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The Seaside Sisters

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One summer can change everything.

Brooklyn-based Hannah is a bestselling author struggling to write her second book after personal losses. Her older sister, Sara, still lives in Chatham, Cape Cod, where they grew up, and is married with four children. Once a dedicated librarian, Sara dreams of reviving her love affair with literature, but instead, she is stuck with too many family responsibilities and a fizzling marriage.

When Hannah gets the chance to retreat to her aunt's oceanfront house in Chatham for the summer, it seems like just the thing to get her creative juices flowing. And she’ll be able to spend more time with Sara, who is eager to find her way back into the workforce, to do something rewarding and book-related. The pair will spend the summer making friends, rekindling romance― especially Spencer, an old acquaintance from high school-turned very hot grump― and opening themselves up to the magic of books and the beach.

Perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews, Susan Mallery and Brenda Novak, The Seaside Sisters will delight and charm you as easily as an ocean breeze.

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2024

722 people are currently reading
21913 people want to read

About the author

Pamela M. Kelley

53 books2,857 followers
Pamela M. Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women's fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you'd want as friends.

She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There's also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two. :)

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 835 reviews
Profile Image for L.A..
772 reviews342 followers
June 2, 2024
This took me to a slower paced lifestyle while I’m actually relaxing on a beach 🌴 it is a charming, light summer beach read in Chatham Cape Cod. The book dwells on relationships and typical life challenges.
Hannah, a best selling author, needs a change so she travels to the Cape to find new beginnings. Her sister, Sara, a former librarian, has raised 4 children and looking to enter the workforce among books. Their Aunt Maddie, separated from her husband, also needs a change but dwells comfortably in an oceanfront house where Hannah will stay. Enter an old acquaintance, Spencer, Hannah reunites with. There has to be some romance with no major surprises, just a simple read finding ourselves in new situations with family and friends.
Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Profile Image for Madison Warner Fairbanks.
3,397 reviews495 followers
June 3, 2024
The Seaside Sisters by Pamela Kelley
Contemporary chick lit, women’s fiction with romance. Multiple POV.
After a personal loss and now suffering from panic attacks, Hannah Brewster is struggling to write her second book. She accepts an invite to return home to Chatham, Cape Cod for the summer. She’s hoping that being back in her home town will help her reconnect with life, family and hope. Plus, she’ll be able to spend time with her sister Sara.
Sara is married with four children and feels stuck in her life. So many family responsibilities and no time for herself. Sara gets a job at a local bookstore which puts pressure on other needed changes in her life.
Aunt Maddie is having her own marriage issues. Having Hannah and Sara back in her life for the summer helps her make some of her own changes.
It’s a summer of family.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook which was narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. There are distinct voices for the main three women in the story bit for me they did tend to blend together. I had to listen closely to the beginning of each section or chapter to make sure I knew who I was following. Of course, they lead very different lives with different issues so the content was easily allocated. There were no drastic emotions so the audiobook was smooth and well modulated with no discernible subsequent editing. It was a wonderful performance overall. I listened to this at 1.5 which is my preferred speed.

Choosing between an ebook and audiobook is really choosing between two different experiences. For this book, I would recommend the ebook simply because of the multiple POV’s and inconsistencies of when the POV changes occur.

Family and personal connections, self respect, confidence and most importantly, happiness in the one life we get to lead.
3.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.
Profile Image for Marilyn (not getting notifications).
1,068 reviews487 followers
June 19, 2024
The Seaside Sisters was the third book that I have had the pleasure of reading/listening to by Pamela M. Kelley. Last year I had read The Bookshop by the Bay and was glad to revisit some of the characters from that book in Pamela M. Kelley’s newest book The Seaside Sisters. Once again, Pamela M. Kelley transported me back to Chatham on Cape Cod. The Seaside Sisters was definitely a stand-alone book but I welcomed the chance to step back inside the bookshop that Allison and Jess had purchased once again and see how well Allison was doing. I also enjoyed the familiar and delicious smells from the coffee shop with its relaxed atmosphere and getting to see how well Allison’s daughter, Julia, was doing with her jewelry business. Of course, The Seaside Sisters introduced several new characters as well that I enjoyed getting to know. I listened to the audiobook of The Seaside Sisters that was narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. She did a great job at distinguishing between the different characters. I enjoyed her performance very much.

The Seaside Sisters was about two sisters who had grown up in Chatham. Hannah Brewster, the younger of the two sisters had become an author and had made Brooklyn her home. Sara, the oldest of the two siblings had gotten married, had four sons and had remained on Cape Cod in Chatham. Sara was a stay at home mom but had recently been thinking about returning to the work force. She had been a librarian before she had had her sons so she wanted to do something that pertained to books. It wasn’t that Sara needed a high paying job, she just wanted something that would make her feel satisfied and like she was making a difference and would coincide with her sons’ schedules. Sara’s husband made a good living so he wasn’t sure why Sara wanted to work when she didn’t need to. Her husband took the things Sara did for granted. A lot of the magic had started to disappear from their marriage. Both Hannah and Sara had recently lost their mother. The grief that Hannah was experiencing was impacting her creative ability in writing her second book. Hannah was finding it difficult to make the progress she was expected to on her second book. She started to fell a lot of stress about being able to meet her deadlines. Between the grief and the stress Hannah was feeling it was not unexpected that she experienced a panic attack. With some encouragement from both her sister and her Aunt Maddie, who was also her literary agent, Hannah decided to leave Brooklyn for the summer and move into Aunt Maddie’s oceanfront home in Chatham. Perhaps a change of scenery and being closer to her sister and aunt would allow Hannah to make the progress she needed to on her second book. Upon Hannah’s arrival, she learned that Aunt Maddie was having marital problems. It was the last thing Hannah expected to hear. Hannah also ran into an old high school friend, Spencer. He had been ahead of Hannah in school but Hannah had had a big crush on him back then. What were the chances that Hannah would run into Spencer after all these years?

The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M. Kelley was a light yet feel good book. It was about family, loss, grief, the willingness to make a marriage work, friendship, romance, ambition and recognizing what others need by putting aside individual wants. I really enjoyed catching up with some of the characters from The Bookshop by the Bay and meeting the new characters that were introduced in The Seaside Sisters. It would be nice if Pamela M. Kelley decided to write a third book that was set on Cape Cod in Chatham. I enjoyed both the setting and the characters. If you are looking for a good beach read with a touch of romance then I highly recommend The Seaside Sisters.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M. Kelley through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for theliterateleprechaun .
2,445 reviews217 followers
June 4, 2024
One summer truly can change everything!

‘The Seaside Sisters’ is a follow-up novel to Pamela Kelly’s ‘The Bookshop By The Bay’. Each can certainly be read as a standalone, but I loved seeing characters from the previous book and reading about what they’ve been up to since I left them last time.

This novel ticks all the ‘summer reading’ boxes - it’s light, fluffy, predictable, and compelling. It also appeals to a variety of readers because of the universal themes of sibling/familial love and grief, moving on, overcoming challenges and tying up loose ends. The fact that it featured a fictional author, Hannah Brewster, and her family in Cape Cod was the icing on the cake! What bookish lover doesn’t want to read about books and authors?! None!

You’ll get:
🏖️Vivid descriptions of Chatham, the seaside Cape Cod town
🏖️an eclectic group of townspeople as secondary characters
🏖️wonderful interactions of the family with the townspeople and shop owners
🏖️Lots of descriptive food references and recipe ideas
🏖️Intergenerational dynamics and sibling bonding
🏖️Relationship struggles
🏖️romance
🏖️importance of rediscovering what makes you alive

Fans of Pamela Kelley won’t be disappointed. This beachread needs to be on your tbr come June!

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Profile Image for Obsidian.
3,232 reviews1,145 followers
February 26, 2024
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.

I wanted a solid contemporary romance and honestly this was fine and solid. Honestly it just read as dry after a while, with no huge revelations or love scenes which is why I reduced this down to 4 stars. "The Seaside Sisters" is a bit of a misnomer since at certain parts of the book we follow the two sisters, aunt, and a love interest. After a while it got to be a too much, so that knocked it down another star for me to 3 stars.

"The Seaside Sisters" follows Hannah, Sara, and their aunt Maddie. Hannah is dealing with some writer's block after her mother's death. Living in New York and loving it, she realizes that she is under a lot of stress. She decides to return to her hometown of Chatham, Cape Cod to recuperate and find her writing mojo. Hannah's sister Sara, is struggling with trying to find a job after years of being a SAHM. Sara's husband isn't being very supportive, and she's left wondering about the state of her marriage. Another person wondering about the state of their marriage, is the women's aunt Maddie. Maddie is separated from her long-time husband and wondering if she's ready to truly be single again.

I thought Hannah was fine, but very boring. I just didn't find myself invested in any of her love interests or her writing. Reading about someone trying to write romance scenes, and going to groups for that was very very dry. I had more interest in Sara's story-line honestly. And with Maddie, her career was interesting, but she seemed so indifferent to her husband and I didn't know what was going on with that at all. It felt like something that should have been cut.

Hannah's supposed love interest comes from a thousand miles away, which isn't a bad thing, but I saw no chemistry there. Sara's husband read very very different to me, so was surprised where things went. Same with Maddie's husband. I think that's the biggest issue. This book reads as three separate plots that could have been separate books. There's very few interactions between all of the women. And I will forever be confused why we got a throwaway third person point of view for the one love interest.

The setting of Chatham, Cape Cod sounded awesome. As did the food. I would love to visit there.

We do get several HEA's which were nice to read, but honestly this wasn't a book I can see me re-reading again and again.
Profile Image for Jennifer (not getting notifications).
213 reviews134 followers
October 2, 2024
This was a sweet “summer read”. Although I read this book in the fall, I requested it from the library in May. Loved the local feel (New England ) and ALL the food references!! Warning, don’t read this book when you're hungry. Haha. Happy reading!
Profile Image for Shereadbookblog.
973 reviews
April 1, 2024
Hannah, a best selling romance author, is having a bit of writer’s block. Currently living in Brooklyn, she decides to spend the summer in her hometown of Chatham on Cape Cod, with her aunt. Her sister, husband and four children also live in Chatham. Both her aunt and sister are having some marital hiccups. While there, Hannah rekindles a friendship with attorney Spencer and also dates a best selling author whose parents live on the Cape.

If I had to describe this book in three words, it would be cozy little romance. There is no significant drama or humor in this story of nondescript characters who seem to live an idealized life. Told from different POVS, there is a lot of wine (often identified by brand) and descriptions of food (especially bagels, lobster, and brownies). Chatham is depicted in all its charm and those who have visited there will enjoy the journey back.

I am a stickler for authenticity, even in fiction, and a major activity in the book bothered me. Would attorneys really have an author who is doing research sit in on conferences with clients? Where is the attorney client confidentiality? I also noticed a bit of repetition in the narrative.

All that said, if you are looking for a nice little no effort quick beach read, this may be for you.


Thanks to #NetGalley and #STMartinsPress for the DRC.
Profile Image for Catbytheseareads ♡.
804 reviews76 followers
January 27, 2024
Months after losing her mother to cancer, Hannah, a new rom-com author starts getting panic attacks. So Hannah decides to go spend the summer at her beachy childhood town, to reflect and finish her next book.

It's a sweet story about new friends, family, neighbors, going through life's passages and struggles to find happiness. Enjoy whale watching, cookouts, seafood, book writing club, and gorgeous summer days and events shared by two sisters and their aunt in this cozy cape town.

#sweetstory #hallmarky
Profile Image for Ashley.
869 reviews117 followers
May 18, 2024
When I read the description of this book I was really intrigued especially since I don't typically read this genre. I felt like it started off strong with Hannah returning home after dealing with panic attacks from stress and grief hoping to find her writing mojo again. Then her sister Sarah comes into the picture hoping to spend more time with Hannah while finding fulfillment outside of being a wife and SAHM. With those points I was really hoping this would be an incredible journey of discovery and happiness after loss. Honestly it fell a little flat for me.

I feel like the title is a bit deceiving being called The Seaside Sisters but there's hardly any interaction between the two. Then you also have the third POV of their aunt which I didn't understand why it was included. Nor was there much interaction between them as well.

Also, it's mentioned that there is romance. I found the romance department lacking. All the characters go on dates that just don't seem to end well. Sarah and Aunt Maggie's marriages are lacking. I felt like there was something off about the male characters like you don't really get much of their personalities or why the relationships happen. Hannah's happily ever after just didn't make sense there was no connection or moments where I was like YES.

However, I will say it was a very easy to listen too. The narration was good. There were funny moments and some emotional ones.

Thank you MacMillian Audio for the advanced listener's copy. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Andrea | andrea.c.lowry.reads.
846 reviews83 followers
June 2, 2024
The Seaside Sisters is a wonderful and cozy story about family and the struggles we go through in life while trying to find happiness and contentment.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

This is an emotional yet also heartwarming story that will keep you turning the pages (or in my case listening), and a story that makes you feel like you are living the experiences of each character.

How was the audiobook:

The narrator of this audiobook had a lovely voice and reads the story like she's sitting on a chaise lounge in the sun, having a glass of wine and wants to tell me all about it. Her voice was so relaxed. It's a clean, sweet read and a nice listening experience.

Read if you like:

Sisterhood
Family
A bit of romance
Strong female characters
Multiple POV

Do you recommend this book:

This was a quaint little story and fulfilled the need I had for an easy audiobook listen. The story was low-stakes with likeable characters, and I could listen without any stress. Kind of a palette cleanser between weightier books.

Thank you, SMP Romance and MacMillan Audio for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

3.5 stars
Profile Image for Sheila.
3,091 reviews123 followers
February 22, 2024
I received a free copy of, The Seaside Sisters, by Pamela M. Kelly, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Sisters Sara and Hannah, get to spend the summer together. So much has changed since they spent endless summers together as kids. Sisters are the best, I really enjoyed reading about Sara and Hannah, this is a really good read.
Profile Image for Alissa.
533 reviews20 followers
February 25, 2024
I can see where some people would really enjoy this book. It is an escape to Cape Cod in the summer as we follow Brooklyn-based writer Hannah on an extended visit to her aunt and sister in her hometown of Chatham. For me, the writing just wasn't there - so while it was a quick read with some likable characters and a wonderful setting, I never was able to truly escape into the story... other writers in the same genre use better writing and more vivid, flowing language to do it better.

NOTE: Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lindsay Weber.
272 reviews14 followers
January 21, 2024
I had higher hopes for this read, if I’ll be honest. This one was quite dry. I liked that there were 3 different main characters, but because of that everything felt a little rushed and had the most random, awkward things happen. Just not a book for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the chance to read this ARC!
Profile Image for Carolyn.
469 reviews3 followers
March 7, 2024
The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M. Kelley fell completely flat for me. The characters were two dimensional, even the main character Sarah who could have been so much more as a struggling author. The romance was unexciting, the only good descriptions were of the food which sounded wonderful. At the end of the book I wondered why I had bothered finishing it because nothing really happened. Thank you to the author publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Lori Martin.
389 reviews255 followers
August 31, 2024
The Seaside Sisters is a perfect book to give you that beach feeling of freedom, salt air, sunrises, long walks in the sand, and fun outings with family and friends. Hannah is a bestselling author of a romance novel and is struggling with her second book. She lives in Brooklyn, but grew up in Chatham in Cape Cod. Her mother recently died and Hannah is devastated and lost without her. Hannah's sister, Sara, still lives in Chatham with her husband and four boys. Sara is excited to find a job now that her youngest will be starting school. She worked at a library and loved the job so she's hoping to find something similar. Sara's husband, Tom, works in finance and doesn't understand her need to work. They don't need the money and he's worried a job will be too much with the kids, the house, cooking meals, etc.

Hannah talks to her aunt and she invites her to stay in her guest room for the summer. Hannah can write from anywhere and is thinking a change in scenery might do her good. She hasn't been home since her mom died and it will be good to see her family. Hannah gets into a nice routine of taking a long walk in the morning, eating breakfast with her aunt, and heading to the coffee shop in town to write. Her aunt's neighbor is a writer and invites Hannah to join her writers group that meet every Monday afternoon. Hannah agrees and really enjoys meeting with other writers and giving them tips on their current books. Hannah gets some good tips on her recent pages, too. Hannah bumps into Spencer at Joy's house after the writer's meeting. Hannah and Spencer went to high school together and he is Joy's grandson. Hannah is immediately attracted to Spencer but he never paid her any attention in high school. He seems very serious even now.

Will Hannah find what she needs in Chatham to complete her second book? Will Sara find a job she likes related to books? Will Sara's marriage survive her taking a job? Will Hannah find a love interest in Chatham? She meets a famous author at the local bookstore while he's there for a signing. They have an instant connection and he invites her out. There's something about Spencer that Hannah can't stop thinking about. This is a perfect summer read or a read that puts you in a summer frame of mind! Both are good things to me! I really enjoyed The Seaside Sisters and rate it 4 stars with a high recommendation. A book that's set in Cape Cod had me from the start! The Seaside Sisters is available now and can be enjoyed while sitting at the beach or while sitting in your den pretending you're at the beach! I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of The Seaside Sisters in exchange for a fair review. #TheSeasideSisters
Profile Image for Bbecca_marie.
1,551 reviews52 followers
June 21, 2024
The Seaside Sisters by Pamela Kelley

Thank you so much @macmillanaudio #MacAudio2024 partner @stmartinspress for the gifted audiobook + finished copy.

Blurb:
One summer can change everything.
Brooklyn-based Hannah is a bestselling author struggling to write her second book after personal losses. Her older sister, Sara, still lives in Chatham, Cape Cod, where they grew up, and is married with four children. Once a dedicated librarian, Sara dreams of reviving her love affair with literature, but instead, she is stuck with too many family responsibilities and a fizzling marriage.

✨ My thoughts:
Ahh, the perfect summer and beach read. I actually read and listened to this book in one day, on my way to and from Ocean City. When I’d get carsick from reading I’d just pop in an earbud to give myself a break and the transition from physical book to audiobook was seamless! Stephanie Németh-Parker narrated the audiobook and did a wonderful job. I enjoyed this book because not only does it hold your attention but it’s light in the way that summer books should be. Don’t get me wrong, we still get drama and life lessons but in the end, you feel good. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I definitely plan to read more. The Seaside Sisters is out now.

Happy reading 📖 🏖️
Profile Image for Marrissa Horton.
543 reviews29 followers
June 9, 2024
If you’re looking for an audiobook filled with Summer and Hallmark vibes, this one is for you. I loved that this focuses on not only author Hannah, but her sister and Aunt as well, and the trials and tribulations of each of their personal and professional lives. Shortly after losing her mother, Hannah decides to spend the summer in her hometown of Chatham, to work on her next book and spend time with her family. Books that talk about books are always so fun. Pamela Kelley can definitely set a scene, and with this you get a real sense of Cape Cod and the places and delicious cuisine that you will find there. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Hannah and Spencer. I was rooting for all three of these women and could relate to each of them in certain ways.

