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Summerland Cove: A Novel
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.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
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.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
Audible Audio
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Ellen Baker
4 books390 followersEllen Baker is the author of the novels SUMMERLAND COVE, THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON, KEEPING THE HOUSE, & 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. Grab a book club guide for SUMMERLAND COVE here or for THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON here.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 26, 2026
4.25 I didn't expect to like Summerland Cove as much as I did- it snuck up on me in a great way! Set mainly at a family's summer home in Maine, this story beautifully tackles several of life's complex challenges and highlights the deep importance of family bonds.
I listened to the audio version and found it lovely; the multi-narration format brought the story to life perfectly as three generations of women—the grandmother, mother, and daughter—narrated their own portions. Each character navigates her own life struggles alongside major milestones, including a wedding, a 50th birthday, and a 50th wedding anniversary, all while a compelling mystery unfolds regarding the missing father. Though the book was a touch on the longer side, it was an incredibly moving, immersive, and thoroughly enjoyable listen!
*ALC (thank you, HarperAudio Adult | Mariner Books/NetGalley)
I listened to the audio version and found it lovely; the multi-narration format brought the story to life perfectly as three generations of women—the grandmother, mother, and daughter—narrated their own portions. Each character navigates her own life struggles alongside major milestones, including a wedding, a 50th birthday, and a 50th wedding anniversary, all while a compelling mystery unfolds regarding the missing father. Though the book was a touch on the longer side, it was an incredibly moving, immersive, and thoroughly enjoyable listen!
*ALC (thank you, HarperAudio Adult | Mariner Books/NetGalley)
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.
February 26, 2026
Ellen Baker writes beautiful multi generational novels. During this whole read, I felt like I was in Maine. The way she tells a story is almost like a smooth song. I now want to go to Maine. The characters have so much depth however I did get irritated with them several times throughout the novel at their lack of communication but it was still a beautiful book, I felt like I was watching it in real time in my head. Thank you Ellen for the ARC. I will cherish it forever.
May 30, 2026
This one really caught me off guard. It had a bunch of stories all rolled up into the one main one…and wow! Left me speechless a few times.
We have Lindy and David. They’re married with kids. They’ve been vacationing in Maine f o r e v e r… and met there when they were just teenagers. Now, David is turning 50, and Lindy planned a big party for him. Even though he didn’t want one…
Then we have Greta and Tom, Lindy’s parents. The owners of the home in Summerland Cove. They’re celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! And, Lindy has planned a party for them as well. Greta really doesn’t want to celebrate, as they’ve been keeping some secrets from Lindy and the family… but,what can she do?
And then we have Hailey and ‘the jerk’… who happens to be her fiancé. They’re getting married there, soon! And Hailey is struggling to get everything in order for the wedding… with no help from him. At all… 😳😮😳
Their stories are all revealed in little snippets throughout the book. At times I was laughing. Other times I was crying. And yet other times I was holding my breath…. There’s a LOT going on in here…
From sexual abuse, to self-harm ( and attempted self-harm), to fallout from friendships, to family sticking together through it all… there’s a bit of everything in here!
4 solid, bright, sweet, heartfelt, relieved, beautiful stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#SummerlandCove by @EllenBaker and narrated Beautifully by @JaneOppenheimer; @RebekkahRoss and @RobinSiegerman.
*** This has not been released yet! Please look 👀 for it in a few days on 6/2/26! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley,@HarperAudioAdult and @MarinerBooks for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
We have Lindy and David. They’re married with kids. They’ve been vacationing in Maine f o r e v e r… and met there when they were just teenagers. Now, David is turning 50, and Lindy planned a big party for him. Even though he didn’t want one…
Then we have Greta and Tom, Lindy’s parents. The owners of the home in Summerland Cove. They’re celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! And, Lindy has planned a party for them as well. Greta really doesn’t want to celebrate, as they’ve been keeping some secrets from Lindy and the family… but,what can she do?
And then we have Hailey and ‘the jerk’… who happens to be her fiancé. They’re getting married there, soon! And Hailey is struggling to get everything in order for the wedding… with no help from him. At all… 😳😮😳
Their stories are all revealed in little snippets throughout the book. At times I was laughing. Other times I was crying. And yet other times I was holding my breath…. There’s a LOT going on in here…
From sexual abuse, to self-harm ( and attempted self-harm), to fallout from friendships, to family sticking together through it all… there’s a bit of everything in here!
4 solid, bright, sweet, heartfelt, relieved, beautiful stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#SummerlandCove by @EllenBaker and narrated Beautifully by @JaneOppenheimer; @RebekkahRoss and @RobinSiegerman.
*** This has not been released yet! Please look 👀 for it in a few days on 6/2/26! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley,@HarperAudioAdult and @MarinerBooks for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
February 3, 2026
I ended up enjoying this more than I initially expected. It took me a little while to get into, but by the end I was invested in the characters and the mystery.
Lindy has spent almost every summer of her life at her family’s cottage in Summerland Cove. It is where she met her beloved husband, David—and where she is planning his fiftieth birthday party. Lindy becomes worried when David misses his party and no one is able to get in touch with him. She becomes even more concerned as days pass without word, especially since David knows the next weekend is her parent’s fiftieth anniversary celebration followed by their daughter’s wedding.
This book is told from three point of views. Lindy, her mother Greta, and her oldest daughter Hailey. Lindy’s chapters flash back and forth between the present and the past, when she first met David.
This is a very character driven story—which is unfortunate because I struggled to connect with most of the characters early on. I found Hailey’s chapters to be the most engaging and my motivation for reading on.
This book is full of family drama, secrets, and lies. Despite the slow start, I did enjoy the second half and think the ending wrapped everything up nicely.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lindy has spent almost every summer of her life at her family’s cottage in Summerland Cove. It is where she met her beloved husband, David—and where she is planning his fiftieth birthday party. Lindy becomes worried when David misses his party and no one is able to get in touch with him. She becomes even more concerned as days pass without word, especially since David knows the next weekend is her parent’s fiftieth anniversary celebration followed by their daughter’s wedding.
This book is told from three point of views. Lindy, her mother Greta, and her oldest daughter Hailey. Lindy’s chapters flash back and forth between the present and the past, when she first met David.
This is a very character driven story—which is unfortunate because I struggled to connect with most of the characters early on. I found Hailey’s chapters to be the most engaging and my motivation for reading on.
This book is full of family drama, secrets, and lies. Despite the slow start, I did enjoy the second half and think the ending wrapped everything up nicely.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for inviting me to read this ARC and giving me an audiobook version in exchange for an honest review!
This book definitely seemed like it would be up my alley! Sadly it fell a little short. I still enjoyed my time reading it, but I could have enjoyed it more.
If you like Elin Hildebrand, you will like this book most likely. I can definitely see the resemblance to “Apples Never Fall” after finishing this book. So if you liked that book or show you would love this.
The setting seems like it would make for a really great summer read, but it’s pretty tense and stressful for most of it, so it’s not like it’s a calm beach read.
It was hard for me because I just couldn’t fully get into the characters or the plot. I liked them, but I didn’t love them, which made it hard to get through some parts because some of it was a little repetitive or maybe a little boring at times. If there were some changes done, I think I would have loved this.
It kind of frustrates me in books when we waste so much time on one plotline, when you know it’s not going to end up a certain way. Like with Hailey, you know she is not going to marry Noah because there’s nothing likable or redeemable about his character, yet we spend the whole entire book going back-and-forth on will she marry him or will she not. Only to introduce Jack, which is obviously who she is gonna end up with and is the better choice. I’d rather it just be that she’s not with anyone and meet Jack and reconnect, but doesn’t know if she should be with him right now because of all the stuff going on with her dad. I know part of the whole point of the book was the looming of the wedding and David being missing, but I still feel like it was pointless to have the drama with Noah when we know she’s not gonna end up with him.
Lindy was my favorite character. I’m glad we had most of her point of view. The flashbacks were important to the story so we got to know David’s character, but I am glad there wasn’t too many of them.
Greta was a fine character too. I know this happens in real life but the whole thing with Tom didn’t seem very necessary to have in the book. It just added another sense of drama that took away from the main plot of David being missing. I almost would rather have it be a shorter book and just focus on getting David back and his past, instead of having all the other bits in between. Especially too because Lindy had so many kids, and a lot of them didn’t really matter to the story. Emma had issues with Reese and that was brought up a lot, but does that really matter when your dad is missing? Not really. I couldn’t find it in myself to care. Again, I know these things can happen in real life. A lot happens all at once, but to read about it kind of got to be a lot.
The reveal of what happened to Greta at the end of the book should have either not been in there, or been mentioned more than what it was. It’s not like I wanted to read about it happening to her or see more of that storyline, but it was just randomly thrown in right at the end. It felt very abrupt and kind of brushed to the side. Not even just that, but her reconnecting with Marjorie was kind of random too. It should have been throughout the story in my opinion, not just forced right into the end.
Spoiler for the ending: I would have been so furious at David for what he did. I know he did reach out, but he should have talked to someone directly, especially with his past. If someone missed the message, they would be freaking out. I can understand he wasn’t mentally capable of going to his birthday party, but you would think he would talk to his wife again over the phone and not just say it through voicemail. Even if he said he was fine, I would still be worried about him because of his history! And he should have known that! I understand you can’t help mentally how you feel, and I sympathize with his struggles, but that doesn’t mean you should be careless with your actions. And bring your dang phone! I am glad he is okay because that would have been horrible if he died, but it almost would have made a more compelling ending. To go through the whole entire book wondering what happened to him and then finding him to just be like “hey you’re back, don’t do that again, okay everything is great now.” It is just a little unsatisfying.
All that being said, I do think it is worth picking up. Especially if you love family drama. It just wasn’t quite as good as I wanted it to be.
I mainly listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed it! Hailey’s narrator was a little hard to listen to at times. It was just a little too high pitched for me. Lindy and Greta’s narrators were perfect!
This book definitely seemed like it would be up my alley! Sadly it fell a little short. I still enjoyed my time reading it, but I could have enjoyed it more.
If you like Elin Hildebrand, you will like this book most likely. I can definitely see the resemblance to “Apples Never Fall” after finishing this book. So if you liked that book or show you would love this.
The setting seems like it would make for a really great summer read, but it’s pretty tense and stressful for most of it, so it’s not like it’s a calm beach read.
It was hard for me because I just couldn’t fully get into the characters or the plot. I liked them, but I didn’t love them, which made it hard to get through some parts because some of it was a little repetitive or maybe a little boring at times. If there were some changes done, I think I would have loved this.
It kind of frustrates me in books when we waste so much time on one plotline, when you know it’s not going to end up a certain way. Like with Hailey, you know she is not going to marry Noah because there’s nothing likable or redeemable about his character, yet we spend the whole entire book going back-and-forth on will she marry him or will she not. Only to introduce Jack, which is obviously who she is gonna end up with and is the better choice. I’d rather it just be that she’s not with anyone and meet Jack and reconnect, but doesn’t know if she should be with him right now because of all the stuff going on with her dad. I know part of the whole point of the book was the looming of the wedding and David being missing, but I still feel like it was pointless to have the drama with Noah when we know she’s not gonna end up with him.
Lindy was my favorite character. I’m glad we had most of her point of view. The flashbacks were important to the story so we got to know David’s character, but I am glad there wasn’t too many of them.
Greta was a fine character too. I know this happens in real life but the whole thing with Tom didn’t seem very necessary to have in the book. It just added another sense of drama that took away from the main plot of David being missing. I almost would rather have it be a shorter book and just focus on getting David back and his past, instead of having all the other bits in between. Especially too because Lindy had so many kids, and a lot of them didn’t really matter to the story. Emma had issues with Reese and that was brought up a lot, but does that really matter when your dad is missing? Not really. I couldn’t find it in myself to care. Again, I know these things can happen in real life. A lot happens all at once, but to read about it kind of got to be a lot.
The reveal of what happened to Greta at the end of the book should have either not been in there, or been mentioned more than what it was. It’s not like I wanted to read about it happening to her or see more of that storyline, but it was just randomly thrown in right at the end. It felt very abrupt and kind of brushed to the side. Not even just that, but her reconnecting with Marjorie was kind of random too. It should have been throughout the story in my opinion, not just forced right into the end.
Spoiler for the ending: I would have been so furious at David for what he did. I know he did reach out, but he should have talked to someone directly, especially with his past. If someone missed the message, they would be freaking out. I can understand he wasn’t mentally capable of going to his birthday party, but you would think he would talk to his wife again over the phone and not just say it through voicemail. Even if he said he was fine, I would still be worried about him because of his history! And he should have known that! I understand you can’t help mentally how you feel, and I sympathize with his struggles, but that doesn’t mean you should be careless with your actions. And bring your dang phone! I am glad he is okay because that would have been horrible if he died, but it almost would have made a more compelling ending. To go through the whole entire book wondering what happened to him and then finding him to just be like “hey you’re back, don’t do that again, okay everything is great now.” It is just a little unsatisfying.
All that being said, I do think it is worth picking up. Especially if you love family drama. It just wasn’t quite as good as I wanted it to be.
I mainly listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed it! Hailey’s narrator was a little hard to listen to at times. It was just a little too high pitched for me. Lindy and Greta’s narrators were perfect!
June 2, 2026
Each summer I hope to read a juicy family novel set in a coastal community ... extra points if it's in Maine. "Summerland Cove" fits the bill this year. It's told through three points of view from three generations of women: Greta, the grandmother; Lindy, the mother; and Hailey, the daughter. In the space of 2 weeks, Greta and her husband will celebrate their 50th anniversary, Lindy's husband, David, will have his 50th birthday, and the grand finale is Hailey's wedding -- all taking place in the beach house which has been in the family for over 70 years.
Then David, driving up from the city, fails to show for his birthday party. The extended family begins searching for him: at hospitals, at parks and campsites, even looking for digital footprints. Did David encounter foul play? Or a medical crisis? Or perhaps a midlife crisis? As the search goes on, the three women come to terms with past secrets, as well as roads taken and not taken.
I listened on audio to this 12-hour multicast production in just three days. It was that good! Each narrator captured the age and stressors of her respective character. The pacing was spot on. When I ran out of weeds to pull or dishes to wash, I listened while walking or working a puzzle. This book checked all the boxes for a perfect summer read.
Then David, driving up from the city, fails to show for his birthday party. The extended family begins searching for him: at hospitals, at parks and campsites, even looking for digital footprints. Did David encounter foul play? Or a medical crisis? Or perhaps a midlife crisis? As the search goes on, the three women come to terms with past secrets, as well as roads taken and not taken.
I listened on audio to this 12-hour multicast production in just three days. It was that good! Each narrator captured the age and stressors of her respective character. The pacing was spot on. When I ran out of weeds to pull or dishes to wash, I listened while walking or working a puzzle. This book checked all the boxes for a perfect summer read.
May 19, 2026
If your ideal summer read includes family secrets, emotional drama, layered relationships, a gorgeous coastal setting, and just enough suspense to keep you glued to the pages… add Summerland Cove to your beach bag immediately 🌊☀️
This one completely pulled me in with the mystery surrounding David’s disappearance, but what really kept me invested was everything happening beneath the surface. The story unfolds through multiple generations of women in the same family, slowly revealing long buried secrets, complicated marriages, emotional wounds, and all the messy dynamics that make family dramas so addictive.
The Maine setting was SO vivid and atmospheric — rocky beaches, summer cottages, family celebrations, salty air vibes — and it perfectly matched the emotional weight of the story. I also loved how character driven this was. Every POV felt distinct and meaningful, and the women at the center of the story were relatable, flawed, and easy to root for.
This is such a strong pick for readers who love emotionally layered summer fiction with suspense, heart, romance, and family drama all woven together 💙
🌊 Multigenerational family drama
🕵️ Mystery & buried secrets
💍 Wedding weekend chaos
🏖️ Coastal Maine setting
❤️ Character driven storytelling
👀 Suspense simmering beneath the surface
This one completely pulled me in with the mystery surrounding David’s disappearance, but what really kept me invested was everything happening beneath the surface. The story unfolds through multiple generations of women in the same family, slowly revealing long buried secrets, complicated marriages, emotional wounds, and all the messy dynamics that make family dramas so addictive.
The Maine setting was SO vivid and atmospheric — rocky beaches, summer cottages, family celebrations, salty air vibes — and it perfectly matched the emotional weight of the story. I also loved how character driven this was. Every POV felt distinct and meaningful, and the women at the center of the story were relatable, flawed, and easy to root for.
This is such a strong pick for readers who love emotionally layered summer fiction with suspense, heart, romance, and family drama all woven together 💙
🌊 Multigenerational family drama
🕵️ Mystery & buried secrets
💍 Wedding weekend chaos
🏖️ Coastal Maine setting
❤️ Character driven storytelling
👀 Suspense simmering beneath the surface
June 2, 2026
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I read The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson a couple of years ago before it came out and absolutely loved it. This book was very much a departure from that, and I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it. The “mystery” did keep me intrigued, but most of the characters were unlikable and the book overall felt longer than it needed to be.
I read The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson a couple of years ago before it came out and absolutely loved it. This book was very much a departure from that, and I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it. The “mystery” did keep me intrigued, but most of the characters were unlikable and the book overall felt longer than it needed to be.
May 17, 2026
Summerland
This book will be one of my favorites for the summer if not all year. The characters are beautifully intertwined. I did have to restart and place everyone again but once I got everyone straight, the story drew me in. I could not stop listening.
David is turning 50, but does not show up for his birthday. His 3 grown children, parents and wife (along with other friends and family) are left confused when he does not come nor contact anyone.
Lindy is midst planning her husband’s birthday, parent’s anniversary party and their daughter’s wedding in a month’s time. She missed all the clues of where he would go or why he may not have showed up—or did she?
Is he hurt? Was this an accident? Is it is simple mid life crisis? Did he run away with his young assistant!?
Written with 3 generational points of view, you find out David is not the only one hiding something. There are all kinds of family secrets intertwined between the daughter, mother, and grandmother. As one comes out after another, this story keeps you listening or reading.
Set in Maine, the author is so descriptive and talented it makes me want to book a trip to the North East. Pick this book up!
Thank you to NetGalley for try eARC audiobook! The narration was great with different voices and points of view.
This book will be one of my favorites for the summer if not all year. The characters are beautifully intertwined. I did have to restart and place everyone again but once I got everyone straight, the story drew me in. I could not stop listening.
David is turning 50, but does not show up for his birthday. His 3 grown children, parents and wife (along with other friends and family) are left confused when he does not come nor contact anyone.
Lindy is midst planning her husband’s birthday, parent’s anniversary party and their daughter’s wedding in a month’s time. She missed all the clues of where he would go or why he may not have showed up—or did she?
Is he hurt? Was this an accident? Is it is simple mid life crisis? Did he run away with his young assistant!?
Written with 3 generational points of view, you find out David is not the only one hiding something. There are all kinds of family secrets intertwined between the daughter, mother, and grandmother. As one comes out after another, this story keeps you listening or reading.
Set in Maine, the author is so descriptive and talented it makes me want to book a trip to the North East. Pick this book up!
Thank you to NetGalley for try eARC audiobook! The narration was great with different voices and points of view.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unpopular Opinion?
Set during a yearly summer gathering at "Summerland Cove," the family’s Maine beach house, Ellen Baker’s novel follows three generations of women. This year, three major events are packed into their two-week vacation: Lindy is planning a 50th birthday party for her husband, David (whom she met at the cove during their youth); Lindy and her mother, Greta, are organizing her parents' 50th wedding anniversary; and a week later, Lindy’s daughter, Hailey, is getting married at the same location. Predictably, none of these life events goes smoothly. Summerland Cove follows a messy, chaotic week driven by deeply held family secrets.
While I enjoyed the book's premise, the execution fell completely short. The chapters rotate between the three main women, but their voices are far too similar. The internal dialogue is taxing, with the characters constantly asking themselves questions. The phrase “what if…” is used ad nauseam. It was frustrating to realize that if any of these three characters spoke out loud to one another, about 90% of the family drama could have been resolved instantly. Furthermore, the constant, hyper-specific mentions of car models became incredibly distracting. Every time a character arrived or left the cove, the author detailed the exact car model and the exact vehicle they parked next to, which added tedious filler rather than meaningful atmosphere.
My other major issue lies with the personalities of the two main male characters and how the women respond to them. As readers, we are told that Lindy’s husband, David, "is just like that" to excuse him hiding plans and details. Meanwhile, Hailey’s fiancé is completely self-centered and frequently gaslights her. Worst of all, the female characters often question their own insecurities to excuse this poor male behavior, internalizing the blame rather than holding the men accountable. The narrative largely shrugs off these toxic traits rather than properly addressing them.
Ultimately, while the character dynamics didn't work for me, there is still much to appreciate about the book's vivid sense of place. As someone familiar with Portland and Down East, Maine, I could tell the author truly knows and loves the region. I thoroughly enjoyed her nods to specific local spots I have personally frequented, and her descriptive writing beautifully captures the unique charm of a Maine summer.
With a lovely setting, I would recommend this book only to readers who prefer well-developed, deeply cultured characters who appreciate heavy internal dialogue. 3 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an Advanced Listener copy of Summerland Cover by Ellen Baker.
Set during a yearly summer gathering at "Summerland Cove," the family’s Maine beach house, Ellen Baker’s novel follows three generations of women. This year, three major events are packed into their two-week vacation: Lindy is planning a 50th birthday party for her husband, David (whom she met at the cove during their youth); Lindy and her mother, Greta, are organizing her parents' 50th wedding anniversary; and a week later, Lindy’s daughter, Hailey, is getting married at the same location. Predictably, none of these life events goes smoothly. Summerland Cove follows a messy, chaotic week driven by deeply held family secrets.
While I enjoyed the book's premise, the execution fell completely short. The chapters rotate between the three main women, but their voices are far too similar. The internal dialogue is taxing, with the characters constantly asking themselves questions. The phrase “what if…” is used ad nauseam. It was frustrating to realize that if any of these three characters spoke out loud to one another, about 90% of the family drama could have been resolved instantly. Furthermore, the constant, hyper-specific mentions of car models became incredibly distracting. Every time a character arrived or left the cove, the author detailed the exact car model and the exact vehicle they parked next to, which added tedious filler rather than meaningful atmosphere.
My other major issue lies with the personalities of the two main male characters and how the women respond to them. As readers, we are told that Lindy’s husband, David, "is just like that" to excuse him hiding plans and details. Meanwhile, Hailey’s fiancé is completely self-centered and frequently gaslights her. Worst of all, the female characters often question their own insecurities to excuse this poor male behavior, internalizing the blame rather than holding the men accountable. The narrative largely shrugs off these toxic traits rather than properly addressing them.
Ultimately, while the character dynamics didn't work for me, there is still much to appreciate about the book's vivid sense of place. As someone familiar with Portland and Down East, Maine, I could tell the author truly knows and loves the region. I thoroughly enjoyed her nods to specific local spots I have personally frequented, and her descriptive writing beautifully captures the unique charm of a Maine summer.
With a lovely setting, I would recommend this book only to readers who prefer well-developed, deeply cultured characters who appreciate heavy internal dialogue. 3 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an Advanced Listener copy of Summerland Cover by Ellen Baker.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I ended up enjoying this more than I expected. It took me a little time to fully settle into the story, but by the end I was genuinely invested in both the characters and the central mystery.
Lindy has spent nearly every summer at her family’s cottage in Summerland Cove—it’s where she met her husband, David, and where she’s now preparing to celebrate his fiftieth birthday. But when David disappears just before the party, everything begins to unravel.
The story is told from three perspectives—Lindy, her mother Greta, and her oldest daughter Hailey. Lindy’s chapters move between past and present, giving insight into her relationship with David from the very beginning, which adds an extra layer of emotional depth.
This leans more toward a character-driven family drama than a fast-paced thriller, but the mystery of David’s disappearance kept me hooked. I found myself trying to piece together what happened while also getting pulled into the complicated, often messy dynamics between the generations of women in this family.
There’s no shortage of secrets, tension, and buried truths here. While the beginning was a bit slow for me and it took some time to fully connect with all the characters, once I settled into the story, I ended up really enjoying it. The second half especially picks up, and the ending ties everything together in a satisfying way.
The audiobook narration was incredibly well done. Jane Oppenheimer, Rebekkah Ross, and Robin Siegerman each brought so much personality and emotion to the story that it elevated the entire listening experience. Having multiple narrators worked really well here—it made it easy to distinguish between perspectives and added depth to each generation’s voice.
Listening to Summerland Cove felt like stepping into one of those picture-perfect family vacations where everything looks fine on the surface—but underneath, years of secrets are waiting to surface. The Maine coastal setting immediately drew me in, and once the family drama began to unfold, I was hooked.
This feels like the perfect summer audiobook—especially if you love family sagas, coastal settings, emotional secrets, and stories that focus more on relationships than nonstop twists.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to readers who love multi-generational family dramas with heart, mystery, and strong emotional depth.
Thank you to Ellen Baker, HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the ALC!
Lindy has spent nearly every summer at her family’s cottage in Summerland Cove—it’s where she met her husband, David, and where she’s now preparing to celebrate his fiftieth birthday. But when David disappears just before the party, everything begins to unravel.
The story is told from three perspectives—Lindy, her mother Greta, and her oldest daughter Hailey. Lindy’s chapters move between past and present, giving insight into her relationship with David from the very beginning, which adds an extra layer of emotional depth.
This leans more toward a character-driven family drama than a fast-paced thriller, but the mystery of David’s disappearance kept me hooked. I found myself trying to piece together what happened while also getting pulled into the complicated, often messy dynamics between the generations of women in this family.
There’s no shortage of secrets, tension, and buried truths here. While the beginning was a bit slow for me and it took some time to fully connect with all the characters, once I settled into the story, I ended up really enjoying it. The second half especially picks up, and the ending ties everything together in a satisfying way.
The audiobook narration was incredibly well done. Jane Oppenheimer, Rebekkah Ross, and Robin Siegerman each brought so much personality and emotion to the story that it elevated the entire listening experience. Having multiple narrators worked really well here—it made it easy to distinguish between perspectives and added depth to each generation’s voice.
Listening to Summerland Cove felt like stepping into one of those picture-perfect family vacations where everything looks fine on the surface—but underneath, years of secrets are waiting to surface. The Maine coastal setting immediately drew me in, and once the family drama began to unfold, I was hooked.
This feels like the perfect summer audiobook—especially if you love family sagas, coastal settings, emotional secrets, and stories that focus more on relationships than nonstop twists.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to readers who love multi-generational family dramas with heart, mystery, and strong emotional depth.
Thank you to Ellen Baker, HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Summerland Cove AUDIO by Ellen Barker was an entertaining story, the theme followng three women who thought they could control their worlds. Throughout the story, life intervened to show each of them they could not. Greta is the grandmother, Lindy is her daughter, and the mother of several children, including Hailey, her and David’s oldest. Great is holding a secret she has carried for nearly seventy years and it makes life at Summerland Cove on the Maine coast difficult at times, along with the fact her husband has dementia and she has been trying to deal with it by herself. Lindy is their only child and married with four children. Lindy had planned four events in just a couple of weeks: David’s fiftieth birthday, her parents’ wedding anniversary, and Hailey’s wedding. The story focuses on David’s disappearance but is full of subplots and twists and turns. A very enjoyable listen.
Each of the characters discovers that sharing a secret can lessening the pain. Hailey’s fiance didn’t seem to care that David was missing. Lindy, like all women, jumps immediately to the worse case scenario and falls deeper and deeper into depression and scenarios for the future. Hailey figured out how she should be treated by a man rather than the way she was. Each of the three embodies emotions all women feel at some point in their lives. The plot was complicated with a lot of people and some flashbacks that explained most of the tension. It was an entertaining listen.
The readers were Jane Oppenheimer, Rebekkah Ross, and Robin Siegerman. They worked together to bring the characters to life and hence, the entire story. I listened, but I am guessing that reading would have been just rewarding.
I was invited to listen to Summerland Cove by HarperAudio Adult. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarperAudioAdult # JaneOppenheimer #RebekkahRoss #RobinSiegerman @ellenbaker @SummerlandCove
Each of the characters discovers that sharing a secret can lessening the pain. Hailey’s fiance didn’t seem to care that David was missing. Lindy, like all women, jumps immediately to the worse case scenario and falls deeper and deeper into depression and scenarios for the future. Hailey figured out how she should be treated by a man rather than the way she was. Each of the three embodies emotions all women feel at some point in their lives. The plot was complicated with a lot of people and some flashbacks that explained most of the tension. It was an entertaining listen.
The readers were Jane Oppenheimer, Rebekkah Ross, and Robin Siegerman. They worked together to bring the characters to life and hence, the entire story. I listened, but I am guessing that reading would have been just rewarding.
I was invited to listen to Summerland Cove by HarperAudio Adult. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarperAudioAdult # JaneOppenheimer #RebekkahRoss #RobinSiegerman @ellenbaker @SummerlandCove
May 14, 2026
Listening to Summerland Cove felt like settling into one of those family vacations where everyone is smiling on the outside while quietly carrying years of secrets underneath. The Maine coastal setting immediately pulled me in, and once the family drama started unfolding, I was hooked.
This is definitely more of a character-driven family drama than a fast-paced thriller, but the mystery of David disappearing before his own birthday party kept me fully invested the entire time. I kept trying to figure out what happened while also getting wrapped up in all the complicated relationships between the different generations of women in this family.
What really worked for me was how emotional and realistic everything felt. Marriage, aging parents, adult children, old resentments, family pressure… it all felt very believable. There were moments that honestly made me stop and think about how much families carry for each other without always talking about it.
I also thought the audiobook narration was incredibly well done. Jane Oppenheimer, Rebekkah Ross, and Robin Siegerman each brought so much personality and emotion to the story that it made the listening experience even better. The multiple narrators really helped separate the different perspectives and generations.
I will say it started a little slower for me in the beginning, and it took some time to fully connect with all the characters, but once I settled into the story, I ended up really enjoying it. This feels like the kind of audiobook that would be perfect for summer—especially if you love family sagas, coastal settings, emotional secrets, and stories that focus more on relationships than nonstop twists.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to readers who love multi-generational family dramas with heart, mystery, and strong emotional layers. I’d give the audiobook 4 stars.
This is definitely more of a character-driven family drama than a fast-paced thriller, but the mystery of David disappearing before his own birthday party kept me fully invested the entire time. I kept trying to figure out what happened while also getting wrapped up in all the complicated relationships between the different generations of women in this family.
What really worked for me was how emotional and realistic everything felt. Marriage, aging parents, adult children, old resentments, family pressure… it all felt very believable. There were moments that honestly made me stop and think about how much families carry for each other without always talking about it.
I also thought the audiobook narration was incredibly well done. Jane Oppenheimer, Rebekkah Ross, and Robin Siegerman each brought so much personality and emotion to the story that it made the listening experience even better. The multiple narrators really helped separate the different perspectives and generations.
I will say it started a little slower for me in the beginning, and it took some time to fully connect with all the characters, but once I settled into the story, I ended up really enjoying it. This feels like the kind of audiobook that would be perfect for summer—especially if you love family sagas, coastal settings, emotional secrets, and stories that focus more on relationships than nonstop twists.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to readers who love multi-generational family dramas with heart, mystery, and strong emotional layers. I’d give the audiobook 4 stars.
June 2, 2026
Three generations of women - grandmother, mother and daughter - confront their long held secrets and the effects those secrets have had on their families in Summerland, Lindy is a woman who values tradition and family. When she married lawyer David, she gave up her dreams of becoming an artist and instead raised her children with the same values and traditions. Unfortunately, those values led to maintaining an outer version of perfect self while hiding her true feelings and secrets below the surface. Where did she learn this behavior? From her mother Greta, a master at secret keeping. The devastating secret she has kept for decades has changed her entire life. And then there’s Hailey, Lindy’s daughter. She is already suppressing her dream of being a writer, replacing it with law school and and marriage. All this comes apart when Lindy plans a three events in three weeks celebration at Innisfree, the family’s vacation home at Summerland Cove Point in Maine. First, they will celebrate David’s 50th birthday, next Greta and husband Tom’s 50th anniversary, then Hailey and Noah’s wedding. All plans are upended when David fails to show up for his own party. What comes next, narrated in the alternating voices of the three women, is a desperate search for the missing David. As the entire family joins in the search, all secrets are slowly revealed.
Summerland is a deliberately slow-paced, engrossing read. All the characters, especially Lindy, Greta and Hailey, are so well described that I could recognize them on the street. And the way secrets unravel - when Marjorie explains reactions to a long ago event to Greta, I fought tears. And the location! Summer days in a lakefront cottage in Maine. Pine trees, lobsters and lighthouses. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mariner Books and Ellen Baker for this ARC.
Summerland is a deliberately slow-paced, engrossing read. All the characters, especially Lindy, Greta and Hailey, are so well described that I could recognize them on the street. And the way secrets unravel - when Marjorie explains reactions to a long ago event to Greta, I fought tears. And the location! Summer days in a lakefront cottage in Maine. Pine trees, lobsters and lighthouses. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mariner Books and Ellen Baker for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Summerland Cove by Ellen Baker is a beautifully written, emotionally reflective family saga that completely pulled me in from the very beginning. The atmosphere of this novel is absolutely gorgeous; the summer cottages, the ocean setting, the nostalgia tied to family, all created such a vivid and immersive backdrop for the story.
The story follows Lindy and her family as they gather at their longtime summer cottage for several major celebrations, including her husband David’s 50th birthday, her parents’ anniversary, and her daughter’s wedding. But when David suddenly disappears before the celebrations begin, the entire family is thrown into uncertainty. What starts as a mystery slowly unfolds into something much deeper and more reflective. While the setup initially feels suspenseful, this book is truly more about layered family drama unfolding underneath it all.
This isn’t a fast paced thriller with shocking twists, and I do think the final mystery reveal is less dramatic than one might expect, but that choice feels intentional and fitting. The story leans into reflection rather than suspense, focusing on the gradual unraveling of relationships, buried pain, aging parents, midlife identity struggles, and the ways families carry both love and hurt across generations.
There’s such an emotional weight to the writing, and everything feels incredibly realistic.
The audiobook narration was excellent. The multiple narrators added even more depth and emotion to an already immersive story.
Overall, this was a beautiful novel. If you enjoy reflective, character focused stories about family dynamics, this is absolutely worth reading.
A big Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio and Mariner Books for gifted copy. All opinions are mine.
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Summerland Cove by Ellen Baker is a beautifully written, emotionally reflective family saga that completely pulled me in from the very beginning. The atmosphere of this novel is absolutely gorgeous; the summer cottages, the ocean setting, the nostalgia tied to family, all created such a vivid and immersive backdrop for the story.
The story follows Lindy and her family as they gather at their longtime summer cottage for several major celebrations, including her husband David’s 50th birthday, her parents’ anniversary, and her daughter’s wedding. But when David suddenly disappears before the celebrations begin, the entire family is thrown into uncertainty. What starts as a mystery slowly unfolds into something much deeper and more reflective. While the setup initially feels suspenseful, this book is truly more about layered family drama unfolding underneath it all.
This isn’t a fast paced thriller with shocking twists, and I do think the final mystery reveal is less dramatic than one might expect, but that choice feels intentional and fitting. The story leans into reflection rather than suspense, focusing on the gradual unraveling of relationships, buried pain, aging parents, midlife identity struggles, and the ways families carry both love and hurt across generations.
There’s such an emotional weight to the writing, and everything feels incredibly realistic.
The audiobook narration was excellent. The multiple narrators added even more depth and emotion to an already immersive story.
Overall, this was a beautiful novel. If you enjoy reflective, character focused stories about family dynamics, this is absolutely worth reading.
A big Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio and Mariner Books for gifted copy. All opinions are mine.
Follow Me:
NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Summerland Cove, by Ellen Baker, is a contemporary fiction novel that begins when the family patriarch, Lindy’s husband David, disappears on his 50th birthday. This character-driven novel spans elements of intrigue, mystery, and deep-rooted family drama. As the story progresses, secrets are unveiled and long-held traumas are brought to light. The narrative is shared by three narrators—Lindy, her mother Greta, and her daughter Hailey—who offer distinct perspectives on the unfolding events. Set in Maine at the family’s summer home, the story revolves around three major planned events: David's 50th birthday party, Hailey’s wedding, and Greta and Tom’s 50th wedding anniversary. However, David’s disappearance triggers a sequence of events that threatens to ruin it all.
Lindy, with the help of her children, performs a deep dive into David’s actions leading up to his disappearance. They discover several questionable details—including missing funds from their accounts—which trigger various suspicions. Additionally, David’s history of mental illness plays a significant role in the unfolding drama. The novel features a great deal of family love and emotional depth, which is complemented by the evocative coastal setting. Emotions and long-hidden secrets brew beneath the surface, slowly coming to the forefront. Even Hailey’s wedding to Noah is called into question due to shifting circumstances. Quirky details, complex connections, and assumptions make the plot intriguing, particularly regarding Greta, whose complicated history and personal traumas add further layers to the story.
Overall, while it is more of a slow-burn mystery than a fast-paced page-turner, this emotional summer read is well worth the time.
I would give it a 3.5-star rating.
Lindy, with the help of her children, performs a deep dive into David’s actions leading up to his disappearance. They discover several questionable details—including missing funds from their accounts—which trigger various suspicions. Additionally, David’s history of mental illness plays a significant role in the unfolding drama. The novel features a great deal of family love and emotional depth, which is complemented by the evocative coastal setting. Emotions and long-hidden secrets brew beneath the surface, slowly coming to the forefront. Even Hailey’s wedding to Noah is called into question due to shifting circumstances. Quirky details, complex connections, and assumptions make the plot intriguing, particularly regarding Greta, whose complicated history and personal traumas add further layers to the story.
Overall, while it is more of a slow-burn mystery than a fast-paced page-turner, this emotional summer read is well worth the time.
I would give it a 3.5-star rating.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Set along the rocky coast of Maine, this multigenerational family drama follows Lindy as she prepares for three major family celebrations at her family’s longtime summer cottage: her husband David’s fiftieth birthday, her parents’ fiftieth anniversary, and her daughter Hailey’s wedding. But when David suddenly disappears before his own party, the entire family is forced to confront buried secrets, strained relationships, and long-simmering tensions while desperately trying to figure out what happened to him.
I ended up enjoying this one in both audio and print format. There is a lot of family trauma, long-buried secrets, and complicated emotional history woven throughout this story and I thought the multiple POV structure worked really well. I especially liked getting perspectives from different generations of the family and it helped show how the past continues to shape the present.
This reminded me a bit of The Irish Goodbye mixed with Sandwich, with its messy family relationships, summer setting, and emotionally complicated characters. At times, some of the characters’ decisions definitely had me scratching my head, but I was still fully invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
My biggest struggle with this book was the ending. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the direction it took really did not work for me personally, and it lowered my overall rating quite a bit. That said, I still think this is a well-written novel that many readers will enjoy, especially fans of multigenerational family stories, coastal settings, and emotionally layered domestic drama.
Thank you to Mariner Books, Harper Audio, and Net Galley for the advance copies. Summerland Cove is out 6/2.
I ended up enjoying this one in both audio and print format. There is a lot of family trauma, long-buried secrets, and complicated emotional history woven throughout this story and I thought the multiple POV structure worked really well. I especially liked getting perspectives from different generations of the family and it helped show how the past continues to shape the present.
This reminded me a bit of The Irish Goodbye mixed with Sandwich, with its messy family relationships, summer setting, and emotionally complicated characters. At times, some of the characters’ decisions definitely had me scratching my head, but I was still fully invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
My biggest struggle with this book was the ending. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the direction it took really did not work for me personally, and it lowered my overall rating quite a bit. That said, I still think this is a well-written novel that many readers will enjoy, especially fans of multigenerational family stories, coastal settings, and emotionally layered domestic drama.
Thank you to Mariner Books, Harper Audio, and Net Galley for the advance copies. Summerland Cove is out 6/2.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5⭐
Summerland Cove is the perfect blend of drama, mystery and family secrets. The Maine coastal setting was truly a highlight, I always love this setting in books, I feel it's just perfect for summertime reading. Baker truly captures the vibe, atmosphere of coastal Maine and I truly felt I was right there with the characters. This one is a great one to throw in your beach bag or listen to by the pool or beach. The beginning does start off at a slower pace and getting a feel for the characters did take me a bit of time to digest, but once I did I was invested. The story is told from 3 POV’s where one alternates between past and present. It truly adds more comprehension into the relationship between Lindy & David and adds that emotional depth.
Do not go into this one thinking it is a fast-paced thriller with non-stop twists and turns. It is a character driven family drama filled with secrets, tension and an added mystery that kept me absolutely glued to the pages. I loved how we uncovered little by little more secrets, how the tension kept building and how the suspicions of what truly happened kept me guessing. The second half of the story is much more fast paced and impossible to look away from until the satisfying ending.
Overall, this is a great read to add to your summer TBR especially if you love family drama, secrets but also like a little suspense/mystery in your stories. Baker truly knows how to deliver a story to keep the reader engaged.
✨ Thank you to @epicreads, @williammorrowbooks, @marinerbooks & @ellenbaker for my gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Summerland Cove is the perfect blend of drama, mystery and family secrets. The Maine coastal setting was truly a highlight, I always love this setting in books, I feel it's just perfect for summertime reading. Baker truly captures the vibe, atmosphere of coastal Maine and I truly felt I was right there with the characters. This one is a great one to throw in your beach bag or listen to by the pool or beach. The beginning does start off at a slower pace and getting a feel for the characters did take me a bit of time to digest, but once I did I was invested. The story is told from 3 POV’s where one alternates between past and present. It truly adds more comprehension into the relationship between Lindy & David and adds that emotional depth.
Do not go into this one thinking it is a fast-paced thriller with non-stop twists and turns. It is a character driven family drama filled with secrets, tension and an added mystery that kept me absolutely glued to the pages. I loved how we uncovered little by little more secrets, how the tension kept building and how the suspicions of what truly happened kept me guessing. The second half of the story is much more fast paced and impossible to look away from until the satisfying ending.
Overall, this is a great read to add to your summer TBR especially if you love family drama, secrets but also like a little suspense/mystery in your stories. Baker truly knows how to deliver a story to keep the reader engaged.
✨ Thank you to @epicreads, @williammorrowbooks, @marinerbooks & @ellenbaker for my gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Summerland Cove
By Ellen Baker
Narrated by Jane Oppenheimer, Rebekkah Ross & Robin Siegerman
Publishing by Mariner Books and Harper Audio on June 2nd, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.75 rounded to 4
📖 Lindy has planned an incredible summer for her family at the family’s cottage in Summerland Cove, Maine between her husbands 50th birthday, her parents 50th wedding anniversary and her oldest daughters wedding. The cottage is beloved and especially special as it is where her and her husband David met and fell in love. It also holds innumerable past secrets, which are all threatening to be unleashed when David fails to show up at the cottage and goes missing.
💭 Told from the POV of 3 different generations of women in the family, Lindy, her mother and her daughter, this was a captivating read and I flew through it. The writing was excellent. It was a character driven, slow burn family drama and had me hook like and sinker until we neared the end. The ending and resolution to the missing person as well as the wedding didn’t quite satisfy me as I’d hoped and I found took me out of the storytelling. A plot device near the end also felt unnecessary and further took away from the tension throughout the novel. I was thoroughly enjoying this book, but felt it didn’t quite get the ending that matched the tone of the book.
🎧 The full cast narration through 3 women’s POV was excellent and I listened to this tandem read more than I read with my eyes. The production was really good and narration was stellar. I’d recommend the audiobook as the format for consumption.
🙌🏼 Thank you to Mariner Books and Harper Audio for the advanced copies of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
By Ellen Baker
Narrated by Jane Oppenheimer, Rebekkah Ross & Robin Siegerman
Publishing by Mariner Books and Harper Audio on June 2nd, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.75 rounded to 4
📖 Lindy has planned an incredible summer for her family at the family’s cottage in Summerland Cove, Maine between her husbands 50th birthday, her parents 50th wedding anniversary and her oldest daughters wedding. The cottage is beloved and especially special as it is where her and her husband David met and fell in love. It also holds innumerable past secrets, which are all threatening to be unleashed when David fails to show up at the cottage and goes missing.
💭 Told from the POV of 3 different generations of women in the family, Lindy, her mother and her daughter, this was a captivating read and I flew through it. The writing was excellent. It was a character driven, slow burn family drama and had me hook like and sinker until we neared the end. The ending and resolution to the missing person as well as the wedding didn’t quite satisfy me as I’d hoped and I found took me out of the storytelling. A plot device near the end also felt unnecessary and further took away from the tension throughout the novel. I was thoroughly enjoying this book, but felt it didn’t quite get the ending that matched the tone of the book.
🎧 The full cast narration through 3 women’s POV was excellent and I listened to this tandem read more than I read with my eyes. The production was really good and narration was stellar. I’d recommend the audiobook as the format for consumption.
🙌🏼 Thank you to Mariner Books and Harper Audio for the advanced copies of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
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
I enjoyed this one!
The premise hooked me immediately: a family gathering at a beloved summer cottage in Maine, only for the husband/father to completely disappear before his own 50th birthday party.
I listened on audio and thought the multi-narrator cast was great. With so many perspectives and generations involved, having different voices really helped keep everyone distinct and made the family dynamics feel even more immersive.
While the missing person setup might give thriller vibes at first, this is really a layered family drama at its core. The story is much more focused on marriages, sibling dynamics, aging parents, old resentments, family secrets, and the ways relationships evolve over decades.
As a New England girl, I loved the Maine setting. The coastal summer atmosphere added so much to the story and made the whole thing feel very cozy and nostalgic, even when things were unraveling.
This is definitely more of a slow build, and at around 12 hours (!!) on audio, I did start to feel the length a bit in the middle. But by the end, I reaalllllly wanted to know where David was. The book had me convinced of multiple different theories throughout, which felt like really good storytelling to me.
Overall, this felt emotional, grounded, and very human. If you like multi-generational family dramas with strong character dynamics and a touch of mystery, I’d definitely recommend it.
Solid 4-star read for me!
Thank you Netgalley, HarperAudio Adult, and Ellen Baker for the ALC!
The premise hooked me immediately: a family gathering at a beloved summer cottage in Maine, only for the husband/father to completely disappear before his own 50th birthday party.
I listened on audio and thought the multi-narrator cast was great. With so many perspectives and generations involved, having different voices really helped keep everyone distinct and made the family dynamics feel even more immersive.
While the missing person setup might give thriller vibes at first, this is really a layered family drama at its core. The story is much more focused on marriages, sibling dynamics, aging parents, old resentments, family secrets, and the ways relationships evolve over decades.
As a New England girl, I loved the Maine setting. The coastal summer atmosphere added so much to the story and made the whole thing feel very cozy and nostalgic, even when things were unraveling.
This is definitely more of a slow build, and at around 12 hours (!!) on audio, I did start to feel the length a bit in the middle. But by the end, I reaalllllly wanted to know where David was. The book had me convinced of multiple different theories throughout, which felt like really good storytelling to me.
Overall, this felt emotional, grounded, and very human. If you like multi-generational family dramas with strong character dynamics and a touch of mystery, I’d definitely recommend it.
Solid 4-star read for me!
Thank you Netgalley, HarperAudio Adult, and Ellen Baker for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story will leave you breathless — and not just because its characters are running all over Maine searching for David Kauffman. At its heart, it's a story about love, marriage, mental resilience, and the strain that keeping secrets puts on a family. But this is what the Kauffmans do — they'll stop at nothing to bring him home safe.
So much of the drama flows through Innisfree, the century-old summer cottage named after Yeats's poem, The Lake Isle of Innisfree. That sense of peace and solace Yeats longs for? That's exactly what Innisfree means to the Kauffmans. And when its very existence is threatened, David goes to the edge of the world to keep it in the family.
Ellen Baker is a lyrical writer. Her depiction of Maine's natural beauty is stunning. You smell the salty air off the tidal breeze. The morning sun warms your skin as it edges up from the horizon. She gets the nuance of mental health as the story moves between past and present, and Baker gives us a front-row seat to everything David carries alone.
What stayed with me is the three perspectives — grandmother, daughter, granddaughter — slowly unraveling a larger web of deceit and heartbreak that might cause anyone to miss their own birthday party.
Summerland Cove is the kind of book that lingers — like the smell of salt air, or a beloved place you can't quite leave behind.
This review is made possible by NetGalley and Mariner Books.
So much of the drama flows through Innisfree, the century-old summer cottage named after Yeats's poem, The Lake Isle of Innisfree. That sense of peace and solace Yeats longs for? That's exactly what Innisfree means to the Kauffmans. And when its very existence is threatened, David goes to the edge of the world to keep it in the family.
Ellen Baker is a lyrical writer. Her depiction of Maine's natural beauty is stunning. You smell the salty air off the tidal breeze. The morning sun warms your skin as it edges up from the horizon. She gets the nuance of mental health as the story moves between past and present, and Baker gives us a front-row seat to everything David carries alone.
What stayed with me is the three perspectives — grandmother, daughter, granddaughter — slowly unraveling a larger web of deceit and heartbreak that might cause anyone to miss their own birthday party.
Summerland Cove is the kind of book that lingers — like the smell of salt air, or a beloved place you can't quite leave behind.
This review is made possible by NetGalley and Mariner Books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected eproof ARC of 'Summerland Cove' by Ellen Baker - expected release date of 06/02/2026
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book started off strong and had an Elin Hilderbrand feel to it (chick lit/beach read/ family drama). The characters were strong, likeable and well developed (minus Hailey's fiancé Noah, his character wasn't mentioned enough so the abusive/ threatening actions kinda came out of nowhere). I was very into this book until about halfway, things were moving while the family tried to figure out where David disappeared to. Many paths were taken in their journey to find him, but at the same time, it felt like it just dragged on from there. Once the reveal actually came about regarding what happened to him I felt so let down. We waited all this time, for this? And I didn't really understand why the heavily mentioned storyline about what happened to Greta in the attic was included, it didn't have any bearing on any other part of the story and when it was revealed at the end, it didn't affect any other part of the story we'd already heard. Solid 3 star book though.
** This author seems oddly obsessed with makes/models of cars. The amount of times she mentioned exactly what cars the family drove, and/or were in the driveway, was really strange. I don't think many people talk that way?
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book started off strong and had an Elin Hilderbrand feel to it (chick lit/beach read/ family drama). The characters were strong, likeable and well developed (minus Hailey's fiancé Noah, his character wasn't mentioned enough so the abusive/ threatening actions kinda came out of nowhere). I was very into this book until about halfway, things were moving while the family tried to figure out where David disappeared to. Many paths were taken in their journey to find him, but at the same time, it felt like it just dragged on from there. Once the reveal actually came about regarding what happened to him I felt so let down. We waited all this time, for this? And I didn't really understand why the heavily mentioned storyline about what happened to Greta in the attic was included, it didn't have any bearing on any other part of the story and when it was revealed at the end, it didn't affect any other part of the story we'd already heard. Solid 3 star book though.
** This author seems oddly obsessed with makes/models of cars. The amount of times she mentioned exactly what cars the family drove, and/or were in the driveway, was really strange. I don't think many people talk that way?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maine setting. The story follows three generations of women in the same family: Greta, Lindy, and Hailey. Each character brings her own history and perspective to the story. As the family encounters a frightening event, they start to come together. The story dives into how family secrets and misunderstandings can really shape relationships, often leading to tension or even estrangement. The story unfolds through multiple generations of women in the same family, slowly revealing long buried secrets, complicated marriages, emotional wounds, and all the messy dynamics that make family dramas so addictive. Even with these conflicts, the novel shows how the characters gradually find their way to resolution and understanding. As they work through their issues, they begin to gain a better insight into each other's experiences. The novel explores layered generational dynamics, including couples deciding whether to marry, marriages navigating midlife challenges, and aging parents facing the realities of getting older and how that impacts the entire family. These themes felt realistic and relatable, especially in the way they intersected and overlapped. With multiple generations making their way in the world currently, the novel is relevant so that understanding through reflection and dialogue will assist in helping others dig into where they come from and why things were done a certain way. Many thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Summerland Cove had all the hallmarks of the kind of book I usually enjoy—a multi-generational story set in a summer house in Maine that the family has owned for years… an established summer colony where neighbors become like summer family and where there is a shared and respected history. In this book, three women are faced with major hurdles in their relationships: Greta, the matriarch, working hard to mask her husband’s rapidly progressing dementia; Lindy, sandwiched between her adult children and her ageing parents and dealing with a husband who has a past dotted with mental health issues; Hailey, on the cusp of getting married to a man who, we learn, doesn’t deserve her.
Lindy fills the summer with celebration, first her husband’s 50th birthday party, then her parents’ wedding anniversary, and finally her daughter’s wedding. When her husband David doesn’t show up for his own birthday party, all the summer festivities start to unravel and any secrets and bad choices become exposed. Nothing goes according to plan, and by the end of the summer the family will experience changes they never anticipated.
I fell out of interest with the story when David disappeared and the snowball of choices that came after it. I wanted to like the story more than I did, but it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lindy fills the summer with celebration, first her husband’s 50th birthday party, then her parents’ wedding anniversary, and finally her daughter’s wedding. When her husband David doesn’t show up for his own birthday party, all the summer festivities start to unravel and any secrets and bad choices become exposed. Nothing goes according to plan, and by the end of the summer the family will experience changes they never anticipated.
I fell out of interest with the story when David disappeared and the snowball of choices that came after it. I wanted to like the story more than I did, but it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Summerland Cove is an engaging multigenerational family drama that moves back and forth between the past and present, but spends most of its time in 2010. The story follows three generations of women in the same family: Greta, Lindy, and Hailey. Each character brings her own history and perspective to the story.
One aspect that resonated with me was the portrayal of Hailey's debilitating migraines, which felt realistic since I also experience them. This added depth to her character and made her struggles more relatable.
As the family encounters a frightening event, they start to come together. The story dives into how family secrets and misunderstandings can really shape relationships, often leading to tension or even estrangement. Even with these conflicts, the novel shows how the characters gradually find their way to resolution and understanding. As they work through their issues, they begin to gain a better insight into each other's experiences.
The hopeful ending was a highlight for me. I thought the author did a good job showing both the difficulties and the rewards of family relationships.
I simultaneously read and listened to the book and enjoyed the multi-narration cast.
Thank you to the publisher/author for providing me with an advanced complimentary copy. All thoughts shared here are my own.
One aspect that resonated with me was the portrayal of Hailey's debilitating migraines, which felt realistic since I also experience them. This added depth to her character and made her struggles more relatable.
As the family encounters a frightening event, they start to come together. The story dives into how family secrets and misunderstandings can really shape relationships, often leading to tension or even estrangement. Even with these conflicts, the novel shows how the characters gradually find their way to resolution and understanding. As they work through their issues, they begin to gain a better insight into each other's experiences.
The hopeful ending was a highlight for me. I thought the author did a good job showing both the difficulties and the rewards of family relationships.
I simultaneously read and listened to the book and enjoyed the multi-narration cast.
Thank you to the publisher/author for providing me with an advanced complimentary copy. All thoughts shared here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Suspenseful but poignant story of family traditions and secrets that could break a family but could also save it.
Lindy Kaufman has planned what she thinks will be a summer to remember at the family cottage in Summerland Cove, Maine. It’s her husband, David’s, fiftieth, and their daughter, Hailey’s, wedding. But David doesn’t show up. The family (Lindy and her four children) agonizes as days ensue and no one knows where David is. Meanwhile, Lindy’s mother has become secretive, her family seems to suffering from memory loss and Hailey wonders if she wants to get married. Questions arise and motives are up for discussion. What is happening to the Kaufman family?
This is a character driven novel but the suspense in looking for David keeps the pages turning. Dialogue and character introspection help the story develop evenly and give insight to the characters themselves. The flashbacks to 1978 and Lindy and David’s earlier life gives the storytelling a bit more texture. It’s also a deeply emotional story looking at marriage, mothers and what happens when secrets are kept. Motivation without communication can cause strife but love endures.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Mariner Books for giving me access to this ARC.
Lindy Kaufman has planned what she thinks will be a summer to remember at the family cottage in Summerland Cove, Maine. It’s her husband, David’s, fiftieth, and their daughter, Hailey’s, wedding. But David doesn’t show up. The family (Lindy and her four children) agonizes as days ensue and no one knows where David is. Meanwhile, Lindy’s mother has become secretive, her family seems to suffering from memory loss and Hailey wonders if she wants to get married. Questions arise and motives are up for discussion. What is happening to the Kaufman family?
This is a character driven novel but the suspense in looking for David keeps the pages turning. Dialogue and character introspection help the story develop evenly and give insight to the characters themselves. The flashbacks to 1978 and Lindy and David’s earlier life gives the storytelling a bit more texture. It’s also a deeply emotional story looking at marriage, mothers and what happens when secrets are kept. Motivation without communication can cause strife but love endures.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Mariner Books for giving me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An emotional family drama that spans years of once couples family. Baker does a good job of drawing you in to want to know more.
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Set at a long-loved family cottage on the Maine coast, “Summerland Cove” kicks off with a summer packed full of big celebrations ahead - until one key person simply doesn’t show up, throwing everything into chaos. As the family searches for answers, old secrets start bobbing to the surface and relationships are pushed into uncomfortable, sometimes painful territory.
I loved this. It's a proper summer read—but not the glossy “nothing bad happens and everyone drinks rosé” kind. This one has bit more bite. You get salt air, nostalgia, tangled family dynamics… but also a steady drip of oh-no-what-actually-happened-here tension that kept me listening.
What worked for me were the characters—especially the women. I properly got invested in them. They’re not perfect, they mess up, they carry things they haven’t dealt with, but I ended up understanding them even when they were frustrating. It felt very real in that way.
And the whole theme around love and secrets… it’s not dramatic in a big twisty way, more like you gradually realise how much people never say out loud. The mental health angle really stood out too—it’s handled in a way that shows how it affects everyone around the person, not just the individual, which I thought was done really thoughtfully.
In regard to the audio production - having three narrators made such a difference. Giving a distinct voice to each of the main women just made it effortless to follow and added a bit more depth to how each perspective came across. All three performances felt grounded and natural. No over-the-top dramatics, just solid storytelling.
This is a really good summer audiobook if you want something absorbing but not fluffy. It’s got that coastal setting and family gathering vibe, but there’s enough going on underneath to keep you thinking about it afterwards.
Thank you to HarperAudioAdult, NetGalley and Ellen Baker for an advance listening copy of this book.
I loved this. It's a proper summer read—but not the glossy “nothing bad happens and everyone drinks rosé” kind. This one has bit more bite. You get salt air, nostalgia, tangled family dynamics… but also a steady drip of oh-no-what-actually-happened-here tension that kept me listening.
What worked for me were the characters—especially the women. I properly got invested in them. They’re not perfect, they mess up, they carry things they haven’t dealt with, but I ended up understanding them even when they were frustrating. It felt very real in that way.
And the whole theme around love and secrets… it’s not dramatic in a big twisty way, more like you gradually realise how much people never say out loud. The mental health angle really stood out too—it’s handled in a way that shows how it affects everyone around the person, not just the individual, which I thought was done really thoughtfully.
In regard to the audio production - having three narrators made such a difference. Giving a distinct voice to each of the main women just made it effortless to follow and added a bit more depth to how each perspective came across. All three performances felt grounded and natural. No over-the-top dramatics, just solid storytelling.
This is a really good summer audiobook if you want something absorbing but not fluffy. It’s got that coastal setting and family gathering vibe, but there’s enough going on underneath to keep you thinking about it afterwards.
Thank you to HarperAudioAdult, NetGalley and Ellen Baker for an advance listening copy of this book.
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