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Halfmoon Quay #3

The Best Thing That Ever Happened

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One flat. One friendship. One chance to change everything...

Kat Bailey’s life is going nowhere. Working at her father’s coffee shop in the picture-perfect Cornish holiday hotspot, Halfmoon Quay, makes her dream of becoming an author feel more fantasy than reality – and playing third wheel to her flatmate’s new relationship isn’t helping. So, when her childhood friend Harry Penrose offers her his spare room, it feels like an opportunity not to be missed.

Harry has his own dreams and if he could just dare to be honest, when he pictures his future, Kat is at the heart of it. But now they’re living under the same roof, Harry knows the risk of declaring his feelings. And when his plans clash with Kat’s family ties, the time has come for her to choose between the life she’s always known — and the future she’s only just begun to imagine.

The Best Thing That Ever Happened transports you to the dreamy Cornish coast in this uplifting and gloriously romantic story of second chances, new beginnings, and the magic of finding home in the most unexpected places.

Every book in the Halfmoon Quay series can be read as a standalone.

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2026

54 people are currently reading
32 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Bennett

28 books297 followers
Sarah Bennett has been reading for as long as she can remember. Raised in a family of bookworms, her love affair with books of all genres has culminated in the ultimate Happy Ever After – getting to write her own stories to share with others.

Born and raised in a military family, she is happily married to her own Officer (who is sometimes even A Gentleman). Home is wherever he lays his hat, and life has taught them both that the best family is the one you create from friends as well as relatives.

When not reading or writing, Sarah is a devotee of afternoon naps and sailing the high seas, but only on vessels large enough to accommodate a casino and a choice of restaurants.

You can connect with her via twitter @Sarahlou_writes or on Facebook www.facebook.com/SarahBennettAuthor

Sarah is the author of the Butterfly Cove, Lavender Bay and Bluebell Castle series for HQ Digital UK.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Maddy.
668 reviews18 followers
March 23, 2026
The Best Thing That Ever Happened is another warm, uplifting delight from Sarah Bennett, and returning to Halfmoon Quay feels like stepping back into a room full of old friends, where every character is so vividly drawn you can’t help but love them. Bennett’s gift for creating a cosy, emotionally rich world shines through, and while this story stands perfectly well on its own, it’s even more rewarding if you’ve journeyed through the earlier books and can savour the little callbacks and deepened relationships that make this series such a joy.

Kat’s life hits a breaking point when living with her parents becomes unbearable and even her best friend’s flat stops feeling like the sanctuary it once was when she find a serious boyfriend and Kat feels like the third wheel, so when Harry Penrose casually offers her his spare room, she jumps at the chance—only for both of them to realise, almost immediately, that there’s a spark neither expected; as Harry throws himself into pursuing his childhood dream and Kat finally begins to imagine a future shaped by her own choices rather than her parents’ expectations, the pull of the family business—and the emotional weight tied to it—threatens to derail not only her plans but the tender, hopeful connection growing between them.

Overall, it’s another charming, engaging read from Sarah Bennett, full of warmth, community spirit, and characters you can’t help but root for. A lovely addition to the Halfmoon Quay series and an absolute pleasure to spend time with. I can’t wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Andrew.
732 reviews
February 22, 2026
I’d not read the other books in this series, but this did not matter as through the author’s writing and the list of characters at the beginning of the book I soon felt I knew everybody, and the connections between them, as should be the case with any well-written series.

It took me a while to get into the story but once I did I was totally hooked and didn’t want to stop reading. The two central characters who decided to share a flat as friends grew on me straight away, and you end up caring about both of them deeply. They definitely make a great pair, and as well as the slow developing romance, I really enjoyed their back stories and the events which were happening in their lives. The pacing of the book was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary characters within the book.

I’ve read a few books by this author in another series, and have really enjoyed the style and story telling of her books. I look forward to catching up with the previously written books in this series.

