Hush

The Seaside Saga #25

by Joanne DeMaio

From New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio comes Hush, Book 25 of The Seaside Saga.

The whisper of dune grasses. The faint cry of gulls. The hiss of waves. In the New England beach town of Stony Point, there's an undeniable hush. Maybe it's because the summer people have left and many of the coastal cottages are shuttered for the season. Or maybe it's just because one tenacious lobsterman's stay is coming to a close. Regardless, there's a stillness in the salt air. But don't be fooled—all is not at ease.

And The Seaside Saga continues.

The Seaside Saga Reading
Book 1 - Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans
Book 2 - The Denim Blue Sea
Book 3 - Beach Blues
Book 4 - Beach Breeze
Book 5 - The Beach Inn
Book 6 - Beach Bliss
Book 7 - Castaway Cottage
Book 8 - Night Beach
Book 9 - Little Beach Bungalow
Book 10 - Every Summer
Book 11 - Salt Air Secrets
Book 12 - Stony Point Summer
Book 13 - The Beachgoers
Book 14 - Shore Road
Book 15 - The Wait
Book 16 - The Goodbye
Book 17 - The Barlows
Book 18 - The Visitor
Book 19 - Stairway to the Sea
Book 20 - The Liars
Book 21 - The Mistake
Book 22 - Miss Moonchild Starbeam
Book 23 - The Shack
Book 24 - August Dove
Book 25 - Hush
And more Seaside Saga Books

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2025

About the author

Joanne DeMaio is the prolific New York Times bestselling author of The Seaside Saga and other novels. She lives with her family in Connecticut and is currently at work on upcoming books.

Joanne enjoys hearing from readers at Facebook.com/JoanneDeMaioAuthor.

Reviews

[Kathie Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh this ending has got to be the most intense one of the series so far,
I honestly dont know how i will be able to wait for the next book i can only hope it is soon.
Absolutely love this series and these characters

[Margie Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hush is the 25th book in Joanne DeMaio’s seaside saga. I believe Hush was a very appropriate title for this book as there is much quiet thought being had by several of the characters. But it’s Shane and his upcoming return to Maine to return out to sea on the lobster boats that has so much thought and deliberation taking place. There’s just so many goodbyes to be had but it’s one in particular that is the most painful. Having to leave Celia, who he has fallen in love with over the Summer, is the hardest one of all. So he wanders from one place to another but not without so much thought and reflection on all the wonderful memories he’s made not only with Celia but with all of the Stony Point crew. In typical Joanne DeMaio fashion, she has ended this installment with a cliffhanger. Danger has come to Kyle and Jason and I’m anxious to read The Diner to see where the story goes from here. I only hope that this is just a scare and not a tragedy and that perhaps somehow this horrible occurrence will bring Shane back to Stony Point where I think he belongs. This is a series I have grown to love, the characters all seem very real to me, like they are family and friends. And the location right on the waters edge in Stony Point, Connecticut with all the beautiful scenery makes for the perfect reading experience for someone like me, it’s like taking a vacation without ever having to leave home. This is a series I am constantly recommending and it’s one I hope continues for many years and with many more installments to come. I’m giving this book a 5 star rating.

[Kristen Karter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this episode of the Seaside Saga really made my heart go out to the residents of Long Island Sound as they shared their past memories, parted ways to go on with their current busy lives, and yep you guessed it the cliff hanger ending made my jaw hit the floor and made me go noooooo. Definitely eager to read the next story. Highly recommend to all romance lovers, east coast fans, etc.

[Katrina Murray-Hesterlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It appears that I get swallowed up by Joanne's books and completely loose myself until the book is finished!!!
Then I am thrown into anxiety filled anticipation of the next release!
This one, oh my, the cliffhanger!
Thank you Joanne for such great writing skills!👏👏📚📚🙏🙏💐💐

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drama, love, friendship

Please, my heart in…
my throat. Loving the characters, wishing for a good pause. Then, then….next, please,please…this is the best

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hush is an appropriate title for this book in so many ways. As we return to the seaside, many changes are coming to its residents and visitors. A hush falls over the community as everything unfolds. One of the joys of this author’s books is that everything is so quiet, as the characters grapple with relationships, careers, and the hard choices that must be made. The quiet, the hush, brings out so many emotions, and we are privy to the characters’ thoughts, making it all feel personal and intimate. I look forward to every book to come in this very special series.

