A small-town tea shop owner with a sweet tooth and a devil-may-care Englishman with more savory tastes join forces to cater a British-themed wedding. Sparks fly in this sweet enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract rom-com perfect for fans of Emma St. Clair and Sarah Adams.

As a child, Daphne Austen fell in love with her grandmother’s stories of England, perhaps to the point of romanticizing them a little too much. Now, as an adult, she inherited Tea Thyme, the only English tearoom within a hundred miles of her Blue Ridge Mountain town. But keeping her tea and pastry shop afloat proves to be a continual struggle. Since losing her mother and then grandmother, Daphne’s clung to the need for routine, predictability, and beautiful order–and her tearoom shines as the epitome of her Anglophile and obsessive tendencies. But her perfect world spirals into madness when an Englishman moves in next door and shatters all her Darcy daydreams with his loud music, questionable manners, and highly American interests. With an off-the-charts swoon factor, he even tempts to shatter her heart.

Finnley Dashwood left England to start over somewhere his ex-wife’s parents couldn’t track him down and force their parenting techniques on him. It was as if they wanted to make up for their daughter’s neglect by suffocating him with control and unwanted affection. The unassuming town of Wisteria, North Carolina, provides the perfect place to start over and even remake himself as the dashing, English restaurant owner of his earlier days, instead of the somewhat-cynical recluse he’d truly become. With a shop ready for his use, an apartment for him and his daughter, and an acquaintance who owns the revered Wisteria Manor (now event planning center), Finn has everything he wants for a new beginning–except . . . maybe an understanding of the small-town Appalachian culture and the uptight, perfectionistic tea princess next door.

At first, Finn finds the whimsical and notoriously optimistic shop owner humorous and somewhat annoying, but as she begins to invest in the life of his daughter and he observes her authentic love for the people of the town, Finn’s heart opens to the terrifying possibility of a second chance at love. As they are forced to work together on a local-celebrity wedding, their differences clash, sizzle, and finally begin to simmer into a unique, complementary blend of sweet and savory. But just as hope blooms into possibility, a massive storm crashes into the little town, upturning all their plans and putting not only their budding romance but the resilience of the tight-knit community to the test.

Oh my heart!!! Cue all the gushing, swooning, and happy tears because this book completely stole my heart. This isn’t just a five-star read for me, it’s a six-star romcom and officially my favorite romance book of the year so far.

This was only my second contemporary romance by Pepper Basham, but she absolutely knocked it out of the park. I loved every single minute of this story and honestly didn’t want it to end. I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend that format. The dual narration was fantastic, especially our British male character’s narrator. A charming British accent automatically earns bonus points from me, and this one had me swooning from the very beginning. Since this is a Christian romcom, readers can also expect no language and no spice, making it a sweet, wholesome, and heartwarming romance.

One of my favorite things about this book was the setting. Wisteria, North Carolina, nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, felt like a character all its own. The small-town atmosphere was cozy, charming, and full of Southern hospitality. The town is packed with quirky, lovable residents who added so much personality and humor to the story. I found myself wanting to pack my bags and move there. Well…at least until the end. Without spoiling anything, there is a natural disaster sequence that raises the stakes and adds a surprising amount of suspense and emotion to the story. It was incredibly well done and had me completely invested.

At the heart of the story is Daphne, who inherits her grandmother’s beloved tea shop and is struggling to keep the business afloat. Alongside her brother, Jack, she works tirelessly to come up with creative ways to attract customers and save the shop. I adored Daphne. As a fellow lover of all things books, I especially appreciated her obsession with British culture and her love of Jane Austen. The story is sprinkled with Austen references that fans of the classic author will absolutely enjoy.

Then we have Finn, our swoon-worthy British single father who moves to Wisteria with his young daughter, Lucy, to open an authentic British pub right next door to Daphne’s tea shop. Naturally, a rivalry begins almost immediately, and it is absolutely delightful.

The rivalry between Daphne and Finn was perfection. It never felt mean-spirited or rooted in genuine dislike. Instead, it was playful, entertaining, and packed with witty banter. Watching their friendly competition escalate had me laughing out loud countless times. What starts as a simple business rivalry eventually draws in the entire town, with everyone eagerly choosing sides and becoming invested in their relationship. Even social media gets involved. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the social media posts included throughout the chapters at first, but they quickly grew on me. By the end, they became one of my favorite parts of the story because they added so much humor and showcased the town’s collective obsession with Daphne and Finn’s ongoing competition.

And then there’s Lucy.

Oh my goodness, Lucy absolutely stole every scene she appeared in. At just six years old, she was adorable, funny, brave, and incredibly lovable. Lucy was born with a cleft lip and has undergone multiple surgeries and speech therapy. While she still struggles with certain words, her sweet personality shines through every interaction. My heart ached for her when she faced bullying from children who didn’t understand her condition. Some of the most touching moments in the entire book were between Lucy and Daphne. I loved watching their bond grow and seeing how Daphne encouraged, supported, and advocated for her. Their relationship added so much heart and emotional depth to the story.

The romance itself was everything I wanted. The chemistry between Daphne and Finn was undeniable, and I loved watching their relationship develop naturally. Beyond the romance, both characters carried their own emotional wounds and personal struggles. Seeing them grow individually while also growing closer together made their relationship feel authentic and deeply satisfying. I’m always a sucker for strong character development, and this book delivered.

As someone who loves food-centered stories, I also thoroughly enjoyed all the descriptions of tea, baked goods, and British pub fare. Daphne’s creativity in developing new menu items and specialty drinks was so much fun to read about. Fair warning: don’t read this book while hungry.

I could honestly go on and on about everything I loved, but I’ll leave you with this: just pick up this book. Trust me.

This story made me laugh, swoon, cry, and smile from beginning to end. It felt like wrapping up in a warm blanket with a cup of tea on a rainy day. Cozy, comforting, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

If you enjoy cozy small-town settings, British characters, witty banter, food-filled stories, playful rivalries, single-dad romances, adorable child characters, found family, community-centered stories, personal growth, no third-act breakup, and romances that are equal parts funny and heartfelt, then you absolutely need this book on your reading list.

I fell completely in love with this story, these characters, and this town. Without question, one of my favorite romances I’ve read in a very long time.