Cover Image: Summer on the Little Cornish Isles: The Starfish Studio

Summer on the Little Cornish Isles: The Starfish Studio

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

An entertaining read from the reliable Phillipa Ashley. A lovely setting and engaging characters make for the perfect summer escape.

Was this review helpful?

As usual phillipa Ashley does not disappoint, nice to be back with some old favourites and to a place that you cannot help but fall in love with.

Such a hear warning read. I loved everh second and every character

Was this review helpful?

This was one of a series of books about the same town, and all three were engaging and made me want to visit the area.

Was this review helpful?

This is your typical romance of a boy running away from his past who falls in love with a girl that's unlucky in the love department. I had trouble getting into the story because I found the plot to move along at a very slow pace.

Was this review helpful?

Great read from Phillipa Ashley. Love the characters and the whole setting of the Cornish Isles. Great cosy story.

Was this review helpful?

My favourite in the Little Cornish Isles series without a doubt! A quirky cat, a hot summer's day and Phillipa Ashley's amazing writing is all you need for a great novel.

Was this review helpful?

This is another of those fantastic books that I need to know what happened next!! I was into the story right from the start and it was unputdownable. Well done, now can we have a sequel ;) ?

Was this review helpful?

A sweet cozy book. It was easy to read and a pleasant book to bring on cacation. I liked the characters in the story as well as the setting.

Was this review helpful?

This sweet novel made me desperate to explore this part of the UK and I may have even done a little research on how to make such a thing happen in the near future...maybe...

Philippa Ashley can certainly make the small seaside town's atmosphere shine through. The quaint villages and the inhabitants made me want to be a part of a community that is mostly lost when you live in a large city.

Particularly this book made me interested in the characters and their situations. I was connected quickly to their lives and wanted wonderful outcomes for them all. I enjoyed the ins and outs of operating a small art gallery like this one and it almost had a personality of it's own... but not as much as the neighborhood cat!



Thank you to Avon Books UK for our review copy. All opinions are our own.

Was this review helpful?

This is a pure summer smash hit. I cannot get enough of Phillipa Ashley at the moment I am adoring her stories.
Full review to follow

Was this review helpful?

A lovely well-written story with memorable characters and charming plot. I will certainly look for this author's books again.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks Netgalley, Publisher and the Author. Another of my favourite authors for just being swept away in the great writing style the characters and most of all the emotion. Good read,

Was this review helpful?

Nach einer hilfreichen Aufklärung, was die Cornish Islands überhaupt sind, taucht man gleich in die locker, leichte Geschichte ein. Gut gezeichnete Personen und Plots machen das Buch zu einem gelungenen Erlebnis.

Was this review helpful?

Every time I read a book in 'The Little Cornish Isles' series, I think that's my favourite and #The Starfish Studio' is no different. I love the story, the chemistry between Jake and Poppy, the healing and forgiveness required to move forward and the friendly, loving, nosy community that supports Jake and Poppy find love and happiness again.

Full of vivid imagery, reading this story is like looking at a detailed canvas, you can feel the sea sway, enjoy the wildlife and scenery and absorb the warmth of the community.

After a moment of serendipity, Jake and Poppy go their separate ways, never expecting to meet again, not knowing their lives will change forever before they do. The chemistry between Poppy and Jake is undeniable if unwelcome, as Jake runs from his haunted past and Poppy's faces a future alone after her boyfriend's betrayal.

A romantic story of battling against life's troubles and learning to let your heart love again, perfect summer reading.

I received a copy of this book from Avon UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I don’t travel far from home in real life so I enjoy reading of places I will never see in person. I had never even heard of Isles of Scilly, so this book was an education as well as a joy to read. When I started reading ebooks I was not certain they would be my cup of tea. It turned out that I love reading them for many reasons. One is that I can highlight a word and immediately have an explanation or I can open the internet and receive a more detailed description. For example, I never knew what “Dreamies” are before reading this book (a snack for cats).

This is the first book I have read by Phillipa Ashley. I was attracted to the book cover and after reading the description of the story; I was drawn to read the story. I liked the author’s writing style immediately. She describes the scenery and action so well that I felt like I was living the story as well as her characters. Phillipa created such unique and well-rounded characters, full of emotion and history. Although this is the third book in this series, The Little Cornish Isles, I was able to completely understand everything without knowledge from the other two books.

The main plot of the book is carrying on after a major blow to future life plans. Both Jake and Poppy find themselves in a position to begin anew after a major change in their lives. While Jake was running away from facing his past, Poppy was moving forward - full steam ahead. The Isles of Scilly, its inhabitants and time will heal them.

It was lovely to visit St Piran and meet all of the residents. I do feel like I took a vacation there and I did not want it to end. Lucky for me, there are several other books that will take me back.

I want to thank NetGalley.com, AVON, Harper Collins Publishers for allowing me to read this wonderful book. I wanted to write my opinion of this book in hopes others will also discover this author and also enjoy her books.

Was this review helpful?

If nothing else, this book has made me want to visit The Scilly Isles - the descriptions are gorgeous! I'd be perfectly happy to swap lives with Poppy too - the idea of running an art gallery in such an idyllic location fills me with longing. And Jake is positively yummy. 

This novel is escapism at it's best.

Was this review helpful?

What an idyllic place that author Phillipa has taken me to in this book!! Poppy takes over the little gallery/studio on the island, and that's where it all starts!!!
How frustrating 'Love' is and can be, when people don't tell each other how they are actually feeling!! Well this is true of Poppy & Jake. The what was a 'forbidden love' between Jake's Grandfather Archie and and a lady called Fen!! And then there's the cat called 'Leo', that causes you to laugh at the small antics he gets up to!!
What a wonderful read, loved it!!

Was this review helpful?

A nice light read typical of what you would expect from this genre. Delivers on the charming characters and escapist setting. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

This is a lovely read. The 3rd book in the series, but you don’t need to have read the others to read this.

When Poppy and her boyfriend Dan visit the Cornish Isle and the Starfish Studio gallery, they fall in love with the place.

Months later, weeks before taking on the running of the studio, Dan drops the bombshell of saying he’s in love with another woman and Poppy is dumped. Poppy decides to move to the studio anyway and with the help of the studio’s owner’s grandson Jake, sets about renovating the now run down gallery and finding happiness again.

This is a fab summer read and I enjoyed this much more than the second book in the series.

Poppy is a great character, strong but not superwoman and Jake is a great character too, struggling with his attraction to Poppy but still struggling with the guilt after his fiancé died.

Thank you Avon and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unpaid review.

Was this review helpful?

Poppy and Dan were a couple, three years on Dan has left Poppy and Poppy meets Jake again when he visits the Isle's.



Jake is back after his grandfather becomes ill to oversee his house and his artistry work. During his time there though getting over the loss of his fiancée as well he meets Poppy and the pair together manage to get a gallery display set up in The Starfish.



As good news, bad news and miracles happen, the pair grow a bond between them as they find a light in the darkness from each other. It's heartwarming, fun but also serious too dealing with loss and finding life again.

Was this review helpful?