And Then There Was You

by Miranda Dickinson

Pre-order the brand-new novel of second-chances and finding yourself from the bestselling author! Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell and Beth Moran.

Two lonely people. One song to change their lives…

Merryn Rowe adores her life in St Ives. The café she owns and the community she serves are her much-needed second chance after a heart-breaking divorce. But as she gazes out at the Cornish Sea, she begins to long for more.

Zach Trevelyan is not where he expected to be. His surfing career in tatters following an injury, he finds himself in St Ives without a home, a job, or a path ahead.

When Merryn discovers an abandoned piano, it evokes long-lost memories of someone who left her life without a word – her much-loved stepfather. Impulsively, she gives the piano a home in the courtyard of her café. And late one night, when a familiar song comes through her window, Merryn discovers a striking man huddled at the piano.

Who exactly is the midnight musician? And why can’t she stop thinking about him…and his beautiful melody?

Genres: Romance, Slow Burn, Fiction

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

Miranda Dickinson has always had a head full of stories. Coming from a creative family where stories and songs were always present, it was perhaps inevitable that she would end up adoring words. A songwriter for over 15 years, Miranda has successfully penned over thirty songs, delivering both live and recorded performances in a range of venues across the UK and Europe. Her first solo project album, About Time is due for release this year. To hear her music, visit www.mirandadickinson.com - and be sure to leave a message if you like it!

Miranda began writing in earnest four years ago with her first novel, Coffee at Kowalski's - a romantic comedy set in New York's Upper West Side. This was spotted on HarperCollins' site for unpublished authors, Authonomy.com at the end of 2008 and was released by Avon (part of HC) as Fairytale of New York on 12th November 2009. She has also written several short stories, scripts and novel excerpts, many of which are published on Helium.com. Miranda is also a regular contributor for www.myvillage.com writing a range of local interest articles for the Birmingham area and national film and festival reviews.

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merryn owns a cafe by the seaside.
One day she meets Zach a young man and is instantly attracted to him.
A charming feel good story.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this book! 'And then there was you' by @wurdsmyth I loved the book, such a good read and really felt for the characters!! Loved that my idea of empire ocean biscuits played a part of the story!! Love the idea of working in a cafe!! The story is two from two sides, Merryn and Zach. Both have their troubles and hardships but st Ives brings them hope!! Would recommend this book!

5🌟

[Lisa (Two Bookish Brits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such an emotional mess right now because this book was so so beautiful. The tears are just lingering and I’m in awe.

The duo POV had me cheering from the rooftops haha, I do love a story from both points.

Merryn has built herself and her business back up after her terrible ex husband left her with nothing. Although her heart is hurting she’s such a beautiful spirited woman that brings a smile to everyone she greets. She’s a breath of fresh air and deserves the entire world.

Zach is struggling after an accident ended his surfing career. He has no home, no job and no money so he’s in town where his good friend is and he’s looking for work to get by. Even when life isn’t so good to him he’s still desperate to make those he loves happy, to help where he can. He has such a beautiful soul and it hurt my heart to see how unhappy he was.

Merryn and Zach’s first meeting was adorable, their second was cute but their third, oh be still my heart.

I loved these two from the get go. The way the music talked to them, the way they understood each other and that instant connection, goosebumps. Their souls connected on a deep level and they just knew.

Merryn and Zach’s story was so touching and beautiful I just couldn’t put it down. I devoured the entire book in a day and now I’m sad it’s over.

This author brought us two perfectly imperfect characters and an amazing storyline to go with them.

And Then There Was You is a small town slow burn romance. A book full of love and hopefulness. It’s a story about second chances and finding that certain someone that makes your light shine bright instead of dimming it. It’s beautiful, it’s addictive and definitely worth a read.

