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Down with the Shipmans
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26From the bestselling author of Mansion Beach, a summery drama following three sisters who return to their childhood home, each with their own secret, perfect for readers of Sandwich and Pineapple Street.
It’s the week after Fourth of July, and the Shipman sisters are returning to their picturesque summer home on the New Hampshire coast for what they believe is a family reunion, the first without their late mother. However, their tranquil setting quickly becomes a stage for drama when their father, Calvin, drops the bombshell news that he plans to sell the cherished beach house.
Mae, the youngest daughter, who has a newfound penchant for attracting trouble, is distraught, already dealing with her own emotional scars and a problematic rescue dog. Natalie, the middle sister and social media darling known for her seemingly idyllic life as a tradwife, is equally anxious, especially since her flawless public image is on the verge of imploding. Meanwhile, Jordan, the eldest, a high-powered crisis communications expert, is ready to be rid of the house so she can tend to her own professional disaster.
As old memories are stirred up and the sisters navigate both the packing of the house and their personal crises, the arrival of Calvin’s new wife pushes Jordan, Natalie, and Mae to decide how far they’re willing to go to preserve the Shipman bond.
A delicious summer read that explores the enduring power of family and sister connections, Down with the Shipmans is a humorous, heartfelt reminder that home is not a place, but the people who love you, no matter how imperfectly.
It’s the week after Fourth of July, and the Shipman sisters are returning to their picturesque summer home on the New Hampshire coast for what they believe is a family reunion, the first without their late mother. However, their tranquil setting quickly becomes a stage for drama when their father, Calvin, drops the bombshell news that he plans to sell the cherished beach house.
Mae, the youngest daughter, who has a newfound penchant for attracting trouble, is distraught, already dealing with her own emotional scars and a problematic rescue dog. Natalie, the middle sister and social media darling known for her seemingly idyllic life as a tradwife, is equally anxious, especially since her flawless public image is on the verge of imploding. Meanwhile, Jordan, the eldest, a high-powered crisis communications expert, is ready to be rid of the house so she can tend to her own professional disaster.
As old memories are stirred up and the sisters navigate both the packing of the house and their personal crises, the arrival of Calvin’s new wife pushes Jordan, Natalie, and Mae to decide how far they’re willing to go to preserve the Shipman bond.
A delicious summer read that explores the enduring power of family and sister connections, Down with the Shipmans is a humorous, heartfelt reminder that home is not a place, but the people who love you, no matter how imperfectly.
10 pages, Audible Audio
Expected publication June 2, 2026
About the author
Meg Mitchell Moore
12 books1,988 followersMeg Mitchell Moore is the author of eight novels. Her ninth, MANSION BEACH, will be published in May 2025. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and whichever of her three high school- and college-aged daughters is home, as well two golden retrievers who shed a lot and don't read at all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 5, 2026
So fun! Throw this one in your beach bag!! Perfect for summer reading.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
✨ Rating: 3.5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: one last hurrah
🎶 Song: hold my hand - lady gaga
📚 Would I recommend? sure, why not!
💬 tldr thoughts: a decent read but nothing to rave about
In the package:
📦 family drama
📦 secrets
📦 grief and healing
Plot: The Shipmans' sisters return to their New Hampshire coast cottage for what they think is a family reunion but turns out their father is planning to sell the cottage. As old memories are stirred up and the sisters navigate both the packing of the house and their personal crises, they are reminded that home is not a place, but the people who love you.
Thoughts: This was a messy family drama book! I had a good time reading it but it wasn't anything incredible. The characters are flawed and I didn't really enjoy how much lying everyone was doing. I did think the ending was sweet and this is a pretty decent summer read if you're looking to expand your summer tbr! It's a quick and easy read.
Thank you William Morrow for the physical copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: one last hurrah
🎶 Song: hold my hand - lady gaga
📚 Would I recommend? sure, why not!
💬 tldr thoughts: a decent read but nothing to rave about
In the package:
📦 family drama
📦 secrets
📦 grief and healing
Plot: The Shipmans' sisters return to their New Hampshire coast cottage for what they think is a family reunion but turns out their father is planning to sell the cottage. As old memories are stirred up and the sisters navigate both the packing of the house and their personal crises, they are reminded that home is not a place, but the people who love you.
Thoughts: This was a messy family drama book! I had a good time reading it but it wasn't anything incredible. The characters are flawed and I didn't really enjoy how much lying everyone was doing. I did think the ending was sweet and this is a pretty decent summer read if you're looking to expand your summer tbr! It's a quick and easy read.
Thank you William Morrow for the physical copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
May 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the gifted ARC and Libro.fm for the gifted ALC!
This one was a solid summer read, full of family drama, beachy vibes, and easy to just throw on and listen to. I did this one immersively and the narrator did a really great job. It was easy to listen to and kept me engaged, which definitely helped.
My only struggle was the structure. The chapters were pretty long and with the multiple POVs switching, it took me a bit to keep track of who was who at times. Once I got into it more it was easier, but it did throw me off in the beginning.
I liked how it focused on grief and family relationships without feeling too heavy. It still had that lighter, summery feel while dealing with deeper topics, which I appreciated. Overall, this was a good mix of family drama and beach read. Not perfect, but still an enjoyable listen/read.
This one was a solid summer read, full of family drama, beachy vibes, and easy to just throw on and listen to. I did this one immersively and the narrator did a really great job. It was easy to listen to and kept me engaged, which definitely helped.
My only struggle was the structure. The chapters were pretty long and with the multiple POVs switching, it took me a bit to keep track of who was who at times. Once I got into it more it was easier, but it did throw me off in the beginning.
I liked how it focused on grief and family relationships without feeling too heavy. It still had that lighter, summery feel while dealing with deeper topics, which I appreciated. Overall, this was a good mix of family drama and beach read. Not perfect, but still an enjoyable listen/read.
May 22, 2026
There’s something about a big messy family drama set in a dreamy coastal summer house that just works every single time for me, and Down with the Shipmans absolutely delivered. This was the kind of summer read that feels tailor made for poolside afternoons — entertaining, emotional, funny, layered, and full of complicated family dynamics that keep you completely invested. The New Hampshire beach house setting was perfect, giving the story that nostalgic, windswept coastal energy that makes you want to pack a tote bag and disappear to the shore for a week. It’s warm and readable in the best way, but it also has real emotional depth underneath all the family chaos.
What I loved most was how relatable the Shipman sisters felt. Since they’re all in such different stages of life, there’s truly something here for every reader to connect with. The story balances grief, humor, resentment, love, and sisterhood so naturally, especially as the family continues navigating the loss of their mother while dealing with the possible sale of the house that holds so many memories. Each sister brings her own baggage, struggles, and perspective to the story, which made the family dynamic feel rich and authentic rather than one note.
Meg Mitchell Moore does such a great job writing character driven stories that still feel incredibly bingeable. This has the heart and emotional weight of a deeper family drama while still being the exact kind of compulsively readable beach read you want during summer. If you love stories about sisters, complicated relationships, family tension, personal reinvention, and emotionally messy but lovable characters, this one is absolutely worth adding to your summer TBR.
