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Summerland Cove
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26
Apples Never Fall
meets
Maine
in this captivating novel of family secrets, summer celebrations, and putting things back together again after they’ve all fallen apart— from the acclaimed author of
The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson
.
Lindy has the summer of a lifetime planned at her family’s beloved cottage in Summerland Cove, Maine, where she’s spent summers all her life and where she and her husband David met as teenagers. She’s slated big events three weekends in a David’s fiftieth birthday party, her parents’ fiftieth anniversary party, and her oldest daughter Hailey’s wedding. But when David doesn’t show up for his own party, everything about the life they’ve created together is thrown into question, as the shattered family sets out looking for him. Has he been in an accident? God forbid, been the victim of a crime? Or is it something more cliché—a midlife crisis, an affair? Surely, he’ll show up for his beloved daughter’s wedding—won’t he?
The agonizing days tick by and still no David. Lindy’s four nearly grown children are panicked. Lindy struggles to remain calm, even as long-buried details of the family’s past begin to surface, offering distressing clues. Meanwhile, her mother seems to be harboring secrets of her own, her father has grown alarmingly absent-minded, and Hailey wrestles with whether she should get married at all—even if her father does turn up.
A richly drawn novel of mothers, marriages, and one endearingly messy family, Summerland Cove beautifully evokes the crisp air and rocky beaches of coastal Maine, while poignantly revealing how complicated histories can shape the present in unexpected ways.
Lindy has the summer of a lifetime planned at her family’s beloved cottage in Summerland Cove, Maine, where she’s spent summers all her life and where she and her husband David met as teenagers. She’s slated big events three weekends in a David’s fiftieth birthday party, her parents’ fiftieth anniversary party, and her oldest daughter Hailey’s wedding. But when David doesn’t show up for his own party, everything about the life they’ve created together is thrown into question, as the shattered family sets out looking for him. Has he been in an accident? God forbid, been the victim of a crime? Or is it something more cliché—a midlife crisis, an affair? Surely, he’ll show up for his beloved daughter’s wedding—won’t he?
The agonizing days tick by and still no David. Lindy’s four nearly grown children are panicked. Lindy struggles to remain calm, even as long-buried details of the family’s past begin to surface, offering distressing clues. Meanwhile, her mother seems to be harboring secrets of her own, her father has grown alarmingly absent-minded, and Hailey wrestles with whether she should get married at all—even if her father does turn up.
A richly drawn novel of mothers, marriages, and one endearingly messy family, Summerland Cove beautifully evokes the crisp air and rocky beaches of coastal Maine, while poignantly revealing how complicated histories can shape the present in unexpected ways.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
2 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Baker
4 books349 followersEllen Baker is the author of the novels SUMMERLAND COVE (coming June 2, 2026), THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON, KEEPING THE HOUSE, and I GAVE MY HEART TO KNOW THIS. She has worked as a museum curator and as a bookseller and event coordinator at an independent bookstore. Originally from the Upper Midwest, Ellen currently lives on the coast of Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 14, 2026
Is it too soon to decide that a book will probably be one of my favorites of the year? Because I'm telling you, this one is a contender! Wow, wow, wow. Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for the opportunity read and review this book before its pub date in June. This was my first novel by Ellen Baker, and I am officially a big fan!
Summerland Cove, on the coast of midcoast Maine, is where Lindy and her husband David spent their teenage years, met, and fell in love. Years later Lindy is planning the summer of a lifetime with three big parties - David’s birthday, her parent’s 50th anniversary, and her daughter’s wedding at the Cove. When David does not appear for his birthday party, a weeklong search for him begins, and the summer of fun begins to unravel. As secrets past and present become revealed, both Lindy and David’s families learn more about their lives, themselves, and their connections to themselves, each other, and the cove community in ways they never imagined.
This book had me hooked from the very first page. I could not put it down. The suspense of David’s disappearance, coupled with the dynamics of an impending wedding, and the deep secrets being held right under Lindy’s nose had me turning the pages as fast as I could to see how it would all come together. In between the main storylines are strong themes of love in many forms, relationships past and present, personal growth, pride, friendship, and acceptance. I especially appreciated the point of view of the grandmother and her story is an excellent reminder that our assumptions about others are not always what they may seem.
As a Mainer, I am pretty critical of books set in Maine - especially when I feel that an author does not truly know or understand our state, throwing around names of towns or businesses just to seem like they “know Maine.” Ellen Baker KNOWS Maine. Her descriptions of the fictional cove and the real areas around it, are beautifully intertwined with familiar names and locations. Her descriptions of life in a seasonal neighborhood in coastal Maine are real, and this book is written without it feeling like the author is trying to prove something about their connection here. Thank you Ellen, for representing our state so well and so beautifully.
I will be recommending this book to everyone once it comes out in June. Add it to your list now - it is absolutely perfect in every way. An instant favorite.
Summerland Cove, on the coast of midcoast Maine, is where Lindy and her husband David spent their teenage years, met, and fell in love. Years later Lindy is planning the summer of a lifetime with three big parties - David’s birthday, her parent’s 50th anniversary, and her daughter’s wedding at the Cove. When David does not appear for his birthday party, a weeklong search for him begins, and the summer of fun begins to unravel. As secrets past and present become revealed, both Lindy and David’s families learn more about their lives, themselves, and their connections to themselves, each other, and the cove community in ways they never imagined.
This book had me hooked from the very first page. I could not put it down. The suspense of David’s disappearance, coupled with the dynamics of an impending wedding, and the deep secrets being held right under Lindy’s nose had me turning the pages as fast as I could to see how it would all come together. In between the main storylines are strong themes of love in many forms, relationships past and present, personal growth, pride, friendship, and acceptance. I especially appreciated the point of view of the grandmother and her story is an excellent reminder that our assumptions about others are not always what they may seem.
As a Mainer, I am pretty critical of books set in Maine - especially when I feel that an author does not truly know or understand our state, throwing around names of towns or businesses just to seem like they “know Maine.” Ellen Baker KNOWS Maine. Her descriptions of the fictional cove and the real areas around it, are beautifully intertwined with familiar names and locations. Her descriptions of life in a seasonal neighborhood in coastal Maine are real, and this book is written without it feeling like the author is trying to prove something about their connection here. Thank you Ellen, for representing our state so well and so beautifully.
I will be recommending this book to everyone once it comes out in June. Add it to your list now - it is absolutely perfect in every way. An instant favorite.
January 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ Lindy has spent every summer of her life at Innisfree, the beloved cottage her mother inherited in Summerland Cove on the coast of Maine. It’s a place steeped in family history—and where Lindy first met her husband, David, at just twelve years old. So, despite knowing he would hate the attention, it feels only right to host David’s 50th birthday celebration there, alongside her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary and her eldest daughter Hailey’s wedding. Three milestone events. Three consecutive weekends. What could possibly go wrong?
Plenty. When David fails to appear at his own birthday party—and no one can reach or locate him—what begins as concern quickly spirals into fear. As the family searches for answers, long-buried secrets begin to surface, unraveling across generations. Lindy’s four nearly grown children are panicked, while Lindy herself struggles to hold everything together as unsettling clues from the past emerge. Her mother seems to be guarding secrets of her own, her father’s memory is becoming increasingly unreliable, and Hailey finds herself questioning whether she should go through with her wedding at all—if her father is even found.
This is a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel that draws you in from the very first page. Layered with family dynamics, quiet tension, and deep emotional resonance, it will have you turning pages late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth and savoring every moment along the way.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Plenty. When David fails to appear at his own birthday party—and no one can reach or locate him—what begins as concern quickly spirals into fear. As the family searches for answers, long-buried secrets begin to surface, unraveling across generations. Lindy’s four nearly grown children are panicked, while Lindy herself struggles to hold everything together as unsettling clues from the past emerge. Her mother seems to be guarding secrets of her own, her father’s memory is becoming increasingly unreliable, and Hailey finds herself questioning whether she should go through with her wedding at all—if her father is even found.
This is a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel that draws you in from the very first page. Layered with family dynamics, quiet tension, and deep emotional resonance, it will have you turning pages late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth and savoring every moment along the way.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Summer Cove by Ellen Baker was an excellent heartwarming read. The story was engaging and the characters were very relatable. It's a about a journey through life and learning to navigate the bumpy roads encountered.
Lindy and David met as teens at their perspective summer cottages in an area known as The Cove. Fast forward many years and they, their children, his siblings, and her parents are gathering back at the cottages for three huge milestones. When David fails to show up as scheduled, it sends all of them into a tailspin. As they begin searches for him, happenings from the past start to come into play and each must decide how much, if any, of those incidents they want to reveal.
This emotional story was told with grace and compassion. The characters alternated between three strong female characters and gave a deep insight into the demons they were wrestling with. If you love a domestic story about life's unpredictability and strong characters, this is a must read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for the advanced copy
Lindy and David met as teens at their perspective summer cottages in an area known as The Cove. Fast forward many years and they, their children, his siblings, and her parents are gathering back at the cottages for three huge milestones. When David fails to show up as scheduled, it sends all of them into a tailspin. As they begin searches for him, happenings from the past start to come into play and each must decide how much, if any, of those incidents they want to reveal.
This emotional story was told with grace and compassion. The characters alternated between three strong female characters and gave a deep insight into the demons they were wrestling with. If you love a domestic story about life's unpredictability and strong characters, this is a must read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for the advanced copy
January 8, 2026
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’m someone that likes to go into books blind, so I had no clue what this was going to be about but man did it deliver. I have come to adore women’s fiction over the last two years and this one was so intriguing. We follow the POVs of a grandma, her daughter(I’d say the main FMC) and then her daughter(the granddaughter) over the course of a certain mystery taking place and though it’s probably considered the main plot of the book, there were a few sub plots happening that I loved just as much. I think it was well written, the chapters were a good length, and it kept me wanting to read more. Would definitely recommend.
I’m someone that likes to go into books blind, so I had no clue what this was going to be about but man did it deliver. I have come to adore women’s fiction over the last two years and this one was so intriguing. We follow the POVs of a grandma, her daughter(I’d say the main FMC) and then her daughter(the granddaughter) over the course of a certain mystery taking place and though it’s probably considered the main plot of the book, there were a few sub plots happening that I loved just as much. I think it was well written, the chapters were a good length, and it kept me wanting to read more. Would definitely recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley, Ellen Baker did not disappoint with Summerland Cove!! Three events in a a course of a few weekends and where is David? Lindy's husband is missing, its his birthday and he's nowhere to be found!!! there's still an anniversary and a wedding to happen where is he??? Oh the twist and turns!!! The story takes you from the time they met to the present all the in betweens, Just when you think you know something, you know absolutely nothing. There is sadness and happiness. I loved this book. Read the book, wrap your heart around All the twist and turns get involved in their lives.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
Summerland Cove was the perfect beach read romance/mystery. Three parties planned back to back with her entire family coming in and her husband does not show up for the first party…. And it goes off from there. I love the characters especially Innisfree! Reminded me a bit of a Beatriz Williams!
Summerland Cove was the perfect beach read romance/mystery. Three parties planned back to back with her entire family coming in and her husband does not show up for the first party…. And it goes off from there. I love the characters especially Innisfree! Reminded me a bit of a Beatriz Williams!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews