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The Island Bookshop
A heartwarming tale of family, love, forgiveness and second chances.
When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.
For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.
As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?
Perfect for fans of clean, wholesome romance and gentle mysteries, The Island Bookshop is a heartwarming story of love, family, and the enduring power of second chances.
When Kennedy Marshall sets off for a prestigious career in the city, she leaves behind the sunlit shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—and runs from a love she believes she can never have. With her sister, Lara, managing their grandmother’s beloved island bookshop, Kennedy feels confident she’s escaped the past. But when Lara is suddenly injured, Kennedy is drawn back into the island’s warm embrace—and bittersweet memories she thought she’d buried forever.
For Wes Armstrong, the Outer Banks is more than home—it’s his anchor. Building a successful family business was supposed to bring stability, but life has been anything but steady since his wife’s passing. Haunted by past regrets and facing a life-changing decision, Wes is determined to make the right choice for his family’s future. Yet Kennedy’s unexpected return stirs up old emotions and mistakes he thought he’d put to rest.
As hidden family secrets surface and long-buried truths come to light, Kennedy and Wes must navigate the delicate tides of forgiveness, second chances, and the unspoken love that still lingers between them. Can they find the courage to rewrite their story and create a new future on the island’s shifting sands?
Perfect for fans of clean, wholesome romance and gentle mysteries, The Island Bookshop is a heartwarming story of love, family, and the enduring power of second chances.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2025
About the author
Roseanna M. White
66 books3,972 followersRoseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
see also Roseanna White
see also Roseanna White
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
April 18, 2026
The Island Bookshop is a lovely dual timeline set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with a group of locals whose family ties go back generations. Kennedy left home to work in DC with the Library of Congress and to get away from the pain of watching her two best friends marry. Now her sister needs her after a fall, so she heads home to keep their bookshop open for the summer. Wes is her old friend working with his family real estate company but he is now alone after his wife died. This story is sweet with romance as Kenni and Wes rekindle their friendship, a little mystery with old family secrets to solve, and faith. I enjoyed the beach setting, likable, realistic characters, in a small town close atmosphere. The flashbacks to the late 1930's gave a nice background and answered some questions.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
4.5 stars
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
4.5 stars
June 24, 2025
Another sweet summer read ☀️😎🍉⛱️🌊
I definitely read more historical fiction than contemporary, but I’m so glad I decided to pick up this one! It’s deep, sweet, realistic, and also has a bit of a dual timeline aspect to it. I do hope this will turn into a series as the secondary characters were just as great as the main ones ❤️
The spiritual content was very good. Personally I know the author has some different views than I do, but i didn’t really find any real issues in this story. Characters pray, read their Bibles, go to church—it came across as natural, real Christianity.
I respected Kennedy’s decision (and her sisters counsel) to leave the area when she did for the reasons she did. Thank you to the author for taking the high road!
The bookshop itself was really a fun touch. The authors note says it’s based off of some stores she knows in NC. Next time I’m at the beach, I’m going to have to google some local places myself 😉
Read this story if you enjoy…
🐚beach stories
🐚friends to more
🐚second chance romance
🐚family history
🐚themes of forgiveness
This was a good story and I loved the ending 🥰if you’re reading the seasons, this would be great for summer!
Content: marital infidelity (nothing on page and always as a vice), clean romance (kissing only and not a lot)
I definitely read more historical fiction than contemporary, but I’m so glad I decided to pick up this one! It’s deep, sweet, realistic, and also has a bit of a dual timeline aspect to it. I do hope this will turn into a series as the secondary characters were just as great as the main ones ❤️
The spiritual content was very good. Personally I know the author has some different views than I do, but i didn’t really find any real issues in this story. Characters pray, read their Bibles, go to church—it came across as natural, real Christianity.
I respected Kennedy’s decision (and her sisters counsel) to leave the area when she did for the reasons she did. Thank you to the author for taking the high road!
The bookshop itself was really a fun touch. The authors note says it’s based off of some stores she knows in NC. Next time I’m at the beach, I’m going to have to google some local places myself 😉
Read this story if you enjoy…
🐚beach stories
🐚friends to more
🐚second chance romance
🐚family history
🐚themes of forgiveness
This was a good story and I loved the ending 🥰if you’re reading the seasons, this would be great for summer!
Content: marital infidelity (nothing on page and always as a vice), clean romance (kissing only and not a lot)
May 8, 2026
Summary:
Kennedy Marshall pursues a career surrounded by dusty books upon leaving her home in North Carolina's Outer Banks, leaving behind a love she can't have. With her leaving, her sister, Lara, runs their grandmother's island bookshop; however, a traumatic injury forces Kennedy to return home. Upon returning, Kennedy must confront her bittersweet memories of the past she so desperately avoided and tried to leave behind. Businessman Wes Armstrong is struggling with the loss of his wife and the pressure of his family business. Kennedy's presence on the island stirs something in Wes, reigniting old feelings and mistakes as he faces important decisions about his family's future. Kennedy and Wes must navigate their emerging family secrets and decide if they have what it takes to embrace forgiveness and a second chance at love.
