, this was a wonderful introduction to a lovely set of characters with business units based in beach huts on the English Riviera. Photographer Tilly favours monochrome photography and a minimalist lifestyle, what she doesn’t realise is that removing colour from her world has taken some of the joy from her life, and her days have become a little stale. As tragedy strikes and her beach hut is destroyed, she also discovers that her boyfriend is having a very public affair. Nursing a broken heart, Tilly agrees to head to Italy and take over the day-to-day running of her sister’s teashop.
It's impossible not to love Tilly, her positive attitude is the polar opposite of her monochrome lifestyle. She’s the kind of character who brings a little sunshine with her, wherever she goes. Sadly, she’s unaware of her own effect on the people around her. As she arrives in the Tuscan village, she discovers that her mode of transport is a bright red Vespa, not the little run-around that she was expecting. She meets the very handsome Matteo, working as a waiter, but has no interest is risking her heart again.
Tilly throws herself headlong into boosting the fortunes of the struggling tea shop and adds a little magic to the pretty Tuscan village as she makes friends and a rather grumpy enemy. I really enjoyed following the progress of the tea shop and felt hungry as I read about the wonderful Afternoon Teas being served.
As the weeks pass, she learns more about her neighbours and about herself. I loved the way Daisy James used the food and colours of Tuscany to revive Tilly’s flagging life. There’s plenty of fun and even some skulduggery to overcome as Tilly finds the joy that she’s been missing.
This was an ideal book for the cold January nights as it brought some sunshine and lots of fun into the chilly season. So, hop on a Vespa and escape to Tuscany, you know it makes sense.
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,363 reviews570 followers
January 19, 2023
Always a joy to read a new Daisy James novel, and with this one being the start of a new series I was doubly happy.

Well triply happy when I saw the setting was Italy and quadruply happy once I figured out there was plenty of tasty sounding food too.

And it certainly didn't disappoint. I was hooked from the initial pages, and could instantly see how this is a series, each going to be featuring different characters who all have studios in Blossom Bay.

However when disaster struck, followed by finding out her relationship isn't as good as she thought, Tilly agreed to help with her sisters teashop in Tuscany.

And what a life changing adventure that turned out to be.

I just loved every second of her time in Tuscany, from her ideas for the teashop, her new friends and well Matteo.

There is so much to enjoy with this story. I heartily recommend escaping to Italy with Tilly. You won't regret it.

Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
92 reviews6 followers
July 28, 2023
Tilly's Tuscan Teashop is a delightful, charming, feel good read. Tilly is at a crossroads in her life. Within the same 24 hour time frame, she loses her camera equipment and framed photos in a fire, and sees her boyfriend in a compromising situation with a woman. What's a girl to do while she waits for insurance, etc.

Tilly's sister Livie calls her and asks her to come to Tuscany and run Livie's Teashop for a few weeks. Livie fails to tell her how the business is really going, and how slowly the villa is being restored.

When Tilly arrives she discovers that nothing is what she expected. She meets some wonderful people who are quite helpful and welcoming. She hits the floor running to bring business to the teashop, and to try to stop the curious accidents and chaos that surrounds her.

Several of the characters are at a crossroads in their lives. They choose to let go of the past, and of expectations placed on them by others. They choose to embrace the possibilities of new beginnings and relationships.
Profile Image for RomanceByTheBook.
614 reviews14 followers
February 21, 2023
Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop is the perfect romantic escapist book.

Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop was the perfect cure for those January blues. It’s been very cloudy and gloomy here in Ontario for the past few months. I miss the sun, which means I have been craving books that take me away to faraway places. This book takes its readers to the gorgeous countryside of Tuscany. It felt like the world around me was disappearing, and I was transported to San Vincente, a quaint village in Tuscany where Tilly spent her time working at her sister’s teashop. The setting was lush and vivid; I just wanted to pack my bags and go there. Daisy just knocked it out of the park when it came to creating a book that had a setting that truly was unforgettable.

Not only did we get to spend time in this lush place, but we were also treated to some delicious food talk. Italy is known for its mouth-watering foods, and the food talk in this book had my stomach growling. There was just so much food talk in this book; it really is a foodie paradise.

The story itself is typical of most charming romances. I didn’t mind that Daisy didn’t break the romance mold. In my mind, it allows readers to immerse themselves in the story and soak up the setting, the characters, and of course, the food without worrying about unexpected twists or turns. I enjoyed the story. All the story elements in this book were well-balanced and complemented each other. The book progresses at a great pace, and everything works together to create an enjoyable reading experience.

The romance was just what I expected it to be. Tilly and Matteo’s interactions were swoony, sweet, and just oh-so-lovely. It was the perfect vacation fling that turned into something more. Their time together definitely had my heart pitter-pattering, especially the scene where they were dancing in the rain. I like Tilly and Matteo as characters. Tilly is that typical romance main character. She is strong and smart but struggles to find what makes her happy. Watching as she opened up her heart, took chances, and grew into the person, she was meant to be.

Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop is that perfect pick-up romance story that takes place in the gorgeous countryside of Tuscany.

Thank you, Boldwood Books, and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
Profile Image for Esther Peacock.
477 reviews11 followers
February 1, 2023

Tilly's Tuscan Teashop
Welcome to Tilly's Tuscan Teashop, the first book in a brand new series from the author of the Hummingbird Hotel and the Cornish Confetti Agency series.
When photographer Natalie Nicholson's beach hut studio – and everything she's spent the last two years working on – is destroyed in a fire, she doesn't think things can get any worse until she sees her boyfriend Josh Clarke on Instagram frolicking on a palm-fringed Balinese beach with a fellow cabin crew member.
Devastated and heartbroken, she heads to Italy to help out at her sister's English teashop in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, where she encounters sun-dappled hilltop villages with attractive terracotta bell towers, cobbled piazzas housing world-famous art and architecture, and a national fixation with getting from A to B as quickly as possible whether in a glamourous Ferrari, a scarlet Vespa, or a snail-like ape.
With handsome local filmmaker-cum-waiter Matteo Ferretti on hand to guide her, can Tilly learn to ditch her workaholic ways and embrace the Italian pursuit of la dolce vita? Or will she miss out on her chance at a happy ever after?
Purchase Links
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Author Bio – Daisy James loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. She especially likes to create sunshine-filled settings in exotic locations - the Caribbean, Tuscany, Cornwall, and Provence - so she can spend her time envisioning her characters enjoying the fabulous scenery and sampling the local food and drink. When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. In addition, she loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea - china plates and teacups are a must. Daisy would love to hear from readers via her Facebook page, or you can follow her on Twitter @daisyjamesbooks or Instagram @daisyjamesstories.
Social Media
Links – Twitter https://twitter.com/daisyjamesbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Profile Image for Julie.
2,656 reviews42 followers
May 21, 2023
Kiss goodbye to the dreary winter weather with some sun-kissed escapism courtesy of Daisy James’s latest enjoyable romantic read, Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop.

Photographer Natalie Nicholson’s entire life has gone up in smithereens – quite literally as her beach hut studio has just been destroyed in a fire. Tilly doesn’t think that things could get any worse – until she sees her boyfriend Josh on Instagram getting up to no good on a beach in Bali with a fellow cabin crew member. Devastated, dejected and heartbroken, Tilly is desperate for a fresh start, so she heads off to Italy to help out her sister who has a traditional English teashop deep in the Tuscan countryside.

In Tuscany, she immediately falls in love with the majestic scenery, gorgeous architecture and beautiful landmarks that take her breath away – when she isn’t busy dodging sportscars and motorbikes with minds of their own! As Tilly begins to heal from past wounds, she meets local filmmaker-cum-waiter Matteo who offers to show her around. Tilly quickly falls for Matteo’s charms, but is she ready to take a chance on love? Or is she going to let her workaholic ways get in the way of la dolce vita and a romance that could last a lifetime?

Readers can always rely on Daisy James to pen an exquisite romantic charmer that whisks them away to some of the world’s most beautiful places and she has come up trumps yet again with Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop. Witty, warm-hearted and emotional, this wonderful story of new beginnings, taking chances and falling in love will raise a smile and tickle the funny bone and have readers everywhere await with baited breath the next captivating tale by the fabulous Daisy James.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jenni.
548 reviews
June 9, 2023
Sweet, clean, uplifting book in the gorgeous setting of Tuscany! This was a great palate cleanser to get me in the mood for frothy summer reading.

The story is a well-worn trope - multiple bad things happen to Tilly and her life falls apart, so she goes to a fabulously picturesque vacation-worthy destination and ends up discovering her happily ever after in both love and career while also getting past her grief. What helped this one stand out was the descriptions of the scenery and food that really transported me to Tuscany. I felt like I went on a mini vacation myself!

There really wasn't much development of the love interest, Matteo - we knew very little about him aside from him being handsome and interested in Tilly up until the end, when we got a little bit more backstory, and even then it felt rushed. I also didn't really feel the connection between the two of them. As I was there more for the finding herself in Italy part than the romance part, I was okay with that, but if you're looking for romance just know it's a bit part of the story.

Another standout - British characters and settings are so common in chick lit, but it was interesting to read one actually written with British spellings and terms, rather than the Americanized version.

If you want to take a trip to Italy this summer, check this one out! I'm looking forward to going to France with Freya next in the series 🇫🇷
Profile Image for thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books).
2,811 reviews117 followers
January 24, 2023
This was a great read in January, when I’m stuck indoors and wrapped up in blankets and I can pretend my warmth and the heat on my face is actually the Italian sun. Tilly, our main character whose life is very much black and white, she’s a photographer, but she doesn’t realise her life is lacking colour. Tilly is a fantastic character, she’s so loveable, her positive nature will win the hardest of hearts over.

I love how Daisy literally puts colour back into Tilly’s life via Tuscany, the people, the place, the food, there’s a touch of mystery too and Tilly finds joy she wasn’t aware was absent from her life. How she does this I’m not telling, you’re going to have to read for yourself.

This is such an uplifting read, not just escapism in winter, but a truly happy book to read. A book about second chances at life, happiness, finding yourself when you didn’t know you were lost, but most of all community, family and love, the most important things in life. I thoroughly recommend this book, it’ll make you warm in more than one way.


Thanks to Daisy James and Rachel’s Random Resources for a free e-book in return for an honest and voluntary review, all opinions are my own and freely given.
Profile Image for Frankie.
519 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2024
After disaster strikes and causes a fire at the beach huts in Devon where Tilly has her gallery, whilst having to wait for the insurance to sort everything out, she finally makes the choice to help her sister Olivia out at her teashop in Tuscany whilst she's away.
Learning her boyfriend has cheated and is now ignoring her also convinces her towards the change.

Still grieving for her parents, Tilly has been all work and no play since, so coming to Tuscany gives her a new lease of life.
She starts to wear colour rather than all black, starts to make friends and even a new romance, learning to say to yes to things to better her life and questions whether she should stay in the Tuscan sun that's helped her find her newfound burst of life.

"If you surrounded yourself with beauty, and sunshine, and great coffee, and delicious pasta, then there was surely a better than average chance that your life would also be filled with those things, things that would raise your spirits no matter what issues you were dealing with."

"Life was filled with pain and sadness and risk, but it was also filled with hope and love and adventure."
Profile Image for Joanne Lewis.
300 reviews13 followers
February 6, 2023
This is the first book in a new series and if the rest are as good as this one, it’s going to be a corker.

It may seem a strange time of year to be reading a story set in the beautiful sunny surroundings of the Italian countryside but actually this was a perfect pick-me-up and offered a real sense of escapism.

Tilly’s character is immensely likeable and her journey of self discovery as the story progresses is truly heartwarming.

I also love how the bond between Tilly and her sister Olivia is portrayed and that it is Tilly’s wish to show her gratitude that is the catalyst for her transformation, without her really realising it.

Author Daisy James is skilled at making you feel as if you’re actually there in Tuscany with her descriptions of the surroundings and the food. The afternoon teas sound totally tantalising and I loved the unusual combinations created.

A delightfully feel-good read. I’m already looking forward to discovering the next one in the series.

With thanks to the author and Rachel at Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in the tour.
Profile Image for Katherine Hayward Pérez .
1,684 reviews77 followers
January 27, 2023
Daisy James is a favourite author of mine, and her books are great. I've reviewed a fair few now. Great that this is first in a new series so I could get the backstory straight away.

Tilly and friends are likeable and Blossomwood Bay is quaint…until there’s an unthinkable tragedy. Tilly experiences more than she should when she has challenges in her relationship that make her rethink where she wants to be.

Tuscany is amazing and I was happy she had her sister. I was wondering what was going to happen with Matteo and eager to find out if Tilly was going to find her new life or not.

Daisy James has an excellent way with words, setting, romance, realistic characters descriptions of food and sunny places. Her books always make me forget about all my troubles.

I’m looking forward to the next novels in the series.

Thanks to Daisy James, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars
Profile Image for mrsljgibbs.
852 reviews33 followers
January 26, 2023
I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

This book is actually book number one from the Blossomwood Bay series and was a wonderful introduction to the series.

Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop is set in the gorgeous and sunny Tuscany and it was wonderful to be whisked away and i honestly felt as though i was there. It was wonderful for a little bit of armchair travel in the middle of Winter!

The food in this book sounded amazing and all throughout reading it it made me feel very hungry and i wish i could visit a real life tea shop like this!

This was a wonderful, heartwarming and gorgeously escapist read and i really enjoyed it…..
Author 1 book9 followers
January 28, 2023
When Tilly’s beach hut is destroyed and she finds out her boyfriend has been having an affair she travels to Tuscany to help her sister with her tea shop. But what she doesn't know is that this country will soon bring colour back into her life and maybe a lot more.

This was a really lovely story, where you can’t help but love the main character and want the best out come for them.
I loved the opposites and comparisons from black and white to colour and minimalism to non-minimalism. This also showed massive growth within this character as she connected with other people as well faced different challenges when running the tea room.

A really lovely novel and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Profile Image for Kel.
597 reviews15 followers
January 8, 2023
I always love getting my hands on a new release by Daisy James and this book didn't disappoint. As we head off to sunny Tuscany with Tilly to spend time in her sisters Teashop we get to know a grief stricken Tilly who is stuck and struggling to move on.

As the Tuscan sun begins to work it's magic we are introduced to a selection of amazing characters, who start to form friendships with Tilly as she helps out in the Teashop.

A book that I loved from the first few chapters and was reluctant to put down. In the gloomy January weather, the perfect anecdote is a visit to somewhere hot with an amazing selection of food and picturesque views.
Profile Image for Staceywh_17.
3,699 reviews12 followers
January 30, 2023
Tilly's Tuscan Teashop is the first in the new Blossomwood Bay series and it's absolutely delightful.

Tuscany sounds absolutely gorgeous; sunshine, handsome waiters, the Italian countryside and the Teashop...I'm not envious at all, honest!

When we first met Tilly she was grief stricken, but on arrival in Tuscany it was lovely to see her bloom into such a wonderful character, deserving of all the happiness in the world.

The story is lighthearted, heartwarming and I can't wait for the next installment.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
35 reviews
July 27, 2023
an enjoyable read

This was a somewhat enjoyable read. A few overly descriptive scenes of the countryside which I skimmed over, and this wasn’t the ‘can’t put it down’ type of story, but it was a nice relaxing read as I wanted. My only issue is the grammatical mistakes throughout. Even accounting for the differences between American English and British English, I still found obvious errors missed by whomever proofread this story. For me, it disrupted the flow of my reading the story. I hope this was improved upon with my read of book 2.
Profile Image for Isabella May.
Author 22 books129 followers
November 17, 2022
The perfect pick me up! Daisy James depicts Tuscany and its glorious food and surroundings like nobody else, bringing the setting to life in Technicolour. And Tilly's story was an uplifting life lesson to carpe diem and try new things... because you never know where they might lead. A great start to what promises to be a brilliant series.
Profile Image for InsomniacBookwormBookReviews.
100 reviews4 followers
January 28, 2023
This book is such a cute, uplifting read. The description in this book transported me to an Italian paradise. This book has three of the best things friendship, love and Italian food. I have never read a Daisy James before but this book won my heart. I love the fact that it is the start of a wonderful series #boldwoodbooktour
Profile Image for Nicola (Not Just Books) Barker.
213 reviews6 followers
February 11, 2023
A lovely escape in the middle of winter. To dip into a book set in sunshine, a quaint village, beautiful scenery and lovey characters was a delight. I felt like I was getting away to an Italian dream each time I picked the book up. The story was nicely paced and the main characters had enough backstory related to them. Can’t wait to read the books in this series.
Profile Image for Zephyr.
66 reviews9 followers
April 14, 2023
Oh how we love to live under the Tuscan Sun, riding vespa, sipping Cafe and easting pasta. Tilly's chance to live with this life is amazing and something that I'm glad she didn't miss out.

The story, though felt to be needed a knight in shining Armour to heal Tilly's broken heart is unnecessary, but still beautiful. Glad that she found the closure that she needed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nina Holmes.
Author 1 book8 followers
June 1, 2023
The cover of this book is as gorgeous as its setting -Tuscany!
Beautiful scenery, mouthwatering Italian food, and a wonderful heroine on the path to rebuild her life. And where is the best place to do it if not Italy, with an Italian hottie?
Tilly's Tuscan Teashop is a perfect escapism read especially for those who love books with food, travel, lots of fun, and romance. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Wendy Leo-Smith.
Author 1 book12 followers
June 10, 2023
Entertaining and relaxing read which brought a smile to my face.

Daisy vividly brings to life the country, people and of course it’s food. Unfortunately, I’m not much of a foodie, so that part of the story more than likely caused the drop in a star.
However, I did thoroughly enjoy my first taste of Italy and I now definitely want to visit for real.
33 reviews
December 4, 2022
Food,friendship, and love!

What a great story of finding yourself after loss, new friends, delicious, and taking chances. I truly enjoyed the story of Tilly and her adventure in Tuscany!
Profile Image for Josie.
39 reviews
February 3, 2023
Yummy

I loved this book I'm so glad tilly went to help her sister and managed to overcome her grief.
I love the ending but wish there was more. I personally love baking and can't wait to try the orange blossom tart it sounds so nice.
Thank you for a brilliant book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews

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