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Verdict: A warm, funny Cotswolds romcom: burnt-out Londoner Ellie opens an ice cream parlour across from the gin shop where long-single village sweetheart Natalie works — after knocking her off a bridge into the river on day one. Readers adore the village, the side characters and the ice cream; the chief complaint is a manufactured late conflict.
Best for: Readers who want an English-village comfort read with food, family and friends to lovers.
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.9/5 — a 4.18 Goodreads average across 958 ratings, 3.83 on StoryGraph from 125 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 913 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: City girl/village sweetheart, friends to lovers, small town, food and drink, romantic comedy.
A Taste of Love is Clare Lydon’s 2019 contemporary lesbian romance, book two of the multi-author Village Romance trilogy set in the fictional Cotswolds village of Upper Chewford. Single since forever, Natalie Hill has convinced everyone she wants a quiet life.
It holds a 4.18 average across 958 Goodreads ratings, with 78% of them four or five stars, 3.83 on StoryGraph from 125 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 913 Amazon ratings.
What Is A Taste of Love About?
Ellie Knap has bailed on her relationship and her career to start again in the Cotswolds with an ice cream shop. It is far from love at first sight, but slowly the two become friends — until one night on a moonlit bridge changes everything.
Can Ellie let go of her old life in time? And can Natalie hold on when her quiet life gets loud?
What Works in This Book
- Upper Chewford: Readers say the village becomes a character in its own right.
- Secondary characters: Readers call them funny and necessary, with wacky family members.
- Grown-up leads: One reader likes that the heroines are more mature than usual.
- Emotion: One longtime fan calls it among Lydon’s most touching books, especially a thread with a father.
Book Synopsis
A city escapee opens an ice cream shop across from a village sweetheart who’s given up on love.
Ice cream, gin and a moonlit bridge.
My Review
Readers describe it as funny, warm-hearted and feel-good — and warn you will want ice cream. A couple of readers rate it above book one.
Most reservations target the late conflict with an ex, which a couple of readers found unnecessary. Others call it predictable, and one found the characters superficial and without chemistry.
My honest note: A sunny, low-stakes treat.
| Element | In A Taste of Love |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Natalie Hill (village sweetheart at a gin distillery) & Ellie Knap (ice cream shop owner) |
| Core tropes | Friends to lovers, city/village, food and drink |
| Setting | Upper Chewford, a Cotswolds village |
| Heat level | 🌶️🌶️ |
| Length | About 72,500 words (296 pages) |
| Series | The Village Romance #2 of 3 — standalone |
| Content notes | An ex’s interference; StoryGraph users flag homophobia and a sexual assault reference |
How Spicy Is A Taste of Love?
Lightly; one reader calls it an easy read with a touch of spice.
StoryGraph users flag homophobia, alcohol and, in one report, sexual assault.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a feel-good village romcom. It is on our cozy lesbian romance list.
You may want to skip it if: manufactured third-act conflict annoys you.
In short: A scoop of village joy.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 43% five stars, 35% four, 16% three, 3% two and under 1% one. On StoryGraph, 88% tagged it lighthearted.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The village first. Second, the side characters. Third, grown-up leads. Fourth, the emotion.
What readers argue about and complain about: The late conflict, above everything. Second, predictability. Third, chemistry for one.
The comparison worth making first: Lydon’s Big London Dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read A Shot at Love first?
No. The Village Romance books are standalones by three authors (T.B. Markinson, Clare Lydon and Harper Bliss); book one’s couple only makes cameo appearances here.
Is there a third-act conflict?
Yes, involving an ex. Some readers found it unnecessary or manufactured, though one notes it is short-lived.
How spicy is A Taste of Love?
Mild to moderate — one reader calls it an easy read with a touch of spice.
How long is it?
About 72,500 words — 296 pages on Kindle.
Is A Taste of Love on Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, when we checked.
If You Loved A Taste of Love, Read These Next
Try Lydon’s Big London Dreams or another English village romance, Fool for Love. Browse our cozy list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
A Taste of Love sets out to be a warm village romcom, and it is. What holds it back is an unnecessary late wobble. Recommended. Check A Taste of Love on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, A Taste of Love ranks as a good cosy romcom — sweet, sunny.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ 4.18 average across 958 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 78% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.83 on StoryGraph from 125 reviews
- ✓ 4.6 stars across 913 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Friends to lovers
- ✓ Moonlit bridge
- ✓ Manufactured conflict
- ✓ No chemistry for one
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Mature leads
- ✓ Wacky families
- ✓ Funny side cast
- ✓ Superficial for one
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Witty
- ✓ Warm
- ✓ Predictable
- ✓ Village as character
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ Tagged lighthearted by 88%
- ✓ Touching family thread
- ✓ Feel-good
- ✓ Low stakes
Heat Level ★★★☆☆ 2.5/5
- ✓ Touch of spice
- ✓ Mild
- ✓ Adult
- ✓ Not the focus
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Warm
- ✓ Short-lived conflict
- ✓ Series continues
- ✓ Satisfying
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ On Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ 72,500 words
- ✓ Series reread
- ✓ Comfort read
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