THE GUEST COTTAGE Book Review

The Guest Cottage¹ (book 1 in A Firefly Summer series) by Lori Foster, audiobook, 10h 3m

Synopsis from Audible: Marlow Heddings is starting over. She’s carried the outrage of her husband Dylan’s affair with a younger woman—and the expectations of his family’s powerful Chicago holdings company—long enough. Now, after another devastating twist of fate, she’s unapologetically moving on. Arriving in tiny Bramble, Kentucky, Marlow revels in her freedom, swapping her executive suits for sundresses and scouting places to open her dream boutique.

Best of all is her new residence, an adorable cottage with gorgeous lake views—and a breathtaking landlord, former Marine Cort Easton. Soon they’re sharing dockside morning coffee and nighttime firefly gazing. Marlow’s new life feels like a dream. Then Pixie Nolan arrives on her doorstep. With a shocking secret. To Marlow’s astonishment, Dylan’s “other woman” is a desperate girl of nineteen, destitute, exhausted, and disowned by her family.

Defying her manipulative in-laws’ demands, and surprising even herself, Marlow vows to lay down roots in Bramble and help Pixie get on her feet. Then they’ll part ways. But empathy has a way of forging bonds. As Marlow grows close to the hard-working, devoted young woman, she becomes something of a big sister to Pixie. Now, with each sunrise, Marlow awakens to the life she was truly meant to live, one filled with deepening connections, supportive friendship and even a second chance at love.

BOOK REVIEW: Don't let this book fool you. It may have 14 chapters but that also equates to 298 pages and 10 hours of audio. However, this book was a roller coaster of emotions. Somewhat for me, the listener, but mostly for Marlow. First, cute name right? But really, we first start the story with her having gone through a horrific divorce only to have her ex die in a car accident before it becoming final! I couldn't imagine having to be stuck with my former in-laws so kudos to her for that. Then just when she thinks her life is everything she had hoped for, her ex's 19 year old mistress shows up looking for help! I mean what on earth would you do?

One of the things I loved about this book is that it takes place in, yet again, another small town...in the south! While Bramble isn't looking to expand the population, they all seem to warm up to Marlow as a summertime visitor and make her feel as if she is one of them. Not an original but original-adjacent. Her quick whit and snappy responses make Marlow one of my favorite characters that I've read about in this cozy romance type of genre.

This was a 5 star book for me. I honestly tried to read the physical book. I even got it from the library and only made it through chapter 1 and just started running out of time since this is our March 2026 VBC book. (Shameless plug but we're reading The Inmate¹ by Frieda McFadden in April if you want to join!) I'm really glad I listened to the audiobook though. The narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life. I think I would have been able to get a handle on the characters and their personalities but the narrator helped so much with that as well as giving the author's descriptions more feeling that brought me closer to the story and I loved that. I was actually a little shocked to find out that the second book in this series isn't out yet but comes out in May. I may have found the ARC on NetGalley and signed up to read it. Fingers crossed I get picked and if not, it's on my TBR. I think I also entered a Giveaway on Goodreads for book 2 as well. Anyway, as of 3.28.26 this eBook is in the KU member library and you have plenty of time to join this little community before book 2 is out at the end of May.

5/5 Stars

2026 Reading Challenge: 18/55 complete

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