If you want a positive and uplifting book with a good story I really recommend this book, as well as other books by this author.
Profile Image for ✎• нuѕηαн [I AM BACK].
331 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 13, 2026
I completely forgot I had to review this book with Ramadan and all. (。•́︿•̀。)

જ⁀➴ Rating : 3 stars

જ⁀➴ Plot :
Kat has been living with her best friend who recently got into a relationship, which makes her feel like the third wheel, but she doesn’t want to move back with her parents. So when Harry, her childhood friend offers her a spare room, she readily accepted it.

But Harry has had feelings for Kat, and living together now it’s becoming harder to not imagine his future with Kat.

༄.° Tropes
▸ Small town
▸ Childhood friends to lovers
▸ Slow burn
▸ MMC is dyslexic
▸ Toxic parents (FMC's)

જ⁀➴ Thoughts :
First of all, I had such a hard time getting into this book (probably why I put if off for so long). When I requested this book on Netgalley, it looked like a standalone and I didn’t know it was the third book in a series. There was just so many characters, it was really difficult to understand who is who and from which book given that I haven’t read book 1 & 2. The book literally starts with a long list of characters which is enough to scare you.

That aside, the plot was cute and interesting. But sometimes it feels like I was reading about details that didn’t require that much attention. Not to mention the family drama was frustrating. God, I hated Kat’s mother so much I wanted to bash her with a broom. Kat has always put their coffee shop as her priority foregoing her dream of becoming an author. But her family has never appreciated her and always taking her for granted.

What I did appreciate was the talk about the learning disability - our MMC Harry is dyslexic. It gave us an insight into those who are suffering from such.

It was lovely watching Kat and Harry go from friends to lovers. Tho it would have been better if they communicated and trusted each other better, but given Kat background with her toxic family it’s understandable how she doubts herself.

Published date : 17th March 2026

❝ ❞ ✧ ೃ༄ -----------------・❥・——————- ❝ ❞ ✧ ೃ༄

Thank you NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for the Arc.
February 20, 2026
✎ᝰ. ★★★.5 stars
✎ᝰ. tropes:
𝜗𝜚 childhood friends to lovers
𝜗𝜚 forced proximity
𝜗𝜚 small town
𝜗𝜚 complicated family dynamics

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ˎˊ˗


First of all, I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Best Thing That Ever Happened comes out on March 17, 2026!

I’m going to start this review by saying that I had one of the hardest times getting through this book that I have had in a while. While the overall premise of the novel seemed interesting and captivating, I found the writing to be somewhat chunky and confusing. The author spends a great deal of time describing what, in my opinion, are unnecessary details in extreme depth, and there is a lack of punctuation in most paragraphs, which are far too long. This made the reading experience tiring and frustrating.

Because of these issues, I found myself unable to stay focused on the story, which made it difficult to connect with the characters and their struggles. Everything felt so dense and overly detailed that I kept skipping phrases and paragraphs because it was simply too much at once. The romance aspect of the book, which was supposed to be the main focus of the story, seemed to take a backseat to other plot points such as family drama, the main character’s own problems and struggles, and the side characters’ traumas. This made it even more difficult for me to root for the relationship.

Overall, even though this book was not for me, I would still recommend it to readers who enjoy detail focused stories, slow burns, and complicated family dynamics. However, I would suggest reading the earlier books in the series first, as I believe doing so would change the overall reading experience. I have not read the previous books, which is probably why I had such a hard time getting through this one.

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ˎˊ˗


✎ᝰ. trigger warnings (possible spoilers): cheating (side characters), toxic relationship (side characters), complicated family dynamics, past trauma.
Profile Image for Connie.
2,547 reviews62 followers
March 20, 2026
Kat’s parents own a coffee shop in Halfmoon Quay. Her mother is supposed to be helping her father in the business but she’s always off doing other things. Thus, Kat gets roped into helping her father and she doesn’t even like coffee. Now, her father wants to open another shop and have her run it. Absolutely not! Her parents want her to live at home but there is always so much tension there that she has been living with a couple. But now that they are engaged, she has decided she needs to find another place to live.

Harry is a good chef who works at the Prime Catch restaurant. He and Kat have been friends since grade school. Tonight Kat is heading to his parents’ house for their annual New Year’s Eve party. Harry arrives at the same time Kat does and he knows something is bothering her so they chat and she says she needs to find a place to live. Harry has a two-bedroom apartment over the restaurant and he invites her to come live with him to which she agrees. Secretly, they have both always had a soft spot for one another.

Harry confides in Kat that he wants to open a cookery school for people with all levels of cooking experience. In addition, this will hopefully all some young people to gain cooking experience and help them find a job. The big worry for Harry is that he has dyslexia which makes putting numbers and plans together difficult for him. But Kat is very good at it so they decide to go into this together. Will their closeness bring romance between them? Will Kat be able to break free from her parents trying to guilt her into doing their will?

I thought this was a truly delightful book. It is the first book I have read by this author and as I love stories about small towns and close residents, I’m sure I will be reading more by her. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
230 reviews22 followers
March 11, 2026
Halfmoon Quay has very quickly become one of my favourite series of books so I just couldn't wait to revisit the idyllic Cornish village and the Penrose family, This time we're following Harry Penrose as he seeks to strike out on his own and open his own business. Organisation and numbers have never been Harry's strong suit but as part of the Penrose family he'll never be short of a helping hand and it's not long before everyone rallies around and reminds him that you'll never have to do anything alone in such a close-knit family.

Kat is such a lovely character; I got to her know her quite a lot in the previous book as she's Issy's best friend and it's clear that she's always been held back by her parents and their troubles. She's always put her parents and their coffee shop first, forsaking her own dreams of becoming an author. It's really obvious that they don't appreciate her sacrifices too and I found myself getting annoyed on her behalf! I really enjoyed watching her flourish away from their influence and with some help from Harry. It's very obvious that Harry has always had a special place in his heart for Kat so of course he jumps at the opportunity to offer help; he is a Penrose after all!

Sarah Bennett has created something special with this series; it's full of heart and community and I've loved each of the three books so far. Each time I read a new one it feels as if no time has passed at all and like I'm catching up with old friends. This book was no different as I got to hear all about the characters from previous books whilst having a new Romance to dive into and some new family drama too.

I'm thoroughly looking forward to book four which I believe is due to be published in September (fingers crossed for Christmas with the Penroses).
Profile Image for Katherine Hayward Pérez .
1,710 reviews79 followers
March 19, 2026
The Best Thing That Ever Happened is my first Sarah Bennett novel. I was glad of the list of characters at the beginning.
At first.
However, I quickly felt overwhelmed by the amount of characters in the book and like it was hard to keep track of who was who.

I also found the pacing of the book very, very, slow.

My interest with the plot came and went. In terms of characters, I liked Kat and Harry and their backstories. I was interested in the fact that Harry was dyslexic. I was touched by the fact Kat tried to help him at school, and pleased at how lasting their friendship was.

I was annoyed at Kat’s parents’ self centered personalities right through the book. I found it unforgivable that they wanted to open up a coffee shop directly opposite The Cosy Coffee Pot, the one that Kat’s best friend Issy ran with Maud.

I was proud of Kat for trying to make her parents see her point of view and respect her. I wasn’t surprised by their permanent lack of interest though. I really find people like that so unlikeable.

It was nice to witness how Harry was always there for Kat and how much he meant to her.

I found it interesting that Harry and Ed were twins. I didn’t like Ed’s banter though.

I didn’t find the village or setting very visual, and that was something else that pulled me out of the story.

I’d be interested in the other books in the series to find some more backstory and find out what else happens, but so far it’s not a series that’s hooked me, where others with similar settings and storylines have a lot more. The writing style was too superficial for me.

