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The Island Shop #1
The Island Bookshop
A heartwarming tale of family, love, forgiveness and second chances.
When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.
For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.
As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?
Perfect for fans of clean, wholesome romance and gentle mysteries, The Island Bookshop is a heartwarming story of love, family, and the enduring power of second chances.
When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.
For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.
As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?
Perfect for fans of clean, wholesome romance and gentle mysteries, The Island Bookshop is a heartwarming story of love, family, and the enduring power of second chances.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2025
About the author
Roseanna M. White
69 books4,001 followersRoseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
see also Roseanna White
see also Roseanna White
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
April 18, 2026
The Island Bookshop is a lovely dual timeline set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with a group of locals whose family ties go back generations. Kennedy left home to work in DC with the Library of Congress and to get away from the pain of watching her two best friends marry. Now her sister needs her after a fall, so she heads home to keep their bookshop open for the summer. Wes is her old friend working with his family real estate company but he is now alone after his wife died. This story is sweet with romance as Kenni and Wes rekindle their friendship, a little mystery with old family secrets to solve, and faith. I enjoyed the beach setting, likable, realistic characters, in a small town close atmosphere. The flashbacks to the late 1930's gave a nice background and answered some questions.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
4.5 stars
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
4.5 stars
June 10, 2026
TITLE: The Island Bookshop
AUTHOR: Roseanna M. White
Publishers: Guideposts
POV: Dual-timeline narrative structure told through multiple perspectives. The framing utilizes a third-person point of view that primarily shifts focus between the key protagonists. Also, it is intertwined with a historical narrative thread set in the 1930s.
GENRE: A contemporary romance that includes a historical storyline and elements of Christian fiction
Location: Avon, North Carolina. A real location but the bookshop itself is fictional.
This was a lovely book! I loved reading it even if it was during a sad time in my life. It is about Kennedy Marshall who has to rush home to Avon North Carolina from her job with the Library of Congress in DC, to help with her sister who had an unexpected accident and can’t work at the bookshop at the time, so Kennedy has to help with her sister and the shop. Also, she has a best friend that she has known most her whole life and who she loves, Wes, but he married her’s and his best friend. 🥺😔 So it’s always hard when she has to come back home to Avon. She tries to stay away because of it. Beautiful, faith based contemporary romance. No language or sexual content. Just a delightful and lovely story. Written so well! So engaging and interesting! I recommend to everyone! Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and publishers for the opportunity to read and review The Island Bookshop with my honest thoughts and opinions.
AUTHOR: Roseanna M. White
Publishers: Guideposts
POV: Dual-timeline narrative structure told through multiple perspectives. The framing utilizes a third-person point of view that primarily shifts focus between the key protagonists. Also, it is intertwined with a historical narrative thread set in the 1930s.
GENRE: A contemporary romance that includes a historical storyline and elements of Christian fiction
Location: Avon, North Carolina. A real location but the bookshop itself is fictional.
This was a lovely book! I loved reading it even if it was during a sad time in my life. It is about Kennedy Marshall who has to rush home to Avon North Carolina from her job with the Library of Congress in DC, to help with her sister who had an unexpected accident and can’t work at the bookshop at the time, so Kennedy has to help with her sister and the shop. Also, she has a best friend that she has known most her whole life and who she loves, Wes, but he married her’s and his best friend. 🥺😔 So it’s always hard when she has to come back home to Avon. She tries to stay away because of it. Beautiful, faith based contemporary romance. No language or sexual content. Just a delightful and lovely story. Written so well! So engaging and interesting! I recommend to everyone! Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and publishers for the opportunity to read and review The Island Bookshop with my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 24, 2025
Another sweet summer read ☀️😎🍉⛱️🌊
I definitely read more historical fiction than contemporary, but I’m so glad I decided to pick up this one! It’s deep, sweet, realistic, and also has a bit of a dual timeline aspect to it. I do hope this will turn into a series as the secondary characters were just as great as the main ones ❤️
The spiritual content was very good. Personally I know the author has some different views than I do, but i didn’t really find any real issues in this story. Characters pray, read their Bibles, go to church—it came across as natural, real Christianity.
I respected Kennedy’s decision (and her sisters counsel) to leave the area when she did for the reasons she did. Thank you to the author for taking the high road!
The bookshop itself was really a fun touch. The authors note says it’s based off of some stores she knows in NC. Next time I’m at the beach, I’m going to have to google some local places myself 😉
Read this story if you enjoy…
🐚beach stories
🐚friends to more
🐚second chance romance
🐚family history
🐚themes of forgiveness
This was a good story and I loved the ending 🥰if you’re reading the seasons, this would be great for summer!
Content: marital infidelity (nothing on page and always as a vice), clean romance (kissing only and not a lot)
I definitely read more historical fiction than contemporary, but I’m so glad I decided to pick up this one! It’s deep, sweet, realistic, and also has a bit of a dual timeline aspect to it. I do hope this will turn into a series as the secondary characters were just as great as the main ones ❤️
The spiritual content was very good. Personally I know the author has some different views than I do, but i didn’t really find any real issues in this story. Characters pray, read their Bibles, go to church—it came across as natural, real Christianity.
I respected Kennedy’s decision (and her sisters counsel) to leave the area when she did for the reasons she did. Thank you to the author for taking the high road!
The bookshop itself was really a fun touch. The authors note says it’s based off of some stores she knows in NC. Next time I’m at the beach, I’m going to have to google some local places myself 😉
Read this story if you enjoy…
🐚beach stories
🐚friends to more
🐚second chance romance
🐚family history
🐚themes of forgiveness
This was a good story and I loved the ending 🥰if you’re reading the seasons, this would be great for summer!
Content: marital infidelity (nothing on page and always as a vice), clean romance (kissing only and not a lot)
May 8, 2026
Summary:
Kennedy Marshall pursues a career surrounded by dusty books upon leaving her home in North Carolina's Outer Banks, leaving behind a love she can't have. With her leaving, her sister, Lara, runs their grandmother's island bookshop; however, a traumatic injury forces Kennedy to return home. Upon returning, Kennedy must confront her bittersweet memories of the past she so desperately avoided and tried to leave behind. Businessman Wes Armstrong is struggling with the loss of his wife and the pressure of his family business. Kennedy's presence on the island stirs something in Wes, reigniting old feelings and mistakes as he faces important decisions about his family's future. Kennedy and Wes must navigate their emerging family secrets and decide if they have what it takes to embrace forgiveness and a second chance at love.
Review:
The Island Bookshop is an absolute gem and the perfect cozy summer read to pack for your next vacation or road trip. I found myself completely swept away by the setting and the beachy vibes; there is something so inviting about the idea of a bookshop on the coast. I especially loved how the story uses a dual-timeline approach, switching between the present day and a historical narrative that adds depth to the family themes and faith.
One of the most compelling parts of the book for me was the realistic and heartwarming sisterly bond between Kennedy and Lara. Seeing their relationship evolve as they navigate the challenges of the island bookshop was the story's highlight. While I wasn't the biggest fan of the central romance between Kennedy and Wes, I still appreciated how they interacted and how their personal histories intertwined. I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more if they had stayed friends. If you enjoy atmospheric stories that celebrate books, family secrets, and the beauty of the North Carolina coast, this is a wonderful choice to add to your reading list.
Kennedy Marshall pursues a career surrounded by dusty books upon leaving her home in North Carolina's Outer Banks, leaving behind a love she can't have. With her leaving, her sister, Lara, runs their grandmother's island bookshop; however, a traumatic injury forces Kennedy to return home. Upon returning, Kennedy must confront her bittersweet memories of the past she so desperately avoided and tried to leave behind. Businessman Wes Armstrong is struggling with the loss of his wife and the pressure of his family business. Kennedy's presence on the island stirs something in Wes, reigniting old feelings and mistakes as he faces important decisions about his family's future. Kennedy and Wes must navigate their emerging family secrets and decide if they have what it takes to embrace forgiveness and a second chance at love.
Review:
The Island Bookshop is an absolute gem and the perfect cozy summer read to pack for your next vacation or road trip. I found myself completely swept away by the setting and the beachy vibes; there is something so inviting about the idea of a bookshop on the coast. I especially loved how the story uses a dual-timeline approach, switching between the present day and a historical narrative that adds depth to the family themes and faith.