The narration by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker was so good, I really enjoyed it. It was easy to follow along, and I definitely recommend listening! 👏🏼
Profile Image for Wendy.
37 reviews1 follower
January 16, 2024
3.25 ⭐️ I enjoyed this story about two sisters, Sara and Hannah, navigating life after losing their mother. Both sisters were easy to relate to with the varying challenges they each had in the book. In addition, I found it interesting to read about Hannah’s writing process, and how her writing was inspired in different ways throughout the novel. The setting was lovely in Chatham and described in a way that made me want to spend a summer there.

It took several chapters for me to get drawn into the book, but once I was drawn in, I didn’t want to put the book down.

The plot was predictable, and the conflicts weren’t intense, but sometimes that is exactly what I need to read after reading an intense book.

This book would be a great summer or beach read with light hearted plot and sweet romance.
Profile Image for Samantha (bookstasamm).
1,007 reviews89 followers
June 4, 2024
One summer can change everything.

After their mother passes away, Hannah decides to spend the summer at her aunt’s house in Cape Cod to finish writing her novel. Her sister, Sara, is a stay at home mother who takes a part time job working at a bookstore. These sisters will spend the summer reconnecting while making new friends and finding or rekindling love along the way.

Exactly one year ago, I posted my review for Kelley’s previous book, The Bookshop by the Bay so I thought it was perfect to post this review today. I enjoyed The Bookshop by the Bay and thought it was a great beach read. I feel the same way about The Seaside Sisters, and I loved that some of the characters from The Bookshop by the Bay made their way into this story.

These books are set in Chatham, Massachusetts, a town in Cape Cod that I love to visit every summer. Kelley does an amazing job of transporting the reader to Cape Cod and describes the setting beautifully.

I love that the author combines books and the beach and gives us a great summer read that focuses on females finding themselves while adding in some romance. The romance isn’t the main focus but I enjoyed how Hannah and Spencer’s relationship progressed. I really liked Hannah and Sara’s Aunt Maddie and thought she was a fun addition to the story.

I listened to the audiobook and had the same feelings about this book as I did listening to The Bookshop by the Bay last year. I thought Stephanie Nemeth-Parker did an excellent job narrating this book, but this would have been the perfect book to have a full cast narration. Only having one narrator made it hard to keep track of who was who at times, and there were a lot of characters to keep track of so it was a bit confusing for me.

If you’re looking for a beach read that is an escape to Cape Cod then this is the book for you!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Robin Loves Reading.
2,898 reviews452 followers
December 7, 2024
Hannah Brewster, an author grappling with anxiety, decides to spend the summer at her aunt’s house in Chatham, Cape Cod. This is where she grew up and where her sister Sara still resides, so Hannah eagerly anticipates spending quality time with her. The slower pace of life in Chatham contrasts sharply with her hectic daily routine in Brooklyn, NY, and Hannah hopes to make significant progress on her next book during this time.

Sara, a former librarian, wife, and mother of four boys, yearns for more fulfillment in her life. She recognizes that returning to the workforce will bring her the happiness she seeks. While her husband, Tom, is initially resistant to the idea, Sara remains steadfast in her belief that it will lead to her greater well-being.

Hannah’s path crosses with an old classmate, Spencer Williams. He has undoubtedly grown into a handsome man, and Hannah is undeniably drawn to him. However, her mind is preoccupied with other matters. Just having recently ended a relationship, she finds it difficult to even consider starting another one.

This book was a delightful read, even though its pacing was slow. Despite this, I found it incredibly easy to connect with all the characters in this engaging story.

Many thanks to Griffin and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Star Gater.
1,863 reviews57 followers
June 9, 2024
Thank you St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for allowing me to read and review The Seaside Sisters on NetGalley.

Published: 06/04/24

Stars: 4

Me. Yes, me. This story could be my friends when we were their ages. Countless times I've asked why aren't there books written about me. Today, I found one.

There is no foul language.

Reasonable and responsible adults ironically adulting -- sisters with an opportunity that I believe is unique, they get to spend the summer in a cottage. The synopsis is spot on with their issues and problems. The story is told in a healthy manner. This won't solve problems, nor give advice, and the main character isn't trying to outsmart the locals. Two women, their kids, jobs, and husbands live life and Kelly captures the day-to-day musings -- beautifully.

Nice, easy, feel good read. I would recommend.
Profile Image for Karen Wahl.
191 reviews5 followers
September 1, 2024
3.5 A light beach read taking place in Cape Cod. Enjoyed it.
145 reviews
April 11, 2024
As with Pamela Kelley’s other books set on Cape Cod and Nantucket, The Seaside Sisters is the reading equivalent of comfort food. It has all the hallmarks of a Pamela Kelley book—the coastal setting in Chatham, lots of mentions of food and wine, and cozy relationships whether they be with friends, family members, or something more romantic.

When hit with a crushing case of writer’s block, romance writer Hannah leaves her Brooklyn apartment to spend the summer at her aunt’s house in Chatham, where she meets two potential love interests (and yes, overcomes her writer’s block). Hannah’s sister, Sara, lives in Chatham with her inattentive husband and their three boys and is in search of something to call her own. Their aunt is currently going through her own marital strife and professional crossroads, and the three stories intertwine in a braided narrative that results in a happy ending for them all. Fans of Kelley’s previous Chatham book, The Bookshop by the Bay, will recognize some of the background characters as well as the coffee shop and bookstore.

The stakes are low and there is no real conflict to drive the story forward, but I still found myself wanting to curl up into this pleasant escape.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Courtney.
26 reviews2 followers
April 20, 2024
Meet Hannah, a writer who decides to spend the summer in her hometown of Chatham, MA for a change of scenery as she writes her next book, and Sara, her sister, who is struggling to carve out time for herself in a busy life caring for 4 boys and a husband. This is a cute story with very little substance that will work just fine for the beach when you’re several margaritas in.

That being said, I nearly did not finish this book. I felt like the author was writing a term paper with a length requirement, simply stuffing words in random places to get to the requisite number to turn the book in to her editor. I can overlook a little bit of this in an ARC, as I know it will get edited, but in this case, it was so pervasive, I don’t know how you would edit it and still have much of a story left. There was so much repetition and belaboring of points. Things were explained that do not need to be explained (who doesn’t know what cornhole is, really?).

I also did not feel like there was much effort put into character and plot development. The whole story felt a little bit like reporting the news. There was very little emotion. Decisions were made with seemingly little feeling or thought. Whole plotlines would be wrapped up in a sentence (maybe a paragraph, if you were lucky) with neat little endings.

I do very much appreciate NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. If you’re looking for a simple book that’s easy to follow, you might enjoy this one. For those with reading tastes similar to mine, though, unfortunately I have to give this book 2 stars, do not recommend.
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,177 reviews119 followers
February 18, 2024
I enjoyed #TheSeasideSisters #NetGalley very much.
Even though this isn't my typical genre to read, the cover , title, and description called out to me, so I decided to give it a chance.
Hannah is an author who lives in New York, but her family home is Chatham, MA. Hannah and her sister Sara are grieving the loss of their mom, so Hannah decides to visit Chatham for the summer, staying with her aunt.
The three women are sweet and I love their relationship, but each of them have issues in their own lives they are trying to resolve.
I am happy with the way the book ended and I'm going to recommend this book to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
Profile Image for Cassidy Lovejoy.
163 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2024
I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this review because I already feel like I lost too much time reading this book. This flat, robotic, endless description of what people ate at different restaurants.

