This tepid and predictable romance by Ashley, set in a small coastal town in Cornwall, features not just one, but two (and ½ if you count the last page announcement at the end) romances. The main one is a second-chance between Sam, a food van owner and Gabe, a celebrity chef and the second is a May-December between Drew, a sailor and Chloe, a recently-divorced event planner. It would have been better as a trilogy so there would have been an opportunity to focus on each couple. I was given a galley proof which may account for the very rough start, repetitive phrases, and wonky timeline, but doesn’t explain the lack of chemistry between any of the couples, the plethora of subplots that either didn’t have the opportunity to develop or were insignificant, insignificant details about tertiary characters, token references to a gay couple, bullying, and racism, vandalism incidents that have no connection to each other, and unsubtle, awkward foreshadowing. It was also severely lacking details of the food festival which was the event driving the story. I’ve awarded it 3* only because I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt since I read a proof, I’ve enjoyed the other 2 books I’ve read by Ashley, and it will please her fans.

A wonderfully feel-good page-turner that tugs at the heartstrings, warms the soul and tickles the funny bone, A Perfect Cornish Summer is the unmissable new novel by award-winning author Phillipa Ashley.

Sam Lovell has endured her fair share of heartache. She had lost her beloved mother at a very young age and became a surrogate mum to her two siblings, Ryan and Zennor. Sam had to put all her hopes and dreams for the future on the back burner as she strove to give her brother and sister the best possible start in life. Sadly, it hasn’t always been plain sailing. Ryan got himself mixed up in some very bad company. Always easily led, Ryan had allowed himself to be persuaded into doing something that had serious consequences which had precluded him from continuing to live in the Cornish town of Porthmellow. It breaks Sam’s heart to have a brother who cannot return home because of a mistake he had made as a teenager, but sadly she has learned to live with it. Sam has had to sacrifice not just her future, but also her relationship with Gabe Matthias. Sam and Gabe had been head over heels in love, but when the man she loved had betrayed her in the worst possible way, she had had no choice but to put an end to their relationship.

Despite of the many things Sam has had to give up for her family, she cannot complain about her life. She loves living in Porthmellow and enjoys nothing more than spending her days up to her elbows in flour creating delicious bakes which she then sells. Her fledgling business continues to thrive and with the annual summer festival just around the corner, Sam feels invigorated, inspired and also very tired having to organize this very stressful event. Still, if the festival brings in business to the town and makes people want to put their hands in their pockets, she mustn’t complain. After all, despite all the hustle, bustle and tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth, the festival always comes together – and this year they’ve even secured a celebrity for the festival: a celebrity chef who is going to have everyone flocking to Porthmellow. But if there is one thing Sam knows, is that the best laid plans have got a habit of going awry – and this year’s festival will certainly not be an exception!

When the celebrity chef cancels, finding a replacement proves to be absolutely impossible. But at the last minute a very suitable candidate is found who saves the day. However, there is a catch: the new chef is none other than Sam’s ex boyfriend Gabe! To say that Sam is shocked at this turn of events would be an understatement. Gabe is the last person she had expected to see, however, the passage of time has done nothing to cool the ardour between them! As long-buried feelings resurface, will this perfect Cornish summer bring two lost souls together? Or will it end up tearing them apart again?

Phillipa Ashley has written another winner with A Perfect Cornish Summer, the first title in her dazzling new series. Emotional, uplifting, captivating and engrossing, this evocative, entertaining and hugely enjoyable tale of love lost and found, new beginnings and healing from the past is a must-read for romantics everywhere looking for an outstanding summer romance that will keep them riveted to the page from start to finish.

Sam is a wonderful heroine you would love to have a best friend and Phillipa Ashley’s love for Cornwall shines through in her evocative and vivid descriptions of the village of Porthmellow.

A book I absolutely loved and could not bear to put down, A Perfect Cornish Summer is another first class tale from the talented Phillipa Ashley and I cannot wait for Book 2!

Sam Lovell is busy organising the 10th annual Porthmellow Food Festival as well as keeping her own business, Stargazey Pies, running. When the Celebrity Chef they had booked for the cookery demonstrations pulls out at the last minute Chloe, Sam’s co-organiser, books Gabel Mathias the famous chef who used to live in Porthmellow and now owns restaurants in London. Unfortunately being a relative newcomer Chloe doesn’t know about Sam and Gabe’s tangled history and the reason he left Porthmellow.
When Sam and Gabe meet it’s obvious that there is still a spark between them but Sam can’t forget that it was Gabe who got her brother Ryan sent to prison, leaving Sam alone to care for their younger sister Zennor.
Sam must deal with her feelings for Gabe and the hostility of some of the locals in order to make the festival a success
Really enjoyed this, it’s a perfect summer read.

