What do you think?
Rate this book
Port Anna
An enchanting debut novel exploring second chances and blossoming romance in a charming port town in Maine, perfect for fans of J. Courtney Sullivan’s The Cliffs and Catherine Newman’s Sandwich.
Just about everything has gone wrong for Gwen Gilmore over the past year. She’s lost her mother, her teaching job, and been dumped by her—albeit not that great—long-term boyfriend. Adrift and out of options, she packs her life into her barely functioning car and makes the lonely drive north, to the only place she can think of her family’s aging cottage on the Maine coast, Periwinkle, which she’s recently inherited.
The cottage and Port Anna, the foggy Maine town of Gwen’s childhood, are unchanged in many ways. For Gwen, they are full of the ghosts of her past—boyfriends, forgotten creative dreams, and painful memories of a sister lost too young. Periwinkle is also home to some more literal The Misses, friendly spirits who have long watched over the cottage, but who now seem strangely unsettled, slamming doors and moving furniture in the night. And behind its charming façade, Port Anna has not escaped the realities of modern life. Family homes are being razed to make space for garish condos, the cottage, coveted by a relentless local realtor, is about to be condemned, and the unsolved disappearance of a teenage girl has set the town on edge. On the face of it, it’s an odd place to try to make a new start.
But there are glimmers of hope everywhere, if only Gwen can open herself up to possibility. Sparks fly with Leandro, an Argentinian artist, as aloof and witty as he is wildly attractive. Old friends and former flames come out of the woodwork, bringing with them new opportunities and chances to laugh again. Even in the face of potential happiness, though, it seems some secrets refuse to stay buried. As the summer crowds return to the city and the locals hunker down for another harsh Maine winter, Gwen will be forced to make choices that will change her life forever.
Just about everything has gone wrong for Gwen Gilmore over the past year. She’s lost her mother, her teaching job, and been dumped by her—albeit not that great—long-term boyfriend. Adrift and out of options, she packs her life into her barely functioning car and makes the lonely drive north, to the only place she can think of her family’s aging cottage on the Maine coast, Periwinkle, which she’s recently inherited.
The cottage and Port Anna, the foggy Maine town of Gwen’s childhood, are unchanged in many ways. For Gwen, they are full of the ghosts of her past—boyfriends, forgotten creative dreams, and painful memories of a sister lost too young. Periwinkle is also home to some more literal The Misses, friendly spirits who have long watched over the cottage, but who now seem strangely unsettled, slamming doors and moving furniture in the night. And behind its charming façade, Port Anna has not escaped the realities of modern life. Family homes are being razed to make space for garish condos, the cottage, coveted by a relentless local realtor, is about to be condemned, and the unsolved disappearance of a teenage girl has set the town on edge. On the face of it, it’s an odd place to try to make a new start.
But there are glimmers of hope everywhere, if only Gwen can open herself up to possibility. Sparks fly with Leandro, an Argentinian artist, as aloof and witty as he is wildly attractive. Old friends and former flames come out of the woodwork, bringing with them new opportunities and chances to laugh again. Even in the face of potential happiness, though, it seems some secrets refuse to stay buried. As the summer crowds return to the city and the locals hunker down for another harsh Maine winter, Gwen will be forced to make choices that will change her life forever.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2025
46 people are currently reading
7897 people want to read
About the author
Libby Buck
1 book61 followersLibby Buck earned a PhD in art history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She and her husband share three daughters, an English cocker spaniel, and an abiding love for the great state of Maine. Port Anna is her first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
December 29, 2024
When I was invited to read this book, I could not pass it up due to its stunning, beautiful cover. I also loved the synopsis and thought that I would resonate with our main character, Gwen Gilmore. However. I found that looks can be deceiving and I should have read the synopsis more carefully because there was just WAY too much going on in this story. In fact, I felt that it was a bit all over the place and I unfortunately lost interest very early on.
To briefly sum this story up, Gwen goes back to her home in Maine (which is called the Periwinkle), after being away for twenty years. Gwen reconnects with old friends, looks for new employment, finds new love, deals with old grief from her past, and even deals with ghosts living in her home 🙄. And let’s not forget about the disappearance of a teenage girl…
I never knew where this story was going.
I felt lost half of the time.
Too many unnecessary details/overly descriptive.
Lackluster storyline.
I was really hoping to love this book, but it unfortunately just didn’t work out for me. I really wanted to connect and resonate with Gwen’s character, but that unfortunately didn’t work out either. So while this wasn’t my cup of tea, it may work out better for somebody else.
(2.5 stars)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for an ARC of this book which I am leaving an honest review.
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction
To briefly sum this story up, Gwen goes back to her home in Maine (which is called the Periwinkle), after being away for twenty years. Gwen reconnects with old friends, looks for new employment, finds new love, deals with old grief from her past, and even deals with ghosts living in her home 🙄. And let’s not forget about the disappearance of a teenage girl…
I never knew where this story was going.
I felt lost half of the time.
Too many unnecessary details/overly descriptive.
Lackluster storyline.
I was really hoping to love this book, but it unfortunately just didn’t work out for me. I really wanted to connect and resonate with Gwen’s character, but that unfortunately didn’t work out either. So while this wasn’t my cup of tea, it may work out better for somebody else.
(2.5 stars)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for an ARC of this book which I am leaving an honest review.
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction
April 23, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
This debut novel follows the story of Gwen, a woman in her forties who is returning to her family’s cottage, located in the fictional coastal town of Port Anna, after many setbacks in her life, like a failed relationship and career loss.
This aging seaside cottage was owned by her family for generations. She goes there again for solace and some rethinking of where she stands. Going back there awakens many memories and secrets. What surprises Gwen is that this time she is drawn to the community that she once fled from. It will be like an opportunity to rekindle old friendships and explore what used to be her home once again.
The story is not fully contemporary fiction and has some magical realism elements in it due to the presence of ghosts. At times, the plot felt overcrowded with events, making it seem unnecessarily stuffed. There are parts of the story that will appeal to many readers, but the ghost part might not be among them.
In my opinion, the overall atmosphere of the coastal town is what makes this story appealing. That atmosphere reminded me of the movie Safe Haven. Although the two stories are different, they both take place in a coastal town and have ghosts! If you loved the atmosphere of the movie, you might also love the atmosphere of this book, which I think can be an excellent beach read choice.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.
The Review
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
This debut novel follows the story of Gwen, a woman in her forties who is returning to her family’s cottage, located in the fictional coastal town of Port Anna, after many setbacks in her life, like a failed relationship and career loss.
This aging seaside cottage was owned by her family for generations. She goes there again for solace and some rethinking of where she stands. Going back there awakens many memories and secrets. What surprises Gwen is that this time she is drawn to the community that she once fled from. It will be like an opportunity to rekindle old friendships and explore what used to be her home once again.
The story is not fully contemporary fiction and has some magical realism elements in it due to the presence of ghosts. At times, the plot felt overcrowded with events, making it seem unnecessarily stuffed. There are parts of the story that will appeal to many readers, but the ghost part might not be among them.
In my opinion, the overall atmosphere of the coastal town is what makes this story appealing. That atmosphere reminded me of the movie Safe Haven. Although the two stories are different, they both take place in a coastal town and have ghosts! If you loved the atmosphere of the movie, you might also love the atmosphere of this book, which I think can be an excellent beach read choice.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.
The Review
March 3, 2025
What a nice little trip to Maine I just took right in the middle of winter!
The author's love for the New England state is abundantly clear in this book. Readers are transported to the coast, complete with a lighthouse, sailboats, and nineteenth century cottages with ceilings of knotted wood and roofs of silvered shingles.