My expectations for a “beach read” are low, but this one had me rolling my eyes and yawning on every single page. At one point, three different people shared a scene, all three of their outfits were describes in full detail, and all three of them were wearing pink and gray. Really? We’re going to go into description overload but can’t think of more than two colors?

Boring. Silly. Badly written. Barely finished.

Thank you anyway to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader.
1,680 reviews205 followers
April 7, 2024
I love a happy ending. Kelly writes women's fiction so well. I fall right into the story and the characters for like family. The setting where Hannah spends her summer is a dream home. Her aunt is the best. This is just the perfect summer read. The sweet slow romance is the best.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
Profile Image for Lisa Leone-campbell.
685 reviews57 followers
August 16, 2024
The Seaside Sisters is one of the best beach reads of this season! With charming, strong characters, mostly women trying to make very difficult decisions, with conflict and romance, the story will keep you on the beach instead of in the water! You will devour this book with great pleasure!

Writer Hannah is having trouble keeping her mind on writing her latest book. She seems to suddenly be suffering from anxiety. A best-selling author, she can't let her readers, or her editor down. Although she lives in Brooklyn, her family lives in Chatham on Cape Cod and since the death of her mother Hannah has not been herself at all. But after talking to her sister Sara, who still lives there, Hannah decides to go to Chatham for the summer, live with her aunt Maddie and see if she can unblock her block.

Sara lives with her husband and her four young boys. She too is going through something herself. She is getting the itch to go back to work in some way. A former librarian, she misses the banter of talking about books. As a stay-at-home mom, her husband who works long hours and sometimes take advantage of her without really thinking, she longs for some time to herself doing something she enjoys. Suddenly, a job drops into her lap. The local bookstore is looking for someone during the day, mother's hours. Sarah gets the job! But it seems her husband is not as excited.

Hannah's aunt Maddie is separated from her husband. He has been staying in New York and she has been working from Chatham. She is an editor. Their relationship sadly has been in trouble for a while since they are both workaholics. They seem to be unable to make time for one another.

As Hannah comes back to Chatham, she still is unable to drive by her mother's house. The sadness of her not being there is too intense. But she tries to start a writing routine and even spends time with her mother's friends and their son Spencer, whom she knew from high school who is now a lawyer.

As each of their burden's grow, they discover the strength they need through their companionship, respect and love for each other. The Seaside Sisters is a lovely testament to the power of friendship, dealing with loss and finding new love in whatever form.

Note to Kelley's fans...some characters from her last novel based on the Cape, The Bookshop by the Bay make adorable cameos, which you will find in little easter eggs. Pamela Kelley never disappoints.

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin's/Griffin #TheSeasideSisters #PamelaKelley for the advanced copy.
Profile Image for Shelley Lawrence.
2,047 reviews102 followers
May 24, 2024
4.75 stars
The Seaside Sisters is a charming, feel-good, comforting summer read. With all of the charm of the small New England town of Chatham on island of Cape Cod, this story brims with joy, festivities, familial ties, friendship and personal growth.

Hannah is a New Yorker and best-selling author struggling with her new novel after a year of loss and heartbreak. Sara is Hannah’s married sister and a mother of four boys who is still living on the island where they grew up. Sara is trying to find a job for a little something of her own. Hannah decides that a summer in the relaxing setting of Chatham is the perfect way to refresh and spark new ideas. The perk is that she gets to spend time with her sister and her adored aunt whom she will be staying with.

Seaside Sisters is a story full of feel-good summer vibes, a touch of romance, complicated, but realistic relationship dynamics, friendships and summer-fun. The sweet, endearing relationship between the sisters is enviable and each has a unique and interesting backstory. Though the transition from friendship to romance was surprisingly fast, and one problematic relationship resolved quite quickly, the story was lovely anyway. Seaside Sisters is an easy-to-read, delightful story, perfect for long, lazy days of summer.
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