Lily Harper is forced to take a break from her work and is sent to a half finished wellness retreat on the Sicily Islands. Here she meets Sam - the owner with his own worries and pressures. They initially clash but are forced to survive a weekend together. A near death experience on the water leads both to ask questions of their lifestyle and future aspirations.

Lily is made to question whether she wants to return to her old London life or whether she should give love a chance.

Lovely characters set in a beautiful part of the world - I certainly want to visit.

A charming story - bound to make you smile.

✨4 stars✨

After the tragic loss of her sister and suffering from burnout, business owner Lily is forced to take a break from everything by going on a retreat on the Isles of Scilly. There she finds herself helping the owner Sam which cottage renovations whilst also finding her new beginning.

I really enjoyed this book because I especially identified with the main character Lily and felt that her personality felt well-rounded and human. I also enjoyed the setting of the book, as the descriptions were extremely evocative which makes for a perfectly light summery read.

I would definitely recommend to everyone looking for a light-hearted palate cleanser that’s perfect for the upcoming warmer months.

P.S. I loved the fact that there was a map in this book as all contemporary books should in my opinion😍

I received an ARC for this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve really enjoyed every book that I have read to date by Philippa Ashley and so I was thrilled to receive this early copy. I was not disappointed!

Lily is a workaholic who ends up taking a somewhat enforced break on the Scilly Isles. She ends up being part of a soft launch for a new retreat that is being opened and meets the lovely owner Sam. Whilst this is a romance tale at heart, there are a number of other topics broached and sensitively handled involving grief, loss and family relationships. I found myself thinking about some of the subjects raised even after I had stopped reading the book. It also made do some research into the Scilly Isles and I’ve added it to my travel bucket list too!

Overall this was an an enjoyable and captivating read – perfect for the longer lighter days ahead!

Thank you to Random House, UK for my advanced copy. This review is my own honest opinion

Second Chance Summer is a novel by Phillipa Ashley that focuses on the summer Lily Harper spend on the Scilly Isles.
Burnt out and under pressure, lacking in inspiration for running a flourishing online business, Lily is forced to take a break when a health scare pushes her over the edge. Thinking she's checking into a glamourous luxury retreat as its very first guest, she arrives in the Scilly Isles hoping to recuperate.
However, Sam, the owner of the retreat, may have stretched the truth a little when he took the booking from Lily's assistant as to HOW ready his business actually was to receive guests. When Lily arrives, the weather, the stressed out host and the remoteness of the place all conspire to throw her further into a tailspin and she plans to get off the island immediately.

The sun comes out later and she realises what a beautiful place she's landed on. She begins to acclimatise to her surroundings only to be thrown into another catastrophic incident which changes her perspective on everything she thought she knew. Add in a rugged, handsome, emotionally troubled host and a cast of brilliantly written secondary characters and this book has all the makings of a delicious holiday read.

Having never thought about the Scilly Islands as a holiday destination I now would really love to visit!
Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was asked to review by NetGalley and oh my goodness readers you need a box of tissues as you read this!

Taylor, mother and father, brother and sister decide to go to their lake house for one last summer. Heart-wrenching as terminal cancer is the reason - we have all known or had a loved one with cancer and it can be devistating.

The story is all about second chances and a family trying to make final memories together which was both so sad but beautiful at the same time but I still wept through this- whether it was just the story or it stirred up other memories for me I am not sure.

There is love and realisation too.

The message that was resounding for me was appreciation of family and loved ones and that time can be so very short.

This is a story that will stick in my mind for a long time.

I am a huge fan of this author and always enjoy her books. This one was no different. A very well written enjoyable story. Great characters and character development, set in a lovely location. Recommend

This story is,an emotional roller coaster. It is a delicious,mixture of strained relationships and new romance. A book full of stunning locations and relatable characters.
I enjoyed reading this page turner so much.

This is a classic holiday read. Undemanding, light and enjoyable.

The cover tells you what to expect, and the book delivers.

I have read one other book by Phillipa which was a few years back now but i did enjoy it , so when I saw this book come up for review i so wanted to read it. thank you penguin random house i was very excited .

I'm a huge sucker for a romance i just love feeling the butterflies and i can say that this book did not .
i thought that Phillipa writing was stunning i was devouring every page ,it was very well paced ,which I needed as i struggle with slow reads this was perfect she really great i think at captivating a romance reader like me .

i'm going to try not to give too much away , in the story we get to visit the Isles Of Scilly with are main characters Lily Harper she a workaholic needing a break so she ended up and this not so much finished hotel she there meets the swoon worthy cutie Sam when lily first arrives Lily was a bit of a tornado so they do not see eye to eye at first . i did love their banter and wit . a great should i say enemies to lovers . i thought that the characters had great growth , they both are going through so much you're always wanting the best for them both .

i loved the escapism of the story .
I can't wait for you other romance readers to read this brilliant summer read ,so while you're out grabbing your summer clothes grab yourself a cope .
a fun filled witty feel good story just what i needed .

i'm giving this book 5 summer loving stars

Another fantastic book by Phillipa Ashley set on the Scilly Islands. Lily is a CEO of a company and never takes holidays until she is forced to by her family and PA. Sam is setting up a retreat on a Scilly Islands and so Lily’s PA books her a place except it’s not as it seems. Will Lily stay and will Sam get his resort completed? Great characters and a great storyline. Thanks to Phillipa and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

Another lovely book from Phillipa Ashley. This was a smashing read and I'm already looking forward to the next book from this talented author.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set in the Scilly Isles it is both evocative and addictive. Definitely a page turner.
Lily needed a well earned break away from it all, does she get less or more than she bargained for? Maybe both?
Strongly recommended.

This was a beautiful read set in a gorgeous sounding location which made me wish I could jet off and book into the retreat there as it sounded like bliss.

This was the perfect escapism read and a reminder to us all that sometimes we need to take a break and put ourselves before work and other people.

The characters and descriptive writing drew me in and I read this practically in one sitting.

What is not to love about a Phillipa Ashley book? Second Chance Summer is that perfect holiday read. Set on the beautiful Isles of Scilly it tells the story of Lily Harper, a workaholic entrepreneur who, after a dizzy spell, is encouraged to take a break from work and spend some time at a retreat on the Isles of Scilly. Unfortunately the retreat is not really ready to open yet and Lily initially clashes with the owner, Sam, but as time goes on feelings start to change. There are a few blips on the way but the characters are so well written and you really want things to work out for Lily and Sam.
I loved this book, it has a real feel good vibe and I felt ver invested in the characters. A highly recommended summer read.

A great summer read. What better way to pass the summer than visiting the Isles of Scilly with the characters of this book.
Perhaps a little far-fetched in places, but nonetheless still a very enjoyable read. Filled with fascinating characters and a storyline that held my interest throughout, Phillipa Ashley writes wonderful stories that swiftly capture the reader’s imagination, leading them to discover new places & people. Her descriptions of Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly always make me want to visit & enjoy some of the scenery (and sunshine!) myself.

A lovely summer read, perfect to imagine one's own escape to the beautiful Scilly isles! There were some important themes explored including the negative impact of social media trolls, work-life balance, and the importance of friends, family and self-care. I fell in love with both the two main characters, both of whom were overcoming their own heartaches and was rooting for them both to find a solution at the end of the book. A winning summer holiday book to relax with!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

This was sooo good! Loved it every page.
The characters were all so different with enough of their own backstory each to feed into the plot but not take over the story.
Perfect summer read!

Lily Harper is CEO of Lily Loves and is a workaholic. Following a dizzy spell her PA and friend Richie demand she takes a break and books this for her.
The retreat happens to be on the Isles Of Scilly and is owned by Sam who hasn’t yet quite finished building the retreat but has been talked into allowing his first guest prior to completing it.
Sam seems to be rugged but as great looking as the landscape and following a near death incident Sam and Lily become closer. Lily starts to relax and realise what is important to her but Sam has had his heart broken before and therefore is wondering can he give his heart again, especially to Lily who probably wouldn’t ever want to stay on the Island that is his home and livelihood on.
I thought this was a wonderful story of how work can take over and the importance of relaxation, friendships and relationships.
Wonderful characters and great descriptive writing of the landscape and location, pure escapism which I would highly recommend.
Thank you to Random House UK and Netgalley for a review copy of this book however the opinions are all my own.

Lily Harper is a bit of a workaholic.
She's built up her business to a successful level and acquired a rather formidable reputation, thanks to some past unsavoury editing from the media.
But she has her reasons.
Then, one day, it all comes to a head, and she finds herself railroaded into taking a much-needed, relaxing break for her physical as well as mental health.
Where she ends up is a bit more rustic than relaxing, shall we say.
Clashes with the weather, the locals, and her 'host', Sam, create a rocky start to the holiday, and then a near catastrophic incident leaves her questioning many decisions in her life.
Lily feels like a female Alan Sugar: no qualifications, but she's built a business with sheer grit and determination, just not to the multi-millionaire of the aforementioned Sugar! She has succumbed to loss and hurt but has hidden it as she strives to prove herself to all those who weren't sure she would make it.
Sam has also experienced his own form of loss. And this retreat he's built is meant to channel his attention into something else. It's just that he didn't expect to find himself falling for the first guest.
I've never considered visiting the Scilly Isles, but the breathtaking landscapes described made me put it on my list.
Though the situation may be a bit far-fetched, why not indulge in a second chance romance, where rugged is not just the romantic interest but the landscape, too?
I enjoyed this story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone, for an ARC.

This was a great story. I loved all the characters, especially Morven and Etiene. The setting on the Scilly Isles had stunning descriptions and makers you want to go there. The characters developed nicely and it is a lovely heartwarming story of healing, reconnecting with family and love.