Our main character Gwen left her hometown of Port Anna over twenty years ago in the wake of a personal tragedy. Now in her forties and suddenly without the job and partner she assumed would be hers forever, she returns with her tail tucked between her legs. In Port Anna Gwen spends time confronting her missteps, as well as reconnecting with old friends and making some new acquaintances (including a potential love interest and a runaway teen hiding out in the forest). She begins to build her life anew.
While mostly a contemporary fiction novel, there are dashes of magical realism sprinkled throughout the story as well, most prominently exhibited by the Misses - ghosts of the lesbian couple who built Gwen's family cottage who still let their opinions on the matters in their home known by making the walls creak and the doors slam. There is also the legend of the woman lighthouse keeper who would dive into the sea to save drowning sailors, and what ultimately became of her.
Besides being transportative, this was a very healing story about meeting past mistakes head on and putting one foot in front of the other until one finds their way in the world once again. Much thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
The author's love for the New England state is abundantly clear in this book. Readers are transported to the coast, complete with a lighthouse, sailboats, and nineteenth century cottages with ceilings of knotted wood and roofs of silvered shingles.
Our main character Gwen left her hometown of Port Anna over twenty years ago in the wake of a personal tragedy. Now in her forties and suddenly without the job and partner she assumed would be hers forever, she returns with her tail tucked between her legs. In Port Anna Gwen spends time confronting her missteps, as well as reconnecting with old friends and making some new acquaintances (including a potential love interest and a runaway teen hiding out in the forest). She begins to build her life anew.
While mostly a contemporary fiction novel, there are dashes of magical realism sprinkled throughout the story as well, most prominently exhibited by the Misses - ghosts of the lesbian couple who built Gwen's family cottage who still let their opinions on the matters in their home known by making the walls creak and the doors slam. There is also the legend of the woman lighthouse keeper who would dive into the sea to save drowning sailors, and what ultimately became of her.
Besides being transportative, this was a very healing story about meeting past mistakes head on and putting one foot in front of the other until one finds their way in the world once again. Much thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
July 3, 2025
Port Anna is an atmospheric, and charming character driven story about second chances and finding yourself again. Gwen left her family's coastal cottage, Periwinkle, in Port Anna Maine 24 years ago after a tragedy. Now she has lost her job, lost her boyfriend, her mom passed away and finances are a struggle. She decides to return to Periwinkle when she inherits it from her family.
Taking place in Maine, it really was like a character in itself. The descriptions and the way the author just has you feeling like you're there was just lovely. As for Gwen, her story makes for an enjoyable read. There's some magical realism, as Periwinkle has friendly ghosts that live there. That was really fun. There's romance with a torch of mystery too. I found this to be a hopeful story and I love reading it. This was a great beach read.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Taking place in Maine, it really was like a character in itself. The descriptions and the way the author just has you feeling like you're there was just lovely. As for Gwen, her story makes for an enjoyable read. There's some magical realism, as Periwinkle has friendly ghosts that live there. That was really fun. There's romance with a torch of mystery too. I found this to be a hopeful story and I love reading it. This was a great beach read.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 20, 2025
Gwen's life is falling apart. Her mother recently passed away, she was fired from her job and her boyfriend broke up with her. She packs up what's left of her life and heads to her childhood home she inherited. It's a quaint cottage with ocean views, boarding the woods in Maine. Upon her arrival, she is faced with ghosts from her past, a pushy realtor trying to buy her land and someone lurking in and around her house.
It's a slow start, it was hard to get through the first third of the book. However, as the story progressed the pacing got better and the last quarter was unputdownable. What kept me going was the setting. You can tell the author loves Maine with her whole heart. It felt atmospheric, like she captured every detail of her surroundings with precision and an all seeing eye. I also really enjoyed watching Gwen's gradual transformation from closed off to guard down with old friends, a new flame and the community.
Port Anna is about forgiveness and new beginnings, a thoughtful read.
It's a slow start, it was hard to get through the first third of the book. However, as the story progressed the pacing got better and the last quarter was unputdownable. What kept me going was the setting. You can tell the author loves Maine with her whole heart. It felt atmospheric, like she captured every detail of her surroundings with precision and an all seeing eye. I also really enjoyed watching Gwen's gradual transformation from closed off to guard down with old friends, a new flame and the community.
Port Anna is about forgiveness and new beginnings, a thoughtful read.
July 27, 2025
4 stars. Port Anna is a fun and entertaining summertime read with ghosts, not just of the past for our MC Gwen.. but of real ghosts or spirits called “The Misses,” the friendly keepers of an older Maine coastal cottage, the Periwinkle. Gwen inherits the cottage and returns to Port Anna looking for a fresh start after the recent loss of her mother, boyfriend and job. There’s a romance twist as Gwen still feels those old familiar sparks for her long ago love, but also a past mystery comes to light threatening everything Gwen touches—yet goodness and hope perseveres. Bucks impressive writing kept me invested, and the atmospheric setting with its vivid descriptions transported me to a picturesque Maine coast with its lighthouse, sailboats, the sea lapping at its shores and Maines beloved hand-detailed historic homes seated cliffside. Was very impressed with Cassandra Campbell’s performance and do recommend the audio. 🎧 Pub. 7/1/25
June 29, 2025
Port Anna by Libby Buck. Thanks to @simonbooks #simonbooksbuddy for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gwen Gilmore has lost her boyfriend, mother, and job, when she comes home to stay at her family’s cottage on the Maine coast. The cottage and town haven’t changed much, but it brings many memories back from Gwen.
This is a quiet novel that brings the Maine and small town atmosphere to life. I loved the different characters from the town that we get to know. There are a lot of sub plots going on but it does not get confusing. The writing style is well done and it’s hard to believe it’s a debut.
Port Anna comes out 7/1.
Gwen Gilmore has lost her boyfriend, mother, and job, when she comes home to stay at her family’s cottage on the Maine coast. The cottage and town haven’t changed much, but it brings many memories back from Gwen.
This is a quiet novel that brings the Maine and small town atmosphere to life. I loved the different characters from the town that we get to know. There are a lot of sub plots going on but it does not get confusing. The writing style is well done and it’s hard to believe it’s a debut.
Port Anna comes out 7/1.
August 8, 2025
PORT ANNA by Libby Buck is basically a love letter to Maine. The eastern state has been on my bucket list to visit for years now, and Buck’s gorgeous descriptions have solidified my decision to bump it WAY up the list. The east coast is calling my name! Hopefully next summer.🤞
This is one of those slow, quiet, and thoughtful novels that I can’t get enough of with beautiful and atmospheric writing that pulls you in immediately. It follows Gwen Gilmore, a teacher who recently lost her mother, job, and boyfriend, so she decides to make her way back home to Maine. She needs a fresh start, so she moves into her family’s old cottage, and is welcomed by some friendly ghosts. Yes, you read that correctly. Trust me, just roll with it. The reader soon learns about Gwen’s heartbreaking past, the tragic reason why she left all those years ago, and the guilt that she still carries.
I was fully immersed and invested in Gwen’s story—past and present—but was even more impressed by where the author took the story about Gwen’s family cottage and Port Anna, the town itself. As a historical fiction fan, I appreciated the blend of genres —from contemporary, to historical, some magical realism, and then a little touch of romance. It made for a very well rounded novel.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Slow-burning pace
- Character-driven novels
- Haunted houses
- Maine setting
- Starting over stories
- Mystery and intrigue
- Light romance
- Nature and water
- Rekindling old friendships
- Reflections on loss and grief
Overall, I was very impressed with this debut—especially Buck’s style of writing. I hope to read more from the author in the future. PORT ANNA is out now! 4/5 solid stars!
This is one of those slow, quiet, and thoughtful novels that I can’t get enough of with beautiful and atmospheric writing that pulls you in immediately. It follows Gwen Gilmore, a teacher who recently lost her mother, job, and boyfriend, so she decides to make her way back home to Maine. She needs a fresh start, so she moves into her family’s old cottage, and is welcomed by some friendly ghosts. Yes, you read that correctly. Trust me, just roll with it. The reader soon learns about Gwen’s heartbreaking past, the tragic reason why she left all those years ago, and the guilt that she still carries.
I was fully immersed and invested in Gwen’s story—past and present—but was even more impressed by where the author took the story about Gwen’s family cottage and Port Anna, the town itself. As a historical fiction fan, I appreciated the blend of genres —from contemporary, to historical, some magical realism, and then a little touch of romance. It made for a very well rounded novel.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Slow-burning pace
- Character-driven novels
- Haunted houses
- Maine setting
- Starting over stories
- Mystery and intrigue
- Light romance
- Nature and water
- Rekindling old friendships
- Reflections on loss and grief
Overall, I was very impressed with this debut—especially Buck’s style of writing. I hope to read more from the author in the future. PORT ANNA is out now! 4/5 solid stars!
February 25, 2025
A love letter to Maine, and anyone who is looking to untether themselves from the burdens of the past, Port Anna is a beautiful, nostalgic debut that will tug at your heartstrings. Gwen Gilmore lost almost everything, and is driving up to her old family cabin in Maine to try and find her footing in life again. There, she is met with some old friends – many of whom have changed in ways that don't necessarily meet the eye; the broader community that's eager to welcome Gwen back; a couple of benevolent ghosts; a mystery to solve; and the many dark shadows of her troublesome past. I was first drawn in by the evocative setting, as well as a curiosity about what happened in Gwen's past and whether she would find a way back into her community's fold – and back to herself. But as the winter tightened its grip over Maine and Gwen's financial troubles took an even more sinister turn, I found myself sitting at the edge of my seat, unable to stop turning the pages. This is definitely a debut worth reading!
May 14, 2025
I had delayed reading this ARC for months after receiving it, and I’m glad I did.
I should have read the description more closely. Then, I would have realized that I didn’t need to read another book about a “damsel in distress who returns to her hometown, interacts with high school boyfriends, and so on. We’ve all read this trope before, and this one is just as predictable and forgetful.
I never really connected with the main character (Gwen) and found myself skimming through most of the book. Yes, it’s a beach read, but there are far better options than this book.
This novel was compared to Sandwich, which is far superior. Try that one instead!
I should have read the description more closely. Then, I would have realized that I didn’t need to read another book about a “damsel in distress who returns to her hometown, interacts with high school boyfriends, and so on. We’ve all read this trope before, and this one is just as predictable and forgetful.
I never really connected with the main character (Gwen) and found myself skimming through most of the book. Yes, it’s a beach read, but there are far better options than this book.
This novel was compared to Sandwich, which is far superior. Try that one instead!
August 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this enchanting story of a woman returning to her childhood summer home in Maine to escape her life and in the process has to deal with the intense grief of her past. This book is very well written and a quick read, though I had some issues with the ending and the terrible decisions that Gwen makes, it is overall a great story with very charming setting.
December 11, 2024
“Port Anna” is a captivating debut novel by Libby Buck. The main character is a woman who returns to her family’s summer cottage in a small town on the coast of Maine after a series of traumatic setbacks in her life. She is warmly welcomed and intends to start her life anew when ghosts, childhood friends, romance, and a teenage runaway keep her choosing terrible life decisions. Ultimately, she begins to face her past and she begins to realize the value of being true to yourself and the importance of friends who are your chosen family. I loved the beautiful descriptions of the setting and the ghosts both literal and metaphorical as characters and am looking forward to reading Ms. Bucks next book.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 4, 2025
Port Anna focuses on main character, Gwen, who is down on her luck and decides to move back to her family’s summer home in Port Anna, Maine. In Port Anna, Gwen must confront the figurative and literal ghosts of her past while trying to get a fresh start in her life.
Gwen’s story contains themes of romance, mystery, grief, betrayal, growth, found family, and even some magical realism. I think author Libby Buck did a fantastic job of setting the scene of this story. Her depictions of this fictional town made me want to book a trip to Maine ASAP. The story kept me entertained and overall I really enjoyed it. I’m so glad I took a chance on this author debut and this book will definitely be on my recommendation list.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and of course Libby Buck for this advanced copy!
Gwen’s story contains themes of romance, mystery, grief, betrayal, growth, found family, and even some magical realism. I think author Libby Buck did a fantastic job of setting the scene of this story. Her depictions of this fictional town made me want to book a trip to Maine ASAP. The story kept me entertained and overall I really enjoyed it. I’m so glad I took a chance on this author debut and this book will definitely be on my recommendation list.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and of course Libby Buck for this advanced copy!
December 23, 2024
This book had me at Maine! Port Anna is a wonderful novel about family, life, love, regrets, and what's most important in life. After being fired from her University job in North Carolina, Gwen moves to her late mother's cottage in coastal Maine, back to the place she grew up and lost her beloved sister. Once home, she finds old friends who disappoint as well as old friends who give her lifeline. There's a touch of magical realism, some romance, and the wonderful feel of the Maine coast. Don't miss this book. It's a great novel for book groups, so much to discuss.
January 3, 2025
This delightful story takes place in Maine where Gwen has returned after being away from her family’s summer home for many years. Gwen is at a crossroad in her life. Her mother has passed away and she has inherited the dilapidated and haunted cottage that holds some wonderful, and also some devastating memories. Her long term relationship has recently ended, her career is unfulfilling, she is in financial straights, and she has decided to return to the cottage to start a new phase of her life.
Returning to the cottage also means she can no longer suppress her memories of her little sister’s drowning that occurred decades earlier here when she was a teen. Her feelings of guilt and sadness come back to her along with the cottage’s familiar ghosts. The story is about reconnecting with old friends, making new friends, a new love, and also dealing with an old friend’s betrayal. All of this made for an interesting and nostalgic story.
Returning to the cottage also means she can no longer suppress her memories of her little sister’s drowning that occurred decades earlier here when she was a teen. Her feelings of guilt and sadness come back to her along with the cottage’s familiar ghosts. The story is about reconnecting with old friends, making new friends, a new love, and also dealing with an old friend’s betrayal. All of this made for an interesting and nostalgic story.
October 16, 2025
A lyrical, atmospheric debut set against the backdrop of a Maine winter, PORT ANNA tells the story of one woman's journey to find belonging and acceptance in the splintered remnants of her life.
When Gwen returns to her family's abandoned cottage overlooking the ocean, she's running away from her old life, not running toward a new one. She's lost everything, and this old house--that isn't winterized--is her only refuge. She literally has nothing else--no family, no career, no money, no partner. No dreams. And the old cottage contains ghosts both deeply personal and 'real'.
As she reconnects with people from her past, including old classmates and boyfriends, she meets new people: a charismatic artist who comes and goes; a teenage girl with secrets; an ambitious real estate agent who shows a little too much interest in Gwen's land.
But even in a harsh winter, there is beauty and hope. And maybe a second chance at life and love.
When Gwen returns to her family's abandoned cottage overlooking the ocean, she's running away from her old life, not running toward a new one. She's lost everything, and this old house--that isn't winterized--is her only refuge. She literally has nothing else--no family, no career, no money, no partner. No dreams. And the old cottage contains ghosts both deeply personal and 'real'.
As she reconnects with people from her past, including old classmates and boyfriends, she meets new people: a charismatic artist who comes and goes; a teenage girl with secrets; an ambitious real estate agent who shows a little too much interest in Gwen's land.
But even in a harsh winter, there is beauty and hope. And maybe a second chance at life and love.
dnf
August 8, 2025Admittedly Port Anna was not on my "to be read" list but it showed up in my mailbox (Simon giveaway win) so I gave it a shot.
