Finding Summer Happiness

by Chris Penhall

You won’t find happiness without breaking a few eggs ...
Miriam Ryan was the MD of a successful events and catering company, but these days even the thought of chopping an onion sends her stress levels sky rocketing. A retreat to the Welsh village of her childhood holidays seems to offer the escape she’s craving – just peace, quiet, no people, a generous supply of ready meals ... did she mention no people?
Enter a cheery pub landlord, a lovesick letting agent, a grumpy astronomer with a fridge raiding habit – not to mention a surprise supper club that requires the chopping of many onions – and Miriam realises her escape has turned into exactly what she was trying to get away from, but could that be just the thing she needs to allow a little bit of summer happiness into her life?

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2024

About the author

Chris Penhall writes uplifting stories set in gorgeous places..

A lover of books, music and cats, she is also an enthusiastic salsa dancer, a keen cook, and loves to travel. She is never happier than when she is gazing at the sea.

You can find more information about her on www.chrispenhall.co.uk
or folllow her on twitter: @ChrisPenhall
Instagram: christinepenhall
Facebook: ChrisPenhallWriter

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gorgeous cover reflects the idyllic get-away that Miriam strives for. Set off the coast of South Wales, the cottage that Penhall describes sounds like a recipe for the peace and quiet that Miriam yearns for. However, as we all know, the best laid plans never seem to go right and, for Miriam, I think she found more genuine company than she has in years.

Miriam’s character is one that demands your sympathy. At first it looks as if she is escaping the London ‘rat-run’ and is suffering from a mid-life crisis that has led to her selling her home and business. Yet, as the story unfolds, it soon becomes clear that Miriam is truly suffering from stress and anxiety. Her desperation at being alone is keenly felt in this story and I could understand her frustration because everywhere she turns, another local seems to be popping up!

Poor Miriam tries her hardest to cope and I think Penhall sensitively portrays the turmoil that Miriam is feeling. When it transpires that her cottage rental comes with a business she was trying to leave behind, her reaction to this new responsibility is quite entertaining. Her secrecy and urgency at keeping her new role to a minimum reminded me of someone who had committed murder, her guilt is so intense! Indeed, throughout her experience, Miriam reminds herself to remain unorganised and not caring – qualities she struggles to embrace.

I think one of the reasons I admired Miriam so much was because I recognised her qualities in myself. The desire to make lists incessantly and be in control of situations are things I do on a daily basis! However, seeing Miriam struggle with the stress and anxiety that comes with being unable to achieve everything you set out to do, demonstrates the writer reminding readers to take time out for themselves. For Miriam, her respite in Wales means a time to reconnect with herself and reminisce about her parents. Therefore, I guess Penhall is illustrating the importance of striking a balance before you reach Miriam’s state of collapse.

The supporting characters helped crumble Miriam’s professional and London-based exterior. Despite this, I did not find them incredibly memorable and struggled to believe in her connection with Alan. Personally, I thought any romance was included more to appeal to this readership, rather than the natural direction of the plot. Contrastingly, I really enjoyed watching the evenings that Miriam is involved in and would have loved to see more eclectic visitors grace Miriam’s cottage – more Alice Cooper and harps please!

A pleasant story, this book is indeed about finding happiness. I enjoyed watching Miriam’s transformation and applauded her in the final scenes when she finally confronts her business nemesis. Miriam is like a budding flower that unfurls by the end of the novel: aided by the people, the place and recognising the positive qualities that she holds within herself.

With thanks to Ruby Fiction, ChocLit and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miriam is one of those women who on the surface has it all! But she's running away as life has become too stressful! She needs quiet, she needs space - so she finds herself in her childhood village in Wales for a people free life for a while! Sounds blissful!

BUT life has other plans for her and the property she finds herself renting, is anything but people free! The mysterious owner, Joanna, who seems to have left in a real rush, has left behind a bit of a business for Miriam to take over at the house and it really puts her in a pickle!

As she settles into her new role, she finds that being busy might just be the tonic she didn't think she needed and she begins to make some lovely new friends. Joanna's nephew, Alan, who resides in the summerhouse in the garden along with his telescope, and although she finds his presence restrictive to begin with, she soon starts to enjoy spending time in his company and learning things from him.

