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Shipwreck Key #8

The Holiday

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The women of Shipwreck Key are strong and resilient, and they all want the same things: happiness, friendship, and love. They bond through their book club meetings and their shared love of sisterhood, supporting one another through thick and thin, and honoring each other’s unique stories and personalities.

The Shipwreck Key series will be eight books long and will have intertwining stories and characters, both sad and hopeful moments, beautiful friendships, romances involving women of all ages, and plenty of laughter.

The series launches in June of 2023, and all books will be available in both digital and paperback formats.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2024

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About the author

Stephanie Taylor

43 books119 followers
Stephanie Taylor writes a romantic comedy series about a fictional island called "Christmas Key," as well as several other standalone romance, YA, and middle grade titles.

You can check out her website at: www.redbirdsandrabbits.com

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5 stars
465 (75%)
4 stars
109 (17%)
3 stars
34 (5%)
2 stars
6 (<1%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Trish.
212 reviews3 followers
June 26, 2024
The Holiday

I intensely disliked part two of The Holiday. That said, I loved part two of The Holiday. Such an amazing tribute to the Ruby Hudson North we got to know in the first seven books of this series.
Well done Stephanie Taylor. Well done.
111 reviews
August 15, 2024
I started this series thinking it would be a fun, light read...but it was so much more. Wonderful characters,set in the Gulf Coast of Florida, and a unique story line. I was surprised time and time again, and became invested in the characters. A core group of 'women of a certain age' meanders through all the books. Reading their take on aging was inspirational. Excellent series!
35 reviews
January 12, 2026
Shipwreck Key Book Eight

Not at all what I expected but a great book to read. I loved the perspective written from Dexter interviewing people in Ruby’s life. I thought it would be a happy ever after ending but definitely different! Well done.
Profile Image for Denise Pittman.
83 reviews
December 28, 2025
The End Of A Great Series

What a wonderful series of 8 books. I saved the last one for a Christmas read but truly it can be read at anytime. Prior to reading it I was hoping for indication of a Book 9 but halfway through the book I realized the series ended with this book. I could have done with a different ending but it did tie up all the characters of the series and where they were almost 20 years later.
1 review1 follower
August 31, 2024
I loved this series! I finished book 8 at 3:15am, cried until 4am…I have such a book hang over now! Maybe, I should read them all over again?
Profile Image for Ronda Barnes-Howard.
481 reviews4 followers
March 16, 2026
fabulous series

This was a new to me author when I started this series last week and I just finished the last book. 8 books in a week, wow, that should tell you something about how great it was. This last book took the longest to read because I just didn’t want it to end. To me, the second part I had mostly tears, it just hurt my heart to hear Dexter talking about his book. It’s so close to home for me, 16 year age difference between hubby and me, he’s 81 now. When you are in your 40-50 and meet the love of your life, you just don’t think about the age difference or the effects that may be in the future, you just enjoy your time together, but this book made me think, did we do all we can to make great memories, I like to think so. We are not at the end yet, so I’m going to make sure we keep making those memories. Excellent read.
135 reviews
June 22, 2024
I have truly loved this series. Such great fascinating characters. And I recommend it to people all the time.

That said, the finale isn't my favorite. Book 2 Sunday's story, Book 3 Molly's story, and Book 6 The President's journals were the best to me. Forgive me for not remembering the titles of them all.

Part 1 of this novel was a bit of a throwaway for me, but Part 2 was so good, like an extended epilogue where we learned the fates of the beloved characters.

I look forward to Stephanie Taylor's next series about the astronauts wives.
10 reviews
June 27, 2024
Wow, what a ride these books have taken us on. I loved every minute and wish there were more “life updates” to enjoy.

I was not expecting this book to go the way it did. Maybe because this was the first series I’ve read by the author or maybe I didn’t anticipate everything being tied up so eloquently.

I have no spoilers, except to say, keep the tissues handy you may need them for Book 8.
10 reviews
August 23, 2024
a great ending to a wonderful series

This book was a perfect ending to a wonderful series. The women on Shipwreck Key are people I would like to have as friends, especially Ruby. Stephanie Taylor is a wonderful writer. I will miss the book club meetings in the book store and their daily interactions.
Profile Image for Jana Smith.
38 reviews
September 23, 2024
I LOVED the Shipwreck Key series! It was such a sweet, fun, easy read. The characters were lovable. There were lots of twists and secrets. And The Holiday as the final book was *chef’s kiss*!! The perfect ending to this series, even though I wasn’t ready for it to end. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
405 reviews
July 2, 2024
Kleenex

Ohmygosh I went through a whole box of Kleenex. Such a fantastic read. As a widow this book is soooo good. This series is fabulous. Thank you Stephanie Taylor.
62 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2026
I stand and applaud with tears streaming down my face.

