Five-Star Summer by Sarah Morgan
Publication Date: May 5th 2026 by MIRA & Harlequin Audio
Pages: 368
Audio Book Length: 10hrs 21mins
Narrator: Henrietta Meire
Source: Publishers
Rating: ★★★★
My
Thoughts:
Evie Hamilton steps in as acting general manager of The
Alexandra in Cornwall after the previous manager suffers a heart attack. She basically
grew up in the hotel, with her father as concierge, so she’s known the staff
since childhood. That history makes it hard for her to enforce change, but
without it, the struggling hotel may not survive.
Abby Jones, meanwhile, has worked her way through every role
in her mother’s hotel group, yet her colleagues still assume she’s only
advanced because she’s the boss’s daughter. When her mother sends her
undercover to the Cornwall property to find out why the hotel is
underperforming, Abby jumps at the chance. Going incognito means the staff will
speak freely, but it also means hiding who she is.
Evie and Abby click almost instantly. Evie is relieved to
finally have support from head office, and Abby is surprised by how quickly she
feels welcomed and understood. Still, the secret she’s keeping makes her uneasy.
The story unfolds through the perspectives of Evie, Abby,
and Abby’s mother, Alexandra, each woman dealing with issues. I loved watching
Evie and Abby’s friendship grow as they leaned on each other. Evie needed
guidance on managing a staff who still saw her as the concierge’s daughter, and
Abby’s fresh approach helped her find her footing. Abby, who’s never had close
friends, finds Evie’s warmth and acceptance unexpectedly healing. Alexandra,
too, has her own history with the Cornwall hotel and her own reasons for
sending Abby there.
Each woman also gets their own romance. A nice addition rounding
out the story, but it wasn’t the focus.
Sarah Morgan excels at writing relatable characters facing
realistic problems, making me feel and root for every one of them! Everything
comes together in a cozy, uplifting way with low drama and plenty of heart.
I alternately read and listened to an audio version and can
recommend either. Henrietta Meire’s performance was wonderful! She seamlessly
alternated between characters, giving each one a distinct voice and
personality.
4 Stars
Book Description:
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…
