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bookmadjo's review against another edition
4.0
When I requested this book, after a few weeks of being too ill to read (the horror!) I really was in need of something light-hearted and feel-good, and this sounded like it fit the bill to perfection. Even the book cover makes me think of just how much I love Cornwall, and how pretty it is. This book is the first book in the series, and it establishes the characters in this lovely little Cornish village. Here is the blurb:
Summer is on the horizon, and the people of Porthmellow are eagerly awaiting the annual food festival. At least, most of them are…
For Sam Lovell, organising the summer festival in her hometown is one of the highlights of her year. It’s not always smooth sailing, but she loves to see Porthmellow’s harbour packed with happy visitors, and being on the committee has provided a much-needed distraction from the drama in her family life (and the distinct lack of it in her love life).
When their star guest pulls out with only a few weeks to go, everyone’s delighted when a London chef who grew up locally steps in at the last minute. But Gabe Matthias is the last person Sam was expecting to see, and his return to Porthmellow will change her quiet coastal life for ever.
Curl up with this gorgeous novel and savour the world of Porthmellow Harbour.
This book was a slow burn for me, I think because there were quite a lot of characters to get to know, all of whom had secrets. However once I got a few chapters into the book I could not put it down and finished it in one sitting!
Although this is primarily a story of second chances and forgiveness, and particularly a second chance romance, I loved that the romance was not the focus of the book. The focus was on the Food Festival, and the community, and how the community rallies round when people are in need of support and assistance.
I loved the Festival committee meetings, and found the gentle humour utterly charming, although the tannoy announcements during the Festival had me seriously laughing out loud, which woke my husband who was asleep next to me as I read into the night. The Thomas Hardy geek in me loved that there was a Gabriel and a Troy in this book too.
This was my first book by Phillipa Ashley and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved the characters so much I am really looking forward to finding out more about them as the series continues. It also made me want to plan a holiday to Cornwall.
Many thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Summer is on the horizon, and the people of Porthmellow are eagerly awaiting the annual food festival. At least, most of them are…
For Sam Lovell, organising the summer festival in her hometown is one of the highlights of her year. It’s not always smooth sailing, but she loves to see Porthmellow’s harbour packed with happy visitors, and being on the committee has provided a much-needed distraction from the drama in her family life (and the distinct lack of it in her love life).
When their star guest pulls out with only a few weeks to go, everyone’s delighted when a London chef who grew up locally steps in at the last minute. But Gabe Matthias is the last person Sam was expecting to see, and his return to Porthmellow will change her quiet coastal life for ever.
Curl up with this gorgeous novel and savour the world of Porthmellow Harbour.
This book was a slow burn for me, I think because there were quite a lot of characters to get to know, all of whom had secrets. However once I got a few chapters into the book I could not put it down and finished it in one sitting!
Although this is primarily a story of second chances and forgiveness, and particularly a second chance romance, I loved that the romance was not the focus of the book. The focus was on the Food Festival, and the community, and how the community rallies round when people are in need of support and assistance.
I loved the Festival committee meetings, and found the gentle humour utterly charming, although the tannoy announcements during the Festival had me seriously laughing out loud, which woke my husband who was asleep next to me as I read into the night. The Thomas Hardy geek in me loved that there was a Gabriel and a Troy in this book too.
This was my first book by Phillipa Ashley and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved the characters so much I am really looking forward to finding out more about them as the series continues. It also made me want to plan a holiday to Cornwall.
Many thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
live_love_dogs_read's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Cute first book of a series. Writing similar to Jenny Colgan
katie_jane2021's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
shannonreadss's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review
Reading this book was so much fun. The story got me captivated until the end, because I really wanted to know what really happened. Eventually, the ending was a bit of what I expected but not entirely. I liked that it wasn't just another romance with a predictable ending. Furthermore, I loved the setting and I loved the friend dynamics. There was a bit of a downside to this book though, at some points the story felt a little bit tedious. A flash-forward wouldn't have been out of place in such situations.
Reading this book was so much fun. The story got me captivated until the end, because I really wanted to know what really happened. Eventually, the ending was a bit of what I expected but not entirely. I liked that it wasn't just another romance with a predictable ending. Furthermore, I loved the setting and I loved the friend dynamics. There was a bit of a downside to this book though, at some points the story felt a little bit tedious. A flash-forward wouldn't have been out of place in such situations.
vikkiew87's review against another edition
5.0
This book has made me so ready for summer! This is brilliant and a cosy read, this has captured the life and spirit of Cornwall and I feel as though I got to escape for a few hours. I absolutely loved this book! It is a must read. A huge thank you to Netgalley and @avonbooks for the advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review. I will definitely be looking at more books by this author.
gerngelesen's review against another edition
3.0
Alles im allem sehr nett, auch wenn es ein paar Punkte gab, die mir nicht so zugesagt haben (die Tweets waren sinnlos für die Handlung und ziemlich cringey, das Lektorat war fehlerhaft und auch an der Handlung war nicht alles so ganz 100% rund).
hannahsatreat's review against another edition
4.0
I don't read a lot of contemporary romance/cozy lit, but this one had such a romantic setting. I love Cornwall. It took me a while to get used to the modern feel of the book, but then I loved the characters, plot, and most of all, the setting! I highly recommend this as the perfect summer story about love, family, and FOOD!
cjbookjunkie's review against another edition
3.0
So-called “summer reads “ should warm our hearts and soothe our souls. A Perfect Cornish summer does just that. Set in a beautiful coastal town of Cornwall, we follow Sam, local resident, business owner, and chair of the annual food festival, as she prepares for this year’s event. As they deal with an unexpected loss of a celebrity chef, Sam finds herself in the uncomfortable position of working with the town’s own celebrity chef and former resident with whom she has a history. Can time heal wounds and will love win out? The story of Sam and the other residents revealed itself at a good pace. It wasn’t over done, and the author wrote in a way that has you feel empathy for everyone concerned. The setting of the festival and the wonderful characters of Troy and Evie, a beloved couple who interject wisdom at just the right moments, keeps the characters moving towards forgiveness and the recognition that community and love can restore us. This is the first book in a new series by the author, and I look forward to reading the next installment.
Thank you to Net Galley and Avon Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and Avon Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
booknerd93's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0