[Felicity Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous new book from Miranda Dickinson which is a wonderful heartwarming and heartfelt story from St Ives in Cornwall, full of magic and romance and Cornish ways! Loved the references to the real Cornish culture and language, with lots of sea glass and cake!
Merryn Rowe has been running her dream cafe for a while now, next door to her mate’s surf shop, and when they are out one evening they come across a piano on the street outside a building site that is “free to takers”. Memories of hope and music return to Merryn as they wheel it back to the cafe to her courtyard garden. Can she find the hope it brings?
Zach Trevelyan is looking for work after having to leave his career as a professional surfer and finds himself back in St Ives. Can the magic of the piano at the cafe help him find his way again?!
Fabulous burning romance, some laughs and upsets, an interesting reflection of relationships and family.
Evocative, easy reading, spot on descriptions and tone of St Ives, this is a gorgeous escape to Cornwall. Absorbing and engaging from the first page to the last (I didn’t want it to end!!) this is perfect holiday reading or for a bit of a jaunt from everyday life!!
Hugely recommended! It certainly made me want to go to Cornwall again!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the early read, I absolutely loved it!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful love story set in the idyllic Cornish town of St Ives. We follow Merryn and Zach, who are brought together by their love of music, and in particular, share a passion for the piano.

Merryn owns a small but successful cafè and is a well loved member of the St Ives community. One day, she stumbles across a piano, and memories of her time with her now estranged step-father start to haunt her. On finding the piano, she decides to embark on a journey of finding him and is willing to do almost anything to do so.

Zach is an ex-professional surfboarder, who has found himself in St Ives as his life has come to a standstill. He works two jobs trying to make ends meet and can't seem to get out of his rut. That is, until he finds a cafè that hosts a beautiful piano, and an even more beautiful owner. The problem? He is employed by the recently returned ex-partner of the beautiful cafè owner.

As the pair grow closer, it becomes evident that Merryn has a fear of playing the piano, terrified of her memories from her childhood. Can Zach reignite her love for playing, or will facing her past be too painful?

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It has the perfect cosy romance vibes and the romance between Merryn and Zach was so sweet. I can't wait for fellow romance fans to fall in love with this one!

A huge thank you to HQ for my proof copy. Eternally grateful as always!

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this one had me melting like butter in the sun!

Merryn Rowe is living her best life in St Ives, running her café and trying to piece her heart back together after a messy divorce.

Enter Zach Trevelyan: surfer turned piano mystery man, appearing out of nowhere with a melody that just… stops you in your tracks.

I loved everything about this book: the Cornish seaside vibes, the charm of a second chance romance, and that one song that changes everything.

Watching Merryn and Zach navigate heartbreak, hope, and unexpected connection had me swooning, laughing, and even shedding a happy tear or two.

If you love:
- Small town charm + coastal vibes
- Musical moments that hit right in the feels
- Second chance romance and slow-burn sparks
- Heartwarming, swoony, and utterly unputdownable

And Then There Was You is the kind of book that makes you want to curl up by the window with a cup of tea (or maybe a glass of wine) and just get lost in the music, the romance, and the Cornish magic.

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful moving five-star read. This has been an emotion wringing read that just blew me away, Merryn will just hook you in and get her teeth into you and never let you go, her story will captivate you and wrench your heart in the best way possible. I so wanted to pop along to Sweet Reverie and simply while away the hours, the setting of St Ives comes alive as you read about the streets, and smile at the parking issues as if ever you have been you will know to use transport as there is never anywhere to park. Zack and his worries, and love shine through, you know he just needs to push himself through, this story is something special and once again shows us why this author tells heartwarming and refreshing stories about people you cant help but love despite their ways.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the chance to read an early copy of this book on netgalley.
Miranda knows how to write a love story and this one will not disappoint. Set in the town of St Ives, Cornwall you will meet two people with very different lives, but what draws them together is a piano. Can they overcome the odds to find each other or will there be to many other obstacle in the way. You will be rooting for Merryn and Zach as you follow there story over one Summer in St Ives. There a great supporting cast and some you may recognise from her other books, I loved the little updates of how there were getting on to.

[Rebecca Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book by Miranda Dickinson, which I really enjoyed reading!

#AndThenThereWasYou is a charming, heartwarming story set in St Ives. This book reminds you how people can have such an impact on on your, life no matter how short they spend in it!

Merryn is a lovely character who you instantly connect with. Life hasn't been easy for her, but what she has overcome to be where she is now shows the strength of her character. She rescues a piano and wheels it back to her café little did she know it's history or how this decision will chance her life!

