One Summer in Cornwall

by Karen King

Escape to Cornwall this summer . . .

A gorgeous feel-good read, perfect for fans of CATHY BRAMLEY and PHILLIPA ASHLEY.

When Hattie is made redundant and evicted from her flat in one horrible week, she needs time to rethink. Her Uncle Albert left her and her father each half of Fisherman's Rest, his home in the Cornish town of Port Medden, so this seems the perfect place to escape to until she can figure things out.

As Hattie stays in the cottage, clearing it out, tidying it up and getting it ready to sell, she starts to find her feet in Port Medden and making a new home here begins to feel right. If only her dad didn't need a quick sale and things weren't complicated by her unwelcoming neighbour Marcus . . .

Readers love Karen King's feel-good

'A great romance story by a superb author, I loved the main character from the start' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Such a lovely summer book that I just couldn't put down ! Absolutely loved the character of Ellie and I was desperate to see how everything would work out' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'It's a great holiday read and even you if aren't on holiday it gives you a feel of that freedom and relaxation. You can't help falling in love with the main characters and following their every move with suspense. I loved this book and read it in a couple of days because once I started reading, I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Most enjoyable read . Always interesting. Very believable characters. I can thoroughly recommend it . What could be a better summer read than one set in beautiful Cornwall' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'This was a truly delightful book to read. Just light-hearted feel good.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Genres: Romance, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published August 17, 2021

About the author

Karen King is an Amazon international bestselling author of psychological suspense and women's fiction.

Her 7th psychological suspense novel, Don't Trust Him, was published on 3 April 2025 by Bookouture and her 'golden years' novel, The Runaway Wives, was published by Boldwood on 24th March 2025. This was her 12th woman's fiction novel.

Karen has also had 120 children’s books, two young adult novels, and several short stories for women’s magazines published. Her early writing career was spent working on various teenage and children's magazines.

Her suspense novels The Mother In Law, The Perfect Stepmother and The Stranger in my Bed and her romantic novel The Cornish Hotel by the Sea all became International Amazon bestsellers.

Reviews

[Zoé-Lee O'Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may be 352 pages but I never wanted it to end. I felt a change of pace was needed when I picked this book up, after a few thrillers and a few books which were ok. Here, I was taken to a summer filled with love, loss and happiness. It is just what I needed and I may have even shed a tear or two. Ssshhhhh!!!

This is only my second outing with Karen, my first was her thriller which blew me away. So being my first romance by Karen, I had nothing to compare. She has created a story that is so beautiful. Yes, we may know how it is going to end, yes we may know there will be miscommunication and misdirection. But it is as I always say, the journey we go on is the most fun. This is never the same and the interpretation is always different.

We have Hattie, she inherited a cute dilapidated cottage in Cornwall with her Dad. Her Uncle Albert sadly passed but she hasn’t seen him since she was a child. Rocking up on her bike she needs this break. However, she meets Marcus, her neighbour and things are off to a rocky start. Thinking she is shallow and money-grabbing, he couldn’t be further from the truth if he tried. Although, I think Marcus is definitely what I needed!!! Shame he is not real – oh woe!

I loved the history of Fisherman’s Rest and the love that Hattie plunged into the cottage. From all the descriptions by Karen, I could picture the cottage and to be honest, I would be tempted to buy it!! It is always hard to let go of the past, and for Hattie, the cottage reminds her of happier times. My heart went out to her as she thought back to those times and to everything she has missed. Life really is too short!

It wouldn’t be a review without mentioning Buddy, the parrot. He might tell me to bugger off if I didn’t! He was a lively character in this tale! Always making me smile when he was there.

I really did love this book, I felt it was over way too quickly. I have to make a point of saying, this is book two in a series but you don’t need to have read the first one, I haven’t. The characters from the first book are mentioned but you don’t feel like you are missing out. However, I do want to get to know them!!

I will be back to read more romance by Karen. She can safely add me to her lists of fans! She has written a book that has made me smile through the pages and for me to not want a book to end, well kudos for that!

[Emily ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The summer in Cornwall NetGalley review:
🌟🌟🌟
This book was very slow to start but once it picked up it was interesting and quite good overall 😌

Pros:
• I thought the plot was good and interesting!
• I also enjoyed Hattie and Marcus’ relationship - their banter and teasing was super cute ☺️
• Hattie was an awesome character - she was super badass and I liked her spirit and admired her bravery! ☺️

Cons:
• I was quite slow to like Marcus and his 3rd person POV but liked it eventually and overall he was also a good character too 🙃
• It was quite repetitive at some parts and the ending few chapters were quite messy which I disliked.

Overall I liked it, it was a lovely summer easy and sweet read 😌

[Federica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, easy read ideal to unplug your mind for a few hours, in a beautiful setting, with enjoyable characters.
Nice!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#onesummerincornwall #netgalley

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve wanted to read this book for a while and my word was an amazing read and didn’t disappoint at all full of starting life over again and making new friends and plenty of romance but trying to hide it as well and deciding what you want for your future. It’s a warm read and certainly a cosy read and great characters and set in beautiful Cornwall.
Hattie has been made redundant and just lost her home to she needs to think about life but her uncle has passed away and left her father a cosy cottage in Cornwall so she heads to the cottage to do it up ready to sell she thinks it’s the perfect place to escape and see what she wants from life. She arrives at the cottage and all set for cleaning it out and getting it ready to sell her dad wants a quick sale as well as he wants the money. Problem is the neighbour who seems to be off with her she seems to have feelings for and can she hide that from him or the more she gets the cottage ready to sell and she spends more time with him how will her life go will she realise she loves the cottage and wants to stay but she can’t afford it as her dad wants his money quickly. Will she sell or will something change and will she find the romance she has been trying to hide.
A perfect summer read.

[Suhasini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm, oozy, romance by the sea town of Port Madden.

Hattie is homeless and jobless all of a sudden. Her uncle Albert, has left her a share of his cottage with the other share to her dad, by the sea. They both decide to declutter and sell it asap. Her dad is cash strapped to renovate his own B&B back in France. Hattie also has to sort out her life.

Marcus, the surfer, painter and chef neighbour is soon judging her. He had looked after Albert in his last days and had looked after his parrot even after Albert's death.

Soon sparks fly, thanks to Mali- Hattie's visiting friend. Things take a turn and everything looks bright. Hattie is more than happy to stay in the town and also her photography commissions are getting better here.

Will they confess each other's feelings and stay together? Or is it going to be just a summer fling?

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining and satisfying read set in lovely Cornwall. A little predictable and I would have preferred to avoid the usual misunderstandings. (jealous woman creates problems which could have been sorted out speedily by simply asking Marcus what was going on!).

But a nice, easy comfortable read. 4 stars

[Emma Dickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hattie has been left half of her Uncle Albert's cottage, so when she is made redundant she moves to Cornwall to get it ready for selling. Then she meets hunky artist, Marcus, her next-door neighbour, who falls head over heels for her slim, toned body and they embark on a love-hate relationship. The trouble is, Hattie then doesn't want to leave Cornwall and the cottage she has come to love, but her dad needs the money from his half of the sale for his failing B&B business.

I quickly became irritated by how shallow Hattie and Marcus were. They were obsessed by each others good looks and were constantly wondering when they would spend the night together again. Also I had to laugh at the unrealistic timeframe for getting the cottage ready for selling. The bathroom was ripped out and replaced in one day....

I enjoyed the beautiful backdrop of Cornwall and the cottage that was being cleared out and Buddy the parrot, whom Hattie also inherited. He was so funny, shouting out expletives whenever he was spoken to. Also Hattie rekindled her relationship with her dad and stepbrother, which I found to be endearing.

[Sally Tyrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real feel good summery read perfect for this time of year! Based in picturesque cornwall, sun, sea, surfing and a great caring village community!
Hattie down on her luck after losing her boyfriend, job and home decides to move to cornwall and and stay in her Late uncles cottage that her and her dad have been left in his will.
The cottage is a real time warp and brings back memories for Hattie of carefree summer holidays with her parents as a child,days of happiness before her life changed forever due to her parents divorce!
Whilst at the cottage Hattie learns to care for her uncles parrot with the help of her handsome enigmatic neighbour Marcus although the relationship between them is full of misunderstandings, as Hatties life changes she finds work, makes friends, falls in love and gets the cottage ready to sell but the pull of her new life, love and circumstances makes her realise what she really wants/needs.
A lovely if slightly predictable read.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a perfect escapism read and am definitely going to look out for more
From this author. I hadn’t realised until I finished it that it was the sequel to the Cornish hotel by the sea so will have to go back and read that one now although it was also a perfect standalone read.

This was a quick and easy read and read it in almost one sitting and was perfect for Easter holiday relaxation.

I loved the descriptions of port medden and would love to visit one day. The characters were very relatable especially Hattie and Marcus and not forgetting the hilarious antidotes by the hero of the hour buddy the parrot. This was a story of love and loss and second chances and building bridges and how first impressions are not always as they seem and how easy it is for misunderstandings and wrong judgements to be made.

