The Cottage By Terrijo

• Facebook
• X
• ShareCopied to clipboard

INITIAL THOUGHTS

I was in the mood for a cozy, feel-good romance and The Cottage delivered exactly that. It was like watching a Hallmark movie wrapped up in the pages of a book. I picked this up hoping for some warm-and-fuzzy summer reading, and from the very beginning, I could tell I was in for a soft, small-town escape. I didn’t expect to swoon quite so hard for a fictional Irish handyman, but here we are.

WHAT IT IS ABOUT

When Sadie’s high-powered Hollywood husband trades her in for a younger woman, she flees to her late grandmother’s crumbling cottage in Wisconsin. As she works to rebuild her life and the cottage, she reconnects with her roots, her childhood best friend, and the possibility of love again with the town’s charming contractor, Tadhg.

MY REVIEW

Writing Style

The prose is straightforward and leans heavily on cozy, sentimental storytelling. While not overly lyrical, it fits the Hallmark-esque tone of the story. I appreciated how readable it was, though some of the phrasing choices like “freeze baby” were a bit cringe.

Themes & Messages

At its heart, The Cottage is about starting over and finding courage mid-life. It touches on resilience, friendship, faith, and the belief that love can happen again, even after heartbreak. However, some of the messages about property, marriage, and religion felt a little outdated to me and clashed with what I’d hoped would be a more empowering arc.

Characters

Sadie is likable if not a bit passive at times. Her best friend Aggie is a highlight because she is funny, loyal, and fiercely supportive. Tadhg is the literal dream man who is kind, capable, emotionally available, and just the right amount of flirty. I loved his character even if the romance felt rushed. Sadie’s daughter, Emma, was minor and at times strangely portrayed (the food moaning was… weird).

Vibes, Settings, and Tropes

This is peak small-town summer romance. Think dilapidated lakeside cottage, golden retriever of a man, fresh starts after divorce, and community charm. Door County/Fish Creek give us that serene Midwest backdrop. Though I do wish the author had committed to one town name. Tropes include second-chance romance, fixer-upper project, and big-city-to-small-town transition.

Favorite Quotes

“You don’t need to have friends like that. They sound selfish and petty. People like that don’t care about your feelings; they only care about winning. They have this deep-rooted need to be right, and if they can drag someone else into their drama, even better. You don’t need or want it. Is taking sides a life-or-death situation?”(Sadie, p. 117).

“You complete me, Sadie. You make me want to be the best I can be for you. Being with you brightens my whole world. Even when the clouds come rolling in, you make navigating through those storms better and easier. You make walking in the rain a dance. Loving you is better than a bottle of the best wine or a gift of gold. Loving you is a blessing in every form.” (Tadhg, p.304)

“But the way she smiled at me almost brought me to my knees. Her lips turned upward, and the sparkle in her eyes as she held my gaze told me everything I needed to know. This was forever.” (Tadhg, p. 309)

What Worked For Me

I adored the setting and how it felt like a big exhale from everyday stress. Tadhg is pure wish fulfillment and absolutely swoon-worthy. Aggie stole every scene she was in, and the cottage renovation storyline scratched a very satisfying HGTV itch. This was the kind of book that made me want to wrap myself in a quilt and drink tea.

What Didn’t Work For Me

Some of the dialogue and pet names (“freeze baby”) pulled me out of the story. I also struggled with how quickly the romance escalated because it didn’t quite feel earned, especially for a woman recovering from a major betrayal. And while I know faith-based themes resonate with many readers, I personally found the religious overtones distracting.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the mood for a sweet, clean romance that feels like a warm hug, The Cottage will absolutely satisfy. It’s especially great for fans of cozy settings, slow living, and fixer-upper love stories. Just don’t expect steam or modern takes on independence. Think Hallmark, but with a better best friend.

Let’s Talk

What’s your favorite small-town romance setting? Do you prefer cozy, closed-door love stories or something with a bit more spice?