Ghosts, an aloof love interest, and "forgotten creative dreams" aren't typically for me. I was interested in a small-town coastal tale, but to be honest I set this one down and just never picked it back up. (DNF at 12%)
I think this will be a better fit with more frequent readers of women's fiction, those into stories about a woman slowly finding her way.
Ghosts, an aloof love interest, and "forgotten creative dreams" aren't typically for me. I was interested in a small-town coastal tale, but to be honest I set this one down and just never picked it back up. (DNF at 12%)
I think this will be a better fit with more frequent readers of women's fiction, those into stories about a woman slowly finding her way.
May 19, 2025
4 stars ⭐️
Thank you Simon Books for this gorgeous ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was SUCH a pleasant surprise from a debut author! I have to admit I expressed interest in this book simply because of the cover but once I got into the pages I knew instantly I would enjoy it. This book was so many things at one time - but in the best way. A story about grief, coming home, finding your way through tough times, mending and creating families and you know what else? Magic. Magic and fairy tales.
⭐️ What I liked:
- This writing is simple but elegant. Extremely descriptive and moody. It felt like walking on the beach during a chilly fall day the entire book. This was probably my favorite part (I likened this to an Adrienne Young novel in the way that the atmosphere and slight magical elements power the story)
- The story was just enough. I loved that things weren’t overcomplicated, I loved that it didn’t try hard to be something bigger than it was. A simple story is good for the heart and that was this.
- The small pieces of magic and fairy tale like elements aided the story. This was a fun twist on a story that would have other wise been categorized as a simple women’s fiction / suspense novel.
- I enjoyed the feeling of facing grief/ coming home / found family / finding your place in life vibes. I love a character down on their luck and being able to watch their journey through hard times.
- The back stories were very compelling, nostalgic and emotional. It made me feel for the characters in a deeper way. It also gave the story some stormy sky feelings which I really loved.
⭐️ What kept this from a full five?
- I wanted more Leandro. Plain and simple. I loved every thing he was a part of and I wish he was in it a little more than he was. I didn’t go into this expecting a romance but because Leandro was so brilliant, it left a chill when he wasn’t around.
- I found that the interactions between characters were choppy throughout the book. I just didn’t love the dialogue and couldn’t fully sink into a scene or conversation before it was ripped away too quickly. The richest parts of the writing were when main character Gwen was on her own, interestingly enough. I would have loved some longer lasting dialogues or to be able to stay in a moment for a little longer.
⭐️ Overall, this was such a refreshing read. I tore through this. I recommend this for a rainy week during the summer. For a time when you want to relax and read something simple but also don’t want fluffy and light.
Thank you Simon Books for this gorgeous ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was SUCH a pleasant surprise from a debut author! I have to admit I expressed interest in this book simply because of the cover but once I got into the pages I knew instantly I would enjoy it. This book was so many things at one time - but in the best way. A story about grief, coming home, finding your way through tough times, mending and creating families and you know what else? Magic. Magic and fairy tales.
⭐️ What I liked:
- This writing is simple but elegant. Extremely descriptive and moody. It felt like walking on the beach during a chilly fall day the entire book. This was probably my favorite part (I likened this to an Adrienne Young novel in the way that the atmosphere and slight magical elements power the story)
- The story was just enough. I loved that things weren’t overcomplicated, I loved that it didn’t try hard to be something bigger than it was. A simple story is good for the heart and that was this.
- The small pieces of magic and fairy tale like elements aided the story. This was a fun twist on a story that would have other wise been categorized as a simple women’s fiction / suspense novel.
- I enjoyed the feeling of facing grief/ coming home / found family / finding your place in life vibes. I love a character down on their luck and being able to watch their journey through hard times.
- The back stories were very compelling, nostalgic and emotional. It made me feel for the characters in a deeper way. It also gave the story some stormy sky feelings which I really loved.
⭐️ What kept this from a full five?
- I wanted more Leandro. Plain and simple. I loved every thing he was a part of and I wish he was in it a little more than he was. I didn’t go into this expecting a romance but because Leandro was so brilliant, it left a chill when he wasn’t around.
- I found that the interactions between characters were choppy throughout the book. I just didn’t love the dialogue and couldn’t fully sink into a scene or conversation before it was ripped away too quickly. The richest parts of the writing were when main character Gwen was on her own, interestingly enough. I would have loved some longer lasting dialogues or to be able to stay in a moment for a little longer.
⭐️ Overall, this was such a refreshing read. I tore through this. I recommend this for a rainy week during the summer. For a time when you want to relax and read something simple but also don’t want fluffy and light.
January 12, 2025
***Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, & the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I need time to really think before deciding on what to rate this one because it was beautifully written, but I never felt fully invested or captivated by the story. It felt like too much was going on at all times. There were so many characters, and none of them were very well developed in my opinion, mostly because I couldn’t picture them in my head or tell them apart for a while there. I couldn’t figure out friend or foe either for most of the story, but I think that may have been the point?!
I’m actually a fan of the paranormal, and I really enjoyed the sprinkles of that thrown in amongst the chaos of this book. I looked forward to it, and I almost wish there was a hint more depth to it. I wanted more of Anna’s story, and I actually wanted to hear more about the Misses!!! I just wanted more from this! It was exciting, and I was waiting for Molly the entire book…
I am not sure if it was the TINY font on my phone reading this arc or the story itself that kept me bobbing for (let’s just keep it clean here) apples…I nodded off almost every time I picked this arc up. I felt like it took me forever to finish, and it was not a long story at all. The last 20% I did not want to put down…
***possible spoilers?!? Don’t read beyond this if you are like me & never read the back of the book first lol…
Once Hugh’s true nature was discovered I was horrified. I knew something was up with all the hints dropped, but if all of these supporting characters were truly friends of Gwen’s…how did this happen?! It was too easy & too annoying for me. I felt so confused how no one warned her about him knowing she was spending time and knowing how he truly was. SHOCKED!
That ending is what has me really wanting to leave four stars. I just don’t think I can ultimately because the entire story as a whole was three stars for me. It was good!! I just wouldn’t read it again personally or run to tell everyone I know about it either. I did feel that it was a beautifully written story, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The ending was 4.5 stars, but the book was 2-3 for me, so I’m leaving 3.7 stars for this one as a whole. I will absolutely pick up her next book!!
I need time to really think before deciding on what to rate this one because it was beautifully written, but I never felt fully invested or captivated by the story. It felt like too much was going on at all times. There were so many characters, and none of them were very well developed in my opinion, mostly because I couldn’t picture them in my head or tell them apart for a while there. I couldn’t figure out friend or foe either for most of the story, but I think that may have been the point?!
I’m actually a fan of the paranormal, and I really enjoyed the sprinkles of that thrown in amongst the chaos of this book. I looked forward to it, and I almost wish there was a hint more depth to it. I wanted more of Anna’s story, and I actually wanted to hear more about the Misses!!! I just wanted more from this! It was exciting, and I was waiting for Molly the entire book…
I am not sure if it was the TINY font on my phone reading this arc or the story itself that kept me bobbing for (let’s just keep it clean here) apples…I nodded off almost every time I picked this arc up. I felt like it took me forever to finish, and it was not a long story at all. The last 20% I did not want to put down…
***possible spoilers?!? Don’t read beyond this if you are like me & never read the back of the book first lol…
Once Hugh’s true nature was discovered I was horrified. I knew something was up with all the hints dropped, but if all of these supporting characters were truly friends of Gwen’s…how did this happen?! It was too easy & too annoying for me. I felt so confused how no one warned her about him knowing she was spending time and knowing how he truly was. SHOCKED!
That ending is what has me really wanting to leave four stars. I just don’t think I can ultimately because the entire story as a whole was three stars for me. It was good!! I just wouldn’t read it again personally or run to tell everyone I know about it either. I did feel that it was a beautifully written story, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The ending was 4.5 stars, but the book was 2-3 for me, so I’m leaving 3.7 stars for this one as a whole. I will absolutely pick up her next book!!