One of the most compelling parts of the book for me was the realistic and heartwarming sisterly bond between Kennedy and Lara. Seeing their relationship evolve as they navigate the challenges of the island bookshop was the story's highlight. While I wasn't the biggest fan of the central romance between Kennedy and Wes, I still appreciated how they interacted and how their personal histories intertwined. I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more if they had stayed friends. If you enjoy atmospheric stories that celebrate books, family secrets, and the beauty of the North Carolina coast, this is a wonderful choice to add to your reading list.
May 23, 2026
5 stars
Completed: May 17/26
Series: The Island Shop, #1
Format: digital ARC (though released in 2025, I just got access to it this spring)
Challenge Prompt: EOW’s ANYTIME option for “a book with spicy food or a HOT LOCATION” - NC beach setting
Book #46 of 2026: *Happy sigh*
This novel has many things that I enjoy: romance, a beach-y scene, mystery, friendship, small town feel, second chance romance, etc. It also has meaty issues that include a serious concussion and a weak marriage. I also found it educational to learn about the history of Italy-Dalmatia-Croatia.
The characters are very likeable and are well-defined. The dual-time aspect introduced an interesting story conjoined into the current day mysteries and questions being explored. The setting is very appealing and I certainly would love to see this North Carolina gem one day.
I enjoyed the entire book from start to finish. I appreciated the faith arc. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, releasing in just a couple of days. I hope there will be a third book with Lara’s story. This is a great read that readers of Denise Hunter and Courtney Walsh will relish. Five stars!
* My appreciation is extended to Guideposts and Net Galley for a digital reader copy. My rating and review are voluntary and these are my own words.
Completed: May 17/26
Series: The Island Shop, #1
Format: digital ARC (though released in 2025, I just got access to it this spring)
Challenge Prompt: EOW’s ANYTIME option for “a book with spicy food or a HOT LOCATION” - NC beach setting
Book #46 of 2026: *Happy sigh*
This novel has many things that I enjoy: romance, a beach-y scene, mystery, friendship, small town feel, second chance romance, etc. It also has meaty issues that include a serious concussion and a weak marriage. I also found it educational to learn about the history of Italy-Dalmatia-Croatia.
The characters are very likeable and are well-defined. The dual-time aspect introduced an interesting story conjoined into the current day mysteries and questions being explored. The setting is very appealing and I certainly would love to see this North Carolina gem one day.
I enjoyed the entire book from start to finish. I appreciated the faith arc. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, releasing in just a couple of days. I hope there will be a third book with Lara’s story. This is a great read that readers of Denise Hunter and Courtney Walsh will relish. Five stars!
* My appreciation is extended to Guideposts and Net Galley for a digital reader copy. My rating and review are voluntary and these are my own words.
June 15, 2025
This book made me so happy. (And also it made me cry 😁) The various journeys of the characters, the *incredible* setting, the mention of some childhood favorite books, and the sweet love story—all made for such a wonderful summer read. Would read spinoffs of other characters!!!
April 30, 2026
The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White
(2025)
Untitled Series #1
252-page Kindle Ebook story pages 7-246
Genre: Inspirational, Christian Romance
Rating as a movie: PG
Featuring: Epigraph, Publisher Links, Washington D.C., Librarian, Library of Congress, Rare Books, June, Homecoming, Second Chance Trope - First Love; Friends-to-Lovers, Sisters, Family Bookshop, Avon, Hatteras Island, Dare County, North Carolina; Outer Banks, Family Dynamics, Grief, Pining, Social Media, 1938, Dual Timelines, Dubrovnik, Croatia; Setups for Characters of Future Books, Multiple POVs, Tricenarians, Secrets, Letter From Author, Note From Editors, Advertisements with Covers for: Whistle Stop Café Mysteries, Mysteries & Wonders of the Bible, Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½📚🏛🐚🏝✝️
My thoughts: 🔖Page 76 of 252 Chapter Six - I still don't know the connection of the past POV, maybe it's somebody's grandmother. The story is good. My only issue is they is a lot of background on each side characters so I'm guessing each will get their own book.
🔖104 Chapter Eight - Okay now the story has legs and I'm probably going to get frustrated waiting for these people to get it together.
This story was very surprising to me. I don't know if I'm off my game but I was surprised by some of the revelations. This story certainly made me want to visit Avon, especially after I discovered the bookstore was inspired by 2 real bookstores listed in the letter from Roseanna. I may be reading her entire catalog. I'm diving into The Island Bakeshop ASAP.
Recommend to others: Yes! This story was just delightful with and good mix of drama and happiness.
Untitled Series
1. The Island Bookshop
2. The Island Bakeshop
Books and Authors mentioned: The Book of Psalms by King David, Asaph, the Sons of Korah, Moses, and King Solomon; The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre [commonly called the Bay Psalm Book], Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (aka Alice in Wonderland) by Lewis Carroll, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss, The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis; The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis, The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
Memorable Quotes: “You can’t be in love with your best friend’s husband, Ken. If you can’t squash these feelings, then you give it to God and you honor both them and Him by steering clear. Stay away from Wes until the feelings die. And they will.” Kennedy’s response had been something snotty and snarky, if she recalled. Something along the lines of, “How do you know that? You’ve never been in love.” But her indomitable sister had just lifted her chin and looked her square in the eye. “I’m not speaking from experience. I’m speaking from faith. God promised that you’ll never be tempted beyond what you can bear. Wes is your temptation, so you bear it, and if you can’t, you do what Paul said to do—you flee.” She’d fled, as much as Wes and Britta had let her. Mostly. There was that one time she’d tried to voice her doubts about them…and that had gone so well that she’d decided Lara was right. Her only option was to steer clear of Wes, which meant steering clear of the whole island.
(2025)
Untitled Series #1
252-page Kindle Ebook story pages 7-246
Genre: Inspirational, Christian Romance
Rating as a movie: PG
Featuring: Epigraph, Publisher Links, Washington D.C., Librarian, Library of Congress, Rare Books, June, Homecoming, Second Chance Trope - First Love; Friends-to-Lovers, Sisters, Family Bookshop, Avon, Hatteras Island, Dare County, North Carolina; Outer Banks, Family Dynamics, Grief, Pining, Social Media, 1938, Dual Timelines, Dubrovnik, Croatia; Setups for Characters of Future Books, Multiple POVs, Tricenarians, Secrets, Letter From Author, Note From Editors, Advertisements with Covers for: Whistle Stop Café Mysteries, Mysteries & Wonders of the Bible, Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½📚🏛🐚🏝✝️
My thoughts: 🔖Page 76 of 252 Chapter Six - I still don't know the connection of the past POV, maybe it's somebody's grandmother. The story is good. My only issue is they is a lot of background on each side characters so I'm guessing each will get their own book.
🔖104 Chapter Eight - Okay now the story has legs and I'm probably going to get frustrated waiting for these people to get it together.
This story was very surprising to me. I don't know if I'm off my game but I was surprised by some of the revelations. This story certainly made me want to visit Avon, especially after I discovered the bookstore was inspired by 2 real bookstores listed in the letter from Roseanna. I may be reading her entire catalog. I'm diving into The Island Bakeshop ASAP.
Recommend to others: Yes! This story was just delightful with and good mix of drama and happiness.
Untitled Series
1. The Island Bookshop
2. The Island Bakeshop
Books and Authors mentioned: The Book of Psalms by King David, Asaph, the Sons of Korah, Moses, and King Solomon; The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre [commonly called the Bay Psalm Book], Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (aka Alice in Wonderland) by Lewis Carroll, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss, The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis; The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis, The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
Memorable Quotes: “You can’t be in love with your best friend’s husband, Ken. If you can’t squash these feelings, then you give it to God and you honor both them and Him by steering clear. Stay away from Wes until the feelings die. And they will.” Kennedy’s response had been something snotty and snarky, if she recalled. Something along the lines of, “How do you know that? You’ve never been in love.” But her indomitable sister had just lifted her chin and looked her square in the eye. “I’m not speaking from experience. I’m speaking from faith. God promised that you’ll never be tempted beyond what you can bear. Wes is your temptation, so you bear it, and if you can’t, you do what Paul said to do—you flee.” She’d fled, as much as Wes and Britta had let her. Mostly. There was that one time she’d tried to voice her doubts about them…and that had gone so well that she’d decided Lara was right. Her only option was to steer clear of Wes, which meant steering clear of the whole island.
June 18, 2026
Not only was this a fun, cute, and sweet read but the setting is also one of my favourite places. That doesn’t hurt right?
This truly was a quick, fun, and cute romance. It was really wholesome but also more than that, I liked the chemistry between the two characters and I liked their friendship.
