Book number 26 of my Goodreads Reading Challenge (and book number 7 of the summer holiday) was Breakfast at Darcy’s by Ali McNamara.

‘When Darcy McCall loses her beloved Aunt Molly, she doesn’t expect any sort of inheritance – let alone a small island! Located off the west coast of Ireland, Tara hasn’t been lived on for years, but according to Molly’s will, Darcy must stay there for twelve months in order to fully inherit. It’s a big shock. And she’s even more shocked to hear that she needs to persuade a village full of people to settle there, too.

Darcy has to leave behind her independent city life and swap stylish heels for muddy wellies. Between sorting everything from the plumbing to the pub, Darcy meets confident, charming Conor and sensible, stubborn Dermot – but who will make her feel really at home?’ (Thanks Amazon!)

Firstly, I bought this book quite some time ago, and then didn’t re-read the blurb so it was not what I was expecting at all.  This is classic chick lit (something I needed after The Two of Us) except that it’s set on the tiny Irish Island of Tara. In order to inherit from her Aunt Molly, Darcy must give up the city life that she knows and loves to set up a new community on Tara.

I enjoyed the concept of setting up a new community on an island where the total inhabitants equal one (think Ben Fogle in Castaway 2000).  It’s a little different from your usual chick lit.  Darcy however was a little too stereotypical city girl for my liking, and a number of details were often glossed over (her extensive debt for example – where did that go??  I know my credit card bill wouldn’t just disappear because I decided to take a year out!)

This book has all the classic elements of a good chick lit: a story of growth for the heroine; two very different men vying for her attention; a BFF to stand by and support her and a challenge to overcome.

I read this book on the beach, and it was the perfect easy read for that situation.  It wasn’t  a thought provoking novel but that wasn’t what I needed.  This fitted the bill perfectly, and if that is what you’re looking then please read this book!

Rating: 3 stars out of 5