July 5, 2025
3.5⭐️
Thank you @simonbooks @simon.audio for the free copy♡₊˚⊹
🦞 A love letter to port towns in Maine, to artists, and to healing after loss and grief.
.
If you like the small town stories, where the pace of life is slower, where everyone knows your name, where folks pitch in to help their neighbors, this is for you.
.
You’ll know who you’re supposed to root for, and who is not here for the right reasons. So, despite the predictability there is a comfort. There’s also a slow blooming romance and artistry in the writing.
.
🌊 The mysticism of the sea and its creatures contributes to the charm and magic of the setting. I particularly enjoyed the 🦭seals and the enchanting yet perilous allure of open water.
.
On the other hand, the ghosts of Periwinkle cottage had so small a role that I’d have just as soon had them written out.
.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• My preference on this one was written format. Audio was not bad, just not as much a standout as some others.
🐚 A charming, slower paced debut to pick up when you’re in the mood for a comforting, feel good read.
“You know what they say, don’t you? That wherever you go, you take yourself.”
Thank you @simonbooks @simon.audio for the free copy♡₊˚⊹
🦞 A love letter to port towns in Maine, to artists, and to healing after loss and grief.
.
If you like the small town stories, where the pace of life is slower, where everyone knows your name, where folks pitch in to help their neighbors, this is for you.
.
You’ll know who you’re supposed to root for, and who is not here for the right reasons. So, despite the predictability there is a comfort. There’s also a slow blooming romance and artistry in the writing.
.
🌊 The mysticism of the sea and its creatures contributes to the charm and magic of the setting. I particularly enjoyed the 🦭seals and the enchanting yet perilous allure of open water.
.
On the other hand, the ghosts of Periwinkle cottage had so small a role that I’d have just as soon had them written out.
.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• My preference on this one was written format. Audio was not bad, just not as much a standout as some others.
🐚 A charming, slower paced debut to pick up when you’re in the mood for a comforting, feel good read.
“You know what they say, don’t you? That wherever you go, you take yourself.”
February 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I was thankful to have been asked to read this debut novel so I could give my opinions on it.
It took me a bit to get through as there was something missing for me.
Lit fiction is such a unique category at times as it can be a catch all for various genres and I think that’s why I struggled as it had a little bit of everything but nothing felt like it was satisfying in the end.
I still rounded it up to 4⭐️ as I think some will absolutely love it as the prose is beautiful. It’s very descriptive, sometimes overly, in bringing the Maine scenery to life. The magical realism of the ghost mentions were great.. but again, it felt unfinished as I wanted more.
I think this book may be a great read for book clubs as there is a lot to discuss!
The book comes out on July 1, 2025 from Simon and Schuster.
I was thankful to have been asked to read this debut novel so I could give my opinions on it.
It took me a bit to get through as there was something missing for me.
Lit fiction is such a unique category at times as it can be a catch all for various genres and I think that’s why I struggled as it had a little bit of everything but nothing felt like it was satisfying in the end.
I still rounded it up to 4⭐️ as I think some will absolutely love it as the prose is beautiful. It’s very descriptive, sometimes overly, in bringing the Maine scenery to life. The magical realism of the ghost mentions were great.. but again, it felt unfinished as I wanted more.
I think this book may be a great read for book clubs as there is a lot to discuss!
The book comes out on July 1, 2025 from Simon and Schuster.
October 15, 2025
Reading this book will make you want to book a trip to Maine immediately. The author’s beautiful writing style and detailed descriptions of the coastal Maine setting, complete with a gray-washed cottage and lighthouse, transported me to the New England coastal town of Port Anna. The main character, Gwen, now in her forties, returns to Periwinkle—her family’s coastal cottage—after leaving Port Anna more than 20 years ago. She’s lost her mother, her boyfriend broke up with her, and she was fired from her job, so seeking a fresh start, she heads to the cottage she inherited. Once there, she’s welcomed by the cottages’ friendly ghosts—yes, ghosts—as well as old friends, a new love interest, and feelings of guilt and devastating sadness as memories of her sister’s drowning, which happened many years ago, come flooding back. This is a nostalgic story with a touch of magical realism; it’s a story about coming home, starting over, and found family. If you enjoy emotional, atmospheric, nostalgic novels that feel like a warm hug, this one is for you.
July 2, 2025
This debut novel tells the story of Gwen, a woman in her forties who heads back to her family’s cottage in the made-up coastal town of Port Anna after hitting a rough patch in life. I liked the book, but there was just a lot going on. So many different stories happening at the same time, I honestly couldn't tell what the main plot was supposed to be. Tons of characters introduced pretty fast too, and I wasn’t sure which side stories I was meant to focus on. Still, I enjoyed it overall. It was a light, fast read.
May 6, 2025
I was chosen as a reader for THE FIRST NOVEL PRIZE sponsored by the Center for Fiction and I received this ARC in exchange for an honest evaluation. Actually 3 1/2 stars. Gwen Gilmore has returned home to the family shack in Maine after her adult life has fallen apart. She reconnects with old friends, realizing that relationships are not static and friends, once close, are now not speaking. She slowly rebuilds her life, but continues to make immature decisions. I found her frustrating, but ultimately likeable. A plus is Libby Buck's description of the Maine coastline over the course of almost a year.
August 3, 2025
This book wasn’t what I thought it’d be, but it was great nonetheless. In my view, this is a tale of gaining personal and emotional freedom while doling out grace where it’s deserved.
January 11, 2026
Wow, where to start?? I have MANY THOUGHTS. A little bit obsessive.
First, Port Anna, of the title, is a fictional town in Maine. I won this book on Goodreads and saw that the setting was the coast of Maine. I assumed that it would be a generic coastal beach community, probably in southern Maine. I waited for 6 months for the book to arrive; in the meantime, my sister just said to me, "Have you read Port Anna yet? It's supposed to be a fictional town, but it's BLUE HILL!! Mostly!" She lent me hers and the day I finished it, my copy arrived in the mail.
So, is it EVER BLUE HILL! I have to say at this point (and to Ms. Buck, if she's reading this--) that I lived in the Blue Hill area for 20 years. Everything she describes is so familiar to me. I will say that she is VERY authentic. Almost too much so---I did feel at times that she was putting in TOOO many Maine things, just to prove her familiarity with Maine. Port Anna is not exactly like Blue Hill---Blue Hill does not have a lighthouse that can be reached from shore at low tide---there is one in Blue Hill Bay, but it's remote and can only be seen from Naskeag Pt in Brooklin, or from a boat. Also, Blue Hill has no ferries. But otherwise, this could be Blue Hill! I love Blue Hill, it IS a magical, lyrical place, a place that ANYONE would want to spend summers in (or heck, live year round in), she's right. I know Port Anna was named for the Anna Vale in the story, but I did wonder at her calling it Port Anna. For one thing, there is only ONE town in Maine that starts with Port, isn't that odd? It's Port Clyde in lower midcoast, where you can get the ferry to Monhegan Island (another idyllic place! Check it out, Ms Buck!). All the other "ports" in Maine are at the end of the name: Machiasport, Winterport, Bucksport, Freeport, Eastport, and so on. Oh, and there's Portland, but that's one word. I thought she should have been closer to the Blue Hill name, something like Blue Landing, or Blue's Ferry, or Blue Mountain, Bluestown.....something like that. ( I always did like naming.)
