Five-Star Summer

by Sarah Morgan

A joyful, sun‑soaked story of friendship, love, and new beginnings, from USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan—perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Jill Shalvis, and seaside escapes.

Running a five-star Cornish hotel should have been Evie Hamilton’s dream job. But restoring it to its former glory is going to take a miracle. All Evie has is grit, and a hoard of unruly staff who love to speculate about her love life. She needs back-up, and fast.

Enter Abby Jones. Parachuted in by the hotel’s umbrella company for the summer, Abby thinks Evie could be the best friend she never had. But Abby has her own agenda for being in Cornwall. If her real motives are uncovered, their friendship is going to melt away faster than an ice cream in the summer sun.

Yet Abby’s arrival starts a chain reaction. With the help of a charming chef and a gruff pub owner, they begin to embrace their true selves and the bonds that unite them. But it’s not just the hotel’s five-star reputation that needs rebuilding – Evie and Abby will also have to brave tearing down their lives in order to reshape their futures…

Genres: Romance, Summer, Contemporary, Summer Reads, Fiction, Audiobook, Womens Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2026

About the author

About Sarah

USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.

Sarah's latest novel is out now - Brave New Summer (UK title)/ Five Star Summer (US/Canadian title). Sarah's brand new Christmas book, THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER is coming in October!

Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com





Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Alina ♡]

☆☆☆☆

Five-Star Summer by Sarah Morgan is a delightful summer read that completely transported me to Cornwall. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the setting, the charming village atmosphere and the hotel were described so vividly that I felt fully immersed in the story from beginning to end. It was easy to picture myself there, enjoying the coastal scenery alongside the characters.

I also enjoyed the cast of characters. They were all likable in their own ways, and I appreciated the character growth each of them experienced throughout the novel. Their relationships and personal journeys kept me invested and added emotional depth to the story.

The reason I’m giving this book 4 rather than 5 stars is that I found the plot a little predictable. While that’s not unusual for this genre, I was hoping for a few more surprises or unexpected twists along the way. Even so, the story remained engaging and enjoyable.

I happened to read this during the May heat wave, and it was the perfect choice for warm, sunny days. If you’re looking for a light, uplifting book to take on vacation or enjoy in the garden, I can definitely recommend Five-Star Summer. Overall, it’s a charming and entertaining summer read that captures the feel of the season beautifully.

[aira]

keep the summer books coming my way because the reading is on theme hehe

[Cozy Puppy Reads]

If you are looking for a light summer read filled with small-town charm, a bit of family drama, and a classic save-the-hotel trope, Five-Star Summer by Sarah Morgan offers a leisurely escape to the beautiful coast of Cornwall. This is a multi-layered story that weaves together themes of second chances, professional growth, and the importance of finding where you truly belong. The seaside setting feels like a true escape, perfect for anyone who loves a warm, emotional story with plenty of heart.

The story follows Evie, the acting general manager of a historic hotel that has seen better days. Evie is incredibly talented and hardworking, but she struggles to get the local community to take her modern suggestions seriously as they still see her as the young girl who grew up in town. When the hotel’s parent company sends a representative named Abby to conduct a corporate audit, the two women form an unexpected bond. Abby is hiding the real reason she is there while she observes the hotel’s operations, but she quickly finds herself falling for the warmth of the small town—a stark contrast to the stiff office politics she left behind in London.

One of the sweetest parts of the book is the relationship between Evie and the new chef, Luka. His food is his love language, and his small gestures—like noticing when Evie is too immersed in work to eat and surprising her with meals—are truly heartwarming. Similarly, Abby’s journey from a robotic, unemotional corporate representative to someone who discovers her own courage is a major highlight. There is a particularly high-stakes scene at the beach where she takes a massive risk to save a child, which really marks her turning point and earns her a lot of respect from the community and her love interest, Tristan.

While the story moves at a more relaxed, slow-burn pace, it provides a nice breath of fresh air for those who enjoy the quiet beauty of a seaside setting. It feels very much like a Hallmark movie where everyone is in each other’s business, but they all care deeply about their local landmark. It’s a story about taking brave risks, both in your career and in your heart, while reconnecting with the people who matter most.