[Sharon Schaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What in the world. I can't imagine how everyone is going to feel and deal with this. Okay, now we have to wait for the next one. It was just wonderful and heart wrenching. So good.

[Cathy Behrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Book

I have read one of Joanne DeMaio’s books and love them all. The Seaside Saga is amazing. This last book had me on edge at the end. Anxiously awaiting her next book on this series.

[candy fewkes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have loved this series, but the past 2 books have left me very disappointed. Very boring, long drawn out description of clothes, grasses etc. Not much to hold my attention. I have pre ordered the diner but if it's not any better I will not follow this series any longer. I like books that I can't put down not one's I'm making myself finish. Please go back to having more characters, interesting stories.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Hush, the beach friends' story continues where August Dove left off. Author Joanne DeMaio transports the reader back to the tranquil seashore town of Stony Point, Connecticut. The story takes place in mid-October, and the readers will catch up with the beach friends' lives.

Hush is an intricate story of interweaving friendships and ever-changing life events. In this twenty-fifth installment in The Seaside Saga Series, the author continues to weave a story that focuses on Celia and Shane. After the unexpected visitor leaves Stony Point, Celia decides to move forward with her life, but with the upcoming departure of Shane back to his job lobstering in Maine, they have to deal with the angsty goodbye that is just days away. With Shane leaving Stony Point, what will become of their relationship?

Meanwhile, the reader catches up with the rest of the beach friends' lives, but for two beach friends, a shocking and unexpected tragedy occurs ... and so The Seaside Saga continues.

I loved how this installment continued to focus on Celia and Shane. I loved how we get to see how Shane and Celia prepare for his departure from Stony Point. You can't help but feel for Shane as he agonizes over what his departure will mean for him and Celia's relationship. The emotional rollercoaster that Shane and Celia endure in the days up to his departure is full of angst, as they question what will become of their relationship. But their angsty drama is nothing compared to the cliffhanger ending. Just when I thought life was going well for all the beach friends, an unexpected event occurs that really shook me up, and I'll admit that it made me cry!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I loved the significance of the completed stairway to the sea, and the emotional and beautiful tribute to Jason's dad that Shane provided with the completed stairway renovation.

The author teases her readers with another cliffhanger ending that is so shocking and devastating that it will leave them stunned! I would get the tissues ready as this is the most unexpected and traumatic cliffhanger ending ever in the series. The reader will have to wait to see what is revealed in The Diner, the twenty-sixth installment of the series ... sigh.

In this installment in the series, the reader follows along with the beach friends' lives that are full of friendship, love, secrets, lies, mistakes, regrets, challenges, heartbreak, grief, surprises, and second chances. As you read this installment, the beach friends continue along in their life journey in Stony Point. I loved that the reader also gets to catch up on the rest of the beach friends' lives, it's always fun to see what they have been up to in their daily lives.

So now that I have whet your interest in the beach friends' latest comings and goings, drive under the railroad trestle and enter the enchanting beach town of Stony Point ... pull up a beach chair ... and visit with the close-knit longtime friends in author Joanne DeMaio's delightful novel, Hush.

The Seaside Saga Series is a heartwarming series of stories of friendship, family, painful secrets, lies, and regrets, new beginnings and second chances. Author Joanne DeMaio weaves a wonderful tale written in the third person narrative, which is set in the present with flashbacks to the past. The reader is transported to the tranquil seashore town of Stony Point, Connecticut, where they follow along with Celia, Maris, Eva, Matt, Jason, Kyle, Lauren, Nick, Elsa, Cliff, Mitch, and Shane as their lives change like the tide's ebb and flow on their little tranquil coastal town.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...