2 stars

Thanks to Sarah Bennett and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Book Escapes Babs.
686 reviews29 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 17, 2026
I loved my third visit to Halfmoon Quay and was pleased to discover that the story revolved around Kat, whom we met in the second book. From the mentions in that book, it was clear that she had a story to tell and that her life was not a bed of roses.

When the book opens, we discover that Kat is finding it difficult to act as a third wheel as her flatmate is now in a committed relationship. She has tried living back at home with her parents, but that proved to be even more challenging, as their relationship is, to say the least, difficult.

I knew I would like Kat, and my instincts were spot on. She feels a familial loyalty to her father’s coffee shop, but her heart lies with her writing. She’s fiercely independent and not in the market for romance outside of the books she wants to write. Moreover, she is loyal to her friends and feels a greater affinity to them than her own flesh and blood.

Harry is the latest of the Penrose boys we get to know. He shares their strong family values, despite feeling like the black sheep as a result of an accident that befell his twin brother years earlier, coupled with his own personal challenges from school. He is kind, thoughtful and insanely talented in the kitchen.

As I have come to expect, The Best Thing That Ever Happened has a strong sense of friendship, family and community. The relationships are absolutely relatable, and I loved seeing Kat finally follow her dreams. The mentions and inclusion of characters from the earlier books provided welcome updates without diluting the focus on Kat and Harry.

Like all of Sarah’s books, The Best Thing That Ever Happened can be read as a standalone story, but the reader would definitely benefit from reading the others in the series, as they are simply gorgeous.
Profile Image for Dani.
281 reviews12 followers
March 19, 2026
This book was one I genuinely enjoyed. Although it’s the third in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone, which is how I read it. There’s a helpful glossary introducing the many characters you’ll encounter, and while it felt overwhelming at first, by the time I reached the second chapter, the important connections clicked into place. After that, following the story was easy.

Both of our main characters are still shaped by events from their past, and although their experiences differ greatly, they share similar struggles: the need for acceptance, the search for a place where they truly belong, and the journey toward becoming the person they are meant to be. Along the way, they confront their personal demons and gradually learn to support one another.

Kat, in particular, made a lasting impression. She has carried the consequences of her parents’ marriage for far too long, and those experiences deeply influenced the person she became. Watching her finally reach the point where she decides that enough is enough felt like an essential and powerful turning point.
At its core, this is a story about caring for yourself and for others. The romance complements the narrative rather than overshadowing it, adding emotional depth without distracting from the characters’ individual paths. Everyone gets their moment to shine, which I really appreciated.
After finishing this book, I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more of the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Paloma.
618 reviews7 followers
March 19, 2026
The Best Thing That Ever Happened is a feel good read with wonderful characters and a dreamy setting that makes you want to fall in love again and again.

Kate Bailey needs a change and fast. She feels stuck working at her father's cafe and sharing a flat with two lovebirds. Harry Penrose, a childhood friend offers her the chance to move out and move on. He has offered her a spare room to stay at while she figures its all out. Because moving back in with her parents is not a choice she wants to make. As the close proximity starts to kick in, Harry realizes that he has feelings for his friend Kate. Will Kate's family drama and awful mother allow the love to bloom or will they only get in the way?

I always look forward to Sarah Bennett's books. The Halfmoon Quay series has been a favorite of mine since I started it. I enjoyed Kate's character, specially how she first starts off constantly doubting herself but slowly builds up her self-esteem with Harry's help. Her whole family was bad but her mother was plain awful. I like how the book references some of the past characters in the series. I was also grateful that Harry's dyslexia was something that was talked about and it is something he has but he always manages to work through it. I always have such a lovely time revisiting Halfmoon Quay.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Kaveesha Bandara.
178 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 1, 2026
Sarah Bennett never disappoints me with her writing, and once again she has delivered a cosy, whimsical story as the third instalment in the Halfmoon Quay series.