Review:
The Island Bookshop is an absolute gem and the perfect cozy summer read to pack for your next vacation or road trip. I found myself completely swept away by the setting and the beachy vibes; there is something so inviting about the idea of a bookshop on the coast. I especially loved how the story uses a dual-timeline approach, switching between the present day and a historical narrative that adds depth to the family themes and faith.
One of the most compelling parts of the book for me was the realistic and heartwarming sisterly bond between Kennedy and Lara. Seeing their relationship evolve as they navigate the challenges of the island bookshop was the story's highlight. While I wasn't the biggest fan of the central romance between Kennedy and Wes, I still appreciated how they interacted and how their personal histories intertwined. I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more if they had stayed friends. If you enjoy atmospheric stories that celebrate books, family secrets, and the beauty of the North Carolina coast, this is a wonderful choice to add to your reading list.
Kennedy Marshall pursues a career surrounded by dusty books upon leaving her home in North Carolina's Outer Banks, leaving behind a love she can't have. With her leaving, her sister, Lara, runs their grandmother's island bookshop; however, a traumatic injury forces Kennedy to return home. Upon returning, Kennedy must confront her bittersweet memories of the past she so desperately avoided and tried to leave behind. Businessman Wes Armstrong is struggling with the loss of his wife and the pressure of his family business. Kennedy's presence on the island stirs something in Wes, reigniting old feelings and mistakes as he faces important decisions about his family's future. Kennedy and Wes must navigate their emerging family secrets and decide if they have what it takes to embrace forgiveness and a second chance at love.
Review:
The Island Bookshop is an absolute gem and the perfect cozy summer read to pack for your next vacation or road trip. I found myself completely swept away by the setting and the beachy vibes; there is something so inviting about the idea of a bookshop on the coast. I especially loved how the story uses a dual-timeline approach, switching between the present day and a historical narrative that adds depth to the family themes and faith.
One of the most compelling parts of the book for me was the realistic and heartwarming sisterly bond between Kennedy and Lara. Seeing their relationship evolve as they navigate the challenges of the island bookshop was the story's highlight. While I wasn't the biggest fan of the central romance between Kennedy and Wes, I still appreciated how they interacted and how their personal histories intertwined. I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more if they had stayed friends. If you enjoy atmospheric stories that celebrate books, family secrets, and the beauty of the North Carolina coast, this is a wonderful choice to add to your reading list.
June 15, 2025
This book made me so happy. (And also it made me cry 😁) The various journeys of the characters, the *incredible* setting, the mention of some childhood favorite books, and the sweet love story—all made for such a wonderful summer read. Would read spinoffs of other characters!!!
April 30, 2026
The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White
(2025)
Untitled Series #1
252-page Kindle Ebook story pages 7-246
Genre: Inspirational, Christian Romance
Rating as a movie: PG
Featuring: Epigraph, Publisher Links, Washington D.C., Librarian, Library of Congress, Rare Books, June, Homecoming, Second Chance Trope - First Love; Friends-to-Lovers, Sisters, Family Bookshop, Avon, Hatteras Island, Dare County, North Carolina; Outer Banks, Family Dynamics, Grief, Pining, Social Media, 1938, Dual Timelines, Dubrovnik, Croatia; Setups for Characters of Future Books, Multiple POVs, Tricenarians, Secrets, Letter From Author, Note From Editors, Advertisements with Covers for: Whistle Stop Café Mysteries, Mysteries & Wonders of the Bible, Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½📚🏛🐚🏝✝️
My thoughts: 🔖Page 76 of 252 Chapter Six - I still don't know the connection of the past POV, maybe it's somebody's grandmother. The story is good. My only issue is they is a lot of background on each side characters so I'm guessing each will get their own book.
🔖104 Chapter Eight - Okay now the story has legs and I'm probably going to get frustrated waiting for these people to get it together.
This story was very surprising to me. I don't know if I'm off my game but I was surprised by some of the revelations. This story certainly made me want to visit Avon, especially after I discovered the bookstore was inspired by 2 real bookstores listed in the letter from Roseanna. I may be reading her entire catalog. I'm diving into The Island Bakeshop ASAP.
Recommend to others: Yes! This story was just delightful with and good mix of drama and happiness.
Untitled Series
1. The Island Bookshop
2. The Island Bakeshop
Books and Authors mentioned: The Book of Psalms by King David, Asaph, the Sons of Korah, Moses, and King Solomon; The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre [commonly called the Bay Psalm Book], Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (aka Alice in Wonderland) by Lewis Carroll, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss, The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis; The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis, The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
Memorable Quotes: “You can’t be in love with your best friend’s husband, Ken. If you can’t squash these feelings, then you give it to God and you honor both them and Him by steering clear. Stay away from Wes until the feelings die. And they will.” Kennedy’s response had been something snotty and snarky, if she recalled. Something along the lines of, “How do you know that? You’ve never been in love.” But her indomitable sister had just lifted her chin and looked her square in the eye. “I’m not speaking from experience. I’m speaking from faith. God promised that you’ll never be tempted beyond what you can bear. Wes is your temptation, so you bear it, and if you can’t, you do what Paul said to do—you flee.” She’d fled, as much as Wes and Britta had let her. Mostly. There was that one time she’d tried to voice her doubts about them…and that had gone so well that she’d decided Lara was right. Her only option was to steer clear of Wes, which meant steering clear of the whole island.
(2025)
Untitled Series #1
252-page Kindle Ebook story pages 7-246
Genre: Inspirational, Christian Romance
Rating as a movie: PG
Featuring: Epigraph, Publisher Links, Washington D.C., Librarian, Library of Congress, Rare Books, June, Homecoming, Second Chance Trope - First Love; Friends-to-Lovers, Sisters, Family Bookshop, Avon, Hatteras Island, Dare County, North Carolina; Outer Banks, Family Dynamics, Grief, Pining, Social Media, 1938, Dual Timelines, Dubrovnik, Croatia; Setups for Characters of Future Books, Multiple POVs, Tricenarians, Secrets, Letter From Author, Note From Editors, Advertisements with Covers for: Whistle Stop Café Mysteries, Mysteries & Wonders of the Bible, Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½📚🏛🐚🏝✝️
My thoughts: 🔖Page 76 of 252 Chapter Six - I still don't know the connection of the past POV, maybe it's somebody's grandmother. The story is good. My only issue is they is a lot of background on each side characters so I'm guessing each will get their own book.
🔖104 Chapter Eight - Okay now the story has legs and I'm probably going to get frustrated waiting for these people to get it together.
This story was very surprising to me. I don't know if I'm off my game but I was surprised by some of the revelations. This story certainly made me want to visit Avon, especially after I discovered the bookstore was inspired by 2 real bookstores listed in the letter from Roseanna. I may be reading her entire catalog. I'm diving into The Island Bakeshop ASAP.
Recommend to others: Yes! This story was just delightful with and good mix of drama and happiness.
Untitled Series
1. The Island Bookshop
2. The Island Bakeshop
Books and Authors mentioned: The Book of Psalms by King David, Asaph, the Sons of Korah, Moses, and King Solomon; The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre [commonly called the Bay Psalm Book], Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (aka Alice in Wonderland) by Lewis Carroll, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss, The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis; The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis, The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
Memorable Quotes: “You can’t be in love with your best friend’s husband, Ken. If you can’t squash these feelings, then you give it to God and you honor both them and Him by steering clear. Stay away from Wes until the feelings die. And they will.” Kennedy’s response had been something snotty and snarky, if she recalled. Something along the lines of, “How do you know that? You’ve never been in love.” But her indomitable sister had just lifted her chin and looked her square in the eye. “I’m not speaking from experience. I’m speaking from faith. God promised that you’ll never be tempted beyond what you can bear. Wes is your temptation, so you bear it, and if you can’t, you do what Paul said to do—you flee.” She’d fled, as much as Wes and Britta had let her. Mostly. There was that one time she’d tried to voice her doubts about them…and that had gone so well that she’d decided Lara was right. Her only option was to steer clear of Wes, which meant steering clear of the whole island.
August 2, 2025
The Island Bookshop is not Roseanna M. White's normal genre to write, although she didn't stray too far from her historical roots. There are chapters dedicated to the families' past, which help them to unravel some secrets.
What I loved:
🕮 NC beach setting
🕮 the historical aspects
🕮 the sisterly bond
🕮 the uniqueness of Kennedy's job
🕮 second chance romance
My main problem with the story is that it was description-focused. I prefer stories with more dialogue than description. This one was very heavy on the descriptions, and I didn't feel like there was much pushing the story forward. This left me somewhat disappointed in the story. I found it somewhat forgettable.
What I loved:
🕮 NC beach setting
🕮 the historical aspects
🕮 the sisterly bond
🕮 the uniqueness of Kennedy's job
🕮 second chance romance
My main problem with the story is that it was description-focused. I prefer stories with more dialogue than description. This one was very heavy on the descriptions, and I didn't feel like there was much pushing the story forward. This left me somewhat disappointed in the story. I found it somewhat forgettable.
July 19, 2025
This is mainly a contemporary story with a just a little bit of historical added in. The focus is on one sister who comes homes to help her sister after she has an injury and has to face some items from her past. We get a few chapters from 1940 and I felt more connected to that storyline and wanted to spend more time in the past than I did contemporary. We do learn how the past and present timelines connect. I felt like there was a lot of heavy items included for a novella story and I didn't enjoy the way it jumped days and weeks at a time.
April 11, 2026
Kennedy loves her job at the Library of Congress, but when her sister is badly injured, she returns to North Carolina’s Outer Banks to run their bookshop. That puts her next door to Wes, whom she loves. He’s a widower now, and realizes he hadn’t prayed about his relationship with his late wife until cracks appeared in their marriage. Both have life-changing career decisions to make. An attention-holding story of remaking lives for the better, and the beach isn’t bad either.
June 27, 2025
I loved this book! It was a lot deeper than I expected, but that just made it all the more enjoyable. The characters are wonderful, and the various relationships between them add a lot to the story. I highly recommend this, especially if you love books and bookstores and islands and mysteries and ...
June 28, 2025
Great summer read set in a beautiful beach tourist town!
I was expecting a simple plot, but White brings her signature depth and layering to this contemporary. I especially appreciated the letters and glimpses into the grandma’s past.
I was expecting a simple plot, but White brings her signature depth and layering to this contemporary. I especially appreciated the letters and glimpses into the grandma’s past.
April 12, 2026
The Island Bookshop is a sweet Christian romance with a touch of historical fiction. It's super cute with lots of faith content, and I loved the characters. Would recommend for a cutesie wholesome beach read!
July 14, 2025
I totally loved this book!! It’s full of booky stuff and jammed packed with Faith, love, forgiveness and the importance of family.
May 13, 2026
I loved this book so much and it was a fast read. I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought it was well written. I would definitely recommend this book. I will be looking for more books by this author.
April 30, 2026
This was a sweet dual timeline (though primarily contemporary) story set in the Island town of Avon, NC. With a beachy setting, this was a lovely beginning of summer read. This book follows Kennedy who comes home after her sister gets injured to help with the family bookstore, even if it means having to see the boy she's always loved who didn't love her back. Though the romance portion was a bit predictable in this one, the journey was still fun, and the way the author tied the short historical timeline tidbits to the story was beautiful. I particularly enjoyed the epilogue tie-in. This book, though primarily a romance story, included a decent enough plot for this plot-driven reader. There was a solid faith thread included and lots of character growth and development for such a short novel. This was a great and fun read and I look forward to more in the series! Special thanks to Guideposts and NetGalley for an e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
April 8, 2026
This is such a good read to get lost in, can friends form a deeper relationship, and not risk loosing the friendship?
A dual time split read, that the author messes together beautifully!
A beautiful setting for a story, North Carolina's Outer Banks, a serious accident, a dream job, family revelations, and renewing friendships. This a page turner, you wonder what changes are going to happen in the lives of these people you now care about.
Major decisions need to be made, not easy, and they need to find important paperwork, and answers.
I got very invested in these characters, and in the end wanted to extend my visit, and glad there is another book in this series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Guideposts, and was not required to give a positive review.
A dual time split read, that the author messes together beautifully!
A beautiful setting for a story, North Carolina's Outer Banks, a serious accident, a dream job, family revelations, and renewing friendships. This a page turner, you wonder what changes are going to happen in the lives of these people you now care about.
Major decisions need to be made, not easy, and they need to find important paperwork, and answers.
I got very invested in these characters, and in the end wanted to extend my visit, and glad there is another book in this series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Guideposts, and was not required to give a positive review.
May 12, 2026
I already love Roseanna M. White as an author for her historical fiction, but these contemporary novels are just as sweet. They actually have a bit of dual time in them to help "solve" the subtle mystery in the background of the story.
This book deals with infidelity and second chance of love. I loved the group of friends. Oh and one of the characters gets a severe TBI and has to deal with the frustrations and challenges of that.
STrong faith message through was lovely.
4 Stars
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC of this edition! All opinions are 100% my own.
This book deals with infidelity and second chance of love. I loved the group of friends. Oh and one of the characters gets a severe TBI and has to deal with the frustrations and challenges of that.
STrong faith message through was lovely.
4 Stars
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC of this edition! All opinions are 100% my own.
May 29, 2025
I love the Outer Banks of North Carolina so when I heard that Roseanna M. White was writing a book that was set there I knew I wanted to read it!
The Island Bookshop was a good book. I enjoyed the story, the main story plus the few chapters that were set back in time. I liked seeing how everything tied together.
The beach and books are some of my favorite things so it was fun to see both of those in this story.
It was an enjoyable summer book!
The Island Bookshop was a good book. I enjoyed the story, the main story plus the few chapters that were set back in time. I liked seeing how everything tied together.
The beach and books are some of my favorite things so it was fun to see both of those in this story.
It was an enjoyable summer book!
April 13, 2026
I really enjoyed The Island Bookshop by Roseanna White. I chose to read it because I already like this author, and it did not disappoint. The story was engaging, and the setting made it even more enjoyable. I especially liked the characters and how everything came together in the end. I hope this book becomes part of a series because I would love to spend more time in this world.
September 23, 2025
I literally couldn’t put this book down! If I wasn’t at work, I was reading this book. I loved the storyline and felt like I was best friends with the characters. I’m actually not sure what I’ll do now that I can’t escape into this story anymore.