[Susan (The Book Bag) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hush took me on another great visit to Stony Point as it gave my one more chance to catch up with the gang. They all truly have become to feel like friends.

Each one of these installments is filled with so much love and so many emotions. I adore the level of support and respect that all of the neighbors have for one another. As Shane lives his last few days in the community, he discovers how deep these friendships have become. Can he really leave all that?

As other members of Stony Point live their lives, making decisions and moving on, there is the beauty and calmness of the location and the healing beach that is always a character in the background. These books are a great form of escape for me as I immerse myself in the scenery and kindness of the community.

I highly recommend Hush and this entire series. If you haven't read them yet, you need to get started with book one and catch up. Book #26, The Diner will be released in March of 2026!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back with the beach gang that are more like family now.Hard not to become part of their everyday life.The mundane,the trials,the conflicts, and the heartbreak.That darn trestle bridge with its” message”.!The dilemma Shane and Celia are facing.Will the distance spell the end that neither can face?Elsa finally has her feet grounded with her plan to open the in. .Will the commissioner finally propose?Is Celia ‘s mother truly out of her life?But that cliffhanger ending!Hush had me glued to the very last page.It is going to be a long wait until The Diner is released to see how Jason is!This series is so well written.The authors stand alone novels are not to be overlooked.This year we get another Christmas novel!Snuggle in with coffee and start reading her writing.You will be so glad you did!

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like deep in the hush of a quiet night, the sea gently rushes to the waters edge and the 25th book in this series is filled with quiet thoughts, reminiscing, decisions and goodbyes.
With the restoration of the steps to the sea completed by Shane it’s time for him to say goodbye to the friends of Stony Point. Especially, to Celia. Will their love survive a long distance romance when he returns to Maine? These are Shane’s thoughts and Celia’s hope. And true to her style of writing, the author leaves us with a cliffhanger. This time it is explosive and her next book cannot come soon enough. I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook read by the Steve Barnett of this wonderful book by Joanne DeMaio without remuneration. Comments expressed in this review are my personal opinion.













- [ ] Comments expressed in this review are my personal opinion.

[Karen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanne does it again with Book #25 of the Seaside Saga, "Hush"! Joanne has a way of writing about these characters and the scenery that draws you right in and you feel like you are part of these friends and families! Hush is full of emotion as it follows Celia and Shane's relationship and him going back to lobstering - leaving his brother and friends behind after being together for the summer. Elsa and Cliff's relationship moving in the right direction and Maris and Jason' relationship stronger than ever. Joanne ended "Hush" with another cliffhanger that leaves the reader on the edge of their seat! The Diner comes out in March and I can't wait to find out what happens next. If you haven't read any of the Seaside Saga, pick up Book #1 today, you won't want to put it down and soon you'll be as enthralled with this series as I am.

[Mitchy Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I finish a book in this series, the first word out of my mouth is always the same: Wow! And Hush was no exception. The title felt especially fitting this time. After all the intense drama and emotional rollercoasters, the characters have been through over the past few months, this book felt like a much-needed moment of calm. A time to take a breath.
Shane has finally finished the stairway and is ready to return to his lobster job. Maris and Jason have found their way back to each other. Elsa is preparing to open her inn with Celia. Life has quieted down and settled into something resembling “normal”—and that made for a very satisfying read.
Of course, as always, the author ends with a cliffhanger—and this one was completely unexpected. It’s going to be a long wait until the next installment, The Diner, releases next year. But I’ll be counting down the days.

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with any of the seaside saga books you feel like you are part of the friends of Stony Point. As I read the book I felt like these things that were happening around me to my friends.

I love the characters, It's hard to pick a favorite Commissioner and he keeps the friends straight with his rules and regulations. Kyle owns the diner and everyone loves a great meal. Maris is the designer and Jason's wife. These are always some of the main characters in these books, with others in there occasionally.

Once I started reading I just could not put the book down. When I finished the book, I said Oh no she can't leave us hanging like this.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hush (The Seaside Saga Book 25) by Joanne DeMaio
This story follows the gang from where they left off in the last book. It's hard for Shane to have to say goodbye to them all, he needs to go to work on the lobster boat in Maine and must leave and no plans to come back anytime soon.
Others are busy at work, some staging Christmas cards for the holiday, others are starting a new job and everybody's just busy doing life. Like how they are always free to help one another.
Lots of action at the end, things up in the air and you'll find out in the next book what went down.

[Elyse Mcnulty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hush by Joanne DeMaio is book #5 in the Sesaside Saga. Fall is approaching and the summer people have left Stony Point. Shane is getting ready to go back to Maine and he and Celia are trying to figure out how to say goodbye. The rest of the Stony Point crew are working through their ongoing life challenges. As always, there is a gut wrenching cliffhanger. For those of us who have been reading this series, we now have to wait until March to find out what happens next. If you have not started this wonderful saga, start with book 1 and enjoy!

[Christie Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting that

Like most of us, I’m so invested in the lives of the Stony Point denizens. I am solidly Team Shane and Celia, and read slowly because I so badly want things to work out for them. I’m a disciplined reader, and no matter how tempted I may be to “cheat” and skip chapters to see how it ends, I didn’t do that. And then I got to the 95% mark, and didn’t want to read any further, to stop and wait until The Diner comes out. But I didn’t do that either. March 2nd can’t come quickly enough.

[Joanne Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do we go from here!

Once again I am in awe of Joanne DeMaio's writing skills. She draws us into each description of the Stony Point Community & the lives of every character.
I do wish Shane & Celia had announced their relationship to everyone though. I'm confident it will happen especially now that their love is being put to the test.
The cliffhanger this time was totally unexpected!
Grab a cup of tea, sit in your favorite cozy chair with a blanket because you won't want to put this book down.
Till next time....

[Penny Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanna DeMaio has written another best seller! The Seaside Saga Series is one of the best series I have ever read. She has created an unforgettable cast of characters. THE HUSH continues with the love story of Shane and Cecelia. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles in their way? Their chemistry is undeniable. Of course, the characters in this series show up in every book. You will love them. If you haven’t read this series yet, do yourself a favor and start today!!

[Becky Rathke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing cliffhanger in beach friend series! So many things going on in this series! I feel as if I know these characters personally! I was really taken with Shane’s work on the stairs such a sweet nod to Jason’s dad. What will become of Shane and Celia? That has to work out they are perfect for each other and when will cliff pop the question? And what happened at the diner??!! Such cliffhangers can’t wait for the next book to come out!

[COLLEEN D UPTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt

Another great job!! Well done! Just need to get this done. Need to see the precious lovebirds finally all together, no longer apart😍 And to make sure he's okay....... After the tumble

[Lynn Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanne has done it once again! This is now my new favorite book. I love these books and the characters seem so real that they are just like my best friends. Please pick up a book and start reading and make some new friends for yourself! Thanks Joanne for once again giving us a new best seller!

[Cindy Reddick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my!! Loved this story with Shane and what he’s going to do next. Jason and Kyle have me on the edge of my seat, gasp!! That cliffhanger is breathtaking, I think my heart skipped a few beats. Cannot wait for the next book!! 🧡💜

[Tracy Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of this book is really making it hard to wait for number 26 The Diner to come out. I read this book and one day and couldn’t put it down. I love this series!

[Heather G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last couple of chapters were the best. The cliff bangers are getting to be a bit much! I know she wants us to keep reading… but seriously??

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the Seaside Saga, can’t wait for the next one! Highly recommend this series!

[Kathi Rutherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hush is literally a shock!

Our seaside friends are thinking ahead to the holidays,and are getting competitive.Jason&Maris are very excited with their holiday results.Shane is back in Maine,lobstering,and Celia is so sad.Elsa &Cliff are getting cozy.In the midst of everything ,a shocking end to this story!!