I lived in several places on the Blue Hill peninsula, first in Brooklin, then in East Blue Hill, then in Surry and finally to Ellsworth, named in the story. My sister still lives in Sedgwick, just outside of Blue Hill. Buck mentions the Fair held over Labor Day, which is the famous Blue Hill Fair; she mentions the steel drum band that plays in the Park every Monday night all summer and has quite a group of enthusiastic fans--(which is called Flash in the Pans, and my sister plays in it!). She mentions a grocery which I equated with Merrill and Hinckley's, but I may be wrong on that. Oh, and the Packet----there is the Blue Hill Packet, a real newspaper. Surprisingly, she doesn't mention the Blue Hill Hospital, one of the cornerstones of the town (although sadly reduced as of 2025)---when Gwen hurts her hand, they take her all the way to Ellsworth to Urgent Care.
I don't know why, but aren't we always so tickled to read about places we know and live in, showing up in books?? She mentions Bucksport, Orland, Bangor, the Ellsworth Rd and Ellsworth, The Falls bridge, Hancock County, LL Bean boots, and the ever present Maine "Aye-uh". OH, and Gwen drives a Subaru, held to the the favorite Maine car! And she mentions Hannaford in Blue Hill, I worked there for many years. She also mentions the real town of Surry, but adds an e, as in the English village. Why misspell this one, when everything else is spelled correctly? Did she really just goof and nobody caught it, even her agent, who is from Maine?
She also did a PRIMO job in the character and voice of the Condons! They are PERFECT! And yes, Condon is a common Maine name, I have friends named Condon. I saw an interview where Libby Buck says it is her mother's maiden name (but she didn't say if her mother is from Maine?). I will add that other common names in Blue Hill are Candage, Conary, and Gray.....and throw in a few Snows, Eatons and Torreys....
I concluded that Libby Buck definitely summered in Blue Hill regularly, but did not live here year round. Her writing is less sure when she ventures into winter. I'm here to tell her that the road between Ellsworth and Blue Hill is still pretty busy in winter, not deserted! And Hannaford is not open on Thanksgiving. And I had the impression that Gwen Gilmore had grown up in Port Anna, like year round, and had made those childhood friends, going to school with them and all, and so I was puzzled when they said that the coming Nor 'Easter would be Gwen's first---How could that be? We have 1-3 Nor'easters every year, if she lived there until she was at least 20, she would have gone thru bunches of them. It wasn't until I finished the book that I thought, DUH, the house wasn't winterized, she couldn't have lived there year round. My bad. The book acted like she was going "home", and I wouldn't consider a summer place, Home.
So I have just looked at 3 interviews and one talk by Libby Buck, online, and learned that this book mirrors her life (not Gwen's, but the Blue Hill part and the cottage)---that is interesting. I would love to know where the cottage was that she went to as a child, and where she goes now! Unlike in the story, Libby's cottage was sold when her parents divorced, and she was a teenager. She didn't say whether it still existed...? But she never stopped loving it and the fun they had had. She DID say that it had been built by two lesbian professors, just like in the book, and that it had ghosts, albeit not as loud. She had a real picture of "The Misses" on the front porch. And that they left everything in the cottage to be inherited by Libby's family, including pictures, plates, linens, and albums.
There may be spoilers from here on in! Just a warning!
I did like Gwen (and I liked her name) but she was awfully stupid sometimes! I mean, she fled to Maine, to a uninsulated cottage, planning to live year round....OK---we KNOW she would have to insulate it and that would cost bucks and she would have to start right away as soon as she got there---and where did she think the money for that would come from? She seemed to have a vague idea that "she'd figure it out." We have her arriving in Maine nearly penniless, having lost her job and her erstwhile hoped-for fiance, then getting drunk, then falling and hurting her leg, then chasing after the ghost of Molly, her dead sister, and getting a nail thru her hand...then banging her head on a beam and getting quite a goose egg, besides being exhausted, sleepless and hungry (or not.). And not wanting to tend to her injuries properly (I was quite worried until she got that tetanus shot!), and showing up at work with the various bruises and bandages, like a sad sack heroine....Her credit card was nearly maxxed out and she couldn't afford groceries. I mean! This girl is a hot mess! It's hard to respect a woman like that! It's one thing if she couldn't do things that her husband usually did, but she had never married! She was technically single for 20 years! Then she goes off with Hugh, despite warnings from friends, then she moves into Hugh's mega-mansion, despite MORE warnings from friends....Then she takes up the responsibility for a runaway, which made me like her, and I didn't fault her for not turning in Shania, but it was sort of like trying to tame a wild pet and putting food out for it....Real??? Could Shania really survive in the cold of a coastal winter? Besides stealing food, where was she getting it? Anyway, there was a LOT of drama going on!! Grief over her sister, (ever present), things reminding her of it, unexplained conflicts between her old friends, a real estate lady harassing her, then her car heater dies, just when the house is impossibly cold....I mean, have we heaped enough troubles on this woman?
As to the grief over her sister, I feel like I've just finished reading 3 books with the exact same story. Woman feels guilty and grief-stricken over a death they believe was all their fault, and they believe that others (like their mother or husband) hate them for it, when it's not true. Gwen thought her mother couldn't stand the sight of her and sent her to boarding school. I just finished The Correspondent for the second time and the protagonist had been agonizing over the death of her son, and was sure it was all her fault and that her husband blamed her for it. And it turns out that's not the case. "Speak to Me of Home", "The Ghostwriter", and "The Beginner's Goodbye" are all examples of the same trope and I just read them.
And wow, was Gwen a pessimist! She runs up a bill at the Urgent Care, and is sure she has to pay it right away, the whole amount. Has the woman never heard of payment plans for your hospital bill??? Go talk to them!! You can pay a little a month, forever, and keep them off your back. Come to that, as soon as they heard she had no insurance (that should go in the paragraph about what a mess she was), they would have been offering her remedies, sliding scales and options for paying. And there are food pantries for food insecurity....?!! THINK, WOMAN! There is help out there!!! And with all those guy friends still in the area, she could have asked for a loan from them (just a friendly one, not like the contract she made with Hugh.). Also once she did get the money from Hugh and had paid off the credit card, then she could ostensibly USE the card again for food!! I was just rolling my eyes at her helplessness!! Eventually that goes REALLY badly (Oh, and are you kidding me? She waited until the last day the payment was due and then MISSED THE DEADLINE???), and she will lose the house, and at any rate also needs to fix the foundation, none of which she has the money for.....I was just shaking my head. And then so many people turned out to be working with the evil real estate lady! Both Steven AND Hugh, how did THAT work??
Oh and using a fireplace for heat? Totally the stupidest thing! She needed a woodstove! But beyond that, she had electricity, she could have gotten a Monitor heater installed, or a Heat Pump (but those cost some bucks) OR she could have just gotten an electric space heater and an electric blanket!! Yes, a higher electric bill, but you can also negotiate with electricity providers.
And the "magical realism" mentioned by many reviewers.....Well, I don't consider the seal incident magical exactly, we've heard of cases of seals or dolphins helping people. When I went rowing off the coast in Blue Hill, seals would often turn up quite close to the boat and stare at me, and then follow. And crows are known to be smart, to collect shiny trinkets and to recognize faces and remember those who help or harm them. Coming into the house to watch over her was a bit much, but anyway. But the ghosts!! No, I did not like the ghosts. I do not find that charming or funny. It amazes me that Gwen's family was not creeped out by it, and stayed. Sorry, I have to say it---the Bible says that "ghosts" are really demons, bad angels, and to stay away from them. They like to impersonate dead people and fool humans....it is not cute OR harmless. So I tried to ignore that part of the story as I read it. In fact, all the stuff about the legend of Anna Vale and mermaids, and her lost lover, or whatever, bored me and I mostly skipped over all that. And then---oh man, i hate it when some random event makes some old document come to light---behind the picture, or in the locket or under the floorboards...In this case, the shell collage was thrown against the wall and broke, and lo and behold, an old letter from Anna's lover, in solid ink. It's all true! Tra la la!! And then the archaeologist's dig/grave thing saves the day, helped by Shania----well, I was happy of course, that she saved Periwinkle Cottage, but I thought it was so unrealistic. Creative, though, I give her that! that was a new way to "save the farm"!
Also---did Gwen have to say the F word over and over?? Really?
And finally, I did not find the romance with Leandro satisfying or believable. I WANTED TO!! REALLY!! But, we, AND SHE, knew so little about him! And the man only hits town once in a blue moon! She was instantly attracted to him, afraid to touch him, sparks might ignite! By the third time (?) she met him, they went to bed together, I mean, total sexual attraction and they couldn't stand it anymore, they had to do it. That sounds shallow to me, totally a hormonal lust attraction. Will that last? I want something that will last for her, right there in Port Anna, a nice husband who works from home. (Although I get what some of the women were saying, sometimes it's great when they go away! But not MOST of the time!) Anyway, he was the exotic stranger from abroad with the accent, no? Always a spellbinder.
So, all in all, while I was fascinated with the setting, I didn't find it to be the greatest storytelling. I don't consider this literary fiction, I would put it squarely in Women's Lit. And some reviews are comparing it to "Sandwich" by Catherine Newman, but sorry, don't agree: They were both set in New England towns, but that's where the similarity ends. Sandwich is Lit Fic.
HOWEVER, I noted in a lot of reviews that BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK, many people had decided to finally visit Maine! All those people with "Visit Maine" on their Bucket List, were finally going to do it! I say, HOORAY! I don't love being overrun by tourists, but I love to have people love it like I do! Why not, I'll share! And I hope that they look up Ellsworth and Blue Hill and Bangor on their maps, so they know to go to the "right place"---not just the southern Maine beaches.
And, Libby Buck, if you are reading this, I saw you in several interviews and I think you look and sound like just the nicest person! You remind me very much of a good friend of mine who lived here for a long time, but has moved to Montana. I wish you well!; I wish I had caught your book appearances in Blue Hill and Stonington last year, but I didn't know you then. I hope you keep coming up to Blue Hill.and keep writing.....I"m sorry I'm critical, I think I should have been a movie critic....it's just me....
PS One more point. In two interviews I saw, you mentioned the Piscataqua Bridge that is the landmark for coming into Maine from NH.....I have to tell you that it is not pronounced "Pis-ca-TAUK-qua" bridge (or the Piscataco Bridge as the subtitles had it!)----It's Pi-SCAT'-a-qua. And there's Pis-SCAT-a-quis County. I know, it's odd!
First, Port Anna, of the title, is a fictional town in Maine. I won this book on Goodreads and saw that the setting was the coast of Maine. I assumed that it would be a generic coastal beach community, probably in southern Maine. I waited for 6 months for the book to arrive; in the meantime, my sister just said to me, "Have you read Port Anna yet? It's supposed to be a fictional town, but it's BLUE HILL!! Mostly!" She lent me hers and the day I finished it, my copy arrived in the mail.
So, is it EVER BLUE HILL! I have to say at this point (and to Ms. Buck, if she's reading this--) that I lived in the Blue Hill area for 20 years. Everything she describes is so familiar to me. I will say that she is VERY authentic. Almost too much so---I did feel at times that she was putting in TOOO many Maine things, just to prove her familiarity with Maine. Port Anna is not exactly like Blue Hill---Blue Hill does not have a lighthouse that can be reached from shore at low tide---there is one in Blue Hill Bay, but it's remote and can only be seen from Naskeag Pt in Brooklin, or from a boat. Also, Blue Hill has no ferries. But otherwise, this could be Blue Hill! I love Blue Hill, it IS a magical, lyrical place, a place that ANYONE would want to spend summers in (or heck, live year round in), she's right. I know Port Anna was named for the Anna Vale in the story, but I did wonder at her calling it Port Anna. For one thing, there is only ONE town in Maine that starts with Port, isn't that odd? It's Port Clyde in lower midcoast, where you can get the ferry to Monhegan Island (another idyllic place! Check it out, Ms Buck!). All the other "ports" in Maine are at the end of the name: Machiasport, Winterport, Bucksport, Freeport, Eastport, and so on. Oh, and there's Portland, but that's one word. I thought she should have been closer to the Blue Hill name, something like Blue Landing, or Blue's Ferry, or Blue Mountain, Bluestown.....something like that. ( I always did like naming.)
I lived in several places on the Blue Hill peninsula, first in Brooklin, then in East Blue Hill, then in Surry and finally to Ellsworth, named in the story. My sister still lives in Sedgwick, just outside of Blue Hill. Buck mentions the Fair held over Labor Day, which is the famous Blue Hill Fair; she mentions the steel drum band that plays in the Park every Monday night all summer and has quite a group of enthusiastic fans--(which is called Flash in the Pans, and my sister plays in it!). She mentions a grocery which I equated with Merrill and Hinckley's, but I may be wrong on that. Oh, and the Packet----there is the Blue Hill Packet, a real newspaper. Surprisingly, she doesn't mention the Blue Hill Hospital, one of the cornerstones of the town (although sadly reduced as of 2025)---when Gwen hurts her hand, they take her all the way to Ellsworth to Urgent Care.
I don't know why, but aren't we always so tickled to read about places we know and live in, showing up in books?? She mentions Bucksport, Orland, Bangor, the Ellsworth Rd and Ellsworth, The Falls bridge, Hancock County, LL Bean boots, and the ever present Maine "Aye-uh". OH, and Gwen drives a Subaru, held to the the favorite Maine car! And she mentions Hannaford in Blue Hill, I worked there for many years. She also mentions the real town of Surry, but adds an e, as in the English village. Why misspell this one, when everything else is spelled correctly? Did she really just goof and nobody caught it, even her agent, who is from Maine?
She also did a PRIMO job in the character and voice of the Condons! They are PERFECT! And yes, Condon is a common Maine name, I have friends named Condon. I saw an interview where Libby Buck says it is her mother's maiden name (but she didn't say if her mother is from Maine?). I will add that other common names in Blue Hill are Candage, Conary, and Gray.....and throw in a few Snows, Eatons and Torreys....
I concluded that Libby Buck definitely summered in Blue Hill regularly, but did not live here year round. Her writing is less sure when she ventures into winter. I'm here to tell her that the road between Ellsworth and Blue Hill is still pretty busy in winter, not deserted! And Hannaford is not open on Thanksgiving. And I had the impression that Gwen Gilmore had grown up in Port Anna, like year round, and had made those childhood friends, going to school with them and all, and so I was puzzled when they said that the coming Nor 'Easter would be Gwen's first---How could that be? We have 1-3 Nor'easters every year, if she lived there until she was at least 20, she would have gone thru bunches of them. It wasn't until I finished the book that I thought, DUH, the house wasn't winterized, she couldn't have lived there year round. My bad. The book acted like she was going "home", and I wouldn't consider a summer place, Home.
So I have just looked at 3 interviews and one talk by Libby Buck, online, and learned that this book mirrors her life (not Gwen's, but the Blue Hill part and the cottage)---that is interesting. I would love to know where the cottage was that she went to as a child, and where she goes now! Unlike in the story, Libby's cottage was sold when her parents divorced, and she was a teenager. She didn't say whether it still existed...? But she never stopped loving it and the fun they had had. She DID say that it had been built by two lesbian professors, just like in the book, and that it had ghosts, albeit not as loud. She had a real picture of "The Misses" on the front porch. And that they left everything in the cottage to be inherited by Libby's family, including pictures, plates, linens, and albums.
There may be spoilers from here on in! Just a warning!