July 12, 2025
This was a sweet story. I love Roseanna White’s writing.
July 27, 2025
This book has just the right amount of depth, romance, faith and mystery to make it a remarkably satisfying summer read.
November 23, 2025
This was a sweet, fun read. I enjoyed the faith content and the bookish references.
February 22, 2026
Excellent read. I couldn’t put it down.
June 2, 2025
Although I've read some of Roseanna's historical novels, this is the first contemporary novel I've read, and it didn't disappoint. Along with the romance, family relationships, an enjoyable setting, authentic faith, and interesting characters draw you in. I enjoyed the description of Kennedy Marshall's examination and evaluation of a old book for the Library of Congress. Kennedy's inner conflict involving love of her job versus love for her family, and the simmering romance between her and her long-time friend Wes Armstrong carry the story forward. If you like contemporary romance, I think you'll enjoy reading this novel. I did.
March 21, 2026
Omw, I loved this read. Moving, funny, endearing, powerful! So so good--and I selfishly hope White writes more with these characters/this town. There are definitely more stories to be told!
*I also received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in March 2026; I'd already read the book during May 2025. All opinions are, as ever, my own.
*I also received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in March 2026; I'd already read the book during May 2025. All opinions are, as ever, my own.
September 20, 2025
In The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White, Kennedy Marshall has a career she loves in the Library of Congress. But when her sister back in North Carolina’s Outer Banks has a serious fall from a ladder, Kennedy travels to help care for her sister and run their grandmother’s island bookshop.
Kennedy hasn’t been home in a while. She loves the island, her sister, and the bookshop. But she’s avoiding Wes Armstrong. They’ve been friends since childhood, but Kennedy had deeper feelings. Then Wes married her friend Britta. Though Britta passed away, Kennedy knew too many of her secrets–secrets she can’t bear that Wes should know.
Wes’s family has built a successful business on the island, but a development group has offered to purchase the business. The money would help, but the business has been Wes’s life. He struggles with knowing what he should do.
When Kennedy’s sister’s recovery takes longer than expected, Kennedy faces some difficult decisions.
When a question comes up about a different name on the lease of the bookshop than Kennedy’s grandmother, Kennedy searches for information among county records and old boxes in the attic. She finds a number of editions of The Secret Garden in various languages as well as some old letters with surprising news.
Interspersed between the modern-day chapters are scenes from Kennedy’s great-grandmother’s life. Ana is pregnant when she comes to the US during WWII from Dalmatia in Croatia, which at that time was part of Italy. Her husband, Marko, had come earlier to get a job and find a home. But he doesn’t come to meet her when she arrives. Italian-looking immigrants were viewed suspiciously at that time, and Ana doesn’t receive much help or direction. Finally a sea captain gives her a bit of information which leads her to the wife of the man who hired Marko for his fishing boat. The wife graciously takes Ana in, though she has to deal with anti-Italian sentiment from some of the neighbors.
But her friend’s daughter is enamored with Ana. They both love books, and Ana shares her favorite, The Secret Garden.
Then tragedy strikes. Ana doesn’t know what she will do in a new country with a newborn daughter.
I enjoyed both the modern-day and the historical stories. I hadn’t realized Croatia had been part of Italy. At the time, most people in the US weren’t interested in the difference–Italy was Italy and was ruled by Mussolini, so Italians were suspect. It was hard enough to adjust to a new country without that added layer.
I don’t usually read seasonally except at Christmas. But it was fun to read a “beachy” story at the end of the summer.
Themes of faith, forgiveness, and second chances are woven well through both narratives. Roseanna is one of my favorite authors, and this book is a lovely addition to her body of work.
Kennedy hasn’t been home in a while. She loves the island, her sister, and the bookshop. But she’s avoiding Wes Armstrong. They’ve been friends since childhood, but Kennedy had deeper feelings. Then Wes married her friend Britta. Though Britta passed away, Kennedy knew too many of her secrets–secrets she can’t bear that Wes should know.
Wes’s family has built a successful business on the island, but a development group has offered to purchase the business. The money would help, but the business has been Wes’s life. He struggles with knowing what he should do.
When Kennedy’s sister’s recovery takes longer than expected, Kennedy faces some difficult decisions.
When a question comes up about a different name on the lease of the bookshop than Kennedy’s grandmother, Kennedy searches for information among county records and old boxes in the attic. She finds a number of editions of The Secret Garden in various languages as well as some old letters with surprising news.
Interspersed between the modern-day chapters are scenes from Kennedy’s great-grandmother’s life. Ana is pregnant when she comes to the US during WWII from Dalmatia in Croatia, which at that time was part of Italy. Her husband, Marko, had come earlier to get a job and find a home. But he doesn’t come to meet her when she arrives. Italian-looking immigrants were viewed suspiciously at that time, and Ana doesn’t receive much help or direction. Finally a sea captain gives her a bit of information which leads her to the wife of the man who hired Marko for his fishing boat. The wife graciously takes Ana in, though she has to deal with anti-Italian sentiment from some of the neighbors.