She starts to live life going with the flow and that also allows her to face some tough memories from the past, especially when she uncovers new links to her family and I really liked seeing how she faced the new challenges in her life. She wanted to escape life and just clear her mind, but having distractions seemed to have allowed her to breathe a little more and to stop dwelling on things she can't control. The setting is perfect and you can just breathe in the sea air and hear the waves on the shore along with her!

This was a really lovely read! Full of fun moments and a sweet romance - it was my own little escape from the stresses of the world we live in right now!

[Donna Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miriam is the successful MD of MR Events but is stepping down to live a quiet life. Her PA Justin sorts out a rental cottage for her in a remote Welsh village where she holidayed as a child.
She finally is able to switch off and relax in this lovely idyllic place but the peace is soon shattered when Julie and Henry arrive at the cottage. They expect Joanna (the owner) to be there to cook them meals. Then, to make things worse, she stumbles across Jim who has let himself into the summer house at the back of the cottage. He turns out to be the mysterious Joanna’s nephew. After contacting Rhiannon (the lettings agent) and her former PA Justin, she finally finds out that there was a page missing on the rental contract which states she has to provide meals for the supper/dinner/events club. So, instead of having a restful escape, she ends up dealing with people and back in the same business that pushed her to breaking point.
There are odd occurrences that remind her of childhood memories. She is also still coming to terms with the loss of her mother, a painful relationship break-up, and the way she left MR Events.
I felt a connection to Miriam wanting to escape from the stresses of life. She was a kindred spirit. Loved the descriptions of her walking along the coast. Also, she listens to music and does deep breathing to get rid of negative thoughts (like me). I found it hard to put the book down and enjoyed this book just as much as the others that Chris has written.

[Debbie Southwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miriam has sold her business and wants to go and spend some time in Wales where she has fond childhood memories. Unfortunately her PA didn’t read the small print of the contract for the house that Miriam has rented.
The contract includes Miriam cooking meals for people who regularly come to the homeowners for a meal and entertainment that they pay for (hence why there were recipes so kindly left for her) and the addition of Alan who lives in the Summerhouse. However Miriam owned an events company and feels she did her fair share of cooking and just wanted to live on ready meals and breadsticks, having a peaceful time, not be cooking for people and having everyone wonder where the owner Joanna has disappeared to without telling anyone where she was going or why. She has also been badly let down by a man who she has been badly hurt by emotionally.
Miriam does find some solace however in the telescope in the attic room where she can go and immerse herself in the wonder of the stars. There is where she also finds snippets of her childhood, can there be a link and can this place help her heal?
A wonderful mix of characters and a great read.
Thank you to Choc-Lit for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review, which is completely my own

[Isabelle D · Rating 4 out of 5]

For personal reasons, it took me a while to get into this book but, unless you're also a 100% introvert with social phobia, I'm sure you'll be able to enjoy Miriam's story without the second-hand anxiety it triggered in me (Miriam was in such a state of burn-out I expected her to completely break down every time someone interrupted her much-needed solitude, and it made me want to shout at the intruders in her stead). Even with that problem, I didn't dislike the story at all (only the way it made me feel at times). My favourite thing about it is that it includes an astronomer. I also particularly liked the mysterious elements (from everyone wondering where the owner of the house went and why she doesn't want to be contacted, to the little gifts delivered anonymously to Miriam).

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Isobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travelling has been a bit difficult recently- you may have noticed- but when it is possible again I'll be heading to Portugal. Chris Penhall's previous books, which are set there, inspired me to find out more and plan a visit. Now however I'm keen to visit Wales. Which should be easier...
This is a book to really escape into, lovely people (except the bad guy), lovely places and something happening on every page. Great.
If you are sorting out your holiday reading grab this and look forward to settling down with Miriam's story. If you are not, grab it anyway and enjoy reading it as soon as possible!

[Yvonne Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miriam is a burnt out high flyer and flees to Wales for peace and quiet. Is that actually what she needs though, and will she get it? Throw in an eccentric absent landlady, a lodger in the summerhouse and a bunch of fun chat, and you get a lovely relaxing read.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also posted here: http://www.book-drunk.co.uk/2021/08/r...

Finding Summer Happiness drew me in straight away with its enticing cover and intriguing blurb. I’m new to Chris Penhall’s books but this had all the makings of an absorbing summer’s read, and it did not disappoint.

