Nantucket Second Chances: A Novel

by Pamela M. Kelley

"Warm, witty, and atmospheric… This is the perfect summer read." — Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author

Nantucket is the perfect place for a new beginning.

Claire Shipman never imagined she'd be the single mom of a teenager, going through a contentious divorce, and unexpectedly pregnant. On the bright side, at least she’s on Nantucket, where she grew up, and where her mother and grandmother welcome her home with open arms.

For years, Claire lived an enviable Manhattan lifestyle. Until her ex had a marriage-ending affair and also lost his job and all their money. Claire’s high school friends invite her to their book club and an off-hand joke that she could sell one of her Hermes bags sparks a business idea.

Her friend’s brother, Cody, is a furniture builder with a spare storefront. He’s initially skeptical about the prospects of a "used handbag shop".

But Claire is determined. With the support of Lily, her mother, grandmother, old friends and new, she begins to build a true second chance at a new life.

More praise for Pamela

“Full of heart and hope…a feel-good reminder that it’s never too late to begin again.” — Cindy Nichols, USA Today bestselling author, for Nantucket Second Chances

"A great beach read. Grab your beach chair, umbrella and a cooler full of snacks and enjoy!" —Susan Wilson, New York Times bestselling author, for The Bookshop by the Bay

"A delightful story about family, friends, and finding our own happiness." —Jenny Hale, USA Today bestselling author, for The Bookshop by the Bay

Genres: Romance, Summer Reads, Fiction, Summer, Audiobook, Beach Reads, Chick Lit

Audible Audio

First published June 9, 2026

About the author

Pamela M. Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women's fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you'd want as friends.

She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There's also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two. :)

Reviews

[Kaceey]

Claire knows her marriage is on the rocks. When she tries to tell her husband she’s pregnant, he has news of his own to share with her. And it doesn’t include Claire going forward.

So, Claire packs up and moves to her mother’s home in Nantucket. Shortly, her teenage daughter Lily joins her. It’s time to rebuild her life with positive energy around her.

This book is filled with second chances. From her life crumbling after her husband walks out, to her mother finding love again. From her daughter moving to Nantucket to escape toxic friendships, to Claire’s second-hand boutique.

If you enjoy coastal contemporary novels filled with hope for new beginnings, this is a great choice for you. I’m ready to buy my ticket and visit what is described as a beautiful northeastern island filled with charm. The food descriptions alone were beyond tempting!

I would have preferred a bit more fire from Claire, but maybe that’s just me😉

🎧 The audio was narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker, who brought the feel of the island and the hope of the characters to life.

✍️ Pamela M. Kelley
🎧 7 hours 49 minutes
🗓️ Available Now
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Romance, contemporary

Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio for the gifted audio.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra)]

3.5 stars "Nantucket is the perfect place for a new beginning."

When Claire Shipman finds herself divorced and a single mom to a teenager, she never expected to be pregnant as well. So she and her daughter move to Nantucket to be close to her mom and grandmother. Claire joins a book club with her former high school friends who give her the confidence to start her own business.

This is the perfect summer read focused on a fresh start in every aspect of your life. No matter how bad things seem, it's never too late for a second chance.

The audiobook performance by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker (7 hours 49 minutes) was well done and transportes me to a delightful setting and story for a while.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Libro.fm for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 🎧

[Donna Huber]

It was okay. It was a little too cookie-cutter for me; I felt like I had read it before. And what was up with all the women being cheated on? I enjoyed the characters. I think some of the secondary characters are from her other Nantucket books. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads.

[Sheri]

I really loved this one and actually read it on a beach lol. I jwish real life could be as breezy and smooth as a Pamela Kelley novel

[January]

Nantucket Second Chances by Pamela Kelley (2026)
7h 50m narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker, 368 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating as a movie: PG-13 for adult situations

Featuring: Nantucket, Massachusetts; March, Homecoming Trope, Divorce, Pregnancy, Friendships, Multiple POVs, Mom's House, Manhattan, New York; Tricenarian Soon-to-be Quadragenarian, Boston, Massachusetts; Book Club, Homemaker, Character Easter Eggs, Starting Over Trope, Teens, High School, Matchmaking

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🗽💔🤰🏼🏝👜👛🎤

My thoughts: 📱73% 5:39:40 Chapter 21 - This is very enjoyable, very cozy. Claire is having a few dense moments when it comes to her ex, but I'm not mad at her about it. I definitely would have had a single session if I had started sooner, as the story just flows. Unfortunately, I have an early appointment; otherwise, I definitely would have stayed up past midnight with this one.