Perfect if you love:
❤️ Small-town romances
🌊 A charming coastal setting
💛 Save-the-hotel and corporate-to-coastal tropes
✨️ Food as a love language
🥰 Found-family friendships

Authors and vibes like:
❤️ Gilmore Girls
✨️ Sarah Adams (specifically the When in Rome series)
🥰 The Lovelight Farms series by B.K. Borison

Thank you to HTP (HarperCollins) and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book for review consideration. I am posting this review voluntarily, and these are my honest opinions.

[alexandra .ᐟ {lets go islanders}]

˚₊‧꒰ა five-star summer ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

⋆ minor spoilers ⋆

rating :
♥ ♥ ♥ ♡ ♡

୨୧ ───────── ୨୧

now playing ˎˊ˗
⤷ oh yeah? — steve lacy ౨ৎ
01:16 ━━━━●───── 02:51
ㅤㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ㅤ ↻

𐙚 ⋆｡˚

pre-read˚.🌊⋆ ˎˊ˗
⤷ probably my last summer read of the year (maybe..) ˎˊ˗

𓆩♡𓆪

• ꒰ overall thoughts ꒱ •
❛❛ i have mixed feelings about this book.. at one point i loved it and at other times i was considering dnf’ing the book. so basically i started reading this book and im not going to lie, i was starting to get really bored. i felt like not much was happening. it was basically just ‘abby doesn’t get along with her mom. her mom sends her to the hotel. evie doesn’t like her job’. there wasn’t much excitement in the book and i really wanted to dnf, but i stuck with it! and it was definitely worth it because the middle to end of the book was really good! in the middle of the book, events started happening in the book and you got to know the characters much better! it was very different from the beginning! but now i want to talk about the different parts of the book. first, the plot. so as i mentioned, the beginning was boring but the rest of the novel was good! i personally loved how the two friends were dating two friends (like a two man haha), that was soooo cute!! although, i wish that there was more romance because the romance occurred only towards the end and it felt a bit rushed/forced. additionally, the plot was kind of predictable. you could tell from the beginning exactly what was going to happen later on in the story. i wish there was a bit more surprise to the plot. next, the characters! i loveddd the characters so much!! they were also so close and it hoenstly felt like they were all one big family! lastly, the setting! the hotel is definitely somewhere i wish i could stay at! and its named after me hehe 🤭 but overall i just loved the coastal theme of the hotel!! in conclusion, this book was decent, just wished the beginning was less boring, the plot was less predictable, and there was a bit more romance to it! but it wasn’t too bad! ❜❜

˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

• ꒰ ratings ꒱ •

plot ୨୧ ♥ ♥ ♡ ♡ ♡

characters 𐙚 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♡

romance ౨ৎ ♥ ♥ ♡ ♡ ♡

chemistry ⋆｡° ✩ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♡ ♡

spice ᵕ̈ ♥ ♥ ♡ ♡ ♡

pacing ☾ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♡ ♡

ending ❀ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♡

𐙚 ───────── 𐙚

• ꒰ characters ꒱ •

—▷ abby ౨ৎ
loveddd her! i feel like she was such a relatable character! she absolutely hates lying (just like me!) and she feels horrible when she has to be undercover at the hotel and lie. i felt really bad for her! also she had many issues with her mom and was struggling. she hid her emotions well though so nobody knew what she was going through. now i actually realize how much stuff she was going through, and i feel so bad for her! but she was a really nice friend to evie and was welcoming to everybody <333

—▷ evie ౨ৎ
first of all, i loveee her name!! secondly, she was such a great character! i admire how she cared about all of the staff at the hotel soooo much and treated them like family! she always made sure that everyone felt included! also i ship her and luca foreverrrr !!

—▷ luca ౨ৎ
i want to try his sandwich, according to evie they’re “the best thing she’s ever eaten” !!

—▷ tristan ౨ৎ
he’s so sweetttt !! he treats evie like he would to his sister and was so protective of her to make sure she stayed safe <3 and he was sooo nice to abby! even if he didn’t trust her at first, once he got to know her better he helped her sooo much !! i adored him 💗

—▷ alexandra (abby’s mom) ౨ৎ
she was hiding wayyyy too many things from abby. she’s your daughter and she’s curious about your past, you shouldn’t keep secrets. but i was happy at the end when she opened up to abby about all of the stuff she’s been hiding for years. mother + daughter bonding moment

—▷ edward ౨ৎ
aww he’s such a sweet dad!! he cares about evie sm, i loveee him !

