She came back to Cornwall to lick her wounds. She didn't expect to find a life.
A warm, witty, deeply observed debut about going home, growing into the right size, and the quiet courage of staying.
At thirty-two, Sandra Cunningham has lost the lot - the London directorship, the long relationship, the version of herself who believed the whole point of a life was to climb. So she packs up her Clapham flat, takes the Night Riviera back to Falmouth, and settles for a too-small job at a too-small planning consultancy with a man who hands her a laminated induction pack on her first day.
She's calling it a controlled fall. A breather. A place to be small in until she works out what next.
And then her elderly neighbour sprains an ankle, and Sandra finds herself walking a wildly optimistic spaniel called Crumpet along the coast path before work - and one walk becomes two, two becomes five, and somewhere between Mrs Penhallow's gratitude and a jam jar on the windowsill quietly filling with cash, Sandra starts to suspect that the life she fled south to escape might, by accident, be becoming the one she actually wants.
Then, on a grey Wednesday above Maenporth, Crumpet tangles his lead with a grey lurcher named Biscuit, and Sandra meets the dog's owner - a quiet boat-restorer called Ned, who has, by every measurable standard, also been standing by his own door for a very long time.
Set against the salt air, working harbours and dog-friendly cliff paths of West Cornwall, THE CORNISH DOGWALKER is a richly observed, warmly funny, deeply British novel about second chances, found family, and the small daily bravery of letting yourself actually want the life that's already in front of you. Perfect for fans of slow-burn romance, cosy small-town fiction, and stories about women starting over.
Readers will love:
- A swoony, slow-burn romance with a quiet, capable hero
- A vivid Cornish coastal setting - Falmouth, the Helford, Pennance Point, Carrick Roads
- A scene-stealing supporting cast of dogs, a sharp-tongued great-aunt, and the best friend everyone wishes they had
- Warm British humour, gentle wit, and a generous, hopeful heart
- The story of a woman quietly building a business of her own from nothing
If you enjoy the cosy escapism of Katie Fforde, the warm wit of Joanna Cannon, the emotional depth of Ruth Hogan, the sea-air settings of Liz Fenwick or Veronica Henry, or the gentle small-town magic of Phaedra Patrick, you'll feel right at home in Falmouth.
Curl up, pour the tea, and come home.
Sign-In
Cart