But her friend’s daughter is enamored with Ana. They both love books, and Ana shares her favorite, The Secret Garden.
Then tragedy strikes. Ana doesn’t know what she will do in a new country with a newborn daughter.
I enjoyed both the modern-day and the historical stories. I hadn’t realized Croatia had been part of Italy. At the time, most people in the US weren’t interested in the difference–Italy was Italy and was ruled by Mussolini, so Italians were suspect. It was hard enough to adjust to a new country without that added layer.
I don’t usually read seasonally except at Christmas. But it was fun to read a “beachy” story at the end of the summer.
Themes of faith, forgiveness, and second chances are woven well through both narratives. Roseanna is one of my favorite authors, and this book is a lovely addition to her body of work.
May 11, 2026
Cute but heavy in some places. There was quite a lot of loss in the lives of the mains. But though this is the case some time has passed, not to mention the writer infuses a lot of hope instead of grief.
Engrossing tone in the writer's style that keeps you turning the pages. It's also cozy too. A smalltown by the beach setting for a book can have that effect when done right.
The cast are in their early 30s and have a mature air about them. I prefer this in contemporary fiction as it's more my pace as a woman in her 30s.
Living a life that honors God is mentioned and I love that. Though the people in the story seem to be relying more on their own strength rather than yielding things to God. I think we should start teaching people how to do that in Christian fiction. Jesus says in the Bible that we should exchange our heavy burdens for His light one. And in so doing live in His unforced rhythms of grace (Matthew 11:28-30 Amp and MSG). It is the most freeing and peaceful way of living I have ever experienced in my whole 30 plus years of life. And I only learned how to live that way in the last 5 years. I believe not many Christians know exactly how to do it though. It needs to be more present in fiction media.
Not enough dialogue between characters. It's more their inner thoughts. I like my books with a good balance of both.
Themes of loss and cultural prejudice are depicted but not too heavily. It is written in a way that inspires hope.
I wanted more pursuit from the guy in the romance bits of this. Plus he was such a lovable character. Wish we could have experienced his loveliness on page much more. Actually why did it feel like I had just read a short story? I wanted to be much much more in the characters' lives. To be more intimately acquainted with them. It felt a little impersonal for some reason.
The writing of the historical parts (it has flashback chapters in between the present day ones) was in my opinion better and more lyrical than the modern day parts. Perhaps it's because I prefer the English language in historical times (1800s-1900s). Casual modern day English is just not fun for me. Not enough weight and depth in conversation and storytelling when compared. But this is a personal thing. Others might enjoy the lightness of things.
In short it was a good book that could have been sweeter.
I read this via NetGalley. Opinions are my honest thoughts.
Engrossing tone in the writer's style that keeps you turning the pages. It's also cozy too. A smalltown by the beach setting for a book can have that effect when done right.
The cast are in their early 30s and have a mature air about them. I prefer this in contemporary fiction as it's more my pace as a woman in her 30s.
Living a life that honors God is mentioned and I love that. Though the people in the story seem to be relying more on their own strength rather than yielding things to God. I think we should start teaching people how to do that in Christian fiction. Jesus says in the Bible that we should exchange our heavy burdens for His light one. And in so doing live in His unforced rhythms of grace (Matthew 11:28-30 Amp and MSG). It is the most freeing and peaceful way of living I have ever experienced in my whole 30 plus years of life. And I only learned how to live that way in the last 5 years. I believe not many Christians know exactly how to do it though. It needs to be more present in fiction media.
Not enough dialogue between characters. It's more their inner thoughts. I like my books with a good balance of both.
Themes of loss and cultural prejudice are depicted but not too heavily. It is written in a way that inspires hope.
I wanted more pursuit from the guy in the romance bits of this. Plus he was such a lovable character. Wish we could have experienced his loveliness on page much more. Actually why did it feel like I had just read a short story? I wanted to be much much more in the characters' lives. To be more intimately acquainted with them. It felt a little impersonal for some reason.
The writing of the historical parts (it has flashback chapters in between the present day ones) was in my opinion better and more lyrical than the modern day parts. Perhaps it's because I prefer the English language in historical times (1800s-1900s). Casual modern day English is just not fun for me. Not enough weight and depth in conversation and storytelling when compared. But this is a personal thing. Others might enjoy the lightness of things.
In short it was a good book that could have been sweeter.
I read this via NetGalley. Opinions are my honest thoughts.
June 12, 2025
The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M White is a very charming Christian dual timeline novel that I absolutely loved. It is one of those books that you just don’t want to end.
The action is set on a small America island/strip of land in 1938 and in present day. The two time periods are linked by family and the love of books. There is also a mystery to solve.