Thank you, #NetGalley and @HarperCollins, for this fabulous read.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is set in Cornwall, and it is a place I have only been to a handful of times but with Miranda's descriptions of the place I now want to go back more than ever. Merryn owns a café and has a good community support system around her after things not going well in her life. But she wants more and when Zach turns up, he is not in the best place either, the thing he loves to do the most surfing may not be anymore because of an injury, can the pair help to heal one another. The two bond over a piano of all things. It was a good pick up book, an easy read, nothing too heavy. Of course there are real life situations but Miranda has written them in sensitively. All round a good read.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author seems to have a bit of a set formula for romance novels, if the two most recent are anything to go by, as they have remarkably similar plots. We are introduced to the two main characters independently, they spend a lot of time pontificating and repetitively going over all the issues they're currently facing in their lives, they eventually meet, they quickly decide they've fallen in love, they just as quickly fall out of it again for fairly spurious reasons or due to miscommunication, they spend the rest of the book pontificating and repetitively going over all the issues they're facing now they're no longer together, and then, on pretty much the last page, they get back together again. And I get that there's often a certain process followed in romance books, but I really wish authors would switch it up a bit! The pacing of this book was pretty off - there was so much exposition at the start (it literally takes about half the book for the two main characters to even meet and have a conversation), and then everything else seemed to happen far too quickly. I am begging romance writers to please give us something different - the third act break up is so unnecessary.

That said, I've given this three stars because, unlike what I've found with some romance books, the writing itself is generally pretty good (although I wish there was less use of the word 'lovely', and more use of a decent editor), and the imagery of St Ives is really beautiful and evocative.

[Katherine Crisp · Rating 1 out of 5]

I skipped a lot of these because it was so long and drawn out. There really wasn’t much of a story at all. I’m not a fan of colloquialisms so could have done without words ending with apostrophes and people calling each other “lover”. Bleddy awful.

[nedime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I loved this book. Such a cosy, lovely easy going read and I got through it so quickly! It was so nice to dip into Merryn’s world and I absolutely loved how the story grew and developed so steadily but enough to keep you on your toes. Just such a wonderful read, I will definitely be keeping my eye out for other books by Miranda 🥰 This book was exactly what I needed! ✨ Thank you so much to Miranda and HQ for access to the eARC via NetGalley ✨

[Sian Sandwith · Rating 5 out of 5]

5🌟 heartwarming summer love story

[Emma Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story didn’t want it to end

[Maria Lucia Seidl de Moura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such a silly book!

[Adele Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn about how I feel about this book. I felt it dragged on a bit and I feel the ending was unfinished. It wasn’t a bad book I just felt like it didn’t grab my attention.

[Beverley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great love story from Miranda. Nice to be back in St Ives & in amongst a have catch up with Seren & Jack. But ultimately a fine novel with music at its centre. Loved it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story with a HEA 💗

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read with a great setting. The MMC is a bit of a tool—he doesn’t quite have his life together and takes ages to figure things out. The FMC is stronger by comparison: not especially discerning, but genuinely sweet. Very clean in terms of content. Overall, an easy enough story, carried mostly by the atmosphere and location.

[cosylittlereadingcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story this was! I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want it to end!

This gorgeous romance tells the story of Merryn and Zach in alternating chapters. Merryn, living in St Ives and three years after the painful break up of her marriage, is finally doing ok. She has a great circle of friends and a successful cafe to call hers. Zach, on the other hand, is still grieving for his mum, is without a job and is sofa surfing. And whilst the days are hard, being in St Ives brings him comfort. His past is in every wave of the sea and every corner of the town.

One night, walking home, Merryn comes across an abandoned piano, which she decides to rescue and it becomes a beautiful new focal point in her cafe. Hearing its melody stirs up the memories of the happiest years of her childhood but whilst playing it then was special and brought comfort, Merryn can’t even bear to touch the keys now. It’s all too painful.. For Zach on the other hand, playing the piano means an escape from the present… And when a familiar tune finds its way from Zach’s fingers to Merryn’s heart, the world begins to change for them both.

This book is full of love and hope and the Cornish setting is so vivid: I felt like I was there in St Ives myself. I absolutely adored Merryn and Zach and the way music spoke to them both. If you ever hear a piece of music and you feel yourself transported to a moment in time, to a person in your heart then you will totally connect with this book. It’s my first read by the author but it most definitely won’t be the last! Genuinely a joy to read from start to finish.