This story is all about second chances both in the modern storyline and in the historical storyline. But with these second chances, there is emotion with background instead of a story based around tumultuous and dramatic breakups.
When I picked this book up, I didn’t know that the story was influenced and written by a faith based perspective. But with that being said, and as a caveat for others to be open minded, I still really enjoyed this story without being that specific targeted audience. I love a romantic love story and this certainly was one (more than one actually).
This is definitely one that’s going to make you smile and although there are elements of difficulty, it’s not enough to take away from the enjoyment or make this a excessively dramatic and/or sad read.
***Thank you to BookSparks for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.***
This truly was a quick, fun, and cute romance. It was really wholesome but also more than that, I liked the chemistry between the two characters and I liked their friendship.
This story is all about second chances both in the modern storyline and in the historical storyline. But with these second chances, there is emotion with background instead of a story based around tumultuous and dramatic breakups.
When I picked this book up, I didn’t know that the story was influenced and written by a faith based perspective. But with that being said, and as a caveat for others to be open minded, I still really enjoyed this story without being that specific targeted audience. I love a romantic love story and this certainly was one (more than one actually).
This is definitely one that’s going to make you smile and although there are elements of difficulty, it’s not enough to take away from the enjoyment or make this a excessively dramatic and/or sad read.
***Thank you to BookSparks for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.***
May 13, 2026
I loved this book so much and it was a fast read. I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought it was well written. I would definitely recommend this book. I will be looking for more books by this author.
August 2, 2025
The Island Bookshop is not Roseanna M. White's normal genre to write, although she didn't stray too far from her historical roots. There are chapters dedicated to the families' past, which help them to unravel some secrets.
What I loved:
🕮 NC beach setting
🕮 the historical aspects
🕮 the sisterly bond
🕮 the uniqueness of Kennedy's job
🕮 second chance romance
My main problem with the story is that it was description-focused. I prefer stories with more dialogue than description. This one was very heavy on the descriptions, and I didn't feel like there was much pushing the story forward. This left me somewhat disappointed in the story. I found it somewhat forgettable.
What I loved:
🕮 NC beach setting
🕮 the historical aspects
🕮 the sisterly bond
🕮 the uniqueness of Kennedy's job
🕮 second chance romance
My main problem with the story is that it was description-focused. I prefer stories with more dialogue than description. This one was very heavy on the descriptions, and I didn't feel like there was much pushing the story forward. This left me somewhat disappointed in the story. I found it somewhat forgettable.
July 19, 2025
This is mainly a contemporary story with a just a little bit of historical added in. The focus is on one sister who comes homes to help her sister after she has an injury and has to face some items from her past. We get a few chapters from 1940 and I felt more connected to that storyline and wanted to spend more time in the past than I did contemporary. We do learn how the past and present timelines connect. I felt like there was a lot of heavy items included for a novella story and I didn't enjoy the way it jumped days and weeks at a time.
May 30, 2026
Thank you to Roseanna M. White, Guideposts, and NetGalley for allowing an eARC of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kennedy Marshall was a librarian for the Library of Congress, but she received a call that her sister had fallen and was not doing well. She left D.C. and headed home to help take care of the family bookstore while her sister recovered. Wes Armstrong was a realtor who was Kennedy’s neighbor and best friend for life, but was also off limits because he had been married to Kennedy’s other best friend until she had died in an accident. Once Kennedy got on Island she realized there was a family mystery that needed to be solved. She and Wes commenced to understand this family mystery, and figure out their new relationship. There are also glimpses of a past timeline telling the story of Ana and Marija Horvat.
I enjoyed this sweet romance with a tiny bit of faith, and a bit of family mystery. The characters of Kennedy and Wes were great. The historical timeline felt a bit out of place or just thrown in randomly. I just felt a bit lost the first time or two we jumped into the historical timeline. I did enjoy the fact that when the fmc and mmc finally decided to communicate they were straightforward with their communication. There was no beating around the bush. I could definitely get behind that.
If you are looking a clean summery beachy love story, you will love this book. If you are looking for super deep faith writing you might not be interested in this one.