December 18, 2025
I want to live next door to the Shipmans! I am in love with this family, these characters, and this story. The Shipman sisters return to their childhood beach house for what they think is a family reunion, only to find out that their father is planning to sell the house. Complicating things further is the arrival of their father’s new wife, who happens to have been their deceased mother’s hospice nurse, and whom the sisters have not exactly welcomed warmly into the family. Over the course of the week, the sisters – Jordan, Natalie, and Mae – try to come to terms with losing the house that holds so many cherished memories, while dealing with their own personal and relationship issues, and at the same time are forced to reckon with their grief over their mother’s loss, which has been brought into sharp focus with the impending house sale. There’s messy family drama, chaos, and secrets, but above all, there’s the strength of family bonds and sisterhood. A heartfelt and very emotionally satisfying summer read.
March 25, 2026
Everything works out in the end. Maybe not the way you want or thought it would but eventually it will work out. This book does exactly that. I felt it was a little bland but it was a nice break from murder mysteries.
April 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely adore this book. It was right up my alley!
If you are a fan of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels like I am, you will love this book no doubt.
I love a good family story, and I especially love it when it is set on a beach!
The setting was wonderful, which makes this the perfect summer read. I loved sitting outside in the sun with the gorgeous weather, reading about these people’s lives.
This story had so much heart. There was drama, sadness, sweet moments, funny moments, and lots of family bonding.
I don’t have sisters so I couldn’t completely relate to everything, especially because I never fight with my brother and these sisters definitely fought at times! But the family bonding and love was there!
Each character was so distinct and I enjoyed all of them. I liked Natalie the least, but only because I would never want her lifestyle, so I had a really hard time connecting with her. Her kids had personality to them and weren’t just there like so many other novels, which I appreciated. Mae was a cool character but kind of all over the place. I loved her love of dogs. Jordan spoke to me the most because I related to her so much being the eldest daughter. She is definitely more put together than me, but all of her other thoughts and worries were things that I have thought about too.
Even Calvin and Kara were really interesting characters. It was cool to see how they affected the plot.
Some things kind of ended abruptly or not everything was answered, but that is okay because that wasn’t the main part of the story to me. The point of it was the family learning to live with their grief and learning how to accept things that they may not be okay with.
Not that it ruined the book for me but one thing I didn’t like was Jordan and Simone reconnecting. Simone seemed like such a cool person and I am glad she could lend an ear to the family when they needed it, but I could not forgive her for the cheating, and I hated that even up until the end Simone acted like it was no big deal. It is a big deal. And some people may not be upset about it, but Jordan was and she should have respected that. I am glad it didn’t really go anywhere. I just didn’t think it needed to be in there. It would have been fine if they just mentioned Jordan’s ex Audrey and left it at that. The reason for them breaking up had more use to the plot than what Simone did. Especially if she never really felt sorry for doing it.
Otherwise I loved everything about this book! I will definitely read more by this author.
I absolutely adore this book. It was right up my alley!
If you are a fan of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels like I am, you will love this book no doubt.
I love a good family story, and I especially love it when it is set on a beach!
The setting was wonderful, which makes this the perfect summer read. I loved sitting outside in the sun with the gorgeous weather, reading about these people’s lives.
This story had so much heart. There was drama, sadness, sweet moments, funny moments, and lots of family bonding.
I don’t have sisters so I couldn’t completely relate to everything, especially because I never fight with my brother and these sisters definitely fought at times! But the family bonding and love was there!
Each character was so distinct and I enjoyed all of them. I liked Natalie the least, but only because I would never want her lifestyle, so I had a really hard time connecting with her. Her kids had personality to them and weren’t just there like so many other novels, which I appreciated. Mae was a cool character but kind of all over the place. I loved her love of dogs. Jordan spoke to me the most because I related to her so much being the eldest daughter. She is definitely more put together than me, but all of her other thoughts and worries were things that I have thought about too.
Even Calvin and Kara were really interesting characters. It was cool to see how they affected the plot.
Some things kind of ended abruptly or not everything was answered, but that is okay because that wasn’t the main part of the story to me. The point of it was the family learning to live with their grief and learning how to accept things that they may not be okay with.
Not that it ruined the book for me but one thing I didn’t like was Jordan and Simone reconnecting. Simone seemed like such a cool person and I am glad she could lend an ear to the family when they needed it, but I could not forgive her for the cheating, and I hated that even up until the end Simone acted like it was no big deal. It is a big deal. And some people may not be upset about it, but Jordan was and she should have respected that. I am glad it didn’t really go anywhere. I just didn’t think it needed to be in there. It would have been fine if they just mentioned Jordan’s ex Audrey and left it at that. The reason for them breaking up had more use to the plot than what Simone did. Especially if she never really felt sorry for doing it.
Otherwise I loved everything about this book! I will definitely read more by this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Publication date June 2, 2026. I received this ARC audiobook thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio.
The three Shipman sisters receive a message from their father that he needs them all to meet at their New Hampshire beach house. The sisters are very different from each other, and though they love each other, each of their lives has taken their attention after their mother died. Jordan is on the cusp of a big professional promotion, and she’s been working nonstop to prove herself. Natalie has grown a social media presence around her family’s traditional life on a dairy farm. Mae has struggled since their mother died, made poor choices, and is in deep financial trouble. But they all head to the beach house.
This was their mother’s favorite place, and they share many family memories of time spent there. So they are shocked when their father tells them he is planning to sell it, and it will go on the market at the end of the week. Then, their father’s new wife arrives… they have all had trouble with the fact that their father moved on, and so they’re suspicious the sale is her fault.
As they come together to try to change his mind, the sisters slowly start to reveal details of their lives… struggles they have been keeping to themselves. There are lots of misperceptions between all of them. This book is funny and tugs at your heart. I really came to like each of these characters as they became more vulnerable with each other. And even with some of the serious issues, you feel like you are at the beach with them. The narration on this one is great, and I will definitely be checking out more titles by this author.
The three Shipman sisters receive a message from their father that he needs them all to meet at their New Hampshire beach house. The sisters are very different from each other, and though they love each other, each of their lives has taken their attention after their mother died. Jordan is on the cusp of a big professional promotion, and she’s been working nonstop to prove herself. Natalie has grown a social media presence around her family’s traditional life on a dairy farm. Mae has struggled since their mother died, made poor choices, and is in deep financial trouble. But they all head to the beach house.
This was their mother’s favorite place, and they share many family memories of time spent there. So they are shocked when their father tells them he is planning to sell it, and it will go on the market at the end of the week. Then, their father’s new wife arrives… they have all had trouble with the fact that their father moved on, and so they’re suspicious the sale is her fault.
As they come together to try to change his mind, the sisters slowly start to reveal details of their lives… struggles they have been keeping to themselves. There are lots of misperceptions between all of them. This book is funny and tugs at your heart. I really came to like each of these characters as they became more vulnerable with each other. And even with some of the serious issues, you feel like you are at the beach with them. The narration on this one is great, and I will definitely be checking out more titles by this author.
May 22, 2026
3.75⭐️ rounded up
I really enjoy a good family drama, and this book was definitely that! All of the Shipman sisters head back to the family home, so their dad can share some (not so great) news with them. He’s decided to sell the house. This causes chaos from each of the sisters for their own individual reasons. One thing they all seem to agree on is that they hate their dad’s new younger wife who was the caregiver to their mom as she died of cancer.
This book covers grief, relationships, friendships, frustration and even the significance of birth order. While it does cover some heavy topics, the author adds in some humor to keep it a little lighter. The bickering between the sisters was certainly spot on. 😊
At times, it got a little confusing when constantly changing to a different POV. There was a lot to remember about each character’s background, so I would find myself running through each character in my mind to keep everyone straight.
All in all, I thought this was a good summer read!
Thanks to Netgalley and William morrow for this ALC in exchange for an honest review. This book releases
June 2.
I really enjoy a good family drama, and this book was definitely that! All of the Shipman sisters head back to the family home, so their dad can share some (not so great) news with them. He’s decided to sell the house. This causes chaos from each of the sisters for their own individual reasons. One thing they all seem to agree on is that they hate their dad’s new younger wife who was the caregiver to their mom as she died of cancer.
This book covers grief, relationships, friendships, frustration and even the significance of birth order. While it does cover some heavy topics, the author adds in some humor to keep it a little lighter. The bickering between the sisters was certainly spot on. 😊
At times, it got a little confusing when constantly changing to a different POV. There was a lot to remember about each character’s background, so I would find myself running through each character in my mind to keep everyone straight.
All in all, I thought this was a good summer read!
Thanks to Netgalley and William morrow for this ALC in exchange for an honest review. This book releases
June 2.
April 1, 2026
✨I have found the ideal beach read for 2026. This book is everything I want from a contemporary family drama, and it’s written with warmth, emotional honesty and so much heart. I was laughing out loud at some moments and reaching for my Kleenex the next.
✨At its core, this is a character-driven novel that explores sisterhood, grief, family dynamics, and parenthood in a way that feels genuine and grounded. The multiple points of view and sharp, clever dialogue kept me turning the pages. I truly couldn’t put this one down.
✨By the end, I did not want to say goodbye to the Shipmans. I just love them, and I’m ready to rent the beach house next door.
✨Be sure and grab this one for your beach bag. The nostalgic summer vibe is everything.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Summer coastal New England settings
✨Sisterhood stories
✨Family dynamics
✨Beach reads
✨Dogs 🐾
✨At its core, this is a character-driven novel that explores sisterhood, grief, family dynamics, and parenthood in a way that feels genuine and grounded. The multiple points of view and sharp, clever dialogue kept me turning the pages. I truly couldn’t put this one down.
✨By the end, I did not want to say goodbye to the Shipmans. I just love them, and I’m ready to rent the beach house next door.
✨Be sure and grab this one for your beach bag. The nostalgic summer vibe is everything.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Summer coastal New England settings
✨Sisterhood stories
✨Family dynamics
✨Beach reads
✨Dogs 🐾
May 21, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
The Shipman sisters go back to their Summer home in New Hampshire they used to go to every Summer before their mom died. Now, they’re back, each of the three sisters with their own baggage.
This book is the perfect beach read full of heart, love, and finding yourself. It’s a mix of laughter, grief, and family. I absolutely loved this book, it was wholesome, quirky, and felt like a warm hug. The characters feel so real and you truly feel like part of the family. Every sister is vastly different from one another, but at the end of the day they each have their own hardships. Over time, they each open up and begin to lean on one another again.
This is the perfect read if you’re looking for a book that touches on grief, the love of family, and laughter with a splash of drama!
The Shipman sisters go back to their Summer home in New Hampshire they used to go to every Summer before their mom died. Now, they’re back, each of the three sisters with their own baggage.
This book is the perfect beach read full of heart, love, and finding yourself. It’s a mix of laughter, grief, and family. I absolutely loved this book, it was wholesome, quirky, and felt like a warm hug. The characters feel so real and you truly feel like part of the family. Every sister is vastly different from one another, but at the end of the day they each have their own hardships. Over time, they each open up and begin to lean on one another again.
This is the perfect read if you’re looking for a book that touches on grief, the love of family, and laughter with a splash of drama!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I listened to the audiobook of and this ended up being such a strong summer family drama for me. Going into it, I expected a lighter beach read, but it actually had a lot more emotional depth underneath the coastal setting and family chaos.
The story follows three sisters returning to their childhood summer home after the loss of their mother, only to find out their father plans to sell the house. From there, the book really becomes less about the house itself and more about grief, identity, sibling relationships, memories, and how families change as everyone gets older.
As the youngest of three girls myself, I thought the sister dynamics were one of the strongest parts of the entire novel. Meg Mitchell Moore really captured those family roles that somehow follow you into adulthood no matter how much your life changes. The responsible one, the messy one, the one trying to hold everything together publicly while quietly falling apart underneath it all. The tension between the sisters felt believable, but so did the love.
I also appreciated that every character felt flawed in a very human way. Nobody was written as perfect or overly likable all the time, which honestly made them feel more real. Even the father and new wife situation, which could have easily turned cliché, had more layers to it than I expected.
The coastal New England setting was perfect for this story. The beach house, the dogs, the summer atmosphere, the history tied to the home… it all gave the audiobook that nostalgic feeling that makes you want to stay in the story awhile. At the same time, the book handles heavier themes like grief and family transitions without becoming overly sad or emotionally exhausting.
This is definitely more character-driven than plot-heavy, which worked for me. There aren’t huge twists or shocking reveals every few chapters. Instead, the story slowly unfolds through conversations, memories, family tension, and personal struggles. I found myself invested in the emotional side of the story much more than waiting for something dramatic to happen.
I also really loved the audiobook narration by. She did an excellent job giving each sister her own personality and voice without making it feel forced. Her narration honestly elevated the experience for me and made the emotional moments hit harder.
This was my first book by, but I would absolutely read her again after this. If you enjoy family-centered fiction, sibling dynamics, beach house settings, and stories that balance warmth, grief, humor, and emotional messiness, this is a really good one to add to your summer reading list.
The story follows three sisters returning to their childhood summer home after the loss of their mother, only to find out their father plans to sell the house. From there, the book really becomes less about the house itself and more about grief, identity, sibling relationships, memories, and how families change as everyone gets older.
As the youngest of three girls myself, I thought the sister dynamics were one of the strongest parts of the entire novel. Meg Mitchell Moore really captured those family roles that somehow follow you into adulthood no matter how much your life changes. The responsible one, the messy one, the one trying to hold everything together publicly while quietly falling apart underneath it all. The tension between the sisters felt believable, but so did the love.
I also appreciated that every character felt flawed in a very human way. Nobody was written as perfect or overly likable all the time, which honestly made them feel more real. Even the father and new wife situation, which could have easily turned cliché, had more layers to it than I expected.
The coastal New England setting was perfect for this story. The beach house, the dogs, the summer atmosphere, the history tied to the home… it all gave the audiobook that nostalgic feeling that makes you want to stay in the story awhile. At the same time, the book handles heavier themes like grief and family transitions without becoming overly sad or emotionally exhausting.
This is definitely more character-driven than plot-heavy, which worked for me. There aren’t huge twists or shocking reveals every few chapters. Instead, the story slowly unfolds through conversations, memories, family tension, and personal struggles. I found myself invested in the emotional side of the story much more than waiting for something dramatic to happen.
I also really loved the audiobook narration by. She did an excellent job giving each sister her own personality and voice without making it feel forced. Her narration honestly elevated the experience for me and made the emotional moments hit harder.
This was my first book by, but I would absolutely read her again after this. If you enjoy family-centered fiction, sibling dynamics, beach house settings, and stories that balance warmth, grief, humor, and emotional messiness, this is a really good one to add to your summer reading list.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
After “Vacationland” became one of my favorite summer reads, when I saw Meg Mitchell Moore was coming out with another beachy New England story - not to mention one with three sisters, while I’m pregnant with my third daughter! - I couldn’t add it to my TBR fast enough. And it didn’t disappoint! I found myself addicted to the Shipman’s drama. Three millennial sisters coming together for a final beach weekend in their childhood vacation home, coming to terms with all that emotionally entails and still grieving their mother, it’s ripe for a spectrum of human emotions and dynamics. As I’ve come to find with Moore’s books, the beach may be the setting, but the story has too much heart to it to fall solely in the soggy paperback beach read category. In that way the story reminded me of Elin Hilderbrand’s work, and it didn’t surprise me to find via the acknowledgements that she was instrumental to Moore as a mentor. Kara, in particular, felt like a character Elin would have written - she’s not your usual “stepmom,” and it’s always fun to surprise the reader with a layered individual when you were expecting something totally different!
The big wins in this story: the sibling dynamics, the emotional range, the strength of family bonds and sisterhood, and the collision of different paths women take in life (the “trad wife,” the corporate girlie, the one who’s still on a journey to find herself). Bonus points for Natalie (the “trad wife”), as there is also a trad wife Natalie in “Yesteryear,” making a solid transition for a complimentary read! I digress. One of my favorite takeaways is this idea that even as close as you may be with your nuclear family, there are so many layers to the life of a parent or sibling, you never stop getting to know them even in later life stages. And I think that’s a really beautiful thing to unpack.
The stumbling points: for me the ending felt like a bit of a deus ex machina. Emotionally everything felt satisfying but I did trip over how abrupt it all felt, perhaps heavier foreshadowing earlier on could have helped.
At its core, though, I loved how distinct each of the sisters were, and I had a lot of fun picturing my girls as adults one day and dreaming up which characters they might each align with. It was fun to learn that Moore is a mom of three daughters as well! It’s a great summer read with a lot of heart, very worthy of your summer TBR!
After “Vacationland” became one of my favorite summer reads, when I saw Meg Mitchell Moore was coming out with another beachy New England story - not to mention one with three sisters, while I’m pregnant with my third daughter! - I couldn’t add it to my TBR fast enough. And it didn’t disappoint! I found myself addicted to the Shipman’s drama. Three millennial sisters coming together for a final beach weekend in their childhood vacation home, coming to terms with all that emotionally entails and still grieving their mother, it’s ripe for a spectrum of human emotions and dynamics. As I’ve come to find with Moore’s books, the beach may be the setting, but the story has too much heart to it to fall solely in the soggy paperback beach read category. In that way the story reminded me of Elin Hilderbrand’s work, and it didn’t surprise me to find via the acknowledgements that she was instrumental to Moore as a mentor. Kara, in particular, felt like a character Elin would have written - she’s not your usual “stepmom,” and it’s always fun to surprise the reader with a layered individual when you were expecting something totally different!
The big wins in this story: the sibling dynamics, the emotional range, the strength of family bonds and sisterhood, and the collision of different paths women take in life (the “trad wife,” the corporate girlie, the one who’s still on a journey to find herself). Bonus points for Natalie (the “trad wife”), as there is also a trad wife Natalie in “Yesteryear,” making a solid transition for a complimentary read! I digress. One of my favorite takeaways is this idea that even as close as you may be with your nuclear family, there are so many layers to the life of a parent or sibling, you never stop getting to know them even in later life stages. And I think that’s a really beautiful thing to unpack.
The stumbling points: for me the ending felt like a bit of a deus ex machina. Emotionally everything felt satisfying but I did trip over how abrupt it all felt, perhaps heavier foreshadowing earlier on could have helped.
At its core, though, I loved how distinct each of the sisters were, and I had a lot of fun picturing my girls as adults one day and dreaming up which characters they might each align with. It was fun to learn that Moore is a mom of three daughters as well! It’s a great summer read with a lot of heart, very worthy of your summer TBR!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up.
the shipman sisters have been summoned back to their late mother's beach house by their father. no zooming in. no telephone calls. get yourself there on X date. it's like the holy grail of a family meeting. after their mother died two years ago, the sisters have been spread across the country doing their own thing while navigating their own grief. jordan, the oldest, is working as a crisis communications specialist in NYC. natalie, the middle sibling, is pushing her tradwife narrative on social media at the farm she owns with her husband. mae, the baby, seems to be floundering the hardest...can't make rent, works in the gig economy with zero stability, and is now living out of her car.
when they convene back in rye, NH, things are only going to get more difficult. spend seven days with the shipman family as they navigate new additions, differing opinions on major life choices, and opening up with honest accounts from the last two years. in the end, no one has their life together, after all!
i really enjoyed the NH seacoast setting for a nice change of scenery. i appreciate meg mitchell moore highlighting the coastal areas of new england in her works! i liked how the three sisters opened up to each other and then with other members of the family by the end of the book, particularly when it comes to their grief experiences. grief is not linear and the three sisters represented that really well. the plot line of the sale of the family home can easily be extrapolated to other things (big or small) that are not just houses...family cars, family vacation rental locations, the restaurant selection for dinner that night, who keeps grandma's diamond ring...everyone has their reasons why something should and should not happen. how do we reconcile that in real life?
i wasn't as much of a fan of the last 15% of the book as i was of the rest. there is an event that takes place that i thought was almost an "easy way out", which helped things tie up nicely. the likelihood of that in real life is so low, it was hard not to feel off about it after the rest of the book was quite raw and real.
overall, a great summer read for those who love a focus on coastal new england, family ties, sibling drama, work difficulties, and a cast of really cute kids!
thank you to william morrow for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.
the shipman sisters have been summoned back to their late mother's beach house by their father. no zooming in. no telephone calls. get yourself there on X date. it's like the holy grail of a family meeting. after their mother died two years ago, the sisters have been spread across the country doing their own thing while navigating their own grief. jordan, the oldest, is working as a crisis communications specialist in NYC. natalie, the middle sibling, is pushing her tradwife narrative on social media at the farm she owns with her husband. mae, the baby, seems to be floundering the hardest...can't make rent, works in the gig economy with zero stability, and is now living out of her car.
when they convene back in rye, NH, things are only going to get more difficult. spend seven days with the shipman family as they navigate new additions, differing opinions on major life choices, and opening up with honest accounts from the last two years. in the end, no one has their life together, after all!
i really enjoyed the NH seacoast setting for a nice change of scenery. i appreciate meg mitchell moore highlighting the coastal areas of new england in her works! i liked how the three sisters opened up to each other and then with other members of the family by the end of the book, particularly when it comes to their grief experiences. grief is not linear and the three sisters represented that really well. the plot line of the sale of the family home can easily be extrapolated to other things (big or small) that are not just houses...family cars, family vacation rental locations, the restaurant selection for dinner that night, who keeps grandma's diamond ring...everyone has their reasons why something should and should not happen. how do we reconcile that in real life?
i wasn't as much of a fan of the last 15% of the book as i was of the rest. there is an event that takes place that i thought was almost an "easy way out", which helped things tie up nicely. the likelihood of that in real life is so low, it was hard not to feel off about it after the rest of the book was quite raw and real.
overall, a great summer read for those who love a focus on coastal new england, family ties, sibling drama, work difficulties, and a cast of really cute kids!
thank you to william morrow for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everything is unraveling—grief, secrets, perfectly curated lives—and somehow this beach read had me staring off into space like… wow, okay, that hit a little too close to home. Down with the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell Moore pulled me right into a family dynamic that felt so real it almost felt like I shouldn’t be there. Published by William Morrow—huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
This is one of those stories that sounds simple on paper—three sisters, Jordan, Natalie, and Mae, head back to their childhood beach house—but it’s really about everything they’ve been avoiding. Jordan is the oldest, the fixer, the one who has it together… until you realize she really doesn’t. Natalie’s built this beautiful, picture-perfect life online, but behind the scenes it’s a lot messier than she lets on. And Mae, the youngest, is just trying to figure life out while carrying more than she probably should be.
Then their dad casually drops the news that he’s selling the house. And not just any house—the house. The one tied to their mom, their childhood, all of it. And you can feel the shift immediately. It’s not loud or dramatic in a flashy way, but it’s heavy. Old tension, old grief, things left unsaid… it all starts bubbling up.
What I really loved is how natural everything felt. The conversations, the tension, even the little moments of humor—it all felt like real siblings who love each other but also know exactly how to push each other’s buttons. And the grief? It’s not overdone. It just… sits there, in the background, shaping everything in quiet ways.
“Home isn’t a place you keep—it’s the people you refuse to let go of.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
If you like character-driven stories where it’s more about the people than the plot, this is absolutely your kind of read. It’s emotional without being overwhelming, messy in a very real way, and one of those books that kind of sneaks up on you.
I definitely found myself getting attached to these sisters—frustrated with them, rooting for them, all of it. And by the end, I wasn’t ready to leave their world.
So tell me—would you hold on to the house no matter what, or let it go and keep the memories instead?
#DownWithTheShipmans #MegMitchellMoore #NetGalley #BookReview #BeachRead #WomensFiction #FamilyDrama #SummerReads #Bookstagram #ARCReader #EmotionalReads #Sisterhood #CozyReads
This is one of those stories that sounds simple on paper—three sisters, Jordan, Natalie, and Mae, head back to their childhood beach house—but it’s really about everything they’ve been avoiding. Jordan is the oldest, the fixer, the one who has it together… until you realize she really doesn’t. Natalie’s built this beautiful, picture-perfect life online, but behind the scenes it’s a lot messier than she lets on. And Mae, the youngest, is just trying to figure life out while carrying more than she probably should be.
Then their dad casually drops the news that he’s selling the house. And not just any house—the house. The one tied to their mom, their childhood, all of it. And you can feel the shift immediately. It’s not loud or dramatic in a flashy way, but it’s heavy. Old tension, old grief, things left unsaid… it all starts bubbling up.
What I really loved is how natural everything felt. The conversations, the tension, even the little moments of humor—it all felt like real siblings who love each other but also know exactly how to push each other’s buttons. And the grief? It’s not overdone. It just… sits there, in the background, shaping everything in quiet ways.
“Home isn’t a place you keep—it’s the people you refuse to let go of.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
If you like character-driven stories where it’s more about the people than the plot, this is absolutely your kind of read. It’s emotional without being overwhelming, messy in a very real way, and one of those books that kind of sneaks up on you.
I definitely found myself getting attached to these sisters—frustrated with them, rooting for them, all of it. And by the end, I wasn’t ready to leave their world.
So tell me—would you hold on to the house no matter what, or let it go and keep the memories instead?
#DownWithTheShipmans #MegMitchellMoore #NetGalley #BookReview #BeachRead #WomensFiction #FamilyDrama #SummerReads #Bookstagram #ARCReader #EmotionalReads #Sisterhood #CozyReads
March 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ Down With The Shipman’s follows sisters Jordan, Natalie, and Mae as they continue to navigate the quiet, lingering grief of losing their mother two years prior. When their father abruptly summons them to their late mother’s beach house—insisting on their presence despite their separate, carefully constructed lives across the country—they arrive carrying not just luggage, but emotional distance and unresolved history.
Each sister is sharply drawn and distinct. Jordan, the eldest, thrives as a high-powered crisis manager in New York, accustomed to controlling chaos everywhere except within her own family. Natalie has reinvented herself as a viral internet personality, curating an idyllic farm life and capitalizing on the “TradWife” aesthetic, though cracks beneath the surface hint at deeper tensions. Mae, the youngest, drifts at the margins—penniless, recently homeless, and working as a dog trainer in Boulder—still searching for stability and a sense of belonging.
What none of them anticipate is their father’s announcement: he plans to sell the beach house, the last tangible piece of their mother. The decision lands like a betrayal, and suspicion quickly turns toward his new wife—their mother’s former hospice nurse—who becomes an easy focal point for their anger and grief.
At its core, the novel is an exploration of sisterhood in adulthood—how shared history can both bind and divide, and how grief evolves over time. Through alternating perspectives, the story skillfully weaves past and present, revealing long-held resentments, misunderstandings, and moments of tenderness that feel both authentic and earned.
While the pacing begins slowly, taking time to establish each sister’s world, it gradually gains momentum as tensions rise and emotional truths surface. By the end, the narrative settles into something warm and quietly satisfying, offering not neat resolution, but a sense of growth and reconnection.
Ultimately, Down With The Shipman’s is a reflective, character-driven summer read—one that balances lightness with emotional depth, and reminds us that family relationships, much like grief itself, are rarely simple but often worth the effort to mend.
Many thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Each sister is sharply drawn and distinct. Jordan, the eldest, thrives as a high-powered crisis manager in New York, accustomed to controlling chaos everywhere except within her own family. Natalie has reinvented herself as a viral internet personality, curating an idyllic farm life and capitalizing on the “TradWife” aesthetic, though cracks beneath the surface hint at deeper tensions. Mae, the youngest, drifts at the margins—penniless, recently homeless, and working as a dog trainer in Boulder—still searching for stability and a sense of belonging.
What none of them anticipate is their father’s announcement: he plans to sell the beach house, the last tangible piece of their mother. The decision lands like a betrayal, and suspicion quickly turns toward his new wife—their mother’s former hospice nurse—who becomes an easy focal point for their anger and grief.
At its core, the novel is an exploration of sisterhood in adulthood—how shared history can both bind and divide, and how grief evolves over time. Through alternating perspectives, the story skillfully weaves past and present, revealing long-held resentments, misunderstandings, and moments of tenderness that feel both authentic and earned.
While the pacing begins slowly, taking time to establish each sister’s world, it gradually gains momentum as tensions rise and emotional truths surface. By the end, the narrative settles into something warm and quietly satisfying, offering not neat resolution, but a sense of growth and reconnection.
Ultimately, Down With The Shipman’s is a reflective, character-driven summer read—one that balances lightness with emotional depth, and reminds us that family relationships, much like grief itself, are rarely simple but often worth the effort to mend.
Many thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Shipman girls, Jordan, Natalie, and Mae (now women in their late twenties and thirties), are summoned to the family’s New Hampshire beach house by their father, Calvin. No ifs, ands, or buts, Calvin wants everyone together for what the girls think will be a summer week of family bonding, the first time back since their mother’s passing two years prior. The daughters arrive not only with physical baggage but also emotional baggage, each dealing with their own personal situations, secrets, and possible major life changes while still grieving the loss of their mother. When they’re together, Calvin announces he is selling the house, and that sets off a chain reaction of anger, accusations, and fresh heartbreak.
This is the first book I’ve read by Meg Mitchell Moore, and I was immediately drawn in to the family dynamic (including how the “girls” deal with one another, as well as with their father and their father’s new wife, who was formerly their mother’s hospice nurse). I also really enjoyed the well-written and multi-dimensional characters, the beautifully described New England beach setting, the rapid fire and realistic dialogue, humor (thanks in large part to Natalie’s three children), and how each girl still deals with, and apparently never outgrows, the family dynamic of being “the eldest, the middle, and the baby.” I also liked how each family member, including Calvin, had dealt with, and continues to deal with, losing their wife and mother, a reminder that everyone grieves in their own way, and there’s no timeline or “how-to” guide.
However, for nearly three-quarters of the book, I found the three annoying and insufferable! I’m glad I stuck with it, because ultimately, what shone through was the love this family has for one another, especially when life keeps pummeling them. As Calvin says, “A house is just a structure. Family is not a structure. Family is people.” Like the “bones” of the home that had weathered so much, the bonds of this family still held. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is the first book I’ve read by Meg Mitchell Moore, and I was immediately drawn in to the family dynamic (including how the “girls” deal with one another, as well as with their father and their father’s new wife, who was formerly their mother’s hospice nurse). I also really enjoyed the well-written and multi-dimensional characters, the beautifully described New England beach setting, the rapid fire and realistic dialogue, humor (thanks in large part to Natalie’s three children), and how each girl still deals with, and apparently never outgrows, the family dynamic of being “the eldest, the middle, and the baby.” I also liked how each family member, including Calvin, had dealt with, and continues to deal with, losing their wife and mother, a reminder that everyone grieves in their own way, and there’s no timeline or “how-to” guide.
However, for nearly three-quarters of the book, I found the three annoying and insufferable! I’m glad I stuck with it, because ultimately, what shone through was the love this family has for one another, especially when life keeps pummeling them. As Calvin says, “A house is just a structure. Family is not a structure. Family is people.” Like the “bones” of the home that had weathered so much, the bonds of this family still held. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
Calvin Shipman calls his three daughters to their summer home two years after their mother has passed away. When they get there, he tells them that he’s selling the house and they need to help get the house to market. The daughters are bitter that their father has recently remarried to their mother’s hospice nurse Kara. Will they put old resentments to rest and work together on the family project?
🩷 I thought the three sisters were created well and are very distinct from one another. Sure, they might be a bit trope-y with the oldest being an overachiever, the youngest being down on her luck without direction, and the middle sister being attention-seeking. But each is struggling with something a bit different, and they are relatable (but take this from someone who doesn’t have sisters).
🩷 The youngest sister Mae is a rescue dog trainer. I thought the dog training was well-incorporated into the novel, so much so that there are lots of tips if you’re training your own dog.
🩷 New Hampshire beach setting
⛔️ The middle sister Natalie is a tradwife influencer just like the main character Natalie in YESTERYEAR. I know it’s just a bizarre coincidence, but it makes me think these books have cross-pollinated in some way and that it’s the SAME Natalie from that book. (I did read YESTERYEAR three months ago. I didn’t think it would stick to me so strongly.)
⛔️ The father Calvin felt elusive to me and didn’t feel he had a strong arc.
I thought the sister characters were well-drawn, but this is a light, beach-y, mostly predictable read. Going into the epilogue, I thought I knew what was going to happen with the family house, so I was a bit surprised that it went in a different direction.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes June 2, 2026.
Calvin Shipman calls his three daughters to their summer home two years after their mother has passed away. When they get there, he tells them that he’s selling the house and they need to help get the house to market. The daughters are bitter that their father has recently remarried to their mother’s hospice nurse Kara. Will they put old resentments to rest and work together on the family project?
🩷 I thought the three sisters were created well and are very distinct from one another. Sure, they might be a bit trope-y with the oldest being an overachiever, the youngest being down on her luck without direction, and the middle sister being attention-seeking. But each is struggling with something a bit different, and they are relatable (but take this from someone who doesn’t have sisters).
🩷 The youngest sister Mae is a rescue dog trainer. I thought the dog training was well-incorporated into the novel, so much so that there are lots of tips if you’re training your own dog.
🩷 New Hampshire beach setting
⛔️ The middle sister Natalie is a tradwife influencer just like the main character Natalie in YESTERYEAR. I know it’s just a bizarre coincidence, but it makes me think these books have cross-pollinated in some way and that it’s the SAME Natalie from that book. (I did read YESTERYEAR three months ago. I didn’t think it would stick to me so strongly.)
⛔️ The father Calvin felt elusive to me and didn’t feel he had a strong arc.
I thought the sister characters were well-drawn, but this is a light, beach-y, mostly predictable read. Going into the epilogue, I thought I knew what was going to happen with the family house, so I was a bit surprised that it went in a different direction.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes June 2, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I felt incredibly lucky to secure a pre-release copy of Down with the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell Moore. While some simplify Meg Mitchell Moore’s work as "beach reads," that label fails to capture the nuanced characters, engrossing plots, and wonderful character arcs she consistently produces. This story is a prime example of why she is a must-read for fans of contemporary family drama.
The plot follows the three Shipman sisters when they return to their family beach house on the New Hampshire coast—their first visit since their mother’s passing. What was meant to be a simple trip to see their father is upended when he reveals his plan to sell the home that defined their childhoods.
Naturally, the drama ensues quickly. The three sisters have distinct personalities, each hauling her own baggage and life complications into the shared space of the beach house. One sister is down on her luck, living in her car. Another is a public relations specialist in the depth of an ethical conundrum. The third is a tech executive turned trad wife on a Vermont dairy farm. While it took a few chapters for me to fully settle in with the characters, once the momentum built, I was hooked.
I found myself completely immersed, eventually staying up all night to see how the Shipman family dynamics would resolve. It was time (and lost sleep) well spent.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The plot follows the three Shipman sisters when they return to their family beach house on the New Hampshire coast—their first visit since their mother’s passing. What was meant to be a simple trip to see their father is upended when he reveals his plan to sell the home that defined their childhoods.
Naturally, the drama ensues quickly. The three sisters have distinct personalities, each hauling her own baggage and life complications into the shared space of the beach house. One sister is down on her luck, living in her car. Another is a public relations specialist in the depth of an ethical conundrum. The third is a tech executive turned trad wife on a Vermont dairy farm. While it took a few chapters for me to fully settle in with the characters, once the momentum built, I was hooked.
I found myself completely immersed, eventually staying up all night to see how the Shipman family dynamics would resolve. It was time (and lost sleep) well spent.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jordan, Natalie and Mae are the three sisters of the Shipman family. They are summoned by their father to their New Hampshire beach home in Meg Mitchell Moore’s novel, Down with the Shipmans.
Each of the three sisters plays her role in the family by birth order. Each is still trying to process the loss of their mother who died two years prior. The sisters don’t live near each other, and you see troubling dynamics between them come to the surface when they begin to internalize the news that their dad is going to sell the beach home that has always been part of their family.
Moore’s novel is well-written. I liked the concept of this story, and there was plenty of family drama when the three grown sisters return home and come to terms with their father’s news. How the sisters relate to each other as adults with their own lives and responsibilities is the crux of this story.
Each of the three sisters’ characters was well-developed and I felt like I got to know each one. I did find that all the sisters were self-centered when their father was going through his own hard time. I am sure this was by the author’s design. I may have liked the book more if there was a little bit more empathy for the dad throughout the story. But overall, this is a good beach read.
3.5* rounded up to 4*
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Each of the three sisters plays her role in the family by birth order. Each is still trying to process the loss of their mother who died two years prior. The sisters don’t live near each other, and you see troubling dynamics between them come to the surface when they begin to internalize the news that their dad is going to sell the beach home that has always been part of their family.
Moore’s novel is well-written. I liked the concept of this story, and there was plenty of family drama when the three grown sisters return home and come to terms with their father’s news. How the sisters relate to each other as adults with their own lives and responsibilities is the crux of this story.
Each of the three sisters’ characters was well-developed and I felt like I got to know each one. I did find that all the sisters were self-centered when their father was going through his own hard time. I am sure this was by the author’s design. I may have liked the book more if there was a little bit more empathy for the dad throughout the story. But overall, this is a good beach read.
3.5* rounded up to 4*
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Down With The Shipman's by Meg Mitchell Moore
Publishing by William Morrow
Narrated by Eva Kaminsky
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 The three Shipman sisters are all called back to their beach house for a mandatory family get together with their dad and his new wife Kara, whom he married shortly after the passing of their mom. All bringing their beach bags plus their baggage, this trip is much needed to help sort through some issues, both past and present, individually and collectively.
💭This was a bit of a slower start as it is more character driven, and especially in the first half. I did however enjoy learning about each daughter and their issues, and how they each reflected on their childhood and moms passing. It really highlights how each child in a family is truly parented by different parents - even when they share parents. For those who love family drama’s and sisterly drama’s like Blue Sisters and Hello Beautiful but would love a lighter more uplifting beach version - this one is perfect. A great beach read with depth!
🎧I tandem read this between the print and the audio, and found the long chapters with page breaks didn’t make it easy to consume this way. I’d definitely suggest either listening or reading to this one. The narration was good, so either mode works - just not both!
Thank you to William Morrow and Libro fm for the advanced copies of this novel.
Publishing by William Morrow
Narrated by Eva Kaminsky
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 The three Shipman sisters are all called back to their beach house for a mandatory family get together with their dad and his new wife Kara, whom he married shortly after the passing of their mom. All bringing their beach bags plus their baggage, this trip is much needed to help sort through some issues, both past and present, individually and collectively.
💭This was a bit of a slower start as it is more character driven, and especially in the first half. I did however enjoy learning about each daughter and their issues, and how they each reflected on their childhood and moms passing. It really highlights how each child in a family is truly parented by different parents - even when they share parents. For those who love family drama’s and sisterly drama’s like Blue Sisters and Hello Beautiful but would love a lighter more uplifting beach version - this one is perfect. A great beach read with depth!
🎧I tandem read this between the print and the audio, and found the long chapters with page breaks didn’t make it easy to consume this way. I’d definitely suggest either listening or reading to this one. The narration was good, so either mode works - just not both!
Thank you to William Morrow and Libro fm for the advanced copies of this novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This stunning family drama set on the New Hampshire beach follows three sisters summoned back to their familial summer beach house in NH by their father, with little details as to why. Jordan, the oldest and a crisis comms specialists from NYC, Natalie, the middle and a trad wife influencer from a cattle farm in VT, and Mae, the youngest and a gig economy employee between apartments in CO, make their way to the family beach house, where they had not been since their mother recently passed of cancer.
They learn that their father plans to sell the home, they are all irate. They are all also angry that their father invited his new much-younger wife, who also happens to be their mother’s hospice nurse. Each sister is also working through their own personal challenges, like dealing with a toxic boss, social media scandal and finding their way as an adult.
The individual story lines of the sisters were engaging as well as the unsettled familial drama around their mother’s passing and their father’s remarriage. The interactions between the sisters are so authentic. If Meg Mitchell Moore writes a sequel, I would be excited to read it!
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You know summer is coming when Meg Mitchell Moore has a new release. She is firmly on my “beach bag” list, and Down with the Shipmans did not disappoint.
The story follows three sisters, Jordan, Natalie, and Mae, who are called back to their family beach house on the New Hampshire coast by their father. What they think is a simple reunion quickly turns into something much bigger when he announces he plans to sell the house that has been in their family for years. As they spend the week together packing up memories, each sister is also dealing with her own personal mess, and tensions rise even more with the presence of their father’s new wife.
I loved the relationship between the three sisters. It felt messy and real, but at the core there is still that bond that keeps pulling them back together. I also always love a beach setting, and this one delivered all the summer vibes.
This checks all the boxes for a great beach read. Family drama, secrets, a little humor, and just enough heart to balance it all out. It is the kind of book you can easily fly through while sitting by the water.
4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows three sisters, Jordan, Natalie, and Mae, who are called back to their family beach house on the New Hampshire coast by their father. What they think is a simple reunion quickly turns into something much bigger when he announces he plans to sell the house that has been in their family for years. As they spend the week together packing up memories, each sister is also dealing with her own personal mess, and tensions rise even more with the presence of their father’s new wife.
I loved the relationship between the three sisters. It felt messy and real, but at the core there is still that bond that keeps pulling them back together. I also always love a beach setting, and this one delivered all the summer vibes.
This checks all the boxes for a great beach read. Family drama, secrets, a little humor, and just enough heart to balance it all out. It is the kind of book you can easily fly through while sitting by the water.
4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Down With The Shipmans is an easy summer read full of family drama, beach vibes and growth. For me, it just left me wanting more. I felt like nothing truly happened, I like my books to have more going on plot wise and to move faster pace wise. I definitely see the appeal for this type of read though, I think many will love it and many are already loving it.
What really pulled me out was how the book was structured, the chapters were 1 day, so they were EXTREMELY lengthy, like 50 pages lengthy, that is not something I enjoy. I found it hard to truly immerse myself. Also, there are multiple POV’s and the way it's structured made it hard for me to keep track. It distracted me from some things and I had to go back and reread at times. I enjoyed the family dynamics, how they dealt with everything, how they grew together and resolved the underlying issues they had. It did have deeper topics but it didn't take away from the light breezy read it was meant to be.
Overall, this was a good read, not the right book for me, but it might be for you, if these types of summer reads are your style. I just wanted a bit more from the plot !
✨ Thank you to @epicreads, @williammorrow & Meg Mitchell Moore for my gifted copy.
What really pulled me out was how the book was structured, the chapters were 1 day, so they were EXTREMELY lengthy, like 50 pages lengthy, that is not something I enjoy. I found it hard to truly immerse myself. Also, there are multiple POV’s and the way it's structured made it hard for me to keep track. It distracted me from some things and I had to go back and reread at times. I enjoyed the family dynamics, how they dealt with everything, how they grew together and resolved the underlying issues they had. It did have deeper topics but it didn't take away from the light breezy read it was meant to be.
Overall, this was a good read, not the right book for me, but it might be for you, if these types of summer reads are your style. I just wanted a bit more from the plot !
✨ Thank you to @epicreads, @williammorrow & Meg Mitchell Moore for my gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a solid summer family drama for me. I loved the coastal New England setting, the beach house vibes, and the overall atmosphere of the book. The title and cover are also both great!
The story focuses a lot on grief, sister dynamics, family tension, and the complicated emotions tied to a childhood summer home. I thought the writing itself was strong, and I appreciated that it dealt with heavier topics while still feeling like a lighter, breezy summer read.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a really great job, which definitely elevated the experience for me.
That said, I did struggle a bit with the structure. The chapters were VERY long, which isn’t really my favorite, and with the multiple POVs, I occasionally had moments where I had to reorient myself a little. I also just found myself wanting a little more to happen overall plot-wise, and I was definitely more invested in certain storylines than others.
Overall, this was a good, easy summer read! Not super memorable for me personally, but I think readers who love family centered beach fiction and sibling dynamics will probably really enjoy it!
3.5!
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAudio Adult, and Meg Mitchell Moore for the ALC!
The story focuses a lot on grief, sister dynamics, family tension, and the complicated emotions tied to a childhood summer home. I thought the writing itself was strong, and I appreciated that it dealt with heavier topics while still feeling like a lighter, breezy summer read.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a really great job, which definitely elevated the experience for me.
That said, I did struggle a bit with the structure. The chapters were VERY long, which isn’t really my favorite, and with the multiple POVs, I occasionally had moments where I had to reorient myself a little. I also just found myself wanting a little more to happen overall plot-wise, and I was definitely more invested in certain storylines than others.
Overall, this was a good, easy summer read! Not super memorable for me personally, but I think readers who love family centered beach fiction and sibling dynamics will probably really enjoy it!
3.5!
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAudio Adult, and Meg Mitchell Moore for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The three Shipman sisters, Jordan, Natalie and Mae, are called to their family summer house by their widowed father for a family meeting/bonding trip. All three sisters are going through tumultuous times in their own lives and then their father tells them that he is selling their late mother's summer cottage. Memories are stirred up and the sisters fight, support and lean on each other, and bond over the week.
I don't know why I thought that this would be a little lighter than it was, but I'm not upset about it - I really enjoyed the sister dynamics and family drama in the story. I thought it was funny that the middle sister is a Wesleyan grad (my alma mater) turned trad wife influencer since both of those concepts piqued my interest (I'm still in my Everyone is Lying and Yesteryear trad wife reading phase). As an only child I generally find sibling dynamics interesting and how the birth order seems to affect how each is viewed by the others and their parents. This is, in some ways, an adult coming of age story where the siblings had to leave home and return in order to find themselves. While I did enjoy reading this, for some reason the audio was better for me (could be mood or how well done the audiobook was).
I don't know why I thought that this would be a little lighter than it was, but I'm not upset about it - I really enjoyed the sister dynamics and family drama in the story. I thought it was funny that the middle sister is a Wesleyan grad (my alma mater) turned trad wife influencer since both of those concepts piqued my interest (I'm still in my Everyone is Lying and Yesteryear trad wife reading phase). As an only child I generally find sibling dynamics interesting and how the birth order seems to affect how each is viewed by the others and their parents. This is, in some ways, an adult coming of age story where the siblings had to leave home and return in order to find themselves. While I did enjoy reading this, for some reason the audio was better for me (could be mood or how well done the audiobook was).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In “Down with the Shipmans,” three sisters, Jordan, Natalia and Mae, are summoned by their widowed father, Calvin, to the New Hampshire beach house owned by their late mother’s family. When they are all assembled at the house, Calvin announces to the sisters’ consternation that he is selling the house at the end of the week. In addition to this bomb shell and grappling with the death of their mother from cancer two years before, they are also dealing with a new stepmother, the hospice nurse who cared for their dying mother in her last months. Each sister also has their own private worries that are consuming them as they face the sale of their mother’s house.
With her usual blend of a beautiful beach locale, multi dimensional characters and realistic dialog, Meg Mitchell Moore plunges the reader into the middle of the sisters’ chaotic, messy lives, as they deal with their mutual and individual anxieties. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a character driven novel where the characters find their own inner strength with help from each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.
With her usual blend of a beautiful beach locale, multi dimensional characters and realistic dialog, Meg Mitchell Moore plunges the reader into the middle of the sisters’ chaotic, messy lives, as they deal with their mutual and individual anxieties. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a character driven novel where the characters find their own inner strength with help from each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Women's fiction/family drama set on the coast of New England in Rye, New Hampshire. Summoned back to their family summer home by their father, The Shipman sisters haven't spent any significant time here since their mother died a few years prior. Jordan, the eldest, practical and a problem solver, Natalie, always the middle, documenting her "tradwife" farm life family to the comments of millions on social media, and Mae, the baby at 29 years old, flailing through life and barely making it. When they learn why their dad has called them home, the problems and failures of their current lives seem to be compounded by the idea of losing something they hold so dear.
I liked it. The nostalgia of remembering your youth and what seemed to be simpler times compared to your current situation always makes for good reading. Sibling dynamics, family bonds, loss of a parent, aging of the remaining parent, second loves, and finding your footing when things get tough are all themes explored. The only thing I didn't love was not having the POV's separated a bit more. They all just kind of got lumped into each chapter which was divided by day in a week's stay.
I liked it. The nostalgia of remembering your youth and what seemed to be simpler times compared to your current situation always makes for good reading. Sibling dynamics, family bonds, loss of a parent, aging of the remaining parent, second loves, and finding your footing when things get tough are all themes explored. The only thing I didn't love was not having the POV's separated a bit more. They all just kind of got lumped into each chapter which was divided by day in a week's stay.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely loved this book! It was the perfect weekend read - entertaining and instantly transporting you to summer at the beach (which was much appreciated during my read in the middle of winter!). The author does a brilliant job of developing characters through dialogue and multi-POV, with characters that were all different, but realistic in their challenges and their relationship (sometimes complicated) as sisters. She delicately demonstrated manifestation and impact of grief over the loss of their mother, as well as processing and working to move forward both as an individual and as a family. The structure of the book was easy to follow - broken naturally into sections by day of the week over a weeklong vacation, and made it easy to finish quickly. Readers that enjoy Elin Hilderbrand's style of writing will really enjoy the style of writing and setting of this book as well. Overall, a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. I was fortunate to receive an ARC copy of this book through Ms. Mitchell Moore and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Down with the Shipmans is another fabulous summer/beach read by Meg Mitchell Moore. I absolutely loved this book. Moore's ability to write from the heart about family and relationships gets better with each new book.
The story follows the three Shipman sisters who reunite at their childhood summer home at the request of their father. Each is carrying their own baggage and turmoil. All are still mourning the death of their mother two years ago. When they learn the real reason for this summons, they lash out at each other. Each must take a step back and reevaluate the person they have become and learn to be the person they really want to be, for each other, but most importantly for themselves.
I really enjoyed each sister's different story and how different they were from each other. The is a deeply emotional story, with well depicted characters. Though the sisters weren't as close as they once were, the bond is still strong and the love is clear. If you love domestic fiction you will definitely want to read this.
Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy
The story follows the three Shipman sisters who reunite at their childhood summer home at the request of their father. Each is carrying their own baggage and turmoil. All are still mourning the death of their mother two years ago. When they learn the real reason for this summons, they lash out at each other. Each must take a step back and reevaluate the person they have become and learn to be the person they really want to be, for each other, but most importantly for themselves.
I really enjoyed each sister's different story and how different they were from each other. The is a deeply emotional story, with well depicted characters. Though the sisters weren't as close as they once were, the bond is still strong and the love is clear. If you love domestic fiction you will definitely want to read this.
Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy
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