Taking Flight: Sophie's Story: From the Coming Back to Cornwall family. An uplifting, heartwarming story of friendship, family, love & finding your own way in life.

by Katharine E. Smith

From the Coming Back to Cornwall series, this is Sophie’s story…

Sophie thought she had time to figure everything out. Now she’s not so sure.

Back home and starting over after losing her job, she finds herself caught between the life she’s supposed to want and the one she’s not even sure exists yet. Her boyfriend Harry is ready for the next step - something steady, something permanent - but Sophie can’t ignore the nagging feeling that she’s not ready to settle down.

While her friends race ahead with careers, mortgages, and carefully planned futures, Sophie feels stuck in limbo. As questions about her fractured family resurface - her mum’s true motivations, her dad’s long-ago departure – not to mention best friend Amber’s secret romance, Sophie begins to realise just how much she doesn’t know, about them or herself.

With her life split between Devon and Cornwall, and a patchwork family so that nowhere has ever quite felt like home, Sophie is forced to confront the hardest question of where does she truly belong?

Because growing up isn’t about having all the answers - it’s about finding the courage to choose your own path.

Perfect for existing fans of the Coming Back to Cornwall series and equally welcoming to new readers, this heartfelt story can be enjoyed whether you’re returning to Cornwall or discovering it for the very first time.

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2026

About the author

Katharine E. Smith is a British independent fiction author, as well as the founder of Heddon Publishing. With a degree in Philosophy, Katharine worked in the IT and charity sectors before going freelance as as copywriter, proofreader and editor.

Reviews

[Graeme Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking Flight: Sophie’s Story is a warm, reflective contemporary novel that explores the uncertainty of early adulthood with honesty and emotional depth. Set against the evocative backdrop of Devon and Cornwall, the story follows Sophie as she navigates loss, relationships, and the quiet pressure of expectations from both herself and those around her.

Katharine E. Smith captures the in-between phase of life where nothing feels fully settled, balancing themes of identity, belonging, and personal growth. Sophie’s journey is shaped not only by romantic uncertainty, but also by unresolved family dynamics and shifting friendships, all of which add meaningful layers to her internal conflict.

The narrative leans into emotional realism rather than dramatic twists, making it particularly relatable for readers who have experienced moments of feeling outpaced or unsure of their direction. It’s a gentle yet engaging story about finding clarity, embracing change, and ultimately choosing your own path.

[Nelly Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would recommend all the books in the coming back to Cornwall series. They are my comfort reading, they make me feel safe and relaxed. Great characters and a setting that is on every page but cleverly not rammed down your throat.. Wonderful stories of domesticity and the everyday

[Susan Gratrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming back to Cornwall series

Another great book in this fabulous of but this time from Sophie's point of view. Really enjoyed this one, would be good to have more in the future.

[Stephenie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great instalment but this time from Sophie’s point of view.