Some books break you before putting you back together—this is one of them. Summer at the Comfort Food Café is a beautiful, heart-wrenching journey through grief, love, and healing.

Laura Walker, a widow struggling to move forward for her children, takes a summer job at a seaside café filled with quirky, lovable regulars. Through laughter, friendships, and unexpected romance, she slowly finds hope again.

Johnson’s portrayal of grief is raw and honest—it opened old wounds, leaving me tear-streaked and aching. But just as grief lingers, so does joy. This book balances sorrow with warmth, humor, and the reminder that life goes on.

By the final page, I was sobbing yet smiling, my heart full. A deeply moving, cathartic read that proves happiness can exist alongside loss.

I am so looking forward to the rest of the series and learning more about life around The Comfort Food Cafe.