Three and a half stars.

Centred around the Porthmellow 10th annual food festival this story features Sam(phire) Lovell, the festival's organiser. When the celebrity chef they had booked to star at the festival declares bankruptcy Sam's assistant Chloe manages to book Gabe Matthias, former Portmellow resident as a late replacement. Little does she know that Sam and Gabe dated, until the night he shopped her brother to the police and got him sent to prison. 10 years later can Sam ever forgive Gabe?

Sam's assistant Chloe is hiding a secret or two of her own, will ship's captain Drew still like her when he finds out she's not quite who he thought she was?

This is a typical English cosy romance featuring an ensemble cast, elderly locals with 'charming' accents, hunky chefs, awkward villagers, lots of evenings at the pub and quaint village life. I didn't hate it but I also wasn't enthralled by it. I spend so much of time these days complaining about the amount of sex in books that I feel a bit of a fraud complaining about the lack in this one, but I'm pretty sure the first time we see even a proper kiss was at 61% on my Kindle - balance people, balance!

Anyway, if you are looking for a gentle, sweet, non-taxing romance, perfect for the beach then I reckon this will fit the bill.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

‘A Perfect Cornish Summer’ is my first read by Phillipa however her books have been on my TBR pile for a while, now I regret not reading one of her creations before now.

Anything that involves food is a must for me so when I read the synopsis of the book I knew it was my kind of read. The festival had me going hungry and wanting to be part of the festival myself!

Meeting Sam, Gabe and the other residents of Porthmellow was like a breath of fresh air. The town of Porthmellow sounds idyllic, especially in the summer and I wouldn’t hesitate to visit a place like this. As they prepare for their annual food festival (with Sam in charge of course!) the sense of community shines through the pages. As well as the light heartedness of the food festival there are also a few more serious back stories happening for Sam and Gabe. We also hear from the perspective of Chloe who is also a good friend of Sam’s and also is a huge help for the festival! I really don’t want to reveal any spoilers! I loved Phillipa’s writing style it flowed very freely.

I wanted to savour the story so I didn’t want to read it too quickly but then I wanted to know what happens in the end and I can’t wait for the next instalment of the Porthmellow Harbour series. This story is about love, family, forgiveness and most importantly community spirit ❤️

I give ‘A Perfect Cornish Summer’ a deserving 5*/5* 😊

Thank you to Avon Books for an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley.

I have been fan of Phillipa and her gorgeous books for a fair while now. I have read all of her books now and I can honestly say that I enjoyed each and every one of them. I eagerly devour each new book that she releases. This book sold itself to me from the synopsis alone and I couldn’t wait to dive in. Oh blimey oh riley I adored ‘A Perfect Cornish Summer’ but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Sam Lovell? Well for starters, she is a young lady, who has had to grow up quick and be a mother figure to her younger sister. Their mother died far too young. Sam has another sibling- a brother although at the beginning of the book it’s clear that they have very little if any contact, which isn’t what Sam wanted. Her brother was planning to commit a crime but he was apprehended and jailed following a tip off from Sam’s boyfriend Gabe. Sam couldn’t forgive Gabe for breaking up her family and their relationship broke down. Don’t get me wrong I understand that Sam is protective of her brother but at the end of the day he was about to commit a crime and therefore he should be punished for that. I wanted to slap Sam with a wet flip flop because she was letting her brother’s criminality rule her relationships and potentially ruin her future. Sam throws herself into her work to get over her heartbreak. The very beginning of the book sees her setting up a new business but the business is rather slow to get going until she comes up with the bright idea of holding a festival. It’s this festival that brings her back in touch with her one time lover. Do they reconnect? Can Sam let bygones be bygones? Will she re-establish contact with her estranged brother? What does the future hold for Sam and friends? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out because I am not going to tell you.
‘A Perfect Cornish Summer’ simply delightful reading, which kept my interest throughout the story and really made me fall in love with Cornwall all over again. In fact this book made me want to pack a bag and catch the next available train to Cornwall. Phillipa is one of those writers who certainly knows how to write one hell of a story. She writes so realistically and convincingly that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that the characters were just as real as you or I. I began to feel that Sam was a close friend of mine and I was keeping everything crossed that things would work out well for her in the end and that she achieved the happiness that she so deserved. I became totally immersed in Porthmellow life and if I closed my eyes I could easily imagine that I was in Porthmellow with the seagulls squawking in my ears and the sun beating down on my face.
I had become addicted to this book from the moment I saw the cover of this book, never mind from when I read the synopsis or when I began to read this book. I binge read the book over the space of the day because I found it impossible to put the book down. Woe betide anybody who tried to take the book out of my hands as they got short, sharp shrift and were sent away with a flea in their ears. I became engrossed in the story and I noticed neither the speed with which the time was passing or the speed with which the pages were turning. I was most disappointed when I got to the end of the book. That makes it sound as though I was disappointed with how the book ended but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I was enjoying the author’s writing style, the story and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue on and on. I soon cheered up when I realised that ‘A Perfect Cornish Summer’ was the first of a new series and that I would soon be reuniting with the residents of Porthmellow.
In short, I adored reading this delightful story and I can’t wait to reunite with the residents of Porthmellow. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. I enjoyed this book so much that it has made me want to have a holiday in Cornwall with true Cornish pasties aplenty and lots of cream teas. Phillipa is an author at the top of her game and ‘A Perfect Cornish Summer’ is sure to race towards the top of the bestsellers list. I wholeheartedly recommend that you read one of her books. The score on the Ginger Book Geek is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

