I really enjoy books by this author, I like the writing style and how the characters are crafted. This was a delightful read and one I’d definitely recommend

This book highlighted how difficult it can be to strike the right balance between helping too much and helping just enough. And wanting to do everything by yourself and knowing when to ask for help. The characters were flawed and frustrating at times, and any growth they showed were two steps forward, one step back. It was real and emotional and I am looking forward to see what lies ahead for Anya and Rick.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you're in the mood for a feel-good romance read set in a charming village with lovable characters, Just the Beginning by Sarah Bennett should be next on your TBR. In this contemporary romance book, Bennett weaves an uplifting love story that’s perfect for fans of small-town romance and emotional yet comforting fiction. This Just the Beginning book review will explore what makes the novel so special and whether it deserves a spot on your shelf in 2025.

📚 Restarting life with a young daughter can be tough but the importance of having a good life is showcased beautifully.
📚 Story flows with an ease that describes all the events in perfect sequence without detouring from the main plot.
📚 The feeling of "letting go" is talked about in detail in this uplifting love story, along with how and why to do it.
📚 The twist at the end is simple but very useful as there are people who are struggling with that issue. This is a feel good romance read for sure.

A person who is into contemporary romance books should give this a try. The book talks about some in-depth emotional issues which makes this high on romance book recommendation for 2025.

This turned out to be a brilliant start to a new series, with lots of characters all waiting in the wings to tell their own stories. This opening story centres on Anya and her childhood friend Rick. Anya has had a tricky year and discovered that the life she believed was a perfect one with her husband turned out to be far from it. Feeling let down and betrayed, she has returned to Halfmoon Quay where she has a supportive and loving extended family who are all determined to help her get back to a stable life.

Rick is from the Penrose family who have lived in Halfmoon Quay for years. He is the middle of four brothers and has tried all his life to help others and to tru to fix things. He finds himself in an impossible situation and struggles on to try to sort it out. Central to the community, Rick offers all the stability and kindness which Anya is looking for. or so she thinks.

I loved this story and its idyllic coastal setting. It conjures up seaside holidays and beach escapes resulting in a warm hug of a read.

In short: an escapist read full of heart

A charming and heartwarming story set in a beautiful Cornish village!
I loved being swept away to Halfmoon Quay, with its coastal charm and close-knit community. Rick is the kind of character you can’t help but root for—kind, dependable, and just the right amount of flawed. Anya’s journey is both emotional and inspiring as she rebuilds her life and rediscovers what really matters. The chemistry between Rick and Anya is subtle but satisfying, and the addition of Freya adds a lovely layer of depth. Full of warmth, second chances, and just the right amount of drama, this is a perfect feel-good read.

A delightful easy summer read!

Anya has returned to Halfmoon Quay with her 4 year old daughter, Freya, after the death of her husband. His debts have left her with nothing and her extended family provide her with a home while she puts her life together again.

A new job, reuniting with friends and the Cornish beauty help to give her a new perspective. The prospect of a new relationship with Rick makes her reevaluate what she wants for herself and her daughter. Can she trust again particularly after Rick appears to let her down?

A gentle romantic tale. I will enjoy hearing more about Halfmoon Quay and it’s inhabitants.

I always love reading books set in Cornwall, and this one made me feel as if I was there, I could almost hear the waves lapping on the shore

The Penrose Family are a force to be reckoned with and they take Anya and Freya into their fold.

An enjoyable read, but I found the ending a bit abrupt, It was quite a surprise turning the page and realising that I’d reached the end!

After the death of her husband, Anya discovers he wasn't the man she thought he was. Left with nothing, and with nowhere else to turn, she gathers her four year old daughter and returns to Halfmoon Quay and the arms of family. Caught between anger, grief and feelings of failure, Anya struggles to build a new life for herself and her daughter.

This is a story of friendship, of family, of healing and the pain and frustration of starting over again. Anya is reluctant to rely on her family. She feels the need to stand on her own. But the love of family is strong, and they are determined to wrap Anya in their warmth..

And there's Rick Penrose, the person everyone in Halfmoon Quay turns to with their problems. He's determined to find a way to help her move forward. Which means hiding the crush he's had on her since they were teens. And overcoming Anya's reluctance and sometimes downright refusal to accept help.

Full of love and warmth, this is a sweet, tender story of overcoming adversity, building a new life and finding the way back to happiness.

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

It took a few chapters for me to get into this book, but then I ended up really enjoying it!

It was almost too much of the will they won't they dynamic. I was ok with the romance and the main characters but I honestly liked a lot of the secondary characters better than the main two characters. Liked the setting and the idea overall of this book.

i started this book and really enjoyed reading it though i’m sad to say about 3/4 of the way through Anya started to annoy me.
now i know she had been hurt but she really came across as a spoilt brat and i feel she was unnecessarily cruel to rick and rude to the family.
i also feel the book just came to an end abruptly, i know that’s to leave the door open for the next instalment but it just stopped in my opinion.
would i read the next instalment yes i will, i love this author and enjoy her stories

4.5 ⭐️

Anya Stokes and her small daughter move to Halfmoon Quay.
Anya a young widow, needs to start her life afresh, and having spent many a happy holiday at the Quay growing up, will this be her place to call home now?

When the book first started I was a little confused with the characters, who were introduced quickly. To be fair there was a list at the beginning of the book explaining who was who? But as I was reading on kindle I couldn’t flick backwards and forwards. Once into the book it all fell into place quickly.
It is the first book I have read from the author and I really enjoyed reading it, and enjoyed the authors writing style. I loved the proverbs, I knew so many of them, and some of them that I had forgotten made me reminisce.
A book about families, love, loss, heart felt emotions, all the messy things called life.
Very much looking forward to reading the authors next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. The opinions about the book are entirely my own.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a brilliant start to what I hope is a series, love the setting, love the characters the whole family aspect. Couldn't put it down. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

Halfmoon Quay sounds like such a beautiful, idylic place ro relocate. Anya Stokes and her daughter Freya move back to the area to be with family after the death of her husband. Sadly she finds out that things weren't as perfect as she had believed and she is forced to sell their home and with the help of her family start again. On moving back to the area, Anya reconnects with her old friend Rick, he has always had a soft stop for Anya and he manages to get her a job and help her out, but we are soon left wondering wether he has ulterior motives.

It is a story about strength through sencond changes, friendship and family bonds. Who wouldn't want to live in Halfmoon Quay where everyone rallies together to help one another.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lovely enjoyable read in what sounds like an idyllic setting. Enjoyed the characters and the family vibes. Would recommend this book.

This was a fun book to read. This was a great introduction to the people of Halfmoon Quay and I look forward to getting to know them better. I appreciate that the characters seem down to earth and relatable and that their stories are realistic. They are the type of people I'd love to have a coffee with! Thanks #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks

A perfect cozy read to sweep you away to the charming Cornish village of Halfmoon Quay. After heartbreak and betrayal, Anya returns home with her daughter, hoping to start over—and maybe rediscover love with her teenage crush, Rick. Full of warmth, second chances, and small-town magic, this feel-good romance is a gentle reminder that every ending can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

I’ve read quite a few books by the author and tend to enjoy the first enough to devour the series as and when they come out.

Given my background with the author’s books, I must admit to being less than impressed with this ‘beginning’. It’s not a bad book by any measure, and I’ll detail why in a bit, it’s just that I have much higher expectations for the emotional connections that I get from her books.

This story is set in a small town near the water. The town is not doing as well as some of its neighbours in the off season, but that again is a secondary and probably long arcing part of the narrative. Anya chose to come to this town of her childhood holidays to kick her wounds and figure out a new future for her daughter. It didn’t include a new relationship, but some things just happen.

The supporting cast are all well done, as are the familial interactions. They are not over the top emotional, while managing to make them believably close. Rick gets told quite often how being too- good is not necessarily a good thing. I appreciated the male protagonist having flaws that make him more human.

I liked the romance in the centre, but I hold higher hopes for the following books ( if there are any) .

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and other books by the same author.

@sarah_bennettauthor is one of my favourite cozy books authors. Just The Beginning, her upcoming novel, is a perfect book for spring. The story of newly widowed young mother has to move in with her Aunt and Uncle after learning the devastating financial situation her late husband left her in. Taking refuge in the small seaside village she begins to rebuild her and her daughter’s lives. And maybe learns to trust again.
Releasing March 15 2025, this newest series will be something I look forward to following as it comes out. Thank you to @netgalley and @theboldbookclub for letting me have an advanced copy for review.