Book Review - And Then There Was You by Miranda Dickinson

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Title: And Then There Was You

Author: Miranda Dickinson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ

Publication Date: 28th August 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Two lonely people. One song to change their lives…

Merryn Rowe adores her life in St Ives. The café she owns and the community she serves are her much-needed second chance after a heart-breaking divorce. But as she gazes out at the Cornish Sea, she begins to long for more.

Zach Trevelyan is not where he expected to be. His surfing career in tatters following an injury, he finds himself in St Ives without a home, a job, or a path ahead.

When Merryn discovers an abandoned piano, it evokes long-lost memories of someone who left her life without a word – her much-loved stepfather. Impulsively, she gives the piano a home in the courtyard of her café. And late one night, when a familiar song comes through her window, Merryn discovers a striking man huddled at the piano.

Who exactly is the midnight musician? And why can’t she stop thinking about him…and his beautiful melody?

It's always a great pleasure to sit down with a brand new Miranda Dickinson novel and this was a particular joy. 

Set in St. Ives, I would say that Merlin is the central character to the whole story, and yet he is an inanimate object. But one that infuses memories and longing and hope wherever he ends up! 

Merryn is the one that saves Merlin from an uncertain future, and sets him up in the courtyard of her cafe, and it's this which leads to her both stepping up the search for someone that was in her past, and also to opening up in the evenings too, thus growing her business. 

She has a few other key men in her life, best friend Seth and newcomer Zach.  We get chapters from Zach's point of view and I fell for him really quickly, although at times I was wishing he thought more!  

I was totally enchanted by the story being told between these pages, and while I was reading on the tube on my way, I was shocked at how many stations I had no idea we had stopped at, as I was totally absorbed in the story. 

There is romance, there is friendship, there is a wonderful pregnant character, there's music, baked goods (ok loads of baked goods), surfing, and even at one point I had a lump in my throat at the emotion of a moment took over. 

I love these characters, and also loved the recurring friendly faces from Somewhere Beyond the Sea, which as a fan of the author I always like to see old characters pop up! 

Utterly fabulous and perhaps one of my favourite books from this always talented author. 

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,