Miriam runs a successful events and catering business, but all she wants to do is escape. Things have got complicated and just the very thought of cooking stresses her out, so when her PA finds her an idyllic rental cottage in Wales, she snaps it up. Her dreams of peace and quiet and a place where she has nobody to please but herself come true – at least for a day. Soon it turns out that her PA didn’t pay great attention to the contract and Miriam has somehow ended up at a beautiful cottage that comes with its own events contract. Her mysterious landlady has an agreement to host events for several people and provide full meals and entertainment. This is now left under Miriam’s control, and she has no idea how to cope with it.

This was an entertaining read from the first page to the last. I enjoyed getting to know Miriam and found her quite easy to relate to, as I’m sure a lot of readers will. She is always taking on too much and struggles to stop herself from offering to help people in need, even when she doesn’t have the time to look after herself. When all she wants is to snuggle up alone with a ready meal and time away from everybody, instead she finds herself catering to strangers in her home, overwhelmed by just how unrelaxing her relaxing time away has become.

The effects on her mental health were clear to see and I found myself rooting for her and also wanting to tell her off a little bit too – to tell her to stop overworking and feeling like she has to do things that she really didn’t have the headspace for. I wanted her to stop talking to herself so much and just give herself time to breathe – but of course it is easy to think about that but not so easy to put it into action. She is a caring character who has gone through some tough times – no wonder she needed the seaside escape – but I felt she definitely needed to learn how to help herself too.

I liked the inclusion of mental health in this novel and feel like this is something that we are seeing more in fiction these days but also could still be shown much more, as so many adults experience anxiety and other mental health problems that novels like this one can normalise it and help people feel less alone. The author definitely handles the topic with honesty and care in Finding Summer Happiness.

There was so much I enjoyed about this book. From the dreamy setting and the refreshing sea air to all the food (well, maybe except the microwave meals-for-one), this book had me smiling all the way through. I loved the description of the coastal location and from cliff walks to swimming in the sea, I found the book to be full of atmosphere which made the book so easy to get into but not so easy to put down. The supporting characters in the book were a mixed bunch yet each brought something amusing to the story with warm friendships and newfound romance.

There was a lot going on in Miriam’s life, and plenty of things from her past beginning to resurface, and because of this I was never entirely sure where this book was going to go. I really liked the surprise elements to the story and the satisfying ending which I felt fit the rest of the story perfectly though I would of course like to know what happened next for all involved. Overall, I found Finding Summer Happiness to be a captivating and heartwarming read, an ideal book to escape into this summer.

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly good read.

Realising that running her catering company has caused such stress she's becoming ill, Miriam retreats to a coastal cottage in Wales to recuperate. She intends to have a summer of peace and quiet while living in utter isolation, intending her only cooking to be a simple microwave dinner for one.

Except the cottage doesn’t offer Miriam the peace she expected. A strange man is asleep in the summerhouse, there’s the unexplained expectations from the coastal path walkers for Miriam to provide meals and the owner of the cottage has mysteriously disappeared without trace.

Miriam soon finds herself involved in village life, far opposite from her original plan of isolation.

Recommended as an engrossing, fun read.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This romance was so different to the normal ones. Right from the start it was intriguing and held me wanting to know more. Usually I can see where the story is going but this one kept me guessing right to the last pages. Miriam and Alan being thrown together seemed an ill matched but perfect couple and you keep hoping that romance will come but the story moves the plot away from this. A great mix of characters inhabiting a village I would like to visit or even live in. Enjoy the fun, follow Miriam's retirement and root for your favourite couple.

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

I couldn't put this book down, I loved everything about this story, especially the characters. I felt sorry for Miriam and her anxiety issues. Rhi and Justin made me laugh. This is the first book I have read by this author but it certainly won't be the last.

[Etta (Chonky Books Review) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Summer Happiness was a delight! It is my first novel by Chris Penhall, but it will not be my last as it was an enjoyable easy read with a fun cast of characters in a beautiful setting on the south Wales coast. The main character Miriam Ryan is burnt out with her current life. She is ready for some rest, relaxation, and solitude in a cottage by the sea set in a village from her childhood, but her trip might not be what she bargained for when it comes to terms that she was not expecting. Right away, this story was intriguing and relatable, as many people, including myself, at one time or another have wanted to escape it all and live a quieter life.

When Miriam arrives she is expecting some peaceful isolation, however, she is soon met with unexpected guests. There is a man, Alan, living in the property’s summer house that she was unaware would be there. He also happens to be the property owner, Joanna’s nephew. She finds that this is not her only obstacle as the contract included the property owner, now Joanna during the rental, to continue to host community events. This includes cooking and entertaining guests. Miriam is overwhelmed with these unexpected obstacles and calls the letting agent, Rhiannon. She also contacts her personal assistant, Justin, who made the booking. She finds out that this part of the contract was overlooked, but is still valid and, therefore, is now Miriam’s responsibility. This includes making meals and hosting events for others, which were all things she was trying to avoid and a very similar situation to the one she was trying to escape.

The setting of the novel was gorgeous with the cliffs and sea. I love the coast, so this novel was written in my ideal location. Surrounded by various and entertaining guests and villagers, Miriam must try to work through the issues she was avoiding and to try to find happiness in this new setting. I loved this group of characters, as they were quirky in their own way. Each were interesting and together it was a well-rounded cast in the story. Miriam is a standout character as she wants to help others and can sometimes become too involved with them to remember to think about herself. She has a lot going on in her life including her previous business, the loss of her mother, and a heart-breaking break-up. I loved her looking at the stars through the telescope, taking some quiet nature walks, and trying to mediate as ways of helping her deal with her stress levels.

Overall, this was a heart-warming read. There is a nice theme of taking some moments to care for yourself no matter how crazy life gets. Miriam has a lot going on and she wants to care for others, so I liked how she slowly learned to find some balance. While it may not be perfect, I rooted for her to grow and find a way to find her own happiness. The sense of community in this story was fantastic and I loved the romance aspect that slowly developed. The two characters complimented each other well and I greatly enjoyed having them get to know the other over time. This story was a nice escape read with bits of realism and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

**I give a special thank you to Rachel @rararesources,, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to participate with this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

[Tiziana Langone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retreat with the opposite of what wanted…

After selling het events and catering company, Miriam Ryan wants to get away and be left alone. With the help of her PA, she has found the perfect getaway: she is returning to the Welsh village where she spend her childhood holidays.
But what she thought would be a retreat for several months in peace, quiet, far away from preparing food, turns out to be the total opposite.
Before she knows, she is surrounded by people demanding her to be fed, an astronomer eager to raid her fridge and more people of the community requiring her attention.
So even if chopping onions was something she absolutely didn’t want to do, maybe this holiday will turn out to be exactly what she needed, onions included…

I can only imagine how difficult it is to sell your own company. But when we get to know Miriam even better, and we get to know what she had to do to make sure her business was somehow safe, made me understand her anxieties even better.

Lately Miriam had to process a lot of things happening to her. Losing her mother, being betrayed by the man she loved, it’s more than normal she just wanted to escape everything and everyone.
I have to admit, I had some malicious pleasure in reading how the peace Miriam needed, was disrupted by the most different people knocking on her door.

But before you start thinking I’m an evil woman, I felt so much sympathy for Miriam too… we all need sometimes to be on our own, to digest everything we have been through.
I found it sweet to see how she finds herself surrounded by people, but people with her best interest at mind.
Yes, Miriam finds herself doing things she swore she wouldn’t be doing, but she sees that her new friends are not pushing her beyond and are eager to help her.

The thing that surprised me the most about this book, is that the author managed to write on a respectfully manner, what Miriam is going through. Writing about anxiety and even panic attacks, can be dangerous, because mental health is something very actual and a very serious matter.
But what Miriam is going through is described so well, making the reading understand perfectly what is going on in her mind.

I found this a beautiful story to read, because it showed us the need of a kind of broken woman, wanting to be alone, how realization dawns that being alone is not the solution. I was admired by her strength and determination of not simple giving up.
And I was happy for her when during this particular and peculiar summer, she found happiness in a place she never expected!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something I’ve learned in the last few years is that if a book has Chris Penhall as the author, it’s going to be a fabulous read. Finding Summer Happiness, the author’s most recent title completely supports my initial statement. Charming, with a bit of romance and a bit of intrigue, it came into my life when I really needed it, and put a smile on my face.

Protagonist Miriam is quite possibly my favorite Penhall lead so far. Savvy and smart, she’s burnt out with her business, and finally agrees to have her personal assistant arrange a break for her. Six months in a cottage by the sea. When she learns the actual terms of said break, I felt her disappointment, displeasure, and confusion, and wanted to rush in and help her out. Her work ethic and sense of honor merge with her attorney’s advice, and the story really takes off

A former business-owner myself, although not professionally, I really resonated with Miriam, especially since I’ve been through the experience of leaving the corporate world, but I enjoyed the characters of Jim the pub owner, Rhiannon the realtor (sorry, letting agent) and Alan the unwanted sort-of guest, and the largely offscreen Justin. These characters were all funny and interesting and felt the like odd assortment of friends and cohorts many of us tend to collect.

I also appreciated the various guests and villagers who rounded out the story. Penhall has a knack for creating vivid and dimensional characters and communities, and in this book she excels at both. I wanted to knock on the door of Miriam’s rented cottage and demand a seat in her supper club.

This is a light read that is grounded in serious topics, like how to change your life and when to make the leap and follow your dreams.

Goes well with: A rainy day, a glass of wine, and a bowl of onion soup.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very successful business woman, Miriam, had reached the stage where she is overwhelmed by making decisions, sorting out problems and looking after everyone else and to make everything so much worse her mother who she has been looking after for the past year has died.

Miriam decides she needs a complete break and decides to sell the company. That doesn't work out either when she discovers what the person she has every faith in to take on the business is really planning. She pulls out of the deal just prior to the deadline, makes another deal which safeguards the business and her staff and is persuaded by her PA to take on a cottage in the Welsh countryside while its owner is away for several months. In the rush neither she nor the PA notice a page is missing from the documentation she has signed which leads to all sorts of complications and compromises.

I really enjoyed this book which is so well written and slowly unfolds the back story of the main characters while sorting out their current problems.

[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story, you get to follow Miriam as she tries to work through her emotional issues following the death of her mother but also issues around the sale of her business. Her mental health is a work in progress as she travels to Pembrokeshire, looking for a respite from other people and the demands of daily life. Cutting herself off from other people turns out to be harder said than done.
There are some quirky characters who come and go into Miriam's new life and who are a source of gentle humour. You realise that Miriam is basically wanting to not let people down, despite her wishes to not get involved. There are hints of her childhood and you wonder just what links her past has with this area. This is a gentle read which draws you in and you soon find that you are rooting for Miriam and sympathetic to her vulnerabilities and concerns.
In short: Can Miriam rediscover her zest for life?
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

[Deborah Klée · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took 6 books away with me on holiday and of the 5 romance titles, Finding Summer Happiness was by far my favourite. I love Chris Penhall's writing as she writes with great warmth about community life, and really gets under the skin of her protagonists. Summer in Your Eyes, is another favourite by this talented author
I could really identify with Miriam as she struggled between the need to let go of control and her natural inclination for order, efficiency and doing a good job. Endless to do lists. Scheduling yoga, and meditation to manage well-being. This is me! And just like Miriam I was on holiday at the time of reading this story trying hard to get some R&R after a traumatic life experience. I had no idea when I chose this book that it would so closely reflect my personal situation. But that is the mark of a great read – it resonates, makes you think, and lifts you up. So thank you Chris Penhall!

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle, humorous story that explores life's pressures and how taking a trip, even if it is not what you expected, can give you a better perspective. Miriam finds running her successful company is damaging her health. Her escape is not what she expects. However, it helps her to come to terms with her past and present life.

The setting is well-described and integral to Miriam's life changes. Believable characters add emotion and vibrancy to the story. There is a good mix of humour and poignancy with uplifting friendship, romance and self-realisation.

This is a lovely escapist summer read.

I received a copy of this book from Ruby Fiction in return for an honest review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those that, I’ll admit, the cover is what first drew me to it. And then I realized it was a Chris Penhall book and knew that I would, undoubtedly, end up loving this book.

Taking place in Wales, this story made me yearn to add Wales to my list of places I must visit. Miriam, is a character I can relate to. She was an amazing woman with stress and frustrations. But, with the help of a cast of characters, Miriam does find her happiness.

This was exactly the read I needed to get swept up in. The characters were charming and realistic, the setting was the cherry on top. Chris Penhall never disappoints.

[Linda Lassman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really lovely book and it especially appealed because the main characters, Miriam and Alan, were 40-somethings, an age that's rarely seen in chick-lit or rom-coms. It made me happy and was extremely satisfying. This is the first book I've ready by Penhall and I look forward to reading more.

[Deborah Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all of us who have at one time or another just wanted to "leave it all behind" this story is all about what happens when someone takes that plunge. Lovely book, a definite page turner - I was intrigued to see who Joanna was and how it all fitted into the story.
Funny moments, poignant moments, all written in Chris's lovely warm style. Definitely recommend this lovely book.