Nantucket Second Chances gets five stars all the way from me! While it might not be the most high-stakes or intensely written story, I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. It is the ultimate cozy beach read—deeply comforting, smoothly paced, and free of any glaring mistakes.
​The plot is admittedly predictable, but that predictability is exactly why Claire's indecisiveness and reluctance didn't get on my nerves. I could just relax and enjoy the ride because I knew she was going to make the right choices in the end. It was also refreshing to spend a little time revisiting high school dynamics, and I had so much fun catching all the Easter eggs from the other Pamela M. Kelley books I have read.
​If you are looking for a comforting escape, this is it. Pamela M. Kelley is an automatic-read author for me, and her books just keep getting better and better.
​Recommend to others: Yes! If you’ve been missing Elin Hilderbrand but want a story that isn't quite as messy with the drama, this is a fantastic substitution.

Songs for the soundtrack: "Lips Are Movin" by Meghan Trainor, "Need You Now" by Lady A, "Tear Drops On My Guitar" by Taylor Swift, "Breath" by Pearl Jam, "Black" by Pearl Jam, "As It Was" by Harry Styles, "Shape Of You" by Ed Sheeran, "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones, "The Nearness Of You" by Norah Jones, "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri, "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" by Nora Jones

Books and Authors mentioned: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, The Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelley, Elin Hilderbrand, Danielle Steel, The Nantucket Inn by Pamela Kelley, Beach Plum Cove Series by Pamela Kelley, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali, Nantucket Threads by Pamela Kelley

Memorable Quotes: One of them was a pretty young woman who Claire hadn’t seen before. Ellis had introduced her as Rebecca, the office’s new receptionist. It was her first job out of college, and Ellis had gushed that she was doing a great job. He’d mentioned something about her father owning a big company but wanting Rebecca to get experience somewhere else before joining his firm. Rebecca basked in the compliment, and Claire had thought it was cute at the time. Rebecca looked about the same age as Claire had been when she first started working at the magazine—when everything about living in the city was all shiny and new. When Rebecca said goodbye, she didn’t look at Claire, only at Ellis, and her gaze lingered for a long moment before she left. “I think she might have a crush on you,” Claire teased him. She expected him to laugh, but instead he looked away, then ran his hand through his hair. He seemed uncomfortable, so Claire decided to change the subject. “We need to talk actually,” she began. He looked relieved, which surprised her. “I agree. I’ve been waiting for the right time to talk to you too.” “You have? What about?” She began to feel uneasy again as Ellis paced back and forth in the room that still needed to be cleaned up, dishes washed and things put away. “I think we should consider a divorce.” His words knocked the breath out of her. She knew things hadn’t been great between them for a long time. But she’d assumed it was a natural evolution of a marriage. When she met with her mom group, most of them had similar issues—their husbands worked too much, and the romance was gone. “Why?” she’d managed to ask as a terrible thought rushed in. “Is there someone else?” Ellis looked away and couldn’t meet her eyes. He avoided answering that part of her question. He sighed heavily. “It just seems like we want different things these days. Like we’ve grown apart. It happens.” Claire frowned. She didn’t disagree, but she sensed there was more. “Is there someone else?” she asked again. He nodded. “Someone at work. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but we spend so much time together, and she makes me feel young and invincible.” Claire’s jaw dropped. “Is it Rebecca?” He ran his hand through his hair again. “It is. I didn’t expect it to go anywhere, but she’s crazy about me for some reason.” “So that’s why you want a divorce, to be with a twenty-two-year-old receptionist?” Claire felt an intense rush of pain at the betrayal. “How long has this been going on?” “Only for about six months or so. I thought it would be a quick fling. I know that’s horrible of me, but I didn’t intend for it to turn into anything serious.” “But it has?” Obviously. He nodded. “Yes, and we just found out a week ago that she’s pregnant.” Claire felt unsteady and grabbed hold of a chair by the island and sat. Ellis sounded excited about Rebecca’s pregnancy. A wave of intense sadness rushed over her, followed by anger. “What do you want me to say to that? ‘Congratulations’?” He flinched at her bitter tone. “No, and I’m sorry. I know it’s really shitty of me. But you have to admit, things haven’t been good with us for a long time.” She nodded. “Yes, that’s true. Especially these last six months while you’ve been sleeping with your receptionist.” She narrowed her eyes. “Was there anyone before her?” “No, of course not.” Ellis couldn’t look at her though, and she knew it was likely that Rebecca wasn’t the first fling he’d had in recent years. She felt stupid that she’d never suspected a thing. “Well, I have some news to share too. Remember our fun night about a month ago, when we went to that cozy Italian restaurant?” She paused, and Ellis nodded, waiting for her to continue. “Rebecca’s not the only one who’s pregnant. I took a test right before the party.” Ellis’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?” He ran his hand through his hair and started pacing again. After a long, uncomfortable moment of silence, he stopped and faced her. “Okay, let’s try to work this out. I want to be there for you and our baby.” Claire shot him a withering glance. “And what about Rebecca?” “I’ll figure something out. I’m so sorry, Claire.” He did seem sorry, but it was far too late for that. “If you think I’d give you another chance after this, you’re crazy. Go be with Rebecca. And you can clean up this mess too. I’m going to the Four Seasons.”