This is the first Phillipa Ashley book I have read, but definitely not my last! I loved the characters of Sam, Gabe, Chloe, Drew, Troy, Evie, Zenn and Ben. All very different, but all strong in their own way. Great story, tears, laughter and a good twist near the end. A heart-warming page-turner!

This was a lovely and delightful first story in a new series that took me to a charming place, Porthmellow, filled with oodles of romance, friendship and community spirit.

“A Perfect Cornish Summer” was such a heart-warming tale that made me smile and feel wonderfully happy as I started to meet all of the characters.

Sam was strong and feisty, if a little stubborn at times, but she was someone that I would have wanted as a friend. All of the characters in this community were superb and diverse.

There was plenty of drama, friendship, secrets and love cleverly interspersed throughout “A Perfect Cornish Summer. I loved the way Phillipa Ashley brought so much life to Porthmellow Harbour and I felt as though I was right there with all of the characters. As the festival preparations got under-way it was almost as if I could smell and taste the food and feel the atmosphere of it all myself.

I highly recommend this fulfilling and worthwhile story and it would make a fantastic addition to your bookshelf.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author, Phillipa Ashley for my complimentary copy of A Perfect Cornish Summer. My honest review is entirely voluntary.

Sam is preparing for the Porthmellow annual food festival along with her commitee when get celebrity chef pulls out, her committee colleague and best friend Chloe works in PR and she quickly gets a replacement....... not knowing that Gabe is Sam's ex and definitely has history in the town! How will Sam cope with working with the only man she has ever loved, but who betrayed her and her family!

Another lovely book by this author, as usual you're left with a lovely warm feeling after a story with lots of little twists and secrets and a fantastic cast of quirky characters. Can't wait for the next one in the series!

What a fantastic book. I loved it.
Set in Cornwall, a wonderful tale of a small harbour town food festival.
The book follows the life of Sam Lovell and her family. The trials and tribulations of running a small festival in beautiful surroundings, along with a little romance on the side.
Can’t wait for the next book in the series

Sam is head of a summer festival The main attraction of the festival bails. Chloe hires Sam's old boyfriend to fill in for the main billing. Gabe wants to start a new relationship with Sam. Then there is Chloe who is estranged from her daughter and grand daughter. Everyone will have a tense time trying to bring peace into their lives.
Phillipa Ashley brings her characters to live and we are at the window looking in.

This was a cute heart warming book, which brought out the brightness of a mild summer of the Cornish coast. The town of Porthmellow had started the Summer Festival a few years ago to deal with financial problems with Sam at the helm, and this year was the 20th anniversary. The chef they had booked suddenly dropped out and it was Gabe to the rescue, who was Sam's ex whom she had dumped years ago due to a betrayal.

My first book by author Phillipa Ashley, had me smiling as I turned pages the town and its characters were quirky and sweet. There was a nosiness about them but that came from an area of concern and caring. The main character's Sam and Gabe had their own issues which had separated them years ago, and they had to work through their own emotions. But my eye was caught by Sam's friend Chloe who had her own secrets.