The story follows Kat Bailey, who feels stuck working in her father’s coffee shop while dreaming of becoming an author. When her childhood friend Harry offers her his spare room, living under the same roof begins to blur the lines between friendship and something more, forcing them both to confront long-hidden feelings.

The characters are beautifully developed and infused with the right emotions to make the story feel realistic and heartfelt. The romance blossoming between the two main characters is heartwarming, filled with tender and swoony moments that make you smile. It’s such an easy, comforting read, and I was completely hooked. The author brings the small-town community to life in such a heartfelt way that you feel like you’re part of it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves friends-to-lovers romances, small-town settings, and feel-good stories that leave you warm and happy inside.
390 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 11, 2026
Great as a standalone but is the third in a gorgeous series set in Halfmoon Quay in Cornwall, so well worth reading the whole set!!
Loved this third story around the characters in this seaside village.
Kat works with her father at his franchise coffee shop, which has become quite uninspiring and wants more from her life. When her flatmate falls in love Kat starts to feel like a gooseberry in her home so knows she will need to move out, but really doesn’t want to go back to living with her parents.
Harry is an accomplished chef at the local restaurant who has started to dream a new adventure for his future.
Easy accessible writing which you can get caught up in and swept along with the exploits and experiences of the characters. Warm and cozy reading with just enough drama and surprises along the way.
Love this latest and can’t wait for the next!!! It’s always pure joy to read a new Sarah Bennett book as I know it will be totally brilliant!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early read for a review.
Profile Image for Keighley.
28 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2026
I’ve realised I’m a very visual reader - I absolutely judge a book by its cover! This one would instantly catch my eye in a shop. Not only is it purple (my favourite colour 💜), but I love how simple the design is. It’s not too busy and gives a lovely hint at the setting.

I haven’t read any of Sarah Bennett’s previous books (this is part of a series), but it works perfectly well as a standalone. The character list at the beginning was so helpful - there are quite a few people to keep track of, and I definitely flicked back a few times!

Halfmoon Quay is such a lovely setting - an idyllic Cornish village filled with charm, community, and great characters. It’s the perfect place to get lost in.

I really loved the two main characters and watching their friendship grow throughout the story - it felt so genuine and heartwarming. Seeing how Kat and Harry’s pasts shaped them, and then watching them learn to overcome their struggles and stand up for themselves, was especially touching.

Overall, this is a cosy, comforting read that’s perfect for dipping in and out of over a few evenings.
Profile Image for Colin Bell.
1,098 reviews13 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 11, 2026
In this the latest book in the Halfmoon Quay series the story centres around Kat, who is frustrated at working in her father's coffee shop where he wants her to take over a new franchise, and Harry, who after a troubled childhood is a successful chef in a local restaurant. Although part of this series it can be read as a standalone book, although it is great to catch up with characters from the previous books.
Harry has struggled for years due to being dyslexic, which took a long time to be diagnosed. It gives a fascinating insight into how those suffering from this are affected. Kat has a terrible home life which has also badly affected her, making her very unsure about herself. Seeing how these two start developing a relationship is very heartwarming and just the type of book to warm the cockles of your heart in these troubled times.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
Profile Image for Susanne Scott.
1,510 reviews18 followers
March 17, 2026
This was an amazing read. I loved being back with all the characters. Kat was an interesting character, and I found I could relate to her. She is torn with loyalty to her parents and her own life needs. Watching her journey as she slowly comes to the realisation that her parents aren’t loyal to her, and she’s getting nothing back was heart breaking, and I felt so happy when she stood up for herself and put herself first and followed her dream of working with Harry and the cookery school.

Harry was a great character, and his story is equally heartbreaking, having a son who is dyslexic I could understand a lot of Harry’s issues, and understand why he was so frustrated and felt let down by the whole school system. I loved that he found a way to overcome these issues and found his passion.

