There’s something about a small coastal town — everyone knows everyone, the pace is slower, and when two people fall for each other, the whole village seems to be watching. If you’ve torn through Lucy Score’s Knockemout books and found yourself wanting that same cosy-town-meets-serious-heat feeling, but with a British seaside backdrop, this list is for you.
Here are a few steamy, feel-good small-town romances to add to your TBR — with a Cornish twist.
1. The St Ives Series — Anna Burton
Set in the sun-warmed harbour town of St Ives, this contemporary series pairs close-knit village life with genuine slow-burn heat. Lost & Found (Book 1) is a second-chance romance that carries you from Cornwall to Rome and back. Married & Missing (Book 2) opens with a Las Vegas wedding the heroine doesn’t remember — and a husband who follows her home to St Ives. Each is a standalone with its own happily-ever-after. Perfect if you want Lucy Score’s warmth with a Cornish accent.
2. Lucy Score — the Knockemout series
The obvious comp, and worth the hype. Small-town America, grumpy-sunshine banter, and the kind of heat that earns its reputation. If you haven’t started Things We Never Got Over, that’s your gateway.
3. Phillipa Ashley — Cornish seaside romance
For readers who want the Cornwall setting front and centre, Ashley’s warm, community-driven romances capture harbour-town life beautifully — cafés, cove views, and second chances.
4. Liz Fenwick — Cornwall through and through
Fenwick’s novels are steeped in the Cornish coast, blending romance with a strong sense of place. A great pick when the setting is half the reason you’re reading.
5. Emily Henry — for the voice
Not Cornwall, and not quite small-town, but if you love sharp, emotional, escapist romance with real chemistry, Henry’s books (People We Meet on Vacation, Beach Read) scratch the same itch.
Where to start: If you want the Cornwall setting and the small-town steam in one, begin with Lost & Found — it’s free in Kindle Unlimited, and Book 2, Married & Missing, releases 27 November 2026. You can find both at annaburtonauthor.com.