[Renae]

3.5 ⭐️ When Claire’s husband of eighteen years asks for a divorce, she is blindsided — and even more shocked to discover she is unexpectedly pregnant. But the greatest betrayal comes when Ellis reveals he has been having an affair with a twenty-two-year-old woman who is also expecting his child. After claiming he lost his job and must sell their Manhattan apartment, Ellis sends Claire’s carefully built life into freefall.

Seeking refuge, Claire returns to her childhood home in Nantucket, where her teenage daughter, Lily, soon joins her, unwilling to remain in New York with her father and his new girlfriend. As Claire struggles to rebuild her life, a local attorney suggests conducting a forensic audit of Ellis’s finances. Though reluctant at first, Claire eventually agrees when his stories begin to unravel and inconsistencies pile up.

With money becoming tight, Claire decides to sell her luxury designer handbags for extra cash — a decision that unexpectedly blossoms into a successful boutique business in Nantucket. Meanwhile, Lily slowly adjusts to her new school and begins forming meaningful friendships of her own. Together, mother and daughter navigate heartbreak, uncertainty, and the challenge of starting over.

While Claire initially grieves the collapse of her marriage, the discovery that Ellis has lied about nearly everything — particularly his attempts to hide assets — transforms her pain into resolve. Rather than dwelling on betrayal, Claire learns to reclaim her independence and embrace the possibility of a happier future.

Warm, uplifting, and emotionally satisfying, this novel contains all the hallmarks of a classic Pamela Kelley story. Set against the charming backdrop of Nantucket, the novel beautifully captures themes of resilience, reinvention, family, and second chances. Readers will find themselves wholeheartedly rooting for Claire as she rebuilds her life and rediscovers her happiness.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!

[Kate]

I mean this with my whole heart: this was the worst book I’ve ever read.

The writing was dreadfully bad, the characters were two dimensional at best, the plot was terrible, and (I’ll say it twice because it deserves to be said twice) the writing was dreadfully bad. This whole book was full of conversations that were unnatural and awkward and everything else read like stage direction.

“Claire walked into the house. She made Mac and cheese. She stirred in the butter and milk.”

I’m frankly angry this book exists and has the prestigious opportunity to be published. I’m even more angry people are giving this pile of trash multiple stars. Please do not waste your time. There are so many better beach reads in the world, do yourself a favor and get another one. I’m begging you, don’t read this unless you would like to join me in being irrationally angry.

