REVIEWS for Buttonwood Cottage, available on Amazon.
“Although they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, in this case, you really can. Buttonwood Cottage delivers exactly what it promises. It’s a quick read that provides all the juicy details and information you need, along with a handful of laughs along the way. The story follows an American family as they buy a fixer-upper on Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean, turning it into a second home and income property. The narrative is well-written and enjoyable, taking readers through trials, challenges, and underwater adventures, while also introducing new friends.
One of the standout aspects of this book is how vividly it brings Bonaire to life. Matthiessen’s writing makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters, experiencing everything firsthand. This book would make for an excellent cruise ship excursion or guided tour, allowing visitors to see the various places mentioned in the story.
Overall, Buttonwood Cottage is a delightful read. Maybe one day we’ll get a movie adaptation or a sequel, but for now, it’s a great literary escape to the beautiful island of Bonaire.” William Ostrow
“Buttonwood Cottage is an entertaining and often hilarious account of the author and her family’s purchase and gradual renovation of a house on the island of Bonaire. I didn’t know anything about the island before reading this book and was immediately drawn in by the vivid descriptions of Bonaire’s beauty, culture, people and extravagant bird and sea life. With her boundless determination and enthusiasm, Matthiessen throws herself into the predictably fraught process of managing a home renovation—much of it remotely—in a country and language not her own. The book is part personal journal, part love letter to Bonaire and part tribute to her initially skeptical but unflappable husband and equally game son.” Robert
“As someone who has always been curious but fearful about finding a home far away from home, Buttonwood Cottage was a thoroughly enjoyable, page-turning voyeuristic experience. I was both vicariously anxious as well as laugh-out-loud entertained. Rue Matthiessen knows how to write real and write funny and her book left me wanting to see beautiful Bonaire for myself someday soon.” Heidi Neurauter