—▷ alexandra’s dad a.k.a. weasel ౨ৎ
i love edward for telling weasel “the door is there” because he was so right for saying that. i strongly strongly strongly dislike weasel with my whole heart.

˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

• ꒰ recommendations ꒱ •

age ୨୧ 14+ years old


interests ୨୧ hotel // friendship // parent issues // spy


genre ୨୧ romance


tropes ୨୧ friends to lovers // chosen family


𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ 𐙚 ࿐

❛❛ my final thoughts / would i recommend this book? ❜❜
i personally would only recommend this book if the person was okay with reading the book from middle to end. the beginning was not worth it at all !!

𓆩♡𓆪

୨୧ ───────── ୨୧

thank you so much for taking the time to read my review! i hope it was helpful in your reading experience. if you enjoyed this review, please consider following me to receive more valuable reviews! xoxo, alexandra ୨୧

[Jonetta]

the setup…
Evie Hamilton has the dream job she’s wanted for a long time and should be thrilled. As the acting general manager, temporarily replacing Gerald who is recovering from a heart attack, she’s focused on implementing the changes to bring The Alexandra, Cornwall back to its 5-star status. But the downside of growing up in a small town is that everyone has known her since birth, including the hotel staff, and resist taking her seriously. When Abby Jones shows up from headquarters in Boston to provide much needed assistance. Evie and Abby fit together seamlessly, professionally and personally, and it’s life changing for them both. But Abby is keeping a big secret, one that could threaten their burgeoning friendship and the future of the hotel.

the heart of the story…
Evie and Abby are wonderful characters and the Cornwall hotel makes for a delightful setting. The staff are also well crafted, their gossipy and matchmaking shenanigans providing comic relief. But Abby’s secret gives added weight and dimension, lurking in the background all the time. Evie’s relationship with Luca the new head chef is just beginning and Abby’s connection to Tristan, the scowly town pub owner add a nice romantic element.

the narration…
Henrietta Meire’s storytelling skills add just the right flavor to this story. Her voice interpretations for Evie and Abby are dead on. I enjoyed her performance.

the bottom line…
I always get lost in the worlds Morgan creates, complicated family issues and dynamics involving characters you come to care about and root for. This one is no different and it took me about five minutes to become completely absorbed in this lovely story. Loved everything about my stay at the Alexandra Hotel. 4.5 stars

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Bethanys_books]

This was exactly what I was looking for - a light summer read with small town vibes with drama but also substance. It starts with the classic failing hotel situation and becomes so much more! I felt invested in all the characters and thought the audio narration was strong

[♥Rachel♥]

Evie Hamilton steps in as acting general manager of The Alexandra in Cornwall after the previous manager suffers a heart attack. She basically grew up in the hotel, with her father as concierge, so she’s known the staff since childhood. That history makes it hard for her to enforce change, but without it, the struggling hotel may not survive.

Abby Jones, meanwhile, has worked her way through every role in her mother’s hotel group, yet her colleagues still assume she’s only advanced because she’s the boss’s daughter. When her mother sends her undercover to the Cornwall property to find out why the hotel is underperforming, Abby jumps at the chance. Going incognito means the staff will speak freely, but it also means hiding who she is.

Evie and Abby click almost instantly. Evie is relieved to finally have support from head office, and Abby is surprised by how quickly she feels welcomed and understood. Still, the secret she’s keeping makes her uneasy.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of Evie, Abby, and Abby’s mother, Alexandra, each woman dealing with issues. I loved watching Evie and Abby’s friendship grow as they leaned on each other. Evie needed guidance on managing a staff who still saw her as the concierge’s daughter, and Abby’s fresh approach helped her find her footing. Abby, who’s never had close friends, finds Evie’s warmth and acceptance unexpectedly healing. Alexandra, too, has her own history with the Cornwall hotel and her own reasons for sending Abby there.

Each woman also gets their own romance. A nice addition rounding out the story, but it wasn’t the focus.

Sarah Morgan excels at writing relatable characters facing realistic problems, making me feel and root for every one of them! Everything comes together in a cozy, uplifting way with low drama and plenty of heart.

I alternately read and listened to an audio version and can recommend either. Henrietta Meire’s performance was wonderful! She seamlessly alternated between characters, giving each one a distinct voice and personality.

I voluntarily read/listened to a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.

[Lauren W -behind! (work)- trying to stay semi-caught up♥︎]

3.75 After really enjoying A Merry Little Lie, I was excited to dive into Sarah Morgan's latest. This was such a cute, low-stakes story—a perfect summer beach read.

The narrative strikes a great balance between meaningful character development and a sweet romance. It’s a fun, breezy, and joyful escape that I’d highly recommend for anyone looking for a lighthearted vacation read.

[Hannah]

Another five star read by Sarah Morgan. I don't know how she does it but the stories keep getting better and better. Mixed between Boston and Cornwall with Cornwall taking centre stage. Evie and Abby two fantastic leads separately while unstoppable put together seeming to have been that way since they were very young. The other stars of the story being Alexandra (Lexy) and Edward it's a shame you don't get more of them near the end saying that though they are part of why the book keeps on giving. If it's your first or latest Sarah Morgan read you will not be disappointed. One of the best yet.

[Leonie]

3.5 stars. Very predictable, very repetitive too, but still I wanted to keep on reading. 

[honeyy ✩]

➼ 𝟐.𝟐𝟓 ⭐︎

“𝑆𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒, 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑡.”

─────────────────────────────

꒰ 🕯 ꒱ : 𝐽𝑢𝑙𝑦 𝟸𝟺 – 𝐽𝑢𝑙𝑦 𝟸𝟽

i really wanted to love this one because the concept and the summer hotel setting sounded so promising.

i absolutely loved Evie, Abby, and Alexandra. i really enjoyed their povs, but the plot just wasn't for me. it felt predictable and honestly a bit boring at times.

overall, i loved the characters, but i just couldn't get into the story.

[pears ✧ ☽ ☼ ଳ]

Dnf @ 48%
I’m just sooo bored I can’t do it anymore 😭

[Carla]

Evie Hamilton grew up at The Alexandra, Cornwall and has always dreamed of running it. When Gerald, the general manager has a heart attack, she is given the job of Acting General Manager. She has a lot of changes in mind to help bring the hotel back to a 5 star hotel, but no one seems to listen to her or take her ideas seriously. Meanwhile the owner is concerned about what is happening with the first hotel she ever owned. She decides to send her daughter Abby Jones to work for the summer, undercover, and report back to her. When Abby shows up from headquarters in Boston to provide assistance wherever she is needed, she and Evie hit it off immediately. She listens to her ideas and helps her smooth over issues with staff, getting them to do things they have never wanted to do before. She has a tough time not letting things slip, especially as she becomes friends with many of the employees, and even begins to have feelings for the local pub owner. Will she and Evie be able to maintain their friendship when they find out the truth about her identity. Will Abbie be able to save the hotel, or will her mother decide to sell it after all?

Sarah Morgan is an auto-read author for me, and I enjoyed this story. I loved seeing Evie and Abby become friends and work together to try and rebuild the hotel back to it's former glory. Abby had spent her whole life trying to please her mother and had never developed friendships before, so I wanted her new relationships to work out when they found out who she really was. There are a couple of budding romances as well, as they were fun with a slow burn. Some of the banter had me giggling. I loved the twists at the end and it made me like Abby's mom even more. This was a story of friendship, family, finding what you want out of life, romance and second chances. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Henrietta Meire. She does a good job with the voices, pacing and tone of the story. She made my enjoyment of the story, meeting these characters and spending time in Cornwall, even more delightful.

[Amy]

The audiobook of Five Star Summer by Sarah Morgan is exactly what you want when you’re craving a true escape read, it’s warm, immersive, and effortlessly charming. Set against the dreamy backdrop of a Cornish hotel, the story follows three women—Evie, the determined hotel manager; Alexandra, the enigmatic owner; and Abby, whose arrival stirs up more than just summer energy. It’s a layered, character driven story that weaves together friendship, family dynamics, and romance in a way that feels both comforting and engaging.

The audio narration by Henriette Meire elevates the experience beautifully. She brings a lively, witty tone to the lighter moments while also capturing the emotional depth of each character with care. Her performance adds richness to the relationships and makes the small village setting feel even more vivid and alive. You can practically hear the hum of the hotel and feel the coastal breeze.

This is a five star beach read through and through—heartfelt, uplifting, and filled with just enough drama to keep things interesting without ever feeling heavy. The combination of a gorgeous setting, wonderful characters, and a story centered on growth and connection makes it the perfect poolside or vacation listen. It’s the kind of book that reminds you how lovely it is to get completely lost in a story for a while.

[Elaine]

Another one that I absolutely loved!!

This one revolves around three women.
Alexandra, the owner of the hotel in question, as well as others!
Evie, the temporary manager for the Alexandra, Cornwall Hotel. She LOVES her job and is very good at it! BUT, she’s lived in the same town her entire life, and everyone at the hotel knows her AND everything about her… so she feels like they do NOT take her seriously, and they do NOT understand that the hotel is having some financial difficulties that she would love to try to FIX… If only the staff might actually listen to her! And her ideas!
And, Abby. The temp who’s been sent over by corporate to ‘help out’ for the summer.

They each have their own agendas.
They each have something to hide.
They each want the hotel to stand firm and be great! And they will do whatever it takes to see this project through!

But, the story is in the details! And that is where this one just SHINES, DAZZLES, EXPLODES, STANDS OUT, and whatever else you can think of to say that it was outstanding!!!!

Beautiful story! Wonderful, caring characters! Small town vibes that carry through in EVERY ASPECT of the story. And, well…. Just… love. Whether it be from parents, community or a partner…. This one just takes the cake!

5 outstanding, bright, beautiful, character-driven stars for me!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

#FiveStarSummer by @SarahMorgan and narrated Beautifully by @HenriettaMeire.

*** This one releases TODAY, so please keep your eyes 👀 open for it on 5/5/26! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @HarlequinAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!

And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷

[Ashley]

4.5 Stars

Thank you to Mira/Harlequin Audio for providing me with a gifted audiobook copy of Five-Star Summer through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Format: Audiobook (NetGalley)
Narrator: Henrietta Meire
Listening Time: 10 hours & 21 minutes

Five-Star Summer is my second book by Sarah Morgan and it did not disappoint. The audiobook narration was perfect and it easily transported me to the beautiful Cornwall setting. I loved the conflict of a hotel in trouble and seeing the effects of small town employees mixed with the corporate end of the business.

Evie and Abby’s friendship was a highlight of the book for me, and their opposite personalities and strong work ethics were a great mix for a women’s fiction read. I also really enjoyed the romances in the story, especially Evie and Luca. Each of the couples went through their own challenges and it played out well and kept me invested in their developing relationships.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Multiple POVs
* Small Town
* Female Friendships
* Multiple Romances
* Family Relationships
* Work Stress

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🚫

If you’re looking for a lighthearted romance with lovable characters navigating the challenges of everyday life, work, and love then I would definitely recommend Five-Star Summer.

[Sarah (heartfeltthrills)]

Five absolutely glittery stars!!
A sparkling, feel-good escape full of heart, warmth, and seaside charm—an addictive read I absolutely devoured!!

Five Star Summer is the ultimate feel-good summer escape - like a breath of fresh air and a warm embrace when you need it the most! Think: gorgeous coastal Cornish hotel backdrop, sea views, chaos, and a whole lot of heart. It’s the kind of book that grabs you on page one and doesn’t let go until you’re closing it with a big, happy sigh. In short, it delivers everything I would love in a summer romance: warmth, heart, and characters I genuinely wanted to spend more time with. Only a master storyteller can create such a compelling story that is equal parts charming and emotionally satisfying, with friendship, romance, and personal growth woven together beautifully.

What stood out most to me was the way the novel balances lightness with depth. Evie and Abby are both compelling in their own ways, such fun, real, and messy characters that you’ll feel like you’ve been invited into their world—and their friendship feels authentic, layered, and deeply moving, the kind you’d happily binge -cue YES, I literally completed it in one sitting!! The scene adds so much atmosphere that you can practically feel the sea breeze and hear the bustle of the hotel, making it the perfect summer immersive read. Henrietta Meire’s narration made it even more immersive, and I loved every minute of the experience!

Sarah Morgan combines charm, warmth, and just the right amount of drama to create a book that feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s uplifting, comforting, and the perfect cozy read for anyone who loves heartfelt women’s fiction with a dreamy summer setting. Easy, satisfying, and absolutely five glittery stars. All to say - This is my 3rd book of the author and she is now my auto-buy for a cozy feel good escape!

Thank you to the author, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin Audio for gifting me this eARC and ALC for an amazing immersive reading experience! As always, this review contains my candid thoughts and opinions.

[Amber Adcock]

Five Star Summer is the cozy, heartfelt beach read you didn't know you needed. It follows 2 women throughout a summer of them finding themselves and becoming stronger and more confident in themselves and their place in the world. We get a spotlight of another woman learning to let go as well at the end.

I enjoyed watching Evie become the confident manager and overcome her "everyone knows everyone" town. She learned to bloom outside of the kid everyone watched grow up and gained the towns respect.
Abby was able to break away from under her mother to prove she WAS THAT GIRL and had earned every praise and promotion she received, and it wasn't just because mom was the boss.

I also loved that while there was a touch of romance in this book, it really showed friendships and bonds forming. It showed relationships whether they were romantic or platonic weather hard situations and come out on top.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the free audio of Five Star Summer in exchange for my honest review.

[Shannon]

3.5 rounded up

A moving mother daughter story of reconnection, personal growth, family secrets and found family all discovered while Abby goes undercover to help save a struggling five star resort on the Cornish coast where she was born but has never seen since. I enjoyed this for the light-hearted women's fiction story it was, there was a fun setting, great female friendship and a bit of romance. Told in alternating POVs that moved between mother, daughter and the hotel's temporary manager. Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Jenny Colgan. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashley]

Thank you to the author and publisher for this advanced readers copy. I’ve never read any books by this author before but am glad I’ve been introduced to them now. This book was definitely a change in pace from some of my other recent reads. I could really feel the warmth of the story within the first chapter after getting immersed with the characters, settings and writing.

[Linda]

I always like Morgan's Christmas books & this one was just as enjoyable.

[Cláudia Oliveira]

3,5 ⭐️

[Catherine Wellstead]

A beautiful summer story 😎☀️

[Judith van Wijk]

3.75 stars. Perfect, relaxing summer read.

[Beth]

DNF at 51%

I try really hard not to do this, but this is unfortunately the second book in a row I’ve DNF’ed 🫠

It was just so tedious. I prefer my stories to be ‘show not tell’, and it didn’t feel like the reader was ever trusted to form their own opinions on the characters because we were constantly being told what they were feeling, and what their personalities were like—both through dialogue with other characters and through internal monologues. It genuinely got to the point where I was actively dreading picking this book back up.

[Heidi]

Five-Star Summer offers everything I love about Sarah Morgan's writing: heartfelt, character-driven, and packed with emotion. This is a five-star read for me.

I really enjoy reading a book featuring complex, beautifully layered characters. Each woman’s backstory is carefully revealed, and I loved how their histories intertwined. Watching them grow, confront their obstacles, and bravely move forward made the book super satisfying to read.

I also liked the hotel and hospitality industry as a backdrop. And I'm a huge fan of Luca. Swoon!

Of course, since this is a romance novel as well as women's fiction, I have to mention that the slow-burn relationships in this novel are tender and beautifully paced. Each romance unfolds in its own unique way, keeping the pages turning. So well-written!

If you’re looking for a heartfelt, uplifting story about friendship, resilience, and love (with just the right amount of romantic tension) Five-Star Summer is the perfect escape. Add this one to your beach bag immediately.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions shared here are my own.

[Laura (cosykoboreads)]

YEEEEEESS to everything about this book.

Set in a small seaside village in Cornwall told from 3 women's POV and how their life's intertwine.
If you love a summery story, with family drama and a touch of (closed door) romance, this one's for you.

I read this over a super sunny bank holiday, and it was the perfect summer read 🌞

[Rosie]

This one had a good plot line, sometimes it was a bit repetitive. Otherwise, a quick easy summer read!

[Lenkie]

Lovely Sarah Morgan summer read! Beautiful story in Cornwall and amazing characters, I would have liked more detail about Luca and shorter chapters but overall a happy enjoyable read ❤️

[Just Yulia Reads]

3.5⭐️