There was something so dignified and beautiful about her, that I was automatically drawn to her. She was estranged from her daughter and granddaughter, but still her mother's heart never stopped worrying about them. I loved the way she was portrayed, and I was so thrilled when she got her happy ending.

Overall, fun eccentric characters with their own stories, a warm loving down, and abounding love caused me to fall in love with this book.

The Blurb :
The first in a gorgeous new series from the author of Summer at the Cornish Cafe.
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


My Thoughts :
I always love to hear Phillipa Ashley has a new book out and this was not a disapointment.
The series is set in a Cornish town called Porthmellow
We meet Sam Lovell, who is the owner of a Catering Company and organises the local food festival once a year. Things do not go well for Sam when the guest chef for the event pulls out at the last minute and leaves her with no option but to except help from TV Chef Gabe Matthias, who is a local from the town and has history with Sam which she would rather forget.
Will Gabe beable to get the town and Sam back on side again for has he well and truly messed up his reputation forever in Porthmellow.
We also meet Chloe, who is new to the town, although her life seems perfect things are far from ok when we learn her daughter has cut Chloe out of her and her grand daughters life but happiness comes in the form of Drew.
There are lots of things going on in the story and makes this a very interesting read.
Once again Phillipa Ashley delivers with her descriptive references of Cornwall and the beautiful surrounding scenery. She always transports you to the place she is writing about and makes you feel like you you are living the moment with the charactors. Looking forward to the next installment of the series.

While I wasn't totally blown away by this book, I didn't dislike it, either. I am still looking forward to the next one in this new series. I think our patrons will really enjoy it, though, so I've ordered several copies. Thank you so much!

A Perfect Cornish Summer is the first in a new series from Phillipa Ashley and again as with previous books the setting is the coastal county of Cornwall more specifically the small town of Porthmellow. By now I have come to expect and look forward to the wonderful settings that Phillipa can create and Porthmellow delivers on all these fronts. The descriptions of the small streets packed with unique little shops and small houses nestled next to each other conjured up images of a close knit community. A community where everyone knows each others business and at times you will appreciate this if you need a helping hand and on other occasions you wish everything and everyone wasn't so close and compact as you have things you wish best kept secret.

I loved the prologue as it really set the scene as to how the Porthmellow food festival came to be and how since its conception it has gone from strength to strength and become a pivotal event in the towns annual calendar. The prologue also introduced us to several of the characters who would go on to feature in the book and it gave a very brief glimpse as to what had happened to them. It definitely set the scene as to what could potentially follow and my interest was piqued as to what would unfold.

As I moved to start the book proper with the first chapter I realised the story had moved forward many years. I was surprised because I thought this book would follow the trials and tribulations of setting up the festival and seeing would it be a success or not. Instead the festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary and organiser Sam Lovell and owner of her own business Stargazey Pies wants it to be the best year yet. The story for the most part focuses on the run up to the festival and how the committee have to cope when the main celebrity booked suddenly pulls it out. It's this abrupt cancellation that causes Sam's life to be turned upside down as a face from the past makes a reappearance and as her former boyfriend and now celebrity chef Gabe is really saving the festival by stepping into the breach there is really nothing Sam can do.

For the first few chapters we are introduced to an awful lot of characters and honestly I found it very confusing. I was trying to keep it straight in my mind as to who was who, what did they do, were they connected to Sam or did they have their own various storylines? Most of them did but I found my mind boggled as to whether I needed to focus on one character over another. I think too many characters were introduced because perhaps they will feature even more prominently in future books but it just all felt to me far too busy and that there was too much going on with regard to the number of characters. The story itself didn't really move forward that much until we got to the actual festival which was only really in the last quarter of the book. The first half felt rather flat, I think too much time was spent talking all about and planning it and making sure everything was in place and really nothing actually happened and it became a bit repetitive. I felt a bit of action so to speak and confrontation only materialised towards the end and I would have loved to have seen more of it throughout the book.

Don't get me wrong I did enjoy the book as it has all the ingredients for a lovely summer read and I have loved Phillipa's previous books set in Cornwall but that little bit of magic normally present wasn't always there for me and I think it could be down to the relationship or lack of between Sam and Gabe. There wasn't enough interaction between the pair and amidst all the discussions and preparations for the festival their strand of the story was lost for too long. I thought there was too much pussy footing around each other for most of the book and as mentioned a little bit of confrontation or expressing their feelings and reasons for their break up a little earlier on might have brought the spark when needed instead of living the big revelations to come to the fore far too late.