I did like Gwen (and I liked her name) but she was awfully stupid sometimes! I mean, she fled to Maine, to a uninsulated cottage, planning to live year round....OK---we KNOW she would have to insulate it and that would cost bucks and she would have to start right away as soon as she got there---and where did she think the money for that would come from? She seemed to have a vague idea that "she'd figure it out." We have her arriving in Maine nearly penniless, having lost her job and her erstwhile hoped-for fiance, then getting drunk, then falling and hurting her leg, then chasing after the ghost of Molly, her dead sister, and getting a nail thru her hand...then banging her head on a beam and getting quite a goose egg, besides being exhausted, sleepless and hungry (or not.). And not wanting to tend to her injuries properly (I was quite worried until she got that tetanus shot!), and showing up at work with the various bruises and bandages, like a sad sack heroine....Her credit card was nearly maxxed out and she couldn't afford groceries. I mean! This girl is a hot mess! It's hard to respect a woman like that! It's one thing if she couldn't do things that her husband usually did, but she had never married! She was technically single for 20 years! Then she goes off with Hugh, despite warnings from friends, then she moves into Hugh's mega-mansion, despite MORE warnings from friends....Then she takes up the responsibility for a runaway, which made me like her, and I didn't fault her for not turning in Shania, but it was sort of like trying to tame a wild pet and putting food out for it....Real??? Could Shania really survive in the cold of a coastal winter? Besides stealing food, where was she getting it? Anyway, there was a LOT of drama going on!! Grief over her sister, (ever present), things reminding her of it, unexplained conflicts between her old friends, a real estate lady harassing her, then her car heater dies, just when the house is impossibly cold....I mean, have we heaped enough troubles on this woman?
As to the grief over her sister, I feel like I've just finished reading 3 books with the exact same story. Woman feels guilty and grief-stricken over a death they believe was all their fault, and they believe that others (like their mother or husband) hate them for it, when it's not true. Gwen thought her mother couldn't stand the sight of her and sent her to boarding school. I just finished The Correspondent for the second time and the protagonist had been agonizing over the death of her son, and was sure it was all her fault and that her husband blamed her for it. And it turns out that's not the case. "Speak to Me of Home", "The Ghostwriter", and "The Beginner's Goodbye" are all examples of the same trope and I just read them.
And wow, was Gwen a pessimist! She runs up a bill at the Urgent Care, and is sure she has to pay it right away, the whole amount. Has the woman never heard of payment plans for your hospital bill??? Go talk to them!! You can pay a little a month, forever, and keep them off your back. Come to that, as soon as they heard she had no insurance (that should go in the paragraph about what a mess she was), they would have been offering her remedies, sliding scales and options for paying. And there are food pantries for food insecurity....?!! THINK, WOMAN! There is help out there!!! And with all those guy friends still in the area, she could have asked for a loan from them (just a friendly one, not like the contract she made with Hugh.). Also once she did get the money from Hugh and had paid off the credit card, then she could ostensibly USE the card again for food!! I was just rolling my eyes at her helplessness!! Eventually that goes REALLY badly (Oh, and are you kidding me? She waited until the last day the payment was due and then MISSED THE DEADLINE???), and she will lose the house, and at any rate also needs to fix the foundation, none of which she has the money for.....I was just shaking my head. And then so many people turned out to be working with the evil real estate lady! Both Steven AND Hugh, how did THAT work??
Oh and using a fireplace for heat? Totally the stupidest thing! She needed a woodstove! But beyond that, she had electricity, she could have gotten a Monitor heater installed, or a Heat Pump (but those cost some bucks) OR she could have just gotten an electric space heater and an electric blanket!! Yes, a higher electric bill, but you can also negotiate with electricity providers.
And the "magical realism" mentioned by many reviewers.....Well, I don't consider the seal incident magical exactly, we've heard of cases of seals or dolphins helping people. When I went rowing off the coast in Blue Hill, seals would often turn up quite close to the boat and stare at me, and then follow. And crows are known to be smart, to collect shiny trinkets and to recognize faces and remember those who help or harm them. Coming into the house to watch over her was a bit much, but anyway. But the ghosts!! No, I did not like the ghosts. I do not find that charming or funny. It amazes me that Gwen's family was not creeped out by it, and stayed. Sorry, I have to say it---the Bible says that "ghosts" are really demons, bad angels, and to stay away from them. They like to impersonate dead people and fool humans....it is not cute OR harmless. So I tried to ignore that part of the story as I read it. In fact, all the stuff about the legend of Anna Vale and mermaids, and her lost lover, or whatever, bored me and I mostly skipped over all that. And then---oh man, i hate it when some random event makes some old document come to light---behind the picture, or in the locket or under the floorboards...In this case, the shell collage was thrown against the wall and broke, and lo and behold, an old letter from Anna's lover, in solid ink. It's all true! Tra la la!! And then the archaeologist's dig/grave thing saves the day, helped by Shania----well, I was happy of course, that she saved Periwinkle Cottage, but I thought it was so unrealistic. Creative, though, I give her that! that was a new way to "save the farm"!
Also---did Gwen have to say the F word over and over?? Really?
And finally, I did not find the romance with Leandro satisfying or believable. I WANTED TO!! REALLY!! But, we, AND SHE, knew so little about him! And the man only hits town once in a blue moon! She was instantly attracted to him, afraid to touch him, sparks might ignite! By the third time (?) she met him, they went to bed together, I mean, total sexual attraction and they couldn't stand it anymore, they had to do it. That sounds shallow to me, totally a hormonal lust attraction. Will that last? I want something that will last for her, right there in Port Anna, a nice husband who works from home. (Although I get what some of the women were saying, sometimes it's great when they go away! But not MOST of the time!) Anyway, he was the exotic stranger from abroad with the accent, no? Always a spellbinder.
So, all in all, while I was fascinated with the setting, I didn't find it to be the greatest storytelling. I don't consider this literary fiction, I would put it squarely in Women's Lit. And some reviews are comparing it to "Sandwich" by Catherine Newman, but sorry, don't agree: They were both set in New England towns, but that's where the similarity ends. Sandwich is Lit Fic.
HOWEVER, I noted in a lot of reviews that BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK, many people had decided to finally visit Maine! All those people with "Visit Maine" on their Bucket List, were finally going to do it! I say, HOORAY! I don't love being overrun by tourists, but I love to have people love it like I do! Why not, I'll share! And I hope that they look up Ellsworth and Blue Hill and Bangor on their maps, so they know to go to the "right place"---not just the southern Maine beaches.
And, Libby Buck, if you are reading this, I saw you in several interviews and I think you look and sound like just the nicest person! You remind me very much of a good friend of mine who lived here for a long time, but has moved to Montana. I wish you well!; I wish I had caught your book appearances in Blue Hill and Stonington last year, but I didn't know you then. I hope you keep coming up to Blue Hill.and keep writing.....I"m sorry I'm critical, I think I should have been a movie critic....it's just me....
PS One more point. In two interviews I saw, you mentioned the Piscataqua Bridge that is the landmark for coming into Maine from NH.....I have to tell you that it is not pronounced "Pis-ca-TAUK-qua" bridge (or the Piscataco Bridge as the subtitles had it!)----It's Pi-SCAT'-a-qua. And there's Pis-SCAT-a-quis County. I know, it's odd!
August 5, 2025
Port Anna is a thoughtful and emotional read. The topics of grief & financial instability were relatable and the supernatural aspect helped give the story a melancholy vibe that I loved. The characters are fabulous and all have a valuable role in the story. The setting of the coast of Maine is a favorite of mine to read about, as it is where I was born and raised. The ending all comes together well and leaves you feeling cozy and contented.
Read
September 3, 2025Bored to tears would be kind. No tears shed.
December 17, 2024
Given the inclusion of ghost story elements, I had anticipated a more suspenseful narrative. While the character development was commendable, the plot appeared to lack a key component to thoroughly draw me in.
December 21, 2025
Liked this book on our young woman returning to the family’s old cottage in Maine; there are many ghosts of the past but always hope.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews