Lesser Haven: A Florida Novel

by Christie Caliendo

283 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2025

Reviews

[Allison Collett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Florida author Christie Caliendo takes readers on a journey throughout her beloved state, giving them a rare glimpse into the town Moore Haven, known for its local feel, outdoor recreation and curious natives. The debut novel follows Callie Crispen, an author on the hunt for something out of her comfort zone compared to the ocean-centric Fort Lauderdale. Deciding to write a novel she connects with the residents and ends up on a journey filled with love, mystery and friendship.

Caliendo's words paint such a picture that readers are dropped in the middle of town and need to hold on tight for the journey they're about to embark on. When Callie befriends a peculiar local who has never left her Father's property, her curiosity gets the best of her. But curiosity kills the cat and she enters a world of rural retaliation. Highlighting some of the state's more remote locations, Lesser Haven spotlights a different way of life in the Sunshine State.

[Denise]

I absolutely loved this book. It kept me turning pages and not wanting to put it down. A few times I was so nervous I wanted to read, but was afraid of what was going to happen.