Friendship, community, working together for one common goal, support, laughs and romance all do feature here and that's what you want in a light and fun read for summer. Sam was a leader and a go getter. She wanted her life to progress in a positive way since the trauma of losing her mother and then the events surrounding her brother Ryan leaving the town. She shares a cottage with her sister Zennor and like other readers I found this name and Samphire to be quite odd especially considering their brother was Ryan. But this is minor and I got over their names and wanted to gain a deeper insight into what motivated Sam and the other members of the committee. Clearly they had more stories to tell rather than just organising the festival.

What really up scuttles Sam's plans is when Gabe returns to Porthmellow to save the day when it comes to the festival. In doing so Sam should be forced to confront what she has kept bottled up inside for so long and the minute she laid eyes on Gabe again, I wanted her to march straight up to him. I wanted her to scream and shout and say why did you do what you did all those years ago knowing it would tear my already fragile family apart? Of course that wasn't going to happen and I felt Sam was spending more time avoiding Gabe than she was facing up to things. On the other hand I totally understood why Gabe took the action he did. He was faced with no other choice and because he had such love for Sam he made the ultimate sacrifice but can past hurts be forgiven and can they try and move forward? Only time would tell.

There were plenty more storylines apart from that of Sam and Gabe and the one which most caught my attention was that of Chloe. She wasn't long arrived in Porthmellow but had settled nicely into village life. Well on the outside it looks as if she has but she was a character battling with an inner pain and turmoil and she didn't want the rest of the town to see these. She feels by helping with the preparations for the festival that this is one part of her life that she can control but you can only mask over the cracks for so long and her personal trauma and the lies she has told will catch up with her. What then? Will Sam and co be able to forgive her? Will she find the acceptance and peace she so desperately seeks? As for the resolution to her personal problems, can she make a breakthrough with the walls someone has surrounded themselves with? I so desperately hoped so because I thought Chloe was fragile and vulnerable and she needed a shoulder to cry on. Keeping things bottled up wasn't doing her any good and I hoped that she could open up and allow the demons to escape and the love and strength of friends and family to come through once again.

Old wounds are reopened for many throughout this story but it is how they deal with these complications in the run up to and including the festival that make for a good read. Yes this book does have its faults as mentioned above but at the centre it is a heart warming and engaging read and the little drama thrown in with acts of sabotage was a strand I would loved to have seen developed even more. By far the last quarter is the strongest of this book and I would read it for that alone and it shows how working together with one common aim in mind can have the greatest of results. Even if I would have loved lots more descriptions of the glorious food on offer at the festival still this was an enjoyable, light read but for new fans I don't think it always showcases the talents of the author.

I cannot resist a novel set on the Cornish coast and having previously enjoyed novels by Phillipa Ashley I swiftly added A Perfect Cornish Summer to my TBR pile!


There are a lot of characters in this book with two storylines that weave perfectly together. Sam is one of our leading characters who is in charge of the Porthmellow Summer Festival with the help from local volunteers and the newbie in town Chloe. Chloe has parted from her husband but her relationship with her daughter is breaking her heart, she is ready to create a new life for herself in Porthmellow but wishes she could get through to her daughter. When the headline chef for the festival pulls out Chloe gets straight on the case and secures none other than well known chef Gabe but unbeknown to her Gabe and Sam have history together so will he be welcomed back with open arms?


Phillipa Ashley has certainly poured the charm of the Cornish coast into this novel creating an idyllic community focused setting and added to that the characters all have their Cornish ways and sayings especially the beloved Troy. There is a sweet sprinkling of romance running through the storyline as well as touching on a couple of more delicate family matters. Although most of the storyline was rather predictable the situation between Sam, Gabe and her brother Ryan did manage to hide some of the finer details.


This book is perfect if you are looking for a simple storyline to take on your holidays with you, I did enjoy this novel especially the setting and the likeable characters I just feel that there wasn’t a lot of depth to the storyline so as much as it entertained me I don’t feel it will be one that will stick in my mind a few weeks down the line. I actually found myself more invested in Chloe and her daughter and kept hoping for more to come from them but their storyline was the secondary in this novel so if the author was to do another book to follow their storyline I would definitely pick that one up.

