The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach by Rebecca Raisin

I love Rebecca Raisin’s books, and this one had me hooked from page one. She delivers another story filled with fabulous settings and wonderfully drawn characters — the kind you instantly want to spend time with. Reading it felt like sinking into a warm bath: comforting, escapist, and utterly enjoyable. I already can’t wait for the next one.

Harper is utterly book‑mad. Not only does she work in a bookshop, she also runs a hugely successful book‑review podcast — the dream combination. But the first rule of podcasting should always be: make sure you’ve actually switched off the mic. When she finishes a book she’s convinced is AI‑generated, she says so out loud, believing the recording has ended. It hasn’t. The fallout is instant and brutal: she’s cancelled, fired from her day job, and her location is leaked online. A quick escape becomes essential. So, when she spots a job in a beachside bookshop — complete with a giant resident turtle — she applies on a whim, is hired almost immediately, and finds herself on a stunning island in the Seychelles. Except there’s a catch: she’s now the manager, because the previous one, Gus, has mysteriously vanished. The resort manager, Xavier, is grumpy, unpopular, and devastatingly handsome, and Harper can’t help being drawn to him despite herself. Can she survive the chaos she’s created? Who’s targeting her? What happened to Gus? And why is Xavier so prickly — and so disliked? It’s a deliciously escapist mystery‑romance, and you won’t want to put it down.

This was an absolute delight to read — full of charm, adventure, and that signature Rebecca Raisin blend of heart, humour, and gorgeous escapism. Harper’s journey is fun, messy, and wonderfully human, and the Seychelles setting adds a dreamy backdrop to all the chaos and clues. By the final chapters I was completely swept up in the mystery, the romance, and the joy of watching Harper find her feet again. A perfect feel‑good escape.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8341422388