Stephanie Taylor, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Kristen Hannah
You have toppled my previous number one author, who held that record for 53….yes fifty-three years. Since I was eight years old.
I just finished book 8, the grand finale of the Shipwreck Key series, and what a grand finale it was.
It was beautiful, and perfect, and sad, and perfect. There’s no way it could be improved.
Stephanie Taylor, you are a marvel. Your storylines are soooo original, and your storytelling has raised all previous bars by light years.
While I’ve read the last 3 books in this series I marveled at how you can write so perfectly from different perspectives, also how you can make loss look so beautiful. I’ve felt so many different emotions with this book I have only been able to read a few pages at a time…
Oh my gosh…I can’t give high enough praise…..so I’ll just end by yelling….
IF YOU’VE NEVER READ STEPHANIE TAYLOR, DO SO!
HER WORDS, STORYLINES, PAGES AND PEOPLE ARE AMAZING!!
Profile Image for Debbie.
Author 1 book6 followers
July 23, 2024
This series was a total of 8 books. I listened to them (Audiobooks)
I needed something fun and light. This fit the bill. Each one dug a bit deeper into each of Ruby’s friends. They are a tight group she met after she lost her husband, moved away and opened a bookstore
They were all so different and shared their lives together
The author made sure and added many life lessons that added to the story
241 reviews
June 25, 2024
What a perfect way to wrap up this series. The prolific writer has had several good books My favorite has been “Roberto Pancake” because of both the writing and the story. However this new book and series takes us through some wonderful lives that gracefully get tied together in this book. Yes, smile softly and bring your Kleenex. It’s worth it.
51 reviews
July 2, 2024
Shipwreck

I have read all eight of this series and I have to say I just marvel at the depth of each character in these books. Each individual character could be my friend, I feel like I know them so well. The conversations with the musing, the sweetness, criticisms sound like real not made up or stiff. I wish there were ten more books in the series. Thank you
11 reviews
August 3, 2024
Beautiful Ending to the Series

I didn't see this latest book taking the turns it did but it provided a beautiful, powerful ending to the ShipWreck Key series, if it is indeed the end. Stephanie Taylor weaves in and out of everyone's lives, tying up loose ends while breathing life into all of them. It is magical and brought me to tears several times.
79 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2024
Kleenex warning

I haven’t cried this much over a book in years! It’s truly a masterpiece in wrapping up all the storylines of the Shipwreck Key characters. You definitely don’t want to miss this one, but you really need to read the first seven books first!
1,229 reviews4 followers
December 16, 2024
Where the Wind Takes You

This last book of the series will break your heart and fill it with joy all at the same time. All of the characters have been wonderful and so captivating. I hated for this series to end.
1 review
April 21, 2025
Shipwreck Key Book Series

I found this series emotionally engaging. For women of any age it is thought provoking. For some, it reminds us of possibilities to encourage others while for others it makes us reminiscent of opportunities not pursued.
155 reviews
January 4, 2026
Absolutely Wonderful Series!

I raced through all 8 books and the last one was so heart wrenching and sweet and sad that it made me cry. Really great and nice to put another author in my favorites!
390 reviews5 followers
March 24, 2026
Got Me Hooked

Coming to the end of an 8 book series you have enjoyed is like saying goodbye to special friends you have spent a season with. Friends that you laughed and cried with. Friends you admired and wished the best for. Really enjoyed this series
584 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2026
Disappointing

First half was good, part 2, not so much. The series was great, and I'm sad it's over. I guess telling us what happens 20 years in the future, and through things discussed there, catching us up on those years provides 'closure', but I didn't care for it.
2 reviews
June 24, 2024
Superb books

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all eight books in this series and what a way to finish I didn’t expect that.
19 reviews
June 24, 2024
Good Ending

The characters were diverse and good up and down in their lives.
Good love story. It was a good way to end the books about ruby and her family
Profile Image for Karen.
451 reviews2 followers
Read
July 9, 2024
I cannot write a review of this book without giving too much away. I have mixed feelings about the book. Parts of it I really liked and parts not so much. However, the writing was excellent.
Profile Image for Michelle Benko.
85 reviews1 follower
August 24, 2024
Definitely did not end the way I thought it would.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1 review
April 11, 2025
Great series

I laughed and cried through this series. Excellent read. As always I want to know more about where everyone in the books is now.
Profile Image for Karen Devine.
707 reviews2 followers
May 28, 2025
Aaahhhh the perfect ending!

So well written, you feel so much, what an ending!! This whole series was all about friendships and their lives, so wonderfully written!
Profile Image for Sheri.
322 reviews
May 8, 2026
I was surprised when the book changed perspective halfway through. I realized it made a perfect ending to the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews