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Northern Girl: Uplifting and emotional women’s fiction about family, sacrifice, and second chances
Set against the harsh beauty of coastal Maine, this is a novel for anyone who's ever wondered if it's too late to become who they were meant to be.
When Kate Perkins finds herself ice fishing alone on a frozen Maine pond, she's facing the potential loss of everything she's ever her father's failing mind, her family's historic inn on the verge of foreclosure, and her own dreams that died with her mother five years ago.
As a brutal March storm threatens to destroy Whaler's Landing, the family business, Kate's estranged siblings return to Kennebunkport, successful but broken in their own ways. Together, they must navigate their father's dementia, their complicated grandmother's unexpected reappearance, and the weight of family secrets that span decades.
And then there’s Ben. Patient, steady, and always fixing what's broken (literally and metaphorically), he’s the handsome contractor who she’s known all her life but never really noticed. Until now.
With his help, and the discovery of a gift her mother left behind, Kate must Can she save both the inn and herself? Or will choosing her own path mean abandoning the family legacy she's sacrificed everything to preserve?
Northern Girl is a poignant story about coming home, forgiveness, and learning that you can honor the past while still claiming your future.
Perfect For Readers
Love Elin Hilderbrand or Mary Alice MonroeEnjoy family sagas with strong sense of placeWant realistic romance with mature charactersAppreciate stories about women finding themselves later in lifeAre interested in multigenerational women's storiesLove coastal/beach settings with seasonal changes
When Kate Perkins finds herself ice fishing alone on a frozen Maine pond, she's facing the potential loss of everything she's ever her father's failing mind, her family's historic inn on the verge of foreclosure, and her own dreams that died with her mother five years ago.
As a brutal March storm threatens to destroy Whaler's Landing, the family business, Kate's estranged siblings return to Kennebunkport, successful but broken in their own ways. Together, they must navigate their father's dementia, their complicated grandmother's unexpected reappearance, and the weight of family secrets that span decades.
And then there’s Ben. Patient, steady, and always fixing what's broken (literally and metaphorically), he’s the handsome contractor who she’s known all her life but never really noticed. Until now.
With his help, and the discovery of a gift her mother left behind, Kate must Can she save both the inn and herself? Or will choosing her own path mean abandoning the family legacy she's sacrificed everything to preserve?
Northern Girl is a poignant story about coming home, forgiveness, and learning that you can honor the past while still claiming your future.
Perfect For Readers
Love Elin Hilderbrand or Mary Alice MonroeEnjoy family sagas with strong sense of placeWant realistic romance with mature charactersAppreciate stories about women finding themselves later in lifeAre interested in multigenerational women's storiesLove coastal/beach settings with seasonal changes
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2026
443 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Annie Cabot
32 books114 followersAnnie Cabot is the author of contemporary women's fiction and family sagas. Annie writes about friendships and family relationships, that bring inspiration and hope to others.
With a focus on women's fiction, Annie feels that she writes best when she writes from experience. “Every woman's journey is a relatable story. I want to capture those stories, let others know they are not alone, and bring a bit of joy to my readers.”
Annie Cabot is the pen name for the writer Patricia Pauletti. A lover of all things happily ever after, it was only a matter of time before she began to write what was in her heart, and so, the pen name Annie Cabot was born.
When she's not writing, Annie and her husband like to travel. Winters always involve time away on Captiva Island, Florida where she continues to get inspiration for her novels.
Annie lives in Massachusetts with her husband.
With a focus on women's fiction, Annie feels that she writes best when she writes from experience. “Every woman's journey is a relatable story. I want to capture those stories, let others know they are not alone, and bring a bit of joy to my readers.”
Annie Cabot is the pen name for the writer Patricia Pauletti. A lover of all things happily ever after, it was only a matter of time before she began to write what was in her heart, and so, the pen name Annie Cabot was born.
When she's not writing, Annie and her husband like to travel. Winters always involve time away on Captiva Island, Florida where she continues to get inspiration for her novels.
Annie lives in Massachusetts with her husband.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 2, 2026
I very much enjoyed this book. It had some hard parts to read with dementia and death. It’s been a long time since I shedded so many tears. This book will stay with me for while.
January 29, 2026
I read this book as a Kindle Unlimited read. I kept seeing ads for it on FB so decided to take a chance on it. And I have to say, I was amazed at it. I would highly recommend this book.
February 21, 2026
Maine.
Kate is the sibling that stayed behind to take care of her dad with Alheimers and run the Inn her mother loved. She has lost herself taking care of everything and everybody. The other siblings come back to help and she has a hard time excepting help giving up control. The Inn is needing a lot of repairs they get Ben to do repairs as things break down. He has been attracted to Kate for yrs. He goes above and beyond to do things for her. But she is to busy taking care of her dad and the Inn. Their Grandmother shows up who disowned her daughter because she chose their dad he wasn’t up to her standards. She is very wealthy and she is dying. She tells them she want to make the Inn beautiful for her daughter and take care of their dad because she feels bad for how she treated them. She gives them the money to renovate the Inn. She pays for a home for the dad. She wants the 4 kids to work together to run the Inn. She’s there to help with the decision on the Inn but there is still resistance to her. As she is dying they all gather to be with her she dies happy with forgiveness. They all do there jobs things smooth out. They all move back and stay family
Kate is the sibling that stayed behind to take care of her dad with Alheimers and run the Inn her mother loved. She has lost herself taking care of everything and everybody. The other siblings come back to help and she has a hard time excepting help giving up control. The Inn is needing a lot of repairs they get Ben to do repairs as things break down. He has been attracted to Kate for yrs. He goes above and beyond to do things for her. But she is to busy taking care of her dad and the Inn. Their Grandmother shows up who disowned her daughter because she chose their dad he wasn’t up to her standards. She is very wealthy and she is dying. She tells them she want to make the Inn beautiful for her daughter and take care of their dad because she feels bad for how she treated them. She gives them the money to renovate the Inn. She pays for a home for the dad. She wants the 4 kids to work together to run the Inn. She’s there to help with the decision on the Inn but there is still resistance to her. As she is dying they all gather to be with her she dies happy with forgiveness. They all do there jobs things smooth out. They all move back and stay family
March 25, 2026
This book contains a good plot and excellent writing BUT the protagonist is one of the most unsympathetic characters I’ve encountered in recent reading.
Kate, the oldest of four children of a widowed father, stays by his side as he battles dementia AND she operates the family’s failing inn while her siblings leave and try to create lives for themselves.
The first two-thirds of the novel are about her sacrifice, or as I call it, martyrdom. She may be 35 in the book but she’s nothing more than a petulant child who needs to be shaken until her teeth rattle.
The adult children skirt around one another, seldom discussing their private lives with one another, which I found fictional based on my own dysfunctional family life.
I wanted to love it but cannot because the only characters I felt warm about were so minor they didn’t really count.
Kate, the oldest of four children of a widowed father, stays by his side as he battles dementia AND she operates the family’s failing inn while her siblings leave and try to create lives for themselves.
The first two-thirds of the novel are about her sacrifice, or as I call it, martyrdom. She may be 35 in the book but she’s nothing more than a petulant child who needs to be shaken until her teeth rattle.
The adult children skirt around one another, seldom discussing their private lives with one another, which I found fictional based on my own dysfunctional family life.
I wanted to love it but cannot because the only characters I felt warm about were so minor they didn’t really count.
February 16, 2026
A good read if at times a hard one
If you have experience of dementia there will be times when you might find this a difficult read. Annie has taken a no holds barred approach to the effects of this awful disease on both the person and the family; she has researched it well. My mother had dementia and I was a mature university student so I can relate to Kate easily. Annie Cabot has also written sound words of advice and shown remarkable understanding and I strongly hope other readers will take heart as I have and find this book to be not just a romance story, but one about family, choices, never giving up and knowing when to let go. Thank you, Annie, for another good read.
If you have experience of dementia there will be times when you might find this a difficult read. Annie has taken a no holds barred approach to the effects of this awful disease on both the person and the family; she has researched it well. My mother had dementia and I was a mature university student so I can relate to Kate easily. Annie Cabot has also written sound words of advice and shown remarkable understanding and I strongly hope other readers will take heart as I have and find this book to be not just a romance story, but one about family, choices, never giving up and knowing when to let go. Thank you, Annie, for another good read.
March 9, 2026
red in the morning vs red at night.
I had just moved. I have tons of things to put away in many boxes piled up, but what did I choose? I chose to read this incredible novel. It’s now 10 minutes before dinner, and I can only say that the novel was crammed full of the most generous people minus one ogre and what true love is and gathering two brothers and a sister to run an incredibly beautiful restored inn. please read this story!! set aside a day.
I had just moved. I have tons of things to put away in many boxes piled up, but what did I choose? I chose to read this incredible novel. It’s now 10 minutes before dinner, and I can only say that the novel was crammed full of the most generous people minus one ogre and what true love is and gathering two brothers and a sister to run an incredibly beautiful restored inn. please read this story!! set aside a day.
January 16, 2026
Such a beautiful but anxious story.
Northern Girl was a fascinating story of love and loss. The characters were perfect, the setting in Maine wanted me to be there. The Inn had a lot of problems. Katie was running the inn by herself and their father had dementia which brought home her siblings. But they finally pulled together to renovate the inn and find happiness.
Northern Girl was a fascinating story of love and loss. The characters were perfect, the setting in Maine wanted me to be there. The Inn had a lot of problems. Katie was running the inn by herself and their father had dementia which brought home her siblings. But they finally pulled together to renovate the inn and find happiness.
January 26, 2026
Northern Girl
This is a beautiful family love story. This book will pull you into the deeply rooted family and their own life issues and the healing only family can do. Amazing character that are as real as you and I, family issues that well all have experience or know someone that has. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy
This is a beautiful family love story. This book will pull you into the deeply rooted family and their own life issues and the healing only family can do. Amazing character that are as real as you and I, family issues that well all have experience or know someone that has. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy
February 16, 2026
Delightful!
Now, this is my kind of romance! Real, slow, full of indecision and heartache, like real life. At first though it did seem like Ms. Cabot kept repeating things and describing the same things over and over. And talk about someone being indecisive, well Katie takes the cake! But the storyline was very much like real life and I found that very refreshing.
Now, this is my kind of romance! Real, slow, full of indecision and heartache, like real life. At first though it did seem like Ms. Cabot kept repeating things and describing the same things over and over. And talk about someone being indecisive, well Katie takes the cake! But the storyline was very much like real life and I found that very refreshing.
March 28, 2026
Great Read
So many emotions!! Such a great read encompassing family drama, love and even romance.. poignant and powerful, forgiveness and anger, but all understandable.
Stubbornness and patience.. but through it all the love is still there. You are pulled back and forth through all the emotions, but in the end it’s worth it.
So many emotions!! Such a great read encompassing family drama, love and even romance.. poignant and powerful, forgiveness and anger, but all understandable.
Stubbornness and patience.. but through it all the love is still there. You are pulled back and forth through all the emotions, but in the end it’s worth it.
January 10, 2026
Annie Cabot’s best book yet!
I have read many of this author’s books but the depth and emotion of this book surpasses them. I read this with Kindle Unlimited but I am actually going to buy it - high praise for me!
I have read many of this author’s books but the depth and emotion of this book surpasses them. I read this with Kindle Unlimited but I am actually going to buy it - high praise for me!
January 18, 2026
Wonderful quick read!
Annie-another great book, the story was so heartwarming, authentic, just a great read!
Can't wait for the next book to delv into the lives of this incredible family
Annie-another great book, the story was so heartwarming, authentic, just a great read!
Can't wait for the next book to delv into the lives of this incredible family
February 22, 2026
mistakes?
There seems to be mistakes in this book-blonde hair, red hair? Then a lot of repetition in paragraphs next to each other. Characters going back and forth without much substance. Didn’t think it was well written.
There seems to be mistakes in this book-blonde hair, red hair? Then a lot of repetition in paragraphs next to each other. Characters going back and forth without much substance. Didn’t think it was well written.
March 23, 2026
Spoiler-this book will make you cry-more than once!
The family that was estranged and then shoved together and they grew emotionally and physically to bring more. They learned that together they were enough. Loved this story.
The family that was estranged and then shoved together and they grew emotionally and physically to bring more. They learned that together they were enough. Loved this story.
March 31, 2026
Beautiful and Emotional
Beautiful story written with a lot of love and feelings.
The story of this horrible disease and how it is managed is a labor of love and resilience.
Could not put it down!
Beautiful story written with a lot of love and feelings.
The story of this horrible disease and how it is managed is a labor of love and resilience.
Could not put it down!
January 12, 2026
Northern Gurl
I wanted to give this book 5 stars but couldn’t because of the inconsistencies in it. That said the book is a great read full of family dynamics.
I wanted to give this book 5 stars but couldn’t because of the inconsistencies in it. That said the book is a great read full of family dynamics.
January 14, 2026
Throughout the ups and downs of life a family works together for a common goal.
January 15, 2026
Amazing
This is the first book I have read by this author. Northern Girl is a book that will have you excited for those involved and cry when life gets hard.
This is the first book I have read by this author. Northern Girl is a book that will have you excited for those involved and cry when life gets hard.
January 30, 2026
Once I started reading I was hooked!
Loved the characters and the story! Well done Annie Cabot. I'm a new fan. Get ready for tears and laughing out loud. 💗
Loved the characters and the story! Well done Annie Cabot. I'm a new fan. Get ready for tears and laughing out loud. 💗
February 3, 2026
I like family sagas and while a little predictable, I enjoyed reading this one.
February 13, 2026
Outstanding
Annie Cabot has a writing style that captured me on page one. And her understanding of choices we make during our life is exceptional.
Annie Cabot has a writing style that captured me on page one. And her understanding of choices we make during our life is exceptional.
February 23, 2026
Northern Girl
This was a wonderful story about family love and interference of family. In the end they came together to forgive learn to support each other and run an inn.
This was a wonderful story about family love and interference of family. In the end they came together to forgive learn to support each other and run an inn.
February 24, 2026
Good story. I think I cried or teared up about 4 times .
February 28, 2026
Beautifully written story about family
Tissue alert needed for this story of family. Love and all of the mess it can entail but all of the joy it can bring.
Tissue alert needed for this story of family. Love and all of the mess it can entail but all of the joy it can bring.
Did not finish
March 18, 2026Miserable. Just ugh!!! Uplifting my arse.
February 3, 2026
This was a wonderful book about life's journey. The tears cried were cathartic.
February 17, 2026
An engaging story with relatable characters set in the beautiful Kennebunkport Maine. You become immersed quickly in this story and feel Kate’s emotions as she tries to handle all life’s hurdles on her own. Dealing with her father’s health and running an inn that’s in desperate need of work you just want to give Kate a big hug. This book tugs at your heart strings and you will shed a few tears.
Highly recommend this book!
Highly recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews