Published By: Penguin
Pages: 368
Released On: 04/06/2026
Five years ago, Zennor’s perfect Cornish wedding fell apart in the most spectacular style – thanks to Matt Veryan, the man who crashed the celebrations and shattered her happily ever after.
Now a successful business owner in St Ives, Zennor is shocked to discover Matt is not only back in her life- he’s also her new landlord.
As old feelings resurface and long-buried secrets come to light, Zennor must face the truth about her past, her marriage . . . and the man she never truly forgot.
But can Zennor ever forgive Matt? And if she does, could it lead her to a love greater than she ever dared dream possible?
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I’d read quite a few thrillers and heavy novels before this one so I needed something a bit lighter and I can always rely on a Phillipa Ashley book to be great.
What I love about her books is that, yes, they are happily-ever-after type books and I love that. But they’ve also got so much depth, so many layers that you might not always get in your stereotypical will-they-won’t-they story.
I thinks this is the 6th of her books I’ve read. I confess I prefer the Christmas ones but that’s because I am a Christmas/winter obsessive and a hater of hot weather so they appeal more to me. Having said that, this story and the storytelling, characters, and writing are just as impressive.
It’s about love, family (found and blood), friendship, community, lost love, wrong love, forgotten love, mistakes, forgiveness, new beginnings, self-confidence, and self-identity.
The characters aren’t always nice people but they’re well written. You’ve got the heroine, the pantomime villain, and the hunk in shining armour. So whilst I might not have liked all the characters in terms of their personalities, there’s no denying her ability to create familiar, fascinating, and well-rounded characters.
I love Cornwall – although it’s been many years since I’ve been – and so the setting was just perfect for this story.
It has a relatively predictable conclusion which might be a negative for some readers. But if I’m honest, I read these kind of uplifting novels because I know they’ll end in a certain way. There may be twists throughout the story but you always know how it’ll end and that’s part of the appeal. I want the happily-ever-after bit. I want familiarity, and that’s what makes it a relaxing read.
Sure it’s a bit repetitive at times but that’s not a big issue for me. It’s fun and easy to read, light-hearted but memorable.
It’s not got a lot of the highlights that some of her others have, it was missing this big spark, but that’s a minor point because I still thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, and the themes and emotions behind it all.
I really should pick up her other books to read because they’re just perfect for that relaxing, cosy, heartwarming read as you relax in the sunshine this summer.
Books By Your Bedside 