I really enjoyed story, the characters are interesting and believable. Fern Britton brings the English seaside to life.

Aghh, I hate leaving negative reviews, It was ok, just ok. I was just bored with it, it started off so slow, it did pick up a bit towards the end but I found this book a bit of a chore to be honest. This book reminded me of a book I would pick up and flick through that someone had left behind in a holiday rental or a doctors waiting room. Something to pass the time for an hour or two but not something I would normally persevere with.

Thankyou to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

It’s my first read by the author and I’m glad I chose to read her books.
I enjoyed the small town setting and all the great descriptions about it and even felt like I was there with the characters and living their life.
Not sure if the characters are present in the other books but they seem very interesting to say at least.
There’s love in the family as there’s drama and some twists that will keep you wandering what’s happening and how it will be solved.
Looking forward to more from the author.

This is a story of a newly ordained vicar getting the chance to look after her first parish in a small village with some small mysteries along the way.

I didn’t really enjoy the book but I didn’t hate it, it’s an easy summer read. I think it felt like it was trying to leave too many options open in case the author wanted to choose a different ending. Some characters were really built up and some weren’t who should have been, like the daughter.
There were still quite a few grammatical and spelling errors throughout the book too which was annoying.

Well, my first Fern Britton book, I wasn’t sure what to expect, the reviews have been mixed, but, I went in with an open mind. Got to say, I was very pleasantly surprised. The setting for this story, Pendruggan is a quiet Cornish village, I live in a village (in Lancashire, not Cornwall), and reading The Newcomer certainly rang true for me. From the vicar and the parishioners, to the quirky characters, the trouble makers, the gossips and the old dears, I’ve got to say , most villagers truly are set in their ways. I was laughing to myself at some of the idiosyncrasies that people have in rural England. Obviously Pendruggan has a LOT of drama, it wouldn’t make for a good story without it, but believe me when I say, some of the happenings weren’t too far-fetched. I loved the story (a whodunnit with some real plot twists, I loved Angela and Robert, in fact I loved them all, each one added to the story, and I have to say, Fern had me questioning the sincerity of the whole village at times. A truly addictive read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Welcome to the small village of Pendruggan, where the newcomer is Angela, the new vicar, with her husband, Richard, and daughter, Faith.
It's never easy to fit into an already established community, especially when you have some rather comfortable boots to fill. But That is exactly what Angela does: with her caring ways and modern ideas, she creates her own imprint among the villagers.
A story that was very easy to settle into, with romance, laughter, tragedy and celebration.
This was the first Fern Britton boon I have read and I will certainly be reading more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it !!! A bit of book withdrawal now . Nothing beats being tucked up on the sofa on a Sunday with a Fern Britton book . Can't wait for the next book ♥️

The prologue of this book completely misdirected me, I was expecting a cosy crime story, but instead read about a woman vicar taking on a new parish. The novel was peopled with ‘typical’ characters who may well populate a village and their stories were well told. The ending was quite sad as Angela and her family moved on to a new life having supported the residents through several months of turmoil and problems. Not going to win the booker prize but I enjoyed a quick and easy read.

A fun summer light read. I found the story line a little too predictable and everyday. Good twist at the end though.

A story that gradually sucks you in once you realise that this isn’t a village where it is all sweetness and love. This is a village with its normal share of people who both and hate, have grudges and affairs, and generally cause happiness and grief in equal measure.
There is a surprise ending to the mystery of the letters and a few tears can be shed in the last chapters if you are so inclined.
Overall, a well plotted and written book.

thank you for allowing me to read this book. it was very easy to read. i enjoyed the story line and the characters. look forward to reading more from Fern.

Fern Britton immerses the reader in the lovely coastal location of the Cornish village of Pendruggan, in what is my first read of the author. Spring has arrived and the local vicar, Simon Canter, his wife, Penny, and their young daughter, Jenna, are leaving to spend a year in Brazil. The new temporary vicar covering his absence is the newly ordained Reverend Angela Whitehorn, on her first posting, keen to do well and make an impression. She is married to Robert, a high flying political TV news correspondent, who has decided it is time to support Angela after all she has done for him within their marriage. Their teenage daughter, Faith, has left behind her circle of friends and is to attend the local school. Joining them is Angela's offbeat, bold and brash Aunt Mamie, a tower of strength, in the support she provides for Angela after the death of her mother. Angela is still griefstricken as she embarks on her tenure, vowing to do her very best to serve her small community, whether they are churchgoers or not.

Angela initiates a whirlwind of activities, she is a breath of fresh air as she sets up a women's group and bookclub, a keep fit running club, a blessing for pets, and the large project of locating and digging the village pond, long since lost and rumoured to be cursed. Mamie makes a beeline for the elderly stalwart that is Queenie, famed for her knowledge of insider gossip, who runs the post office and store. Queenie provides Mamie with a path into the heart of village life, who is who, and precisely what is happening below the radar, as the two women become fast friends. Robert's good looks and fame has many of the local women swooning over him, as he settles into his unfamiliar role as house husband, but before long he is supporting Angela by setting up a village website and social media presence with the help of Helen, the partner of archaeologist, Piran, who becomes involved in the pond project.