It should be noted that I read this for my book club, or there would be absolutely no way that I would have read this book in its entirety.

[Courtney Autumn]

If you've been searching for a summer trip back to Nantucket to fill the Elin-shaped hole in your heart, Pamela Kelley has you covered with 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀.

Claire isn't having the best string of news. After finding out she's unexpectedly pregnant, her husband announces his affair... and plans to leave her for his mistress... who's also pregnant... oh, and did I mention he lost all their money? She and her teenaged daughter trade in NYC to return to Nantucket, where they're welcomed with open arms by her mom and grandmother. Each find their footing again on the island and discover that second chances might just be the best kind of chances.

I'm so glad I was able to squeeze this one in yet to cap off August. It was the quintessential summer escape that I've been missing. The Nantucket setting! The book club! The sweet budding romance! The friendships, both young and old! THE FOOD! And, of course, the narration because...

🎙 ...Stephanie Németh-Parker is at the mic (so you know I'm listening), voicing all the characters in multiple age ranges and genders with such distinction you'd think there are multiple narrators. Her ability to switch through tones and pitches, especially during dialogue, is unparalleled and needs to be studied.

✨️ Thank you to Sourcebooks Audio for the ALC!

[Tina Prince]

4.25 Stars

[Colleen Sellars Rousell]

A perfect summer beach read. It makes me want to visit Nantucket off season at some point.

[Jane Perron]

Quick and easy beach read. Very enjoyable Romcom. I love summer books set on Nantucket.

[Brandy Lemire]

I really enjoyed this. I liked how the author brought in pieces from her other books and characters as well! I’ve read her other books and this one did not disappoint!

[Tetyana]

3.5 ⭐️ /5
I just turned the last page of this novel and it is a sweet, cozy beach read. The island vibe was lovely, but the relationships between all of the characters felt a bit too sweet to be real. The story also felt too easy, as every problem got solved way too quickly without any actual drama. The predictable plot never really surprised me, making it a perfectly fine, low-stress book that kept my attention but did not blow me away. Drop it in your beach bag, but do not expect a masterpiece. it’s still with happy end tho.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Dottie Legatos]

A perfect easy summer read to start a beach vacation. Taken by surprise by not only her husband’s request for a divorce but also that she is pregnant, Claire moves back to her mother’s home in Nantucket. Predictable yet very heartwarming. Characters from her previous books are intertwined, but not essential to the plot. All in all a good story of second chances in more ways than one.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for this gifted copy in return for an honest review.

[Alicia Scott]

Thank you NetGalley for this super cute, and fun summer ARC! This was a quick read, and I was hooked from the start.

You follow 4 generations of women as they navigate through big life changes. Grammy has moved into a retirement home, and loves to give advice while watching her daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter are adjusting to big changes in their life as well.

Marsha, Grammy’s daughter has found love again, and trying to figure out how to move to the next stage in her relationship while being there for her daughter Claire, and granddaughter Lily. She loves having them back home in Nantucket and being more involved in her life.

Claire, is our MFC. The story mostly is around her life, and her 16 year old daughter Lily. Claire just learned that she is unexpectedly pregnant, and her husband has been cheating with someone much younger her who is also pregnant. He is going to divorce Claire and move in with his mistress Rachel. She knows right away that she needs all the help she can get, and her and her daughter move back to Nantucket.

Lily is Claire’s 16 year old daughter. She is now having to switch schools, figure out how she will deal with her parents divorce, his new girlfriend and the new baby they will have. How she handles all the changes, and her and her mom’s relationship. I appreciated how relatable she was as a teen.

I loved how we get to follow along as they grow and find a new normal. This was a zero spice read, and I really hope a book 2 will follow. 4.5⭐️ and a must read!

