Follow You Down

by Katie Walsh

Kate Walker is having a full-blown mid-life crisis. At age 44, she's lost her high-profile Manhattan job, her husband of ten years and her sense of purpose. In an act of desperation, she puts out an SOS to her eclectic and spontaneous best friend Nikki.

Throwing practicality out the window, Nikki convinces Kate to put aside practicality and return to the last place where she was truly wild and Chatham, Massachusetts. The only problem is—Kate hasn’t set foot on Cape Cod since a steamy 2002 summer romance shattered her heart. With her life in pieces, she’s ready to risk the memories to find the part of herself she left buried in the dunes.

At the luxurious Chatham Bars Inn, Kate is immediately taken by Aiden, a disarmingly charming younger man who bears an uncanny resemblance to her old flame. As she’s drawn into Aiden’s magnetic pull, flashbacks of her summer in 2002 resurface with growing intensity, as do doubts about the decision she made years ago.

Kate finds herself caught between two timelines and two versions of one foot in the present, grounded in Hermès sandals and the weight of maturity; the other in 2002, teetering in Steve Madden platforms and the reckless heat of first love. As past and present blur, Kate must face who she was, who she is, and what it will truly take to be happy.

With humor and a touch of summer magic, Follow You Down is a story about second chances, self-discovery, and the beautiful mess of following your heart.

391 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2025

About the author

Katie Walsh is a brand and communications pro who’s spent two decades telling stories. A lifelong bookworm and romantic comedy devotee, she grew up in New Hampshire and now lives outside Boston with her husband and two kids. Follow You Down is her debut novel, inspired by oddly specific dreams and one very wise conversation with her daughter.

Reviews

[Aimee Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun summer romance! There was a few twists to keep you wondering if what you were suspecting is correct or way off, which made it hard to put down! I enjoyed how past and present day collided at the end for a heartfelt finish- but not without a few “life’s a beach, but you learn to ride the waves” moments. Started this book while on vacation and found myself picking it up every chance I had.

[Ariel Sage · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delicious summer romance! I really enjoyed the main character - she was realistic and vulnerable. The way past & present collided was a great twist on a rom-com trope. The ending was really satisfying.

[Elizabeth Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a debut…a knack for storytelling and a clear understanding of what a reader needs in order to feel the characters and their environment.
The flip from present to past was very seamless & helped shape each following chapter with more depth of knowledge for each viewpoint.
Super cute summer read and a bit nostalgic…❤️

[Mandy Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved every second of this book. Each character, each setting and the entire story line was perfect. I adored the dual timelines and the character development and scene setting for each. Perhaps my favorite part was the nod to all of my favorite early 2000s music (I made a playlist out of them because they were so so so good). If you're looking for a fresh, crisp, beautifully tangled story, this is it!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing take on a rom com! I loved the banter and the nostalgia. An amazing beach read that I devoured in one sitting. I want to be Nikki’s friend too. A wonderful and flirty debut for Katie!!

[Ellen Norbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Follow You Down” is easy to read and feels real, not like those romances that seem too perfect. I really liked how the past and present come together, and Kate starting a new but familiar adventure was both fun and exciting to read

[Diane Bairos · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute romance novel that was very well written. Characters were very relatable.

[Sonia Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. So relatable!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Entertaining, fun to read and very relatable, which I loved and made me feel more connected to the story. You can feel the emotions and vulnerability of the main character and I loved that. The book has a bit of everything- humor, twists, romance, a little spice and nostalgia!

[Jane McManus Meek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it . It felt like being down the Cape. My favorite spot too Dennis.

[T SH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book!!! I would definitely read more of her books… 😊

[Dale Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!! Kept me engaged throughout the whole book.