She’s sworn off romance.
But this summer, love might rewrite her story . . .
Single mum Carrie Worsley doesn’t need another disappointment — she needs a fresh start.
So when she’s offered the chance to run her great-aunt’s romance bookshop in the Cornish seaside town of Castle Cove, she packs up her six-year-old daughter and takes the leap.
Secret beaches. Golden sunsets. And The Happily Ever After Bookshop — a pastel-pink sanctuary filled with stories of second chances.
But it’s only temporary.
Until she meets Michael — the quiet, brooding, local bookbinder with kind eyes and an adorably chaotic dog!
Michael isn’t looking for forever. Carrie doesn’t believe in it anymore. But stolen glances turn into slow-burn tension. Friendly coffees become lingering touches. And suddenly the chemistry isn’t just fictional — it’s undeniable.
Between sea-salted evenings, cinnamon-scented mornings, and long afternoons lost among the shelves, Carrie begins to wonder . . .
What if this time, the love story is hers?
🩷 Small-town romance
🩷 Single mum / Single dad
🩷 Friends-to-lovers
🩷 Slow burn
🩷 Cosy bookshop vibes
🩷 Second chances
🩷 Found family
A New Start at the Happily Ever After Bookshop by Emma Bennet is published by Choc Lit on 10 March 2026. Available on Amazon and from all good bookshops!
You can find reviews and details of this and other books by Emma Bennet on Goodreads and Storygraph.
Thank you to Choclit (A Joffe Books company) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early release of the digital book and I willingly share my thoughts below.
About The Author
Emma grew up and lived in London, before falling in love and moving to Wales to marry her own hero. Emma lives with her husband and 4 children in a small Welsh market town. She is often found in rivers attempting to control two overexcited chocolate Labradors.
Emma can be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaBennetAuthor where she offers tips and tricks for writers, as well as book recommendations, author life vlogs and live writing sprints.
Emma likes (in no particular order): cake, books, Cary Grant films, prosecco, chocolate, guinea pigs, knitting, quilting and happily ever afters!
You can find out all about Emma Bennet on her website https://www.emma-bennet.co.uk
on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/emmabennetwriter/
and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/romanceemma/
My Review
A Tender, Hope-Filled Romance About Second Chances, Found Family and the Courage to Love Again
A New Start at the Happily Ever After Bookshop absolutely captured my heart from the very first page.
I picked it up intending to read a few chapters and yet, once again, I ended up devouring the entire book in a single sitting. It is definitely a “housework can wait” read!
From the very beginning I was completely immersed in the story. When the opportunity arises to temporarily run her aunt’s romance bookshop in the Cornish seaside town of Castle Cove, it feels like the perfect chance to reset. And what a setting it is.
Castle Cove is exactly the kind of place readers dream of escaping to — secret beaches, sea breezes, golden sunsets and the wonderfully cosy Happily Ever After Bookshop itself. The bookshop felt like a character in its own right: warm, welcoming and filled with the quiet promise that stories, and life, can still hold surprises. But while the setting is utterly charming, it’s the characters who truly bring this story to life.
The emotional heart of this story lies in its wonderfully written characters and the gentle, believable way their lives begin to intertwine. Watching someone slowly begin to rebuild their confidence and rediscover joy makes for such a satisfying and uplifting journey.
The romance itself is a beautifully written slow burn. Nothing feels rushed or forced; instead, the connection develops naturally through quiet moments, shared conversations and the kind of small gestures that often mean the most. It’s the sort of relationship that grows gradually and feels all the more meaningful because of it.
Alongside the romance, what truly stood out to me was the sense of community woven throughout the story. The warmth of the small-town setting and the surrounding characters creates such a strong feeling of belonging that Castle Cove quickly begins to feel like somewhere you’d happily escape to yourself.
The theme of found family runs gently through the pages and adds an extra layer of heart to the story. This is one of those books that balances cosy escapism with genuine emotional depth. Beneath the seaside charm and bookshop atmosphere lies a story about healing, second chances and finding the courage to believe in happiness again.
By the time I reached the final chapters, I realised just how emotionally invested I had become. It’s one of those rare reads that makes you smile constantly while quietly tugging at your heartstrings.
A New Start at the Happily Ever After Bookshop is a beautifully heartwarming small-town romance filled with charm, hope and the quiet magic of second chances. With its cosy setting, uplifting atmosphere and tender slow-burn romance, it completely captured my heart. Fans of cosy bookshop romances and heartwarming small-town love stories will absolutely fall for this one.
An utterly delightful read that I didn’t want to end.
Emma Bennet has created such a charming and emotionally uplifting world in Castle Cove that I already find myself wishing I could return there. I really hope this is just the beginning of a series set in Castle Cove, because I would love to spend more time in this charming seaside town and with these wonderful characters. Please, please, please let there be more books to come!
#EmmaBennet #ANewStartattheHappilyEverAfterBookshop
#ChocLit #NetGalley #BookReview
See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines. This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication. Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Choc Lit (A Joffe Books company) via NetGalley. This review reflects my own reading experience. This review is original content. Please credit and link back if you wish to quote.
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