[Sydney D’Amato]

My first summer read of the season & it did not disappoint! Pamela Kelley always writes the best summer beach reads, that really let you sink into her writing and make her characters so relatable. I loved the character development and following Lily & Claire’s move to Nantucket as they rediscovered themselves. I love any book with a setting on Nantucket! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Teresa Biggie]

It just felt like I have read this book before It just came out this year. So I don’t know if it is because it takes place on Nantucket and several authors place their books there but the whole yacht crowd and fishing and sailing and golf and name brand bags and shoes

Claire finds out that her husband is cheating and his mistress is pregnant at the same time she is pregnant. Claire runs home to Nantucket to live in w her mom at the family home Lily her teenage daughter joins her soon after even though it means starting at a new high school in the middle of the year. ( that made NO sense to me. Lily had been with the same kids her entire life )
So that story is about Lily making new friends in high school and dealing with her pregnant mom and her dad ‘s mistress and about Claire trying to figure out how to survive financially after her EX said he lost all their money to bad investments and was fired from his job and Claire’s mom , Marsha who has a boyfriend who was going to move into the family house but that got put on hold when Claire and Lily moved in

There is a ton of secondary characters ( all really well fleshed out ) from the high school friends to the book club to the town shop keepers

It is a quick read Nothing startling

[Pam Nichols]

Nothing like a beautiful setting to house a divorce, pregnancy, financial grift and the handsome divorced stranger to make a quick read. I was especially interested as we are planning a trip to Nantucket next month. I am looking forward to finding some of the places mentioned here. Fun!

[Cindy Feigert]

If you are looking for an easy summer read this will fit the bill. The setting Nantucket of course makes the book. What a beautiful place to start your life over again. There were some likeable characters but beware of Ellis!

[Nancy]

Easy read-family divorce and starting over. Enough plot to keep it interesting.

A woman’s husband cheats on her. She and her 17 year old daughter moves back to Nantucket to live with her mother.

[Emma Blanchet]

I was looking for a light, easy beach read and this was everything I hoped for and more! I devoured it in a day. I'm a huge fan of Elin Hilderbrand and I'm sure this author will be getting major comparisons to her, probably due to the Nantucket setting. This was original and so easy and fun to read. I felt I was on the island. This was the perfect summer beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

[Jean A. Harrold-Loberg]

Just a fun book which was easy and exactly what I needed!

[Barbara]

always love her books

[Sheila Marks]

Loved it! I really enjoy her books!

[Heidi Hilty]

Another feel good beach read from this witty author who captures the charm of Nantucket and a bevy of good friends and family. 3.75⭐️

[Barb]

The book was simple, very little drama. A very very light read. A lot of descriptions on recipes to take to book club.

[Courtney Vega]

I loved the cover of this book, but wasn't sure if I'd really love the story. It turns out, I was wrong and the story was a quick, easy, sweet beach read and honestly, it's as close as I'll ever get to living on Nantucket lol. I really liked how the characters were written and how Pamela Kelley touched on real-life situations that people go through every day (divorce, money struggles, single motherhood, etc.).

My only qualm is that while these topics are discussed and can be very relatable, there wasn't a lot of conflict and everything was quickly and easily worked through. I wish there had been more tension, drama, and that the main character, Claire, had more of a backbone.

Overall, this was a great story and I plan on reading more from this author!

[Theresa Bourke]

Super cute and cozy. I loved the characters and the beachy backdrop of Nantucket. The story sucked me in and for a pretty quick read.

My main complaint is the dialogue. A lot of it sounded too formal and not all natural, but I suppose that could be a regional thing. Those parts took me out of the story a bit, as did some of the writing-- some super simplistic sentences with random details that didn't need to be stated.

Overall an enjoyable read. Felt a little like a Hallmark movie, which I'm not mad about.

[Melinda Cribb]

Another winner

I was looking forward to reading this book and it didn’t disappoint. Loved the story and the characters. Hope maybe there will be another to follow.

[Robin]

I’d give Nantucket Second Chances by Pamela M. Kelley 3.5 stars. This was a light, easy coastal read with plenty of family drama, friendship, and fresh starts woven throughout the story. I enjoyed the Nantucket setting and the comforting small-town atmosphere the author always does well. While parts of the story felt a little predictable and moved slower at times, the characters were likable and the overall message about healing and second chances made it an enjoyable read. A good pick if you’re in the mood for something warm, relaxing, and heartwarming.

Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.