Publication Date: May 5, 2026
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…
Perfect for readers who love:
- Feel‑good women’s fiction
- Sun‑soaked seaside settings
- Stories of friendship, love, and new beginnings
Set in Cornwall, England, with vivid descriptions and intriguing characters, Five-Star Summer by Sarah Morgan wasn’t the beach read I was expecting.
Evie, Abby, and Alexandra tell the story, and there are so many secrets. When Abby is sent from the hotel’s main office to help out in Cornwall, she doesn’t know what to expect. Evie is the current acting general manager; Abby is the owner, Alexandra’s daughter, and the hotel chain is named for Alexandra. They hit it off and form a friendship of sorts, and while Evie is open and forthcoming, Abby is more reticent and has secrets.
There are hints of some unspoken secrets throughout, and unexpected connections if the dots are connected. The story flows well, with a few surprises, some romance, and lots of gossip. Abby lets her guard down as she forms friendships, and her mother isn’t pleased. But when secrets are revealed, will lives feel fulfilled? The story has some happily-ever-after moments but ends abruptly. I wished it had gone on just a little longer. An epilogue would have been ideal.
Five-Star Summer immerses us in the beauty of Cornwall and the hotel at the center of the story. Sit back with a cup of tea and a friend or two.
USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes lively, sexy contemporary stories for Harlequin.
Romantic Times has described her as ‘a magician with words’ and nominated her books for their Reviewer’s Choice Awards and their ‘Top Pick’ slot. In 2012 Sarah received the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America. She lives near London with her family.