Books can ‘speak’ to us and transport us to other times and places. We see the love that a character has for A Secret Garden. It’s a timeless, universal appeal.
1938 sees a character arrive from Croatia to start a new life after persecution from Mussolini starts heating up. We see that starting a new life in America is not without its difficulties as strangers from overseas are viewed with suspicion.
Family is important. Family loves and supports us. In present day a character returns home after her sister has an accident. The love of family helps to heal. Sometimes the healing is physical, other times it is mental. “Family will help you heal… You don’t have to talk about it, but you have to be near the people who love you.”
We see the importance for the community of small, family run businesses. There is the personal touch as opposed to the corporate big business.
Faith in God sees characters through difficult times. “She never had trouble finding God in the hustle and bustle of the city… But here… she saw Him everywhere.” God is wherever we are – but His presence is more keenly visible in nature as the big city has many competing voices.
When God is in our plans, they cannot fail. “Grasp it with both hands, knowing that nothing will pluck you from our Good Father’s palm.”
Life presents challenges. Prayer is our lifeline to God. “His world was spinning out of control.” When we know God, He calms the storm raging within. “I’ll be praying for wisdom.”
Forgiveness is as vital as breathing. “He just had to forgive someone who could never ask for it.” Forgiveness heals us from becoming bitter.
All the characters were delightfully drawn. They were easy to empathise with as the reader ’feels’ the love radiating from the pages.
The Island Bookshop was such a delightful read. The characters were wholesome and the presence of God wafted over the whole novel. “He [God] still asked to be her foundation, her resting place, her shelter from all the storms, but also the true source of joy.”
The action is set on a small America island/strip of land in 1938 and in present day. The two time periods are linked by family and the love of books. There is also a mystery to solve.
Books can ‘speak’ to us and transport us to other times and places. We see the love that a character has for A Secret Garden. It’s a timeless, universal appeal.
1938 sees a character arrive from Croatia to start a new life after persecution from Mussolini starts heating up. We see that starting a new life in America is not without its difficulties as strangers from overseas are viewed with suspicion.
Family is important. Family loves and supports us. In present day a character returns home after her sister has an accident. The love of family helps to heal. Sometimes the healing is physical, other times it is mental. “Family will help you heal… You don’t have to talk about it, but you have to be near the people who love you.”
We see the importance for the community of small, family run businesses. There is the personal touch as opposed to the corporate big business.
Faith in God sees characters through difficult times. “She never had trouble finding God in the hustle and bustle of the city… But here… she saw Him everywhere.” God is wherever we are – but His presence is more keenly visible in nature as the big city has many competing voices.
When God is in our plans, they cannot fail. “Grasp it with both hands, knowing that nothing will pluck you from our Good Father’s palm.”
Life presents challenges. Prayer is our lifeline to God. “His world was spinning out of control.” When we know God, He calms the storm raging within. “I’ll be praying for wisdom.”
Forgiveness is as vital as breathing. “He just had to forgive someone who could never ask for it.” Forgiveness heals us from becoming bitter.
All the characters were delightfully drawn. They were easy to empathise with as the reader ’feels’ the love radiating from the pages.
The Island Bookshop was such a delightful read. The characters were wholesome and the presence of God wafted over the whole novel. “He [God] still asked to be her foundation, her resting place, her shelter from all the storms, but also the true source of joy.”
May 4, 2026
Thank you #netgalley and #guideposts for the kindle version of #TheIslandBookshop.
I am a sucker for a book cover. The title of this one along with the beach scene and the lighthouse lured me in. I do not shop the romance section of the bookstore, and I do not seek out books labeled christian and I definitely do not read historical. I normally stick with the mystery genre and most of what I read does not include religion. I am open to reading other genres if the cover and something in the premise grabs me. Well, thanks to netgalley, I read a book listed as christian romance written by an author that primarily writes historical novels. I did not hate it. In fact. I really liked the story. The story primarily happens in the present time where families who grew up in Cape Hatteras, NC are all reunited to help when Kennedy returns home to help with the family bookstore and her sister's recovery after a fall. Between the cover, and the island that I have visited in my youth AND a bookstore..... how could I turn this down?
The romance - typical story of two people who grew up together and fall in love with each other but neither find the courage to speak what's in their heart and thus find themselves unsatisfied in the lives they created apart from each other. I do not like an unrequited story line especially when both characters hide their love from each other. But this didn't linger in the book and it was handled well. The story was short enough that I didn't have to sit through scene after scene of lingering looks and touches etc etc.
Christian side of things- It started off with a stronger presence then kind of dissipated only to be awkwardly brought up again later on. Having it in the story didn't bother me. But it felt out of place at times. Not natural.
Historical- just a few chapters taking you back to when the families met in the early 1900's. It was interesting and I enjoyed the chapters.
Mystery-yep, this did ended up having a mystery to solve as the sisters and their friends figure out who the person is on the deed to the bookstore.
