A Hopeless Romantic

A Heart Afraid to Hope

In A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans (2007, Harper), Emma Harper has spent years building walls around her heart. A devoted teacher by day and a cautious loner by night, she watches love unfold for her friends with a wistful blend of envy and resignation. When an unexpected scholarship takes her to the sun-drenched shores of Cornwall, Emma hopes for a fresh start—but fears the risk of hope more than anything.

Sunlit Shores and Secret Longings

Amid golden beaches and windswept cliffs, Emma encounters Jack, a charming local artist whose laughter is as contagious as the seaside breeze. As they collaborate on a school mural, her carefully guarded emotions stir beneath the vibrant colors he paints. Every brushstroke becomes a confession, every stolen glance a silent invitation. Yet Emma’s past heartbreak whispers warnings she cannot ignore.

The Courage to Let Love In

As the Cornish days shorten and the mural nears completion, Emma must choose between safety and the exhilaration of the unknown. In a tender crescendo beneath a pastel sunset, she learns that the bravest act is not shielding herself from pain, but opening her heart to possibility. Harriet Evans weaves a warm, uplifting tale of rediscovery that reminds us love always finds a way—if we dare to believe it.