A great book and can be read as a stand alone, but if read after book one you get so much more happiness out of the updates from the other side characters in this book.
Profile Image for Tracey Dyson.
232 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 5, 2026
Free courtesy of Netgalley

Wow this was an amazing book, I haven't read any of Sarah Bennett's books before but I certainly will be reading more.

This is the third book in the series but it does not really matter if you haven't read the first two, as it works as a standalone just as well (I will go back and read the first two)

The book follows the characters of Kat and Harry. I loved their love story and how they supported each other in their different issues, without any of the messing around, working on things together.

I could write lots about this book but haven't as I haven't wanted to give any of the book away. I have left this book wanting more, to see more of their lives and how things work out, and I'm sure I will get that when the 4th book comes out. I strongly recommend this book if you love this genre, get yourself to halfmoon Quay
Profile Image for Ann Lovell.
37 reviews
March 17, 2026
The book starts by explaining all the characters. I like this type of introduction to the book stops you getting mixed up in trying to understand the family dynamics early on.

The background is lovely. A small harbour town.
A group of friends make up the extended characters.

The main characters Kat and Harry , are long standing friends who both lack confidence from family issues.

The story moves at a modest pace but builds them both into likeable characters. You can’t help really getting gripped and wanting everything to just click for them ! Kat is such a huge people pleaser it’s leaving doubts for poor Harry and the obstacles in there way don’t help.

I loved both of these two and the extended friendship group. What a fabulous read. Highly recommended it for a feel good read.
Profile Image for Hollie.
19 reviews
January 29, 2026
Although I really liked the idea of Kat & Harry, and found the part of the story that focused on their relationship heartfelt, the whole family turmoil aspect made this a lackluster read for me. Kat’s parents were pretty infuriating and I found myself skimming over the chapters that were about them. I also felt like after the history between Kat and Henry that they should have been more trusting of and communicative with each other. There are a lot of other characters that helped the story along though, and I can see how they would be fun to read about in other books in this series.

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Bennett, and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read The Best Thing That Ever Happened in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Katie Awdas.
100 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 11, 2026
I didn't realise that this was part of a series which made it hard initially to get to know all the character names. By the end of the book there were just a couple that I had to keep checking back on (there are a lot of characters! Maybe a refresher at the start of the book or a "who's who" would be helpful?) That said I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it a light hearted, easy and quick read. I was glad that Kat followed her heart and didn't feel tied to the family who were so badly using her. Harry seemed liked a really nice guy!

I will now look for the previous and forthcoming books in the series and others by Sarah Bennett as I found her writing style great.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Sarah for allowing me to read and review a preview copy.
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,625 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 16, 2026
The Best Thing That Ever Happened by Sarah Bennett is the third book in the series Halfmoon Quay. I enjoyed the other books in this series and was thrilled to read this one.
Kat has been working at her father’s coffee shop and he wants Kat to open a new one. Harry and Kat are so easy to see as I was reading and to feel the story evolve and grow into their new lives. I want to see them grow and make the life they want to live. This is an easy read even if you have not read the other books in the series, but you will want to read the others in the series so the characters fit together and become the story you hope it will be.
Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Bennett and Boldwood Books for the copy of The Best Thing That Ever Happened. This is my personal review.
Profile Image for Steph.
54 reviews10 followers
March 17, 2026
This is book 3 in the Halfmoon Quay Series. I have not read the other ones yet, but didn’t have trouble following the story, so think it can easily be read as a standalone or in different order.

„One flat. One friendship. One chance to change everything...“

Such a lovely read. This book has everything you’d want from a romance novel: likeable characters, friendship, love, hope and loads of emotions. (Extra points for raising awareness for learning disabilities!). Would recommend this to anyone who enjoys curling up with a good book and escape their own life for a bit.

This was the first book that I’ve read by this author, but it sure won’t be the last!

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Bennett and Boldwood Books for this ARC!
Profile Image for Krisha.
77 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 23, 2026
It was an enjoyable, easy read, though it didn’t completely wow me.

The seaside setting was charming and cozy, and as always, The author does a lovely job creating a warm sense of community. The friendships and layered relationships added depth to the story, and I appreciated the emotional threads woven throughout. The romance itself was sweet and heartfelt.

That said, while the story was pleasant and comforting, it felt somewhat predictable at times. The pacing was steady, but there weren’t many standout moments that lingered with me after finishing.

Thank you NetGalley & Boldwood Books for sending this book for review consideration.
Profile Image for Anne.
878 reviews6 followers
February 3, 2026
3.75
Kat has repeatedly given up her dreams to try to help the dysfunction that is her parents. But now she’s trying to take back control of her own life, starting with moving out. She had moved in with her dear friend Izzy, but now that she’s engaged…

Izzy’s brother, Harry, has a room available in his flat. It is awkward, though, now that they’ve both started noticing each other.

There’s a lot more drama with families and self-esteem and dreams. I like the character growth they both gain.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy. These opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kayla Jenkins.
300 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 13, 2026
I have really enjoyed the Halfmoon Quay series and this one was no different. Kat and Harry were the main characters for this one and I just loved their relationship so much. Just so sweet, supportive, and heartwarming! Now this is the third book in the series, but can completely be read as a standalone, just know there are a lot of characters! I really hope Bennett will return to Halfmoon Quay, cause I just adore all these characters! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!
Profile Image for Barb Graham.
378 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 13, 2026
Kat's life is stuck in family drama. Between her parents and their relationship and the coffee shop that they own, Kat is constantly cleaning up messes. She lives with her best friend who has a new romantic relationship and feels like a third wheel. When her childhood friend Harry offers her a room, she feels like it may be a way out. This is a good story about finding your path away from other people's problems. I really enjoyed this book. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Roo.
713 reviews9 followers
February 24, 2026
I’ve read the other books in this series, but you can read as a standalone. Easily to get into the lovely town life that is Halfmoon Quay. It’s sounds like a lovely place to live and the author is great at enticing you in. This book is about Kat, she works for her father in the coffee shop business, it goes through her up,and downs of her intended father’s new adventure. A lovely read as always, easily to get into to and makes you smile. A great 4.5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
1,040 reviews22 followers
March 22, 2026
This is the third book in the series and I loved my visit to Halfmoon Quay, it’s such a beautiful location.
This is Kat’s story and she’s feeling like she hasn’t fulfilled her potential as her dream of going to university had to be put off due to family reasons and she’s working with her dad in his coffee shop.
Things have to change!
The Penrose family are a caring bunch and Harry Penrose offers Kat a room in his flat.
This story was so caring, community focused and romantic and I loved it from the first chapter till the last.
Can’t wait to return to Halfmoon Quay.
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60 reviews55 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 27, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book about overcoming challenges that life throws at us, as Kat and Harry experience toxic parents and dyslexia. There is friends to flatmates to lovers and found family written very realistically. I only didn't like the fact that everyone expected too much from Kat than she was ready to give, especially her parents.

Overall, I give this book 3 stars.
2,144 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 15, 2026
Kat is desperately looking for a new place to move to and fate leads her to become roommates with Harry. Their friendship soon turns into more as the proximity leads to them learning each other’s deepest fears and greatest dreams.

I loved their shared moments over simple, daily matters but my favourite scene was definitely the one in the last act, when Harry finally realises the depth of Kat’s love for him, and that she has chosen him above all.
278 reviews1 follower
March 19, 2026
This is the third book in this series and it was such a lovely read, I did a mixture of reading and audio book.

I enjoyed catching up with the characters we have already met and meeting a few new ones in this book, it is a really lovely village and I would love to spend some time there. The story has no "time wasting" we are straight into the story and it just keeps going.

I really look forward to the next instalment.
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