This was a cosy read and felt like had been on a journey with these characters with every turn of the page.

I would love their to be another book in this series.

[Colin Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have many happy memories of summer holidays in Cornwall and can easily see how Hattie could fall in love with Port Medden and her Uncle's cottage. I also ride a motorbike, but can't imagine anyone wanting to paint a portrait of me on mine. There is the tension with the mutual attraction between Hattie and Marcus and whether they will admit the depth of feelings that they have for each other. Hattie decides that she would love to stay in the cottage, although her father, who was also left a half share, desperately needs the money, and this is a central theme of the story all the way to the end.
Overall definitely a book to settle down with and read on a summer evening whilst dreaming that you too could be in the position of moving to such a beautiful area.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen King writes about relationships in such a way that the reader feels totally part of what is happening. She has the knack of letting us into the hearts and minds of her characters. The meet, misunderstand, make mistakes and then have the main characters reach the perfect ending is a standard in the romance genre, but Karen manages to add a certain something to make her books stand above the pack.

Hattie, who has inherited a dilapidated cottage in Cornwall meets Marcus, her neighbour. Needless to say, from the outset, things are not off to the best start. Marcus misunderstands her motives and judges her accordingly. I enjoyed the journey along their rocky road and was sad when the book came to an end – but sad with a smile on my face.

[Miss AG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely perfect!! This is the first ‘Karen King’ book I have read and I can honestly say, I enjoyed every page of it! I get bored very easily if I read a book which drags, and this was nothing but joyful! The story is centred around a cottage in Port Medden, Cornwall. I loved reading about Uncle Albert and it made me think of all those elderly people who live alone, who have lost contact with their families. It’s very sad when you think about it. It was lovely to see Hattie rebuilding a relationship with her Dad and how she realised that she had misconceptions about him when her parents had separated. The friendship between Hattie and Mali was wonderful - everyone should have a best friend! When I read stories like this, it makes me want to move to a cottage by the sea!! :-D

[Lorraine Joad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hattie’s life was not going well. No job and nowhere to live until she moves into her late uncle’s cottage in Cornwall, to update it before selling it, for which she will inherit half the proceeds.
I loved the story to this book but got very frustrated with Hattie for not speaking her mind. She knew exactly what she wanted and who she wanted but would just not speak up. I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to include spoilers. It is this kind of writing which makes it a good book!
The characters were great in this book, typical country folk knowing everyone’s business.
I would thoroughly recommend this book for a truly uplifting, feel good read.

[Liss · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW.
2.5 stars.

Hattie finds herself jobless, boyfriendless and homeless. An opportunity arises to spend some time in her late Uncles cottage in Cornwall before it sells.

Unfortunately there wasn’t enough character development for me. I was also disappointed by the lack of description. It is set in such a beautiful part of the world and it just didn’t come to life.

But it’s a lovely lighthearted and easy read. I flew through this in just two days and it was warm, fuzzy and it’s predictability was comforting.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely and sweet read, cute and easy a great book to cheer you up when your needing a pick me up. The characters engaging and interesting. A lovely gentle romance

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[JO · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive immature drivel 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Averil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wonderful. Read it in a few days. Pure escapism and pure bliss

[Aisling Mulcaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could have I’d have given this book 10 stars. I loved everything about it & can’t wait to read more by the author

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each page this book took me back to Cornwall where like the main character I also spent my childhood holidays. Such an easy read getting lost in the story.

[Mad Harley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, One Summer In Cornwall was really not my cup of tea. I found it too predictable and the amount of times the author repeated things was just a bit too often for my liking.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lovely light summer read .

[Vikki Rowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely sweet summery romance. Great quick read but lots of repetition. Not much to the story.

[Emma Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice wee story. Easy chapters. Although author kept repeating

[Amanda M · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read

[nicky crompton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the characters and the imagery of port madden. Thoroughly enjoyed the story telling

[Elisabeth Blowers]

I really enjoyed this book. Perfect setting. Likeable characters.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best way to describe this is like a hug in a book! It was a very easy and light-hearted story, and it took me just two sittings to read the whole thing because I was enjoying it so much.

I picked this book up because I love Cornwall and I wanted to read about a story in that setting, and this book certainly didn't disappoint. I loved the descriptions of Port Medden and the little cottage - Fisherman's Rest - which is the main location for the story.

My favourite element of the book was definitely the characters - I really warmed to both Hattie and Marcus, and not forgetting Buddy the parrot of course!

A classic enemies-to-lovers romance story, which is guaranteed to warm your heart, and make you want to book a trip to Cornwall asap!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read!