#TheIslandBookshop #NetGalley
Kennedy Marshall was a librarian for the Library of Congress, but she received a call that her sister had fallen and was not doing well. She left D.C. and headed home to help take care of the family bookstore while her sister recovered. Wes Armstrong was a realtor who was Kennedy’s neighbor and best friend for life, but was also off limits because he had been married to Kennedy’s other best friend until she had died in an accident. Once Kennedy got on Island she realized there was a family mystery that needed to be solved. She and Wes commenced to understand this family mystery, and figure out their new relationship. There are also glimpses of a past timeline telling the story of Ana and Marija Horvat.
I enjoyed this sweet romance with a tiny bit of faith, and a bit of family mystery. The characters of Kennedy and Wes were great. The historical timeline felt a bit out of place or just thrown in randomly. I just felt a bit lost the first time or two we jumped into the historical timeline. I did enjoy the fact that when the fmc and mmc finally decided to communicate they were straightforward with their communication. There was no beating around the bush. I could definitely get behind that.
If you are looking a clean summery beachy love story, you will love this book. If you are looking for super deep faith writing you might not be interested in this one.
#TheIslandBookshop #NetGalley
June 17, 2026
Thank you to @RoseannaMWhite, @GuidePostsOfficial, and @BookSparks for the wonderful #gifted books!
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Outer Banks, this novel beautifully explores family-owned island businesses, second chances, hidden family secrets, and an intricately woven close-knit community.
This book featured dual timelines, giving rich insights into each family’s history. I was inspired by the faith portrayed in each story and the heartfelt healing of the characters.
Kennedy and Wes’s adorable relationship warmed my heart. Watching them reconnect and discover that their friendship was blossoming into love was so touching. I felt for Kennedy’s sister as she navigated her injury, and I loved how Kennedy’s involvement in the charming little bookstore brought the family together. Their journey to confront secrets and forgive each other was truly inspiring. I cheered for their second chance at happiness.
This was a fantastic book, and I was eager to read the next one in the series.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Outer Banks, this novel beautifully explores family-owned island businesses, second chances, hidden family secrets, and an intricately woven close-knit community.
This book featured dual timelines, giving rich insights into each family’s history. I was inspired by the faith portrayed in each story and the heartfelt healing of the characters.
Kennedy and Wes’s adorable relationship warmed my heart. Watching them reconnect and discover that their friendship was blossoming into love was so touching. I felt for Kennedy’s sister as she navigated her injury, and I loved how Kennedy’s involvement in the charming little bookstore brought the family together. Their journey to confront secrets and forgive each other was truly inspiring. I cheered for their second chance at happiness.
This was a fantastic book, and I was eager to read the next one in the series.
April 11, 2026
Kennedy loves her job at the Library of Congress, but when her sister is badly injured, she returns to North Carolina’s Outer Banks to run their bookshop. That puts her next door to Wes, whom she loves. He’s a widower now, and realizes he hadn’t prayed about his relationship with his late wife until cracks appeared in their marriage. Both have life-changing career decisions to make. An attention-holding story of remaking lives for the better, and the beach isn’t bad either.
June 28, 2025
Great summer read set in a beautiful beach tourist town!
I was expecting a simple plot, but White brings her signature depth and layering to this contemporary. I especially appreciated the letters and glimpses into the grandma’s past.
I was expecting a simple plot, but White brings her signature depth and layering to this contemporary. I especially appreciated the letters and glimpses into the grandma’s past.
April 12, 2026
The Island Bookshop is a sweet Christian romance with a touch of historical fiction. It's super cute with lots of faith content, and I loved the characters. Would recommend for a cutesie wholesome beach read!
June 25, 2026
This was the perfect summer read! This story has the perfect blend of a sweet beach read, emotional depth, and incredible faith content! I loved all the bookish aspects, especially the bookshop setting! I really liked the main characters, Kennedy and Wes, and their friends-to-more story was so sweet. ☀️📔
Content for consideration:
Martial infidelity.
Content for consideration:
Martial infidelity.
July 14, 2025
I totally loved this book!! It’s full of booky stuff and jammed packed with Faith, love, forgiveness and the importance of family.
May 27, 2026
I loved this book! It was a lot deeper than I expected, but that just made it all the more enjoyable. The characters are wonderful, and the various relationships between them add a lot to the story. I highly recommend this, especially if you love books and bookstores and islands and mysteries and ...
April 30, 2026
This was a sweet dual timeline (though primarily contemporary) story set in the Island town of Avon, NC. With a beachy setting, this was a lovely beginning of summer read. This book follows Kennedy who comes home after her sister gets injured to help with the family bookstore, even if it means having to see the boy she's always loved who didn't love her back. Though the romance portion was a bit predictable in this one, the journey was still fun, and the way the author tied the short historical timeline tidbits to the story was beautiful. I particularly enjoyed the epilogue tie-in. This book, though primarily a romance story, included a decent enough plot for this plot-driven reader. There was a solid faith thread included and lots of character growth and development for such a short novel. This was a great and fun read and I look forward to more in the series! Special thanks to Guideposts and NetGalley for an e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
April 8, 2026
This is such a good read to get lost in, can friends form a deeper relationship, and not risk loosing the friendship?
A dual time split read, that the author messes together beautifully!
A beautiful setting for a story, North Carolina's Outer Banks, a serious accident, a dream job, family revelations, and renewing friendships. This a page turner, you wonder what changes are going to happen in the lives of these people you now care about.
Major decisions need to be made, not easy, and they need to find important paperwork, and answers.
I got very invested in these characters, and in the end wanted to extend my visit, and glad there is another book in this series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Guideposts, and was not required to give a positive review.
A dual time split read, that the author messes together beautifully!
A beautiful setting for a story, North Carolina's Outer Banks, a serious accident, a dream job, family revelations, and renewing friendships. This a page turner, you wonder what changes are going to happen in the lives of these people you now care about.
Major decisions need to be made, not easy, and they need to find important paperwork, and answers.
I got very invested in these characters, and in the end wanted to extend my visit, and glad there is another book in this series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Guideposts, and was not required to give a positive review.
May 12, 2026
I already love Roseanna M. White as an author for her historical fiction, but these contemporary novels are just as sweet. They actually have a bit of dual time in them to help "solve" the subtle mystery in the background of the story.
This book deals with infidelity and second chance of love. I loved the group of friends. Oh and one of the characters gets a severe TBI and has to deal with the frustrations and challenges of that.
STrong faith message through was lovely.
4 Stars
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC of this edition! All opinions are 100% my own.
This book deals with infidelity and second chance of love. I loved the group of friends. Oh and one of the characters gets a severe TBI and has to deal with the frustrations and challenges of that.
STrong faith message through was lovely.
4 Stars
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC of this edition! All opinions are 100% my own.
May 29, 2025
I love the Outer Banks of North Carolina so when I heard that Roseanna M. White was writing a book that was set there I knew I wanted to read it!
The Island Bookshop was a good book. I enjoyed the story, the main story plus the few chapters that were set back in time. I liked seeing how everything tied together.
The beach and books are some of my favorite things so it was fun to see both of those in this story.
It was an enjoyable summer book!
The Island Bookshop was a good book. I enjoyed the story, the main story plus the few chapters that were set back in time. I liked seeing how everything tied together.
The beach and books are some of my favorite things so it was fun to see both of those in this story.
It was an enjoyable summer book!
April 13, 2026
I really enjoyed The Island Bookshop by Roseanna White. I chose to read it because I already like this author, and it did not disappoint. The story was engaging, and the setting made it even more enjoyable. I especially liked the characters and how everything came together in the end. I hope this book becomes part of a series because I would love to spend more time in this world.
September 23, 2025
I literally couldn’t put this book down! If I wasn’t at work, I was reading this book. I loved the storyline and felt like I was best friends with the characters. I’m actually not sure what I’ll do now that I can’t escape into this story anymore.
July 12, 2025
This was a sweet story. I love Roseanna White’s writing.
July 27, 2025
This book has just the right amount of depth, romance, faith and mystery to make it a remarkably satisfying summer read.
November 23, 2025
This was a sweet, fun read. I enjoyed the faith content and the bookish references.
February 22, 2026
Excellent read. I couldn’t put it down.
June 2, 2025
Although I've read some of Roseanna's historical novels, this is the first contemporary novel I've read, and it didn't disappoint. Along with the romance, family relationships, an enjoyable setting, authentic faith, and interesting characters draw you in. I enjoyed the description of Kennedy Marshall's examination and evaluation of a old book for the Library of Congress. Kennedy's inner conflict involving love of her job versus love for her family, and the simmering romance between her and her long-time friend Wes Armstrong carry the story forward. If you like contemporary romance, I think you'll enjoy reading this novel. I did.
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