Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain

 

Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain.

Published 24th April 2025 by Simon and Schuster.

From the cover of the book:

Summer is in full swing when Daisy drives back into Wynmouth in her almost-clapped-out car, having left both her most recent job and the man her parents thought she was going to marry. Coming home could be just what she needs to move her life on.

At Wynbrook Manor, things are in disarray. Owner Algy isn’t getting any younger, and Daisy’s mum Janet, housekeeper at the manor, spends her days running around after him, while Daisy’s dad Robin, the gardener, has been let down by the person he had lined up to take care of the new cut-flower garden.

As Daisy tries to find her place at Wynbrook and in the village, she’s drawn to summer visitor Josh. But when he turns out to be not the person he appears to be, will the spark between them fizzle out? And with it, the chances of this turning into the best summer ever?

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Daisy heads back home to Wynmouth having ditched another job, and her cheating boyfriend, both of which have proved not to be for her after all. She is looking forward to a summer away from the pressures of life, and some time to clear her head before deciding where she goes from here.

But when she arrives, she discovers that all is not rosy at Wynbrook Manor, where her mother works as housekeeper, and her father as the gardener. Estate owner Algy is feeling his age, and her parents are struggling to keep up with their separate workloads while worrying about him. The added load of anxiety over Daisy giving up on another career and a future with the man they thought she was going to marry is the last thing they need.

Trying to settle back into Wynmouth life while bumping heads with her parents is taking the shine off the summer Daisy had planned, but a little seasonal fling with handsome American tourist Josh is a welcome distraction - until Daisy finds that Josh has a pretty big secret he has kept from her...

In Best Summer Ever we travel back to Swain's fabulous sea-side town of Wynmouth, where Daisy hopes for a few weeks of sun, swimming, and perhaps a little steamy romance, before she has to tackle the big questions she is constantly putting off.

Returning to Wynmouth after years away throws up a lot of unfinished business with her parents, who are beginning to despair that she will never settle down, but it also brings a chance to finally address the emotional baggage that litters their relationship - especially when Daisy realises that dear old Algy and Wynbrook Manor have taken a turn for the worst in her absence.

This enchanting tale is split evenly between the sea-side delights of Wynmouth, and the country charm of Wynbrook Manor. It is full of meandering threads about Daisy finally getting to grips with the issues that have stopped her fulfilling her dreams as she realises her true calling lies back home after all this time, and there is plenty going on for the lovely supporting cast as well. Swain's favourite themes of love, friendship, family and community flood every part of the story, and there is a cracking romance for Daisy with adorable Josh that has more significance for their future than either of them anticipate when they meet. There are delightful moments of reconciliation and forgiveness too, which really brought a lump to my throat.

Twenty books in and Heidi Swain still ticks every box on the heart-warming front. I loved everything about this gem. I do not know about Best Summer Ever, but this really is Swain's best book ever by my reckoning!

Best Summer Ever is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to join this blog tour.

About the author:

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author who writes feel good fiction for Simon & Schuster. She releases two books a year (early summer and winter) and the stories all have a strong sense of community, family and friendship.

She is currently writing books set in three locations - the Fenland town of Wynbridge, Nightingale Square in Norwich and Wynmouth on the Norfolk coast, as well as summer standalone titles.

Heidi lives in beautiful west Norfolk. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her tbr pile is always out of control!

Heidi loves to chat with her readers and you can get in touch via her website or on social media.