I'm certain the publisher released this on Netgalley to help gain interest in the 2nd book in the series being released. My guess is that it will be a trilogy with sister highlighted in the 3rd novel. I"m looking forward to more in the series. I enjoyed the story and details added in of the outer banks. The characters are interesting and felt authentic. Some of the story writing felt a bit off. I am giving this a solid 3.5 stars. It's a good story and I want more of these characters.
I am a sucker for a book cover. The title of this one along with the beach scene and the lighthouse lured me in. I do not shop the romance section of the bookstore, and I do not seek out books labeled christian and I definitely do not read historical. I normally stick with the mystery genre and most of what I read does not include religion. I am open to reading other genres if the cover and something in the premise grabs me. Well, thanks to netgalley, I read a book listed as christian romance written by an author that primarily writes historical novels. I did not hate it. In fact. I really liked the story. The story primarily happens in the present time where families who grew up in Cape Hatteras, NC are all reunited to help when Kennedy returns home to help with the family bookstore and her sister's recovery after a fall. Between the cover, and the island that I have visited in my youth AND a bookstore..... how could I turn this down?
The romance - typical story of two people who grew up together and fall in love with each other but neither find the courage to speak what's in their heart and thus find themselves unsatisfied in the lives they created apart from each other. I do not like an unrequited story line especially when both characters hide their love from each other. But this didn't linger in the book and it was handled well. The story was short enough that I didn't have to sit through scene after scene of lingering looks and touches etc etc.
Christian side of things- It started off with a stronger presence then kind of dissipated only to be awkwardly brought up again later on. Having it in the story didn't bother me. But it felt out of place at times. Not natural.
Historical- just a few chapters taking you back to when the families met in the early 1900's. It was interesting and I enjoyed the chapters.
Mystery-yep, this did ended up having a mystery to solve as the sisters and their friends figure out who the person is on the deed to the bookstore.
I'm certain the publisher released this on Netgalley to help gain interest in the 2nd book in the series being released. My guess is that it will be a trilogy with sister highlighted in the 3rd novel. I"m looking forward to more in the series. I enjoyed the story and details added in of the outer banks. The characters are interesting and felt authentic. Some of the story writing felt a bit off. I am giving this a solid 3.5 stars. It's a good story and I want more of these characters.
August 26, 2025
Captivating setting, a surprise dual timeline and characters I came to care about all contributed to making this a memorable read for me. My first contemporary novel by Roseanna M. White (and wondering if it might be her first too?) Gave me Melissa Tagg, Betsy St. Amant vibes.
I was loving on the descriptive writing style, just getting my feet wet (ha – quite literally) along with Kennedy as she comes racing home for a family emergency with all the emotional complications that go along with that (I’m looking at you, Wes) and then I turned the page and suddenly found myself in 1938! Same place, different time and my heart did a little bookish jig at the unexpected dual timeline. To be fair, the contemporary timeline takes prominence, but I loved the tantalizing glimpses of Ana in 1938, wondering how the two would connect. Spectacularly as it turns out!
I certainly can’t resist a librarian heroine, especially one who works at the Library of Congress! Be still my library lovin’ heart! Plus, Kennedy is part owner of the island bookshop so she has the best of both worlds and so do we since there’s lots of bookish content and bibliophile nostalgia.
And then there’s Wes. The focus of Kennedy’s unrequited love for so many years, way back to their teens. His first romance was very much a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when you keep ‘the one’ in the friend zone because the friendship is too important to risk. Instead, he married someone else with disastrous results. Cue the set up for the perfect second chance, friends to more romance. So touching and tentative and heartwarming!
But before we can fully embrace the happily ever after, there’s a family legacy to save, and a family history to uncover which makes for a captivating read.
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/08/26/t...
I was loving on the descriptive writing style, just getting my feet wet (ha – quite literally) along with Kennedy as she comes racing home for a family emergency with all the emotional complications that go along with that (I’m looking at you, Wes) and then I turned the page and suddenly found myself in 1938! Same place, different time and my heart did a little bookish jig at the unexpected dual timeline. To be fair, the contemporary timeline takes prominence, but I loved the tantalizing glimpses of Ana in 1938, wondering how the two would connect. Spectacularly as it turns out!
I certainly can’t resist a librarian heroine, especially one who works at the Library of Congress! Be still my library lovin’ heart! Plus, Kennedy is part owner of the island bookshop so she has the best of both worlds and so do we since there’s lots of bookish content and bibliophile nostalgia.
And then there’s Wes. The focus of Kennedy’s unrequited love for so many years, way back to their teens. His first romance was very much a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when you keep ‘the one’ in the friend zone because the friendship is too important to risk. Instead, he married someone else with disastrous results. Cue the set up for the perfect second chance, friends to more romance. So touching and tentative and heartwarming!
But before we can fully embrace the happily ever after, there’s a family legacy to save, and a family history to uncover which makes for a captivating read.
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/08/26/t...
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