Book Review - A Perfect Summer in Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson

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Title: A Perfect Summer in Starshine Cove

Author: Debbie Johnson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Storm Publishing

Publication Date: 10th June 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

The perfect feel-good summer read from the million-copy bestselling author. Get ready to laugh, cry, and fall head over heels in love with Starshine Cove! ❤️

Suzie has always been the wild one. While her siblings settled happily into village life, she roamed the world – chasing adventures, collecting stories and running from that horrible day, sixteen years ago. But when it's finally time to return to the tiny Dorset village of Starshine Cove, Suzie must face everything – and everyone – she left behind.

There's her dad George, still the beloved heart of the village at almost ninety. Her sister-in-law Connie, who runs the irresistible Cove Café, where the scent of sugar and vanilla drifts on the sea breeze and the red velvet cake is to die for. And then there's Guy, a brooding stranger with secrets of his own who arrives in the village on the very same day…

As the summer unfolds and old wounds begin to heal, Suzie discovers that sometimes the bravest adventure isn't running away – it's finally coming home.

From the beloved bestselling author of the Comfort Food Café series comes an unforgettable story of love, loss, and discovering that home is the place that never let you go.

This is a book that felt a lot like coming home, not just for Suzie our main character, but also for me as a reader as I'm loving Starshine Cove so much. 

I can't believe this is the fifth book in this series already, and it was wonderful to spend time with George's remaining child, and suring up in my mind even further all of the various family connections in the cove. 

We also meet newcomer Guy who is similar in a lot of ways to Suzie and they both are feeling a pull towards Starshine and trying to leave their wanderlust behind them.

I loved seeing how their stories progressed over the course of this book in addition to catching up with all my old friends from the previous books. 

There is something just so charming about this setting and I loved every minute of this book. 

Another winner for me from Debbie Johnson.  

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.