I was all ready for a book to start summer reading on a high. Sorry to say I will have to hope my next choice is better. I was interested and kept hoping I could get into reading but had to give up. I have read the reviews after putting the book down and can’t see how those rated so highly.

4☆ A Feel Good, Cosy Romance. The Perfect Start to a New Series!

Perfect Cornish Summer is a cosy heart warming, fun story of friendship, tradition, romance and community spirit.

I love a good food festival and try to go to at least 2 a year so when I see the blurb featured a food festival it certainly pricked my attention!

Sam is in charge of organising Porthmellow's Annual Food Festival which she is passionate about.

However this year she is about to be tested as the celebrity chef they have booked for the cooking demos has pulled out and the replacement.... just so happens to be Sam's Ex Gabe! And he spells trouble for Sam and the two have a turbulent history.

But can Gabe save the day and win over Sam's heart? Or will things fall apart?

There are plenty of eclectic and endearing characters that bring the community together and bring their own story.
There was quiet a few to get my head round at first,but it's the start of a new series so by the second book I'm sure they will feel like friends. Which is what I come to expect and love with Phillipa's stories.

A Perfect Cornish Summer is a Light hearted, Warm and Cosy story of second chances at Romance, Community Spirit, Drama, a dash of Mystery, Friendships, Family and plenty of light hearted Humour.
The perfect start to a new series.
Phillipa Ashley has written another Gem and I can't wait for the next instalment!

So if you are looking for a New Summer Series that is light hearted, Fun and has a Scrumptious Foodie Festival then you are in for a real Treat! Enjoy! 

Thank you to Avon Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Sam Lovell owns a Catering Company and organises the yearly local food festival. This year, however, there is a major incident, as the guest celebrity chef pulls out at the last minute. Sam's friend Chloe manages to organize a replacement but when Sam learns who it is, she's not too happy - Gabe Matthias, TV chef, who's local and has history with Sam, history that she'd rather forget, and there is a serious reason why she feels like this. But not only Sam, also part of the town as well. Will Gabe be able to get them all on side again? Is it at all possible that the food festival make it to another year, and more?

There were plenty of characters in this novel, and every single one of them with their own story, so in the end there are many threads running through the novel. It wasn't the easiest to keep them all on track and I often felt confused at who, why and what, and where shall I pay attention? But of course those storylines are much relevant and they tie well with one another, and I'm guessing we needed them in this book as a kind of introduction for the next books in the series that will for sure focus on different characters. Nevertheless, I had a feeling that simply too much is going on in this book.

My biggest problem with this novel was the fact that there was actually nothing that has surprised me. All the time I had a feeling "I've been there, I've seen this" and this is probably why it couldn't keep my attention. There was all you could wish for in that kind of a book: friendship, community, romance, good food etc, and it's great, please don't get me wrong, but it simply felt too flat and too repetitive. And the names Samphire and Zennor, well, at the beginning I've though that must have been a spelling error but it turned out they weren't. I couldn't get used to them till the very end of the book, to be honest. And why was their brother called Ryan then? In for a penny, in for a pound, right?

As much as the circumstances of bringing Sam and Gabe back together were really nice, I still had a feeling that there is not enough interaction between them, that there is not enough chemistry, and so this relationship left me feeling a bit lukewarm. Also, huge parts of the book are dedicated to the festival, and of course it was absolutely all right, and I enjoyed them, but somehow, Gabe and Sam simply went astray in all those descriptions of the events, all the organizational issues.

Phillipa Ashley's writing style is lovely, sunny and bright. She must be one of the best when it comes to the settings of her novels, because they are always picturesque, exceptionally beautiful and effortlessly brought to life. She easily transports you to the place she's writing about. And altogether, !A Perfect Cornish Summer" was a light - hearted, warm story about second chances, community spirit, friendship and family, and it had this brilliant Food Festival in it as well - though I'd love more of it itself than the build up towards it, more lush descriptions of food. An uplifting tale about working together, sticking together and helping one another to succeed.

An enjoyable summer read with great characters and an idyllic location - the title is perfect for this book.

I empathised with the lead character Sam and would love to try some of very tasty sounding pies. The location in Cornwall was lovely and the food festival is an event I would like to visit. Great range of characters with heartwarming community spirit. A feel good story of heartbreak, secrets, romance, food, friendships, new beginnings and true love.

Great holiday read or cosy afternoon on the sofa. I look forward to the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.