An engaging read, with a beautiful setting and appealing characters. Perfect for those looking for an armchair escape to Cornwall with some emotional heft behind it.

An absolute wonderful book, such a page turner which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the stunning setting in Cornwall, I loved the historical side of the story and I loved the relationship between Lucy and Hebe showing how they cope in all situations.

Such a terrible disease is tackled in the book but this has been tackled and written about so sensitively and poignantly. Liz Fenwick is a very talented writer.

It is such a lovely read but an emotional and heartbreaking read too. Beautifully written. Highly recommended.

Renovating an old house.
Since moving to Devon, only 15 minutes from the Cornish border, I have been keenly reading books written about the area. I also lost a close relative to Alzheimer's Disease recently, so this book resonated on two counts.

I did have a bit of a problem initially, as the book moved from Hebe to Lucy and backwards and forwards in time. Eventually I went back to the beginning and noted down the name and title of each chapter and realised that Lucy was in 2016, while her aunt, Hebe, was in both 2015 and 2016. Once I'd sussed out that detail it all flowed perfectly.

Hebe is in her fifties, early to be suffering from dementia. She is already feeling guilty about secretly being with a man considerably younger than herself, but when she realised she was going downhill, she pulled away and retreated back to Cornwall. She takes on an historical house that she has always loved and sets about returning it to its former glory; a project she hopes to finish while she is still able. Lucy is much younger than her aunt, but she too has secrets. She has run from an affair with a married MP, followed, inevitably, by the press. She decides to hide away with her aunt for a while, out of sight.

They are both interesting characters and the house itself almost becomes a character too. Helwyn House of the novel is inspired by Godolphin House, owned by The National Trust and recently renovated. The house is 1 1/2 hours from me, right down in the southern end of Cornwall, but some day I hope to visit. I believe the author visited before it was opened to the public, so writing about renovating the house would have been perfect.

An enjoyable read with lots of atmosphere. This is my third Liz Fenwick book, and the best so far.

Just finished One Cornish Summer by Liz Fenwick. I need to start by saying that I absolutely love her books which are set in Cornwall. However this book has a different style to normal and was just not for me. I loved the actual story but with John Donne poetry quoted throughout it spoilt it for me and made for a difficult read.

Spending time by the coast is always restorative and so it was a delight to discover that One Cornish Summer by Liz Fenwick revolves around the purchase and restoration of Helwyn House, based on Godolphin House, set along the Cornish coastline. With its crumbling, gothic exterior and overgrown gardens, historian and academic Hebe has dreamt of owning the property for years, whilst for her niece, Lucy, it holds sad childhood memories she finds hard to shake free.

But Helwyn House isn’t alone in harbouring secrets. Hebe and Lucy are both drawn to Cornwall by the need to escape; Hebe from the distressing knowledge that her memory can no longer be trusted, a symptom of early onset Alzheimer’s; whilst Lucy’s heart is bruised following an unfortunate decision in love.

Fenwick’s portrayal of Hebe doing her best to contain the impact of Alzheimer’s by list writing, as her grip on day-to-day life rapidly loosens, is heart breaking. However this is an uplifting rather than a sentimental read.

One of the joys of reading is learning something new and I loved that One Cornish Summer is sprinkled with both fascinating Cornish history and the work of English poet John Donne. All of which mean that a trip to Cornwall, and Godolphin House in particular, now feature high on places I’d love to visit.

I really enjoyed this book. I hadn't read anything by the author before, and it's not often I read contemporary fiction. Once I got into it, I finished it in three or four sittings, so there were a couple of late nights! I found the characters believable and sympathetic; it's hard to know whose story touched me the most.

Beautifully written with the lovely setting of Cornwall along with some secrets and discoveries. I was hooked from the very start and in tears at the end. I loved some of the characters with my favorite being Hebe. I loved the relationship between Hebe and her niece and was sad about the changes taking place after being diagnosed with alzheimer's. There's romance, forgiveness, adventures in home repairs and discovering things about past occupants, self-discovery, and moving forward in life. I loved this book. #tfbookclub

I've always loved Liz Fenwick's books and she certainly didn't disappoint me. So heartbreaking and thoughtful and about love and families. Makes you really think you are in Cornwall when reading this such loveable characters such a warm read and so enjoyable I didn't want to put it down. Based around two main characters and how life can soon change.
Hebe is only 53 and is given a life changing diagnosis and she struggles with how it will effect hey. She leaves her lover and goes to Cornwall as her memory is fading fast and she goes to find the house her family soent so many summers at. Then you have Lucy who has an affair with a married man her life is in crisis and her family suggest she goes and stays with Hebe ok Cornwall to sort her life out. They both learn to share secrets and it will set them free but can they be happy again with their lives or not especially for Lucy who makes a shocking discovery what will she do for the best. So heartbreaking at the end but also heartwarming. Worth more than the five stars.

Book marketing can sometimes be a slightly disingenuous thing. The cover and the blurb promise one thing, but the story inside delivers quite another. Sometimes this can lead to disappointment, but at others the opposite is true. And this is very much the case with Liz Fenwick’s latest novel. It isn’t a light and fluffy holiday read – it’s brilliant and challenging and altogether so much more.

To me it seems a shame that the publisher wasn’t entirely as brave as the author. The blurb describes Hebe as having ‘a life changing diagnosis’ and ‘memories slipping away’, but shies from actually mentioning the ugliness of Alzheimer’s. From very early on in the book it’s clear Hebe has early onset dementia. And what’s more, she is written in the first person, something only a truly accomplished writer like Fenwick can pull off.

Hebe is every inch a full and rounded character, and one I sorely missed once I’d finished the book. To chart the cruel descent of her illness in such a way as to carry the reader with her must have been a serious challenge.

One Cornish Summer is actually set over the course of a Cornish autumn and winter but the title is not a misnomer, even if the cover image might mislead. Hebe and her niece Lucy’s days in the damp and draughty ‘Hell House’ are contrasted with the former’s memories of a bright and colourful summer just the previous year when she was able to share Cornwall with the love of her life before her memories of it completely dissolved away.

As Hebe’s condition worsens, parts of the book are heart-breaking to read, for example when she answers the door without her trousers on. But there are thoroughly heart-warming parts too, as ‘Hell House’ reveals its secrets and Lucy, at least, is finally able to move forwards. Thought-provoking and ultimately life affirming, One Cornish Summer is an excellent read.

I read some rave reviews of this book which prompted me to read this, my first by Liz Fenwick. This turned out to be a wonderfully moving read, set amidst the atmospheric beauty and striking landscape of Cornwall. It focuses on memories, history, family, cross generational and personal relationships, the impact of the past on the present, and the dilapidated Helwyn House, known to locals as Hell House. 53 year old academic and historian, Hebe receives a devastating medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's, which has her worried and stressed about all the attendant implications for her work, herself and all those that she is close to. This has her make the seemingly impulsive decision to move to Cornwall, an area that means so much to her and feels more like home. Her family are alarmed when Hebe buys Helwyn House with the intention of restoring it.

Hebe's niece, Lucy, follows her aunt to Cornwall after the heartbreak of the disastrous collapse of her relationship. Lucy has different, more disturbing feelings towards Helwyn House than her aunt. With multiple threads, Fenwick gives us a mystery that all begins to connect through the narrative. The authentic presentation of Alzheimer's in Hebe speaks of detailed research on the condition as her memories begin to desert her, which whilst bleak has a glimmer of hope. Fenwick excels in her skilful handling of relationships, the personal, the romantic, the challenging and the toxic, and extends this to how people have different feelings towards a house. I loved the inclusion of John Donne's poetry interspersed in the novel. This is a beautifully written and entertaining book, shot through with humour, touching on secrets and serious issues that are approached with humanity. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

This book was everything I hoped it would be ! The book is based on two characters , Hebe the aunt and Lucy the niece , their lives have both suddenly took unexpected down turns with relationship dramas and secrets in abundance . Hebe decides to buy the old ancestral home of Helwyn House in the beautiful atmospheric setting of Cornwall. The old house is in a bad way and with Hebe's health in decline she employs her niece to help with the running of the renovation , along with Kit a Hollywood actor with a connection to the house. Hebe and Lucy aren't the only ones with secrets but will the house reveal them ?. Yet again Liz absolutely nails this book with her graceful , moving writing and I'm already waiting for her next book !!

ONE CORNISH SUMMER by Liz Fenwick is a beautifully atmospheric and emotional story of family, love, and recognising the important things in life.

Hebe can no longer ignore her failing health but as she struggles with what is to become of her and those she loves, a chance image in a newspaper spurs her to return to Cornwall, the one place which has always felt like home to her. Lucy, her niece, is also going through changes in her life and when she needs to disappear for a little while. following her Aunt to Cornwall seems like a good idea. But the old house in Cornwall doesn't hold the same peaceful memories as it does for her Aunt, and Lucy will have to face the past if she is ever to be happy.

Wonderfully detailed with exquisite settings, ONE CORNISH SUMMER by Liz Fenwick is the emotional tale of two women who must face up to what is happening and has happened, in their lives, if they are ever to move on. While there are certainly parts of this story which will make you shed a tear, there are also lovely moments of laughter, hope, and love to brighten up the way.
The characters are engaging and compelling as they always are in a Liz Fenwick novel, but I really had a soft spot for Hebe who I just wanted to hug so much.

With secrets, drama, and the stunning scenery of Cornwall as a backdrop, ONE CORNISH SUMMER by Liz Fenwick is another superb story from a master of the writing craft and I cannot wait for more from Liz.

If you're a regular visitor to Sarah's Vignettes or follow me on social media, you will know that I am a big fan of Liz Fenwick's work and I adored her last novel, The Returning Tide (read my review here) with it being one of my books of 2017. So I was very excited when I got the opportunity to read One Cornish Summer ahead of publication - and I absolutely loved it! Just when I think I've found my favourite Liz Fenwick novel, she goes and pulls another one out of the bag!! It is the second book this year to leave me with a book hangover - the inability to start a new book because you're still living in the previous book's world- and it's only early March!

One Cornish Summer is a story of love, relationships, and secrets and is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Throw into this mix, a historical mystery thread, an imposing house and the beautiful Cornish countryside and you have yourself the perfect read.

Liz Fenwick has created some great characters, each with their own unique voices. Hebe is an historian and academic and as such has a mature and educated voice. The inclusion of John Donne's poetry fits perfectly. Hebe got under my skin, in a good way, from the very first page. Although she is over 20 years older than me, I really connected with her and wanted to dive into the pages to give her a hug because, at times, her story and struggle with Alzheimer's is heartbreaking. Liz Fenwick tells this beautifully and with so much respect. Hebe's story is poignant and touching and, in fact, has two dimensions to it. Firstly, we experience Hebe's day to day living with Alzheimer's and secondly, her flashbacks to one particular summer in Cornwall, where Donne's poetry is cleverly interwoven to reveal the turmoil Hebe's mind is going through.

Although closer in age, at 28 years old, it took me a while to warm to Lucy (not a fault with the book, we don't always warm to everyone we meet first time) and as more is revealed about her and her past and why she is so reluctant to be in Cornwall, she grew on me and I really liked her.

The voices of Hebe and Lucy are so vastly different but they complement one another perfectly and the two characters have a lovely relationship.

As I would expect from a Liz Fenwick novel, the house is a character and is an integral part of the story. Helwyn House means different things to each of the characters and it draws them and the reader in, revealing its secrets bit by bit and subtly forcing the characters to reveal theirs too. From following Liz on social media, I can recall from when she was doing research for the house. Helwyn House is modelled on Godolphin House. Liz and her family went to stay so that she could bring it to life on the pages, something that she does brilliantly. Even each creak of the floor board is perfectly captured.

It was great to see characters from earlier books make an appearance and to be able to follow a continuation of their stories. I can't wait to find out what they do next.

As I mentioned above, Donne's poetry plays a big part in Hebe's flashback story. It's the first time I've knowingly come across his poetry in any great detail and wow, it's powerful. It is evident that Liz Fenwick knows his work intimately to be able to pick out just the right parts to illustrate Hebe's mind state so well. I loved it so much that I went out and bought a collection of his work!

The writing in One Cornish Summer is beautiful, particularly in Hebe's story, but the writing in the last chapter is just divine and touched me so much that I was left sobbing. Be warned, this book will leave you reaching for the tissues and needing your favourite comfort food! Yes, I've felt choked up and shed a tear at stories in the past but there may only be one or two that have left me in a blubbering mess - One Cornish Summer being one of them. For words to have this much effect on a reader is powerful and I am in awe of Liz Fenwick's ability to create such atmosphere. There are also heartwarming and amusing moments in this story and the balance between these and the more emotional parts, feels just right.

With The Returning Tide, Liz Fenwick took her writing to another level, moving away from the genre of romantic fiction edging towards literary fiction, but with One Cornish Summer, she goes one step further still, marking out her route and clearly showing she has the ability to write literary fiction. I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing what she writes next. Please let it be another giant leap forward because this new direction works.

One Cornish Summer is a sublime read which is cleverly crafted, intricately researched and beautifully written. I really hope it does well because it deserves to fly. I highly recommend it and it would make a perfect present for Mother's Day tomorrow!!

As a huge Liz Fenwick fan since first discovering her debut, The Cornish House five years ago, I eagerly await the publication of each new book she writes. I’m really pleased to say that I loved her new book, One Cornish Summer, which has all the things I’ve grown to love about Liz Fenwick’s stories.

This book captures the magical atmospheric essence of Cornwall that only those who have visited Cornwall can truly understand. Helwyn House, locally known as Hell House in the book, comes to life as it wraps itself around the characters and refuses to let go. The old ruin of a house with its loggia (I’ve learnt a new word) and overgrown garden felt so mystical. I loved how Lucy used to think it was haunted, and how the little girl in her was still spooked by the place. Whereas her aunt, Hebe, on the other hand, only seemed able to love and see potential in the house. Those who have read Liz Fenwick’s previous books will be aware of the importance buildings and locations play in the storyline, and One Cornish Summer is no different. I didn’t realise until after reading this book that Helwyn House is inspired by Godolphin House, which perhaps is not the most grand of National Trust houses. For a somewhat impressive country house it has a less extravagant and more humble feel to it, and that really came across in this novel.

There are some great characters in this book. Hebe and her niece, Lucy have well-hidden secrets and struggles to face, as Hebe is forced to deal with health issues, while Lucy is running away from a life that hasn’t quite gone to plan. The character I related to most was Hebe because of her memory issues. I’m always making lists too. I was reading this book witnessing her struggle with her memory loss, and thought how unfortunate it is that I will rapidly forget most of this book soon after finishing reading it, and may eventually forget Hebe, unless someone reminds me of her or I look back on the scribbles in my notebook used as a reminder to help me write my review. Seeing what Hebe was going through was the hardest and most emotional part of this story for me. However, although I did have tears in my eyes near the end, One Cornish Summer was definitely gentler on my emotions than The Returning Tide, which had me in pieces, so that was a relief in a way.

Even though there is a very serious side to this story, it also has a positive feel to it, making me smile and giggle in places, be it comments about pesky brambles and chin-high nettles (don’t even get me started on those. I have fallen out of love with gardening thanks to their ruthless and brutal behaviour), and that there are hardly any shops to buy clothes down here. It’s true. If it wasn’t for Seasalt I’d probably be walking around naked by now! Oh, and I bet I’m not the only person who pictures Kit Harrington every time Kit Williams is on the page. A bit of eye candy always helps to keep the heart fluttering.

I know when it comes to Liz Fenwick books I’m probably beginning to sound like a scratched record on constant repeat, but if you love her previous books, or haven’t yet read anything by her but enjoy character led stories and the intrigue and magic of Cornwall, then I highly recommend One Cornish Summer (as well as all her previous books).

Liz Fenwick creates such wonderful imagery in her books that you are instantly transported to the sights and sounds of the wonderful Cornish setting. Helwyn House becomes another character and I am now desperate to visit Godolphin this summer. You can feel the floorboards creaking and the air of mystery as it tries to conceal its secrets.
Lucy has to go back to Cornwall when they discover that Hebe, her aunt, is about to bid on Helwyn House when it comes up for auction, despite its rundown condition. Lucy is escaping a bad relationship and Hebe is suffering from early onset dementia and is escaping back to Cornwall to try and protect those she loves and to complete her life work before she becomes unable. Lucy notices her aunt is struggling but is unaware. Hebe asks her niece to take over project managing the work on the house and although she has bad memories of the house she loves her aunt enough to stay to help.
Parts are so poignant that you get totally wrapped up in their emotions, imaging just how difficult this situation would be for any family. One of my uncles has alzheimers and has good days where he knows us all, but just as often confused days where he struggles to bring names to mind.
I love Cornwall- so any book set there is bound to hit my reading list. But I can't wait for the next Liz Fenwick book and eagerly read each one. They make great gifts for my mum- who instilled my love of Cornwall and we still enjoy family holidays there.
The relationships are heartwarming and the strained family dynamics ring true.

What I love most about One Cornish Summer is the relationship between Lucy and Hebe, particularly how their similarities and differences were highlighted. Fenwick is excellent at creating female relationships, weaving in intricate details, showing both the light and the dark. I've said before that Fenwick is quietly feminist, and that observation remains true. 

Even when dealing with darker or difficult subject material, Fenwick handles it with care and respect. Her characters drive the stories; in One Cornish Summer, you really feel for Lucy and Hebe, can connect with them so easily, and so their stories are all the more moving. Although I'm closer in age to Lucy, I could still connect with Hebe, and felt like I understood her. 

This book is emotional, tragic almost, but there is light shining through. Hebe's Alzheimer's is depicted particularly well, as is her love. Another theme that stood out was Lucy's relationship with her family, particularly her father. 

Fenwick is a talented writer, and her love of Cornwall shines through her books. I remember seeing her visit Godolphin House on social media, and her dedication to research is very clear in this book. Through Fenwick's pen, I can almost see the county with which I fell in love. I can hear the waves, smell the salt, feel the sunshine. Fenwick is an author I can rely on to deliver an engaging, wonderful story, each and every time.

I loved this book! It’s set in Cornwall and is about two women, both of whom have secrets. Hebe is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s, whilst her niece Lucy is fleeing from an unsuitable and scandalous relationship. Hebe retreats to her favourite place to buy Helwyn House and enlists Lucy’s help restore it. For Lucy, however, the house holds painful memories.

This is a real ‘Bertie Bassett’ type of a story! It contains a bit of all sorts - mystery, history, romance and a stunning setting. It's beautifully written with some interesting, well drawn characters. I thought Hebe's parts of the tale were particularly vividly and poignantly written. They depicted so very well how devastating Alzheimer's is, how fragmented Hebe's mind was. This is just a great story!

An intriguing and captivating read which I didn't want to end.

Liz Fenwick writes beautifully and her storylines pull you in right from the first few pages. I’ve read and enjoyed all her books, and love the Cornish settings, probably because I was born and bred very close to the Devon/Cornwall border so the settings are familiar.

One Cornish Summer tells the story of Hebe and her niece, Lucy. One of them is struggling to remember and the other is struggling to forget. They meet up at the dilapidated property that Hebe has just bought at auction – to the horror of her family – and which Lucy and her family used to rent for summer holidays.

I loved this book and was sad when it finished, and I’d highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

The author sympathetically tells the story of a woman coping with losing herself and how this impacts the rest of the family and how their lives change as they help her deal with it - while not knowing why she is acting the way she is.

It's a difficult subject to tackle but really enjoyed the characters and how we got to know them as the story unfolded.

Set in Cornwall this story spans two generation. Hebe has to face a life changing diagnosis which she is determined to keep to herself but it soon becomes apparent to her family that something is wrong . Her niece Lucy is also at a turning point in her life after a disastrous affair ends and she is thrust into the paperartsy limelight. I found this book to be well written with a credible storyline .