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.
Look out for Sarah's next novel coming in May - Brave New Summer (UK title)/ Five Star Summer (US/Canadian title)
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for this gifted ARC!
This was a really good novel about friendship, familial relationships, overcoming the past and growing up. I really enjoyed the setting, the imagery of the beach side town in the UK was really great and it fit the vibe of the hotel really well.
I would say this book was maybe a bit on the "I'm telling you" instead of "I'm showing you" side of writing. But it was still enjoyable. I really related to Evie quite a bit. She is trying to grow into her own in a place where everyone has known her since she was born. It's so hard to grow out of that mold, and the temptation of leaving it all behind to begin anew is strong. This was really well demonstrated in her career and in her romantic life.
Abby was incredibly cool as well, she has so many dimensions that you get to see throughout the story. You get the professional side and then you also get to see her as a true person living life as well. Which comes off in the cutest of ways, and I loved her romantic subplot as well. They are so cute together and meld so well.
There is romance in this book, but I wouldn't say it's front and center. I felt this was more of a book about friendship and overcoming life's obstacles. And I really loved that, the romance was just a perfect sprinkle. The sense of community is also a huge part of this book, it really portrays the small town/everyone knows everyone's life really well.
I really enjoyed this one, I would land it in the 3.5 star range for me. I read it in 2 sittings and would absolutely buy a copy of it for my shelves! This comes out May 5th!
*This ARC was given by Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
This was such a comforting, easy book to sink into. Five-Star Summer feels like sitting by the water with a cold drink, watching other people’s lives unfold while quietly thinking about your own. It’s warm, reflective, and very much about relationships in all their complicated forms.
What really worked for me was the sense of place. The coastal setting is vivid without being overdone, and the hotel itself almost feels like a character. I loved how the story leaned into themes of community, family expectations, and figuring out who you are when everyone around you already thinks they know you.
The characters felt real and imperfect, especially in the way they struggle with change and old patterns. I connected most with Evie’s journey of trying to step into her own voice while carrying the weight of her past. The friendships and family dynamics were where this book really shined for me. The romance is there, but it’s more of a gentle layer than the main focus, which I actually appreciated.
That said, the pacing did feel a bit uneven at times, and a few emotional beats were more told than shown, which pulled me out of the story here and there. I wanted just a little more depth in certain moments for it to fully land.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, feel-good read that delivered exactly the kind of cozy, character-driven story I was in the mood for. It didn’t completely blow me away, but it absolutely left me with that soft, satisfied feeling when you close the book and smile. Perfect for a relaxed summer read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Five-Star Summer is a cozy, heartfelt summer read that completely swept me away, wrapping me in comfort, community, and the emotional depth Sarah Morgan does so beautifully.
I was hooked from the very first chapter and ended up reading this book in a single day. It’s warm, hopeful, and comforting—exactly the kind of story you sink into and don’t want to leave. I liked the three POVs; each perspective brought new layers to the story and added variety, while still tying together seamlessly.
The characters truly made this book for me. They felt authentic and relatable, with realistic flaws and life experiences that made their journeys emotionally engaging and genuinely moving. I also adored the small village setting in Cornwall. The coastal backdrop was so vivid and atmospheric it felt like a character in its own right, and it completely captured that close-knit community feel while still offering the perfect escapist setting.
This is the kind of book that makes you want to escape to a small village by the sea and stay there with the characters long after the final page. Five-Star Summer gave me everything I’ve come to expect and love from a Sarah Morgan novel and absolutely hit me in the feels. I’d highly recommend it to fans of small-town stories, multiple POVs, coastal settings, and anyone looking for a relaxing, feel-good summer read.
4.5 rounded up Five-Star summer is a story of 3 strong women with a side of romance. Evie is a young women who has virtually grown up in a Cornwall hotel, now thrust into the general manager position. Although she has many ideas about how to improve the struggling resort, none of the staff take her seriously since they have know her since she was a baby. Abby is sent by her mother, the owner of the hotel chain to work undercover to see what is going on at the hotel while Alexandra, Abbys mother, has a past at the hotel that Abby is unaware of.
I am not as fond of romance novels as I used to be, but Sarah Morgan never seems to disappoint. Although this book is labeled a romance, it is more a story of family and female friendship, as well as a coming of age for Abby and Evie, with a backstory of romance (closed door). The characters are well drawn and I loved all of them, and was so glad with the resolution of all the storylines. The sense of place and community was strong, and I am So ready to go visit this hotel in the UK, if only it existed!
