A Perfect Cornish Summer is the perfect summer read. A lovely story set in what sounds like a gorgeous Cornish village. This has everything; romance, misunderstanding, a food festival and tangled relationships. Highly recommended and a great way to bring a little sunshine into your life.

There was just too much going on in this book. It didn't really need to be this long. For all the buildup towards the festival when the festival itself happened it was barely mentioned in the book. I expected some nice sweeping paragraphs about all the lush food and goods at the festival but was let down.

This was just a disappointment to me overall I guess. At first I found it hard to get past the names Samphire and Zennor? But their brother is named... Ryan. So why didn't he get a weird name? Gabe and Sam seemed to be terrible for each other as did Chloe and Drew. Too many side stories like Bryony, Troy and Evie, Chloe's daughter drama, Chloe's weird ex drama, the stuff with Ryan... just too much.

I think this could have been better as a smaller series, not everything crammed into one book. It felt like a chore to finish this and I usually enjoy books by this author.

I got to know about Cornwall through many gorgeous novels set in this land surrounded by sea. But none of them had induced me to visit this place, probably because I am more drawn to historical places than coastal towns. Thanks to Phillipa Ashley, now I might have to add it to my bucket list. I have never seen a novel which has so effortlessly captured the spirit and life of Cornwall within a beautiful and mesmerizing story.
There are so many things I loved about this book, starting from the elegant cover. Sam was in love with Gabe even from their school days, when he was not as good looking or famous as he is now. Their love life faced a set back when Gabe reported Sam's brother to the police. To be honest, I supported Gabe from the beginning but the way Sam behaved is quite understandable. And the way both of them moved on from their relationships and faced their break up is quite admirable too.
But this is not only about Sam and Gabe coming together after years. There is also a subplot involving the new member of their community, Chloe. Behind her happy facade lies a heaviness and sorrow, for which the efficient community of Porthmellow offers the perfect cure.
The author uses multiple narrative voices enhancing our understanding and the dilemma most of the characters undergo.
Altogether an impressive read, that won't disappoint you a bit.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Cornish Cafe series by Phillipa Ashley and I love her style of writing so couldn’t wait to read A Perfect Cornish Summer. An absolute wonderful book. Based in the gorgeous Cornwall harbour of Porthmellow this book is centred on Sam Lovell organising a Summer food festival in her hometown.

The book is full of likeable characters who you can relate to. I loved the storyline, the village life and the warmth of the community within, the twists and turns of events and the mystery surrounding certain parts of the plot.

The book certainly made me smile and laugh and looks at how despite what has happened in the past, you can move forward and overcome challenges in life. A very powerful message within.

A lovely lovely romantic read – it certainly was a Perfect Cornish Summer! I want to go to Porthmellow now and meet the lovely Sam and Gabe! I would love to know what happens next between them and hear all about the Winter Food Fair! I think we all need to book a holiday at Christmas to visit the Fair!

A delightful read – can’t wait to read more by Phillipa Ashley, who is now on my favourite novelist lists!

I enjoyed this visit back to the Cornish Islands. I have read several of this author's books and enjoy her writing style, characters and plots very much. This was wonderful book of a second chance at love, forgiveness, resolving misunderstandings and reuniting family bonds.

Sam is the main organizer of the Porthmellow Festival and devotes so much of her time to it. Her goal of helping her community thrive when she first suggested the festival years ago, has blossomed into more than she could have ever hoped. The festival is now a destination for people all over to come and enjoy the great time.

Due to a situation that develops with the festival, Gabe, who is a native but left the area years ago, comes back to help. Gabe and Sam have a history that ended badly. Maybe with the time that passed and more maturity in both of them, they can have a better future together.

Chloe is fairly new to Porthmellow. Everyone in the village thinks that she is living a perfect life. That is the impression that she portrays to the world. In reality, she is heartbroken. Her daughter has cut her out of her life. She has never met her granddaughter and is worried about both of them. Chloe pushes through her worry with her work. Drew has worries of his own, but finding Chloe has lightened his load. I really adored these two characters finding each other.

Several other plots are included in the book adding to the feel of being in the village and knowing it's inhabitants. This was truly a delightful book that I recommend highly.

I want to thank NetGalley.com and Avon for allowing me to read the ARC.

I’ve not read any oh Phillipas books before, but I like it. If you like a book similar to Cathy Bramley or Carole Matthews then you will not be disappointed! Set in a seaside town in Cornwall, old romance has been rekindled between a former couple who spilt up sue to the brother of the leas character being found to be plotting to steal and her boyfriend reporting him to the police. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books,. Thankyou for the advance read!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book; admittedly it took me a bit to get fully into it but by half way through I was eager to see how everything worked out.

The book made me laugh, and I was smiling as I read through. It’s a feel good, romantic tale of lost love, lost relationships and how the past has to stay there and live in the now. The book explores how you need to move past the actions from long ago and go forwards in anyway you can.

At the centre of all things is the village hosting a food festival, which is a bound to be right up some people’s street.

Some fun, quirky characters. I’m sure everyone will have favourites but they are a fab bunch. A great mix - just like you would have in a village.

Overall a warm, romantic read that fans will love.

Absolutely loved this book, was trying to ration it as I really didn’t want to leave. Loved the characters, perhaps Drew could have had his back story fleshed out more but still really liked his characters portrayal. Have read some of her books before but this one really kept my enthralled right up to the last page.

My review of A Perfect Cornish Summer
Author Phillipa Ashley
By Judith Beavis 23/02/19

I was hooked by this novel from the prologue. it is long but really enjoyable. Eleven years earlier three people named Sam, Drew and Troy sitting out side the Smugglers with a pint. Thinking of their small dying town of Porthmellow they decided to plan a food festival to bring life into the town. Ten years later they are to celebrate the tenth anniversary festival. It has been long hard work but the town has got stronger with tourists and locals attending each year.
The tenth is to be special with top named chefs giving demos and a hundred stalls selling just about everything. The top chef pulls out, then Chloe, an incomer she is an events coordinator rings round and finds Gabe. His family used to run the fish and chip shop years ago. Things happened with Ryan, Sams brother, Gabe got involved, so Gabe left the town, he and Sam, had been an item. Chloe knew nothing of this. Plenty of incidents happen in the lead up to the festival but the committee pulled together to make things work. Gabe was preparing his food when he spots Ryan at the back, he hasn't been seen for many years, it puts him off and cuts himself. Sam goes to help. The festival is a great success, But what happens after, will Sam and Gabe get back together, what happens to Ryan, what will happen to Zennor, Sams sister and her friend Ben, Will Chloe ever get her family back. I wont say, I want you to read this great book to find out for yourselves.

Such a lovely read. A Perfect Cornish Summer had me gripped from the start and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Sam and Gabe’s dilemmas. Hearing about the characters and their lives made me feel I was in the picturesque Cornish Village. A must read for all Phillipa Ashley fans as well as anyone new to her books.

This was a nice light romance that I can see being popular. The cover art drew me in and the book matched what I was hoping for based on the cover. The sense of place was wonderful and I felt like I was in Cornwall in the summer.

Food, Cornwall and relationships, what a perfect recipe for a satisfying story. The characters who inhabit the fictional small seaside town of Porthmellow are well drawn and the tangled web of their
connections is gradually revealed. Actions from the past still have resonances in the present, that are eventually revealed and resolved through the medium of the trials and tribulations of staging a weekend food festival in our unpredictable English summer. Recommended for fans of Judy Astley, Fern Britton or Veronica Henry

amazing light hearted romance read! The pace of this book is not too slow or too fast and the character seemed real and the conflicts doesnt look fake or made up or rushed! I love the community set in the book it seemed to have such nice people and everyone knew each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and quickly became engaged with the characters and storyline. Set in a Cornish village the place is brought to life by the high quality writing style of Phillipa Ashley. I found this one hard to put down.

There were plenty of interesting characters to relate to and I loved the mix of people in the book. I really liked Sam and Gabe, I was definitely rooting for them, but all the characters in this story have a definite place in it and to be honest I liked them all. The village is so well described that I felt I knew it and comings and goings made it seem so real, I felt I was wondering the streets.


There were moments that made me smile and even laugh at, a few twists and turns I didn’t see coming too, which all made for a great read. I would highly recommend this one and do hope there is a further instalment about the Winter Solstice Food Fair. Phillipa Ashley is an author whose books I hadn’t read before, but I will be reading her other books now.

I had a perfectly good time in the Cornish Summer.

The story was engrossing and the characters felt like old friends. I enjoyed my time with them.

Brilliant plot, excellent main characters that you invest in. I read this book in one sitting and I would highly recommend it.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher and most importantly the Author. I absolutely love all Philippa Ashleys books and this was up there with great reads

Another fantastic book from Phillipa! I love getting lost in the Cornish scene. There’s a lot going on in this book and at times I found it hard to keep up with but love the overall story.

I received an early preview copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I have heard good things about Phillipa Ashley, but I had not read any of her books before. When I was offered an early copy of her new book, I thought that it was a good opportunity to try her writing, especially as it was the first book in a new series.
I enjoy reading books that have a beach setting, and there are plenty of books that are set in Cornwall. The book is set in a quiet Costal town which is rising in popularity, due to the Food Festival. This book features the organisers of the Food Festival, as they plan for the next festival, but encounter several drawbacks along the way. The main protagonists are Sam and Gabe, who are suddenly thrown together, following a rift during their teenage years.
In the beginning of the book there were a lot of characters, and I found it initially hard to follow. I had to keep going back and re-reading to remind myself who the characters were. Once I got further into the book it was easier to follow the storyline and remember the characters.
There is a wide range of characters, young and old, who were mostly likeable. It soon became apparent that most of them had secrets. I enjoyed reading about their past, and learning their secrets. I thought that their problems were resolved too quickly and neatly, especially if there are going to be sequels. It might have been good to draw out some of their problems, as it would have been more realistic. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book, and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

I'm a big Phillipa Ashley fan. I love getting lost in the Cornish countryside when I read her books. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. It's a good summer read though there is a lot going on and sometimes the amount of characters are overwhelming. But, I still loved the plot of the story and its setting. If you are a fan of Karen Clarke and Cathy Bramley, I think you'll love this book!