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A review by paperbackrooms
A Perfect Cornish Summer by Phillipa Ashley
2.0
https://paperbackrooms.blogspot.com/2019/04/a-perfect-cornish-summer-phillipa-ashley.html
This novel is built around the preparations for the food festival taking place in a small tight-knit coastal community. Sam is a likable main character and so are several of the minor characters; the main male - Gabe - however never quite feels comfortable within the storyline. Of course any person going back to their old stomping ground with those who turned their backs on him but there always remained that distance. As the book progressed I got a little more interested in what he was keeping to himself but even that reveal wasn't worth the anticipation.
The characters' plans and feelings alter far too quickly but at the same time the whole thing felt as though it was never going to end. I was tempted to add to my DNF list but thought it might improve which it didn't - even lighthearted stories need some enticing drama or something to keep it exciting surely. We revisit the history between Sam and Gabe over and over again yet the festival itself? Barely described or explored, and finished in the blink of an eye. I really liked Chloe and Drew, they both seemed much warmer characters and their development felt realistic and enjoyable. In some ways we could have had them as leads and I might have preferred it overall.
Give me a cosy book any day, but this one simply didn't float my boat.
ARC received from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for a review.
This novel is built around the preparations for the food festival taking place in a small tight-knit coastal community. Sam is a likable main character and so are several of the minor characters; the main male - Gabe - however never quite feels comfortable within the storyline. Of course any person going back to their old stomping ground with those who turned their backs on him but there always remained that distance. As the book progressed I got a little more interested in what he was keeping to himself but even that reveal wasn't worth the anticipation.
The characters' plans and feelings alter far too quickly but at the same time the whole thing felt as though it was never going to end. I was tempted to add to my DNF list but thought it might improve which it didn't - even lighthearted stories need some enticing drama or something to keep it exciting surely. We revisit the history between Sam and Gabe over and over again yet the festival itself? Barely described or explored, and finished in the blink of an eye. I really liked Chloe and Drew, they both seemed much warmer characters and their development felt realistic and enjoyable. In some ways we could have had them as leads and I might have preferred it overall.
Give me a cosy book any day, but this one simply didn't float my boat.
ARC received from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for a review.