Angela finds herself pulled into the lives of the local women, their trials and tribulations, and whilst she experiences great success, there are problems. There is Audrey Tipton who has run everything before, and is not happy about having her power base challenged. Angela is plagued by her inner insecurities, worries about Faith's friendship with Ben, and someone is sending her poison pen letters, telling her she is not wanted. Fern Britton writes a compelling book, about marriage, being a parent, family, trust, friendship, loss, and community. This is a entertaining read, driven by the eclectic characters that inhabit the story, my favourite being Mamie, a wonderful example of a woman who refuses to accept that getting older is any obstacle to living life to the full. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

I love Fern Britton's books - they are so heartwarming and cosy. This novel returned to Pendruggen and it was like meeting old friends again. It was great to meet some new characters and lovely to catch up with some from previous novels. However, I think this novel could also be enjoyed as a standalone book although I would recommend Fern's previous books too.

I really liked the character Angela and was rooting for her throughout the book. There are a fantastic cast of supporting characters too. I particularly loved Angela's Aunt Mamie with her outrageous stories of her flamboyant life which made me laugh.

A delightful light hearted feelgood novel about family, relationships, friendship, community spirit, secrets and love. Perfect for a lazy weekend. I was sad to finish it.

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

I've enjoyed the previous books in the Pendruggan series and although it's not necessary to have read them before trading this one, it does help to place some of the characters and understand the relationships.
This book deals with the departure of the vicar on a years sabbatical and the arrival of his temporary replacement. The local residents take her to their hearts by and large although there is some resistance, but a campaign of anonymous letters begins causing her to doubt her worth.
There are lots of gems of village life and some good understanding of the jockeying for position in a small community.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and have no hesitation in recommending it.

Having enjoyed the other books set in Cornwall by Fern Britton I was a bit disappointed by this one. Off went the vicar, Simon, and his family to Brazil for a year and in came newly ordained Angela. Her successful political reporter husband, Robert, had taken a year out to be the house husband supporting his wife and looking after their daughter Faith. Although nervous about following in Simon's footsteps Angela had lots of ideas for bringing the village together. Audrey, the village know all, didn't quite achieve her potential for meddling in my opinion although I did laugh at the part relating to the pond digging.

I found the storyline rather boring apart from the antics of Mamie and Queenie, an unlikely friendship that provided laugh out loud moments. The daughter, Faith, wasn't a very likeable character and the storyline about the poison pen letters didn't really add anything to the book. Lots of parts seemed rushed and not explored enough. However, it is an easy read and would be good to take on holiday.

Fern Britton is my go to author for Summer reading and her newest novel doesn't disappoint.
Set in small village, Angela the new Vicar shakes things up and brings the village into the 21st Century.
Unfortunately not everyone is happy with her arrival and horrible letters start to appear.
I did try and work out who was the letter writer but I was wrong!
A must read for a nice holiday by the sea sort of book.

A gentle, rather old fashioned book. I’m afraid I really couldn’t manage to care about the characters though, Angela seemed to be continually fretting and worrying about unimportant things, and I thought the ending was a bit far fetched.

Super characters in a beautiful setting. A lovely can’t put it down read! I was down in Cornwall with the temporary vicar and her family. I didn’t want it to end!

It was lovely to be back in Fern Britton's Cornwall, and more specifically Pendruggan, in amongst some very familiar faces.

However there is one main difference, Simon and Penny have gone off to Brazil for a year, and so there is a new vicar in the village - Angela and her family.

Angela brings some fabulous new ideas to the village but not everyone seems as keen to have her there. Plus she has a gorgeous husband and is worried that his eye may be straining. Add in their teenage daughter who has also agreed to support her mum, in her first parish and we have a lovely family. Plus Auntie Mamie, whose stories about her past are always entertaining.. possibly embellished too but amusing!

There is plenty of variety with the plot points, and assorted sub plots to get your teeth into, and all manner of fun and antics to be discovered. I loved reconnecting with familiar faces especially Helen, Piran and Queenie - I just wish that there had been chapters showcasing Simon and Penny's new life if Brazil.

Although the book predominately features a vicar in the vicarage there really wasn't much religion in this at all which I'm greatly relieved by. What I did notice though was the occasional mention of a hymn, some of which I then had in my head, having recalled either the tune or some of the words from my school days. These are tunes I've not heard in 17 years or more but yet, seeing the name of some of them, especially "To Be A Pilgrim" brought back memories of assemblies from any years ago.

I keep mentioning the familiar but I should say this can definitely be read as a standalone, it really is a whole new story, which new characters and focal points.

I really enjoyed reading The Newcomer, and it was interesting to see how a new family would be received into this normally very welcoming little village.

I just hope this isn't the last we have seen of Pendruggan as I really am fond of the location.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Brilliant, easy read book. Was a perfect read for my Easter holiday; a bit of a mystery, lovable characters (well, at least most of them) and set in a lovely little village.