Thank you to net galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a free galley of this e book. My opinions are solely my own.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Publishers, and Sarah Morgan for the electronic advanced reader’s copy of Five-Star Summer in exchange for my honest review.
I loved Five-Star Summer, which follows Abby and Evie, both of whom work for the same hotel group. Evie has temporarily taken on the role of general manager at Cornwall Alexandra. Due to the weak performance of the hotel, Abby is sent undercover by her mother (the owner) to spend the summer investigating and helping Evie. Enter a talented and thoughtful chef, a grouchy but cute pub owner, a cast of memorable townsfolk, along with a twist you didn’t see coming, and you have one incredible Sarah Morgan novel! This novel continues to weave brilliant story lines filled with relatable and genuine characters, complicated family relationships, secrets, strong women, charming men, and a deliciously quaint seaside town in true Sarah Morgan fashion, which will have you reading into the late hours of the night. This should be at the top of your summer TBR list!
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy — this was such a warm, comforting escape.
Sarah Morgan has a way of writing friendship that feels just as important as the romance, and that’s exactly what shines here. The Cornish hotel setting is charming and atmospheric, full of seaside vibes and small-town personalities that make the story feel cozy without being slow.
Evie’s determination to save the hotel, despite feeling overwhelmed and unsure, makes her easy to root for. And Abby’s arrival adds both heart and complication in a way that keeps the story moving. Their evolving friendship is layered, messy at times, but ultimately uplifting.
The romantic threads are sweet and satisfying, but for me, the emotional core is really about finding your courage — to start over, to tell the truth, to risk connection.
Not quite a five-star standout, but definitely heartfelt, hopeful, and perfect for anyone who loves friendship-forward women’s fiction with a touch of romance and seaside charm.
This was such a wonderful story about the relationship between a mother and her adult daughter, whose relationship is complicated by their working relationship and the family secrets that run deep. When Abby is sent undercover to the hotel that started the entire successful chain, but that also happens to be her mother's hometown, she gets not only a fresh start professionally, but also the opportunity to build true friendships while forcing her mother to reveal the secrets of her past that she held for so long. I didn't want to put this one down - I love this author's style of writing - her ability to make the characters so relatable makes it a page turner. And the setting in a seaside village in England was the icing on the cake! Absolutely one to be on your summer TBR list.
Thank you @netgalley @htpbooks @sarahmorganwrites for the opportunity to read this in advance!
Another delightful story from Sarah Morgan. I loved the characters and the twisty turny plot. This is a book that I will buy once it's released as an ebook and audiobook since I know I'll be reading it again and again.
The reason for one of the decisions a character made were a little too vague for me but, besides that, the overall book was very enjoyable and I look forward to reading and listening to the final version.
Thank you to NetGalley and @HarlequinTrade for this ARC. Evie has stepped in to be interim general manager for a Cornish Hotel after Gerald suffered a heart attack. She has grown up in the hotel so she knows the business but was handed the reins to an under performing property. Abby, the daughter of the owner of the hotel chain who has also grown up in the business, is sent undercover to Cornwall to find out what it is going on. The property is gorgeous, the hotel has valued employees and the hotel chain does not want to sell the property. When Evie and Abby strike up a deep friendship, she is able to uncover the relationships that make this place run. Always a good read from Sarah Morgan! #FiveStarSummer #SarahMorgan #HarlequinTrade #May2026
This time most of the book is set at a hotel in Cornwall. Evie is the acting manager of the hotel. She grew up in the hotel so everyone knows here and still treats her as the child she was. The hotel is underproducing and there is an offer from someone to purchase it. Alexandra, the hotel owner, sends her daughter, Abby, to Cornwall to help get the hotel back on track. Abby goes in undercover so no one will know she's the owner's daughter.
As with all of Ms. Morgan's books, a couple romances develop along the way. A friendship develops between Abby and Evie as well. I grew to really like almost all the characters in this one, especially the staff at the hotel.
This delightful story of friendship and finding courage will make a wonderful beach read. The setting is an absolute highlight, though readers will also appreciate the way the two leads grow and help each other grow. The wanderlust inspired by this book is very real!
A couple of notes: the romantic partners are all absolutely perfect. I mean that they have no flaws whatsoever, which makes them feel very flat. It's not a gigantic part of the story, but it is still fairly significant. I also found Alexandra's POV to be a bit unnecessary, especially when Evie and Abby are so strong on their own.
Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.