I loved the first book in this series and I was thrilled when I discovered that there was a second book coming, so I jumped at the chance to read an early copy. This book focuses on Issy, an independent coffee shop owner and lifelong resident with an unfortunate fear of the ocean after it took her parents from her. Living and working in such close proximity to the sea is incredibly difficult for Issy, and the return of Liam Penrose adds an extra complication to her life.

I liked that the book started straight after the events at the end of book one, and also that it featured another member of the Penrose family as they were my favourite thing about book one. They're a big family with even bigger hearts, and it was great to feel like I was catching up with them again. I really felt for Liam as he's been presented with a big conundrum; to give up everything he's worked for in London, or to take on a new challenge and return home?

I really enjoyed my return visit to Halfmoon Quay and I'm crossing my fingers for another book in the series; I think Christmas with the Penrose family would be magical so I'd love a Christmas instalment in the series. I hadn't read any Sarah Bennett books before reading this series and I really feel like I'd been missing out now. I'm definitely adding some more of her books to my ever growing TBR pile.

Issy runs a cafe in Halfmoon Quay, and her former boyfriend Liam is back from London on a sabbatical from his job. They both believed that the other broke up without ever talking. Issy can hold a grudge, and she did for a long time. Liam is unhappy in London, and his uncle has given him the family inn to run. As he realizes how much work is needed, he second guesses his thought on staying in Halfmoon Quay. As Issy and Liam work out the details of what really happened back when, they realize that they still love one another. I really enjoyed this sweet romance and highly recommend it.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sarah Bennett for allowing me to read and review this book. I was sold once I realized it was a second chance romance.

Issy Kernow runs a small café in Halfmoon Quay, but despite the charm of her seaside town, she feels something is missing in her life. When her free-spirited grandmother unexpectedly finds romance, Issy begins to question her own path. At the same time, Liam Penrose returns home, hoping for a fresh start after a broken relationship and an unfulfilling job. The story follows their journeys as they both search for renewal and possibly love with each other.

This is the second book in the series (you should read the first book in the series. Can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the first one prior). There is a character list in the beginning that I frequently referred back to because I had a hard time remembering characters. While I did enjoy the premise of the book, I found the pacing to be a little slow in the beginning. I really felt as though certain things by were a big dragged out, but it started to pick up in the second half of the book.

This is a good comfort read and I enjoyed Issy and Liam’s relationship but again it was slow to get there.

The spotlight falls on Liam Penrose, the eldest of the Penrose siblings. Once considered the brightest hope of the family, he was sent to an exclusive school and eventually built a successful life in London. Now, he finds himself returning to Halfmoon Quay after unexpectedly inheriting his great-uncle’s hotel.

Faced with a crossroads, Liam must decide whether to embrace life by the sea, surrounded by family and a slower pace, or sell the hotel and return to his city career. Naturally, his dilemma quickly becomes the talk of the town, with plenty of locals eager to weigh in on what he should do.

At the same time, Liam’s return stirs old emotions with Issy, his first love. Fifteen years of miscommunication and heartbreak stand between them, yet their chemistry remains undeniable. Filled with family bonds, friendship, humour, and second chances, this is a heartwarming, cosy romance that leaves you eager for the next Penrose story.

Thank you Sarah for another, lovely comforting read and it was an absolute pleasure to re-aquaint with all the characters again

Another wonderful book from Sarah Bennett in the new series from Halfmoon Quay. Reading this is pure comfort which is like a coffee and cake in that cafe! Gorgeous escapism, warm hearted romance and totally sweet.
Issy Kernow runs the cafe in the village of Halfmoon Quay, on her own after her parents were lost at sea out in their boat. She hasn’t been near the sea since.
Liam Penrose is back home after having a successful life in London but is burnt out from the high powered job and parting ways with his girlfriend. He’s been given the hotel by his uncle and now he needs to make the decision to stay and modernise the hotel or go back to the grind of life in London.
Will Izzy and Liam get a second chance together after being pulled apart when Liam went off to boarding school on a scholarship?
The families, friends and relationships are very easy to relate with, being a little complicated and complex as in life. This book flows without fault, and is such a joy, pleasure and such a treat to read
Hugely recommended for a cosy curl up this autumn!
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the early read!!

I love a good series, & Sarah Bennett’s latest series, Halfmoon Quay, is turning into a good one. Now we’ve been introduced to the main characters (of whom there are many) it all settles down a bit & in this book we focus on Liam (eldest of the four Penrose brothers) & Issy’s story.

Liam & Issy were childhood sweethearts, but lost touch after Liam went away to boarding school. After school Liam went to university & then to London for a high flying career in financial services, whilst Issy stayed in Halfmoon Quay, living with her grandmother after her parents died in a boating accident & together they started the Cosy Coffee Pot. They reconnect when Liam returns home for a sabbatical from his job, but it’s an uncomfortable reunion as each blames the other for the breakup. The reason for their breakup is a mystery, to be solved in these pages. Can they find their way back together? Is it what they both want?

It’s a great story, well-paced - Issy & Liam need time to get used to being geographically closer, & it takes Liam a while to feel settled & accepted back in the wider village community after being away for ten years - though of course his family were delighted to have him back. I felt Liam’s doubt & uncertainty, especially when his great uncle Davy threw him the curveball about the hotel. You do sense that there is still a strong attraction between them, if not yet acknowledged. I loved that each had their support groups: Liam & his brothers, Issy & “the girls”. I enjoyed the sensitive way in which Liam tried to help Issy overcome her (understandable) fear of the sea. This is Sarah Bennett at her best, gradually introducing the community in Halfmoon Quay across the generations with all the interactions. It’s a lovely story, a good summer read. I can’t wait to read the next in this series.


Thanks to Netgalley & Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book, we had some characters from the first book so it really made it familure and friendly, Issy and Liam were very likable characters and their story was really well told, I am already looking forward to book 3.

Second in the series, a lovely return to the seaside. Having enjoyed the first and the characters we met - of which there are alot(!) it was nice to catch up with how everything was going. I did find it hard to keep track of who belonged to who and how they were related but it didn’t really take anything away from the story or my enjoyment.

We have romance, heartache and a touch of drama but this is a story of second chances, letting go of past hurt and facing fears, or at least starting to.

A great read, highly recommended.

Love the setting of this book, so truthful of the struggles of coastal livng. Love the family aspect of this book, all helping each other. A great summer read i am already looking forward to the next installment. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

This is the second book in this series and it was just good as the last. We are back in Halfmoon Quay and Indy is busy running her cafe, but when an ex turns up home everything changes. It’s a beautiful book with tributes for her parents who died at sea. The story is a reflection on how far she’s come and is going to overcome this tragic event. A lovely easy read that leaves you wanting more, plus a map in a book is my favourite. Loved it 5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Everything Changes But You by Sarah Bennett is a warm and uplifting story about love, second chances, and finding the courage to embrace change. I loved the charming seaside setting and the heartfelt connection between Issy and Liam as they navigated both past regrets and new beginnings. The mix of family, friendship, and romance made this such a delightful read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and gave it five stars.

Issy loves her job in the cafe in Halfmoon Quay but the view reminds her of her parents deaths. She doesn't let anyone in ap0art from her grandmother Maud who handed the cafe over to her. Liam has come home from his high powered job in London through burnout and his breakup from Caro. His uncle then hands him the deeds of the family hotel which means he doesn't know what to do

Really enjoyed this one. The seaside setting gave everything a gentle charm. Issy came across strong but still marked by old heartbreak, and I liked how she kept moving forward with her café and her community. Liam, on the other hand, brought some tension at first, but I appreciated how his return forced both of them to face the past. The writing was engaging, and full of warmth. Overall, it was perfect as a comfort read, with just enough drama and tenderness to keep me turning the pages. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

We return to Half Moon Quay for the second book in this series. The story centers mainly on Izzy who owns the cafe and her lost love Liam. Davy is ready to give up the hotel but who will take it over or will it have to be sold?
It took me a bit to remember all the characters from the first book but I soon caught up. Lovely story and a lovely series. Looking forward to the next one.

I want to say thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book. I really appreciate it!

I have had the absolute privilege of being able to read Sarah Bennett's work before a couple of times, including the first book in her 'Halfmoon Quay' series, 'Just the Beginning'. I'm very happy to say even if you haven't read the previous books that's perfectly alright! These work flawlessly as interconnected standalones, however you're going to want to read every book in this series! After reading Rick and Anya's story, I'm so excited to have read Issy and Liam's story! I honestly have to say I love this one the most!

Don't let the characters list at the beginning fool you though, it might be a big list but they're super easy to keep track of! If you're looking for the perfect coziest, second chance romance, and or second chance childhood romance stories to read this is it! This was so well done, slightly predictable on the twists but not in a bad way, they're not meant to be shocking I believe they're meant to be very obvious not to make you look silly but to make you think it all through and truly feel everyone's emotions it just works so well! Issy and Liam feel so real, and it was just so enjoyable and relatable. That when you get to those twists your heart is going to go out to them, what they go through is just going to pull you in and make you love them so much more! Thank you so much for giving me more of Maud too! She's Issy's nan and I adored her in the first book and I loved having more of her here! She is the older lady you want to be like when you grow up and the exact woman I wished I had for a grandmother! Watching the second chance occur I know I've already said it but it was flawless! Absolutely zero faults or issues with anything!

This is another series that also pulls me in and makes me feel like I'm pulled along for the ride and made to be one of the family! I really truly felt it in this book and I really loved it and needed it! This was just the coziest warmest feel good happy story, I've missed this feeling lately. This is definitely a snuggle up and binge and fall in love with read when you need to believe in love again to just to bring you some peace and happiness!

Thank you so very much again from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book. I absolutely adored it!

Liam Penrose returns to his family home at Halfmoon Quay needing a break. Feeling burned out from a failed relationship and an all encompassing job all Liam wants to do is relax.
But his great uncle Davy has handed Liam the deeds to his hotel in the hope that Liam will take it on and restore it to its former glory.
With a lot to think about things aren’t made any easier when Liam runs into his childhood sweetheart Issy. For some reason Issy is angry with him, but Liam can’t understand why. If he’s prepared to put the past behind him, why can’t she.
Issy is shocked to see Liam back, and that he seems to be acting like he didn’t break her heart.
As Liam begins to find his place back in Halfmoon Quay secrets from the past come to light. Can Liam and Issy find a way to put the past behind them and move forward together.
This is a lovely return to Halfmoon Quay but you don’t need to have read the previous book to love this one. Get cosy, snuggle up and prepare to be enchanted.

Book Two in @sarah_bennettauthor Halfmoon Bay series is set to release October 7, 2025! #everythingchangesbutyou follows Issy as she runs her cafe in the small community she grew up on, situated on the English coast. After losing her parents at seventeen just weeks after her childhood sweetheart Liam stopped writing to her from boarding school Issy has had her share of heartbreak. Liam moved to London after school and rarely came home for visits, so she has been able to avoid him for the most part, until now. Liam’s uncle has left him his hotel, and it seems like Liam is considering moving home. Liam is conflicted about moving home, especially since the former love of his life can’t seem to stand him.
I really love Bennett’s brand of cozy fiction and was so thrilled to get to dive into the next chapter of this delightful series a little early. Thank you so much to @theboldbookclub and @netgalley for making it possible.
#bookstagram #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #cozybooks #readersgonnaread

This book was just full of sweet love! I absolute adored the characters and the sweet story that unfolded. It was adorable!

“Everything Changes But You” is the second book in the Halfmoon Quay series by Sarah Bennett. Once again I was drawn right in very early on, by the strong sense of community and belonging that the story evokes. This book is Liam’s story. The eldest Penrose boy who had so much academic potential his teacher managed to get him a place at an exclusive school and as a result he grew up away from home and ended up living and working in London, a high flying city boy.

In this story Liam returns home to discover his Great Uncle’s hotel has been gifted to him. He has to decide if being by the sea, surrounded by his loving family, in a slower way of life is what he now needs or of he should sell the hotel and continue with his life in London. Any changes to be made are of great interest to all the locals and Liam is the local hot topic. He is subjected to unsolicited advice from people making assumptions about where his priorities lie.
Meanwhile he also needs to work through his feelings for Issy. It’s been 15 years since they have spoken a civil word go each other. She was his first girlfriend, the love of his life. She broke up with him when he first left for school by never replying to any of his letters. Issy herself is also very torn because Liam was the love of her life and he broke up with her!

“Everything Changes but You” is an addictively warm and cosy story of lost love, misunderstandings, family, friendship and fun. I was thoroughly absorbed in the story. Willing Liam to make the right choice placing happiness over financial security.

Each member of the Penrose family has their own story to tell. I really want to be there to hear them all and I look forward to reading more books in this series.