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Charleston native, Taylor Abbott, has just relocated to Nantucket for her dream job as a junior news reporter at the local paper. Ten years ago she was Abby Hodges college roommate and is looking forward to living near her best friend again.

Until her rental cottage is available, she's going to stay at the Beach Plum Cove Inn, Abby's mother's bed and breakfast.

Abby meanwhile is dealing with an issue she thought she'd resolved.

Rhett discovers someone that works for him is a thief and tries to figure out who it is.
Rumor is there's a celebrity or two on the island and the media (including Taylor's co-worker, Victoria), is in hot pursuit to track them down.

300 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2021

1310 people are currently reading
3217 people want to read

About the author

Pamela M. Kelley

53 books2,857 followers
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. :)

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,775 reviews5,299 followers
October 20, 2022


3.5 stars

Nantucket News is part of Pamela Kelley's Nantucket Beach Plum Cove series, which contains family stories with Hallmark Channel-type romances. The book works fine as a standalone.

*****

Lisa Hodges, who has four grown children, runs the Beach Plum Cove B&B on Nantucket Island.





Lisa enjoys frequent visits from her daughters and grandchildren, who regularly show up for breakfast on Saturday.



One of the guests at Lisa's B&B is Taylor Abbott, a fledgling journalist......



......who roomed with Lisa's daughter Abby in college.



Taylor just moved to Nantucket to become a reporter for Nantucket's weekly newspaper, and she's staying at the B&B until her rental cottage is ready.

At the B&B, Taylor enjoys chatting with innkeeper Lisa and Lisa's husband Rhett Byrne, who runs an upscale restaurant called Rhett's. Rhett is concerned about the eatery's accounts, because profits are low given the restaurant's success. Rhett fears an employee might be ripping him off and installs hidden cameras to see what's what.



As soon as Taylor settles in she starts work at the Nantucket newspaper. There Taylor meets her supervisor Blake.....



.....fellow reporters Joe and Victoria, and other members of the staff.



Wanting to fit in, Taylor joins her colleagues for trivia night at a nearby pub and for the occasional after-work drink.



Taylor is very attracted to Blake - who's friendly, genial and handsome - but she knows it's a bad idea to date the boss, so she keeps her distance. In the meantime, Blake's mother keeps trying to play matchmaker, dangling beautiful women under his nose.



One of Taylor's assignments is to interview the owner of a new needlepoint store, and Taylor decides to enroll in a beginner's needlepoint class with her good friend Abby. Abby confides that she and her husband are struggling to conceive a second child, and this is one of the story's plotlines.



Since Taylor is a newbie reporter, she tries to learn from her more experienced colleagues Joe and Victoria. However Taylor finds that Victoria's methods are a bit dodgy. Victoria likes to take candid photos of newsworthy people, then write gossipy stories about them. Thus Victoria photographs a romantic-comedy actress and her co-star doing a movie scene, and makes it seem like they're having a romance.



Victoria does the same thing with a well-known marketing executive and her ex-husband, who are attending the same business conference.



This publicity could cause trouble in the subjects' REAL relationships, but Victoria doesn't seem to care. In a way this works to Taylor's benefit, because she snags an interview with a famous person who's peeved at Victoria.

Taylor does this celebrity interview at Nantucket's 'Daffodil Festival', which she's writing about for the newspaper. The festival features a classic car parade - in which Blake and his dad participate - followed by posh tailgate parties.





Many of these tailgate fetes have private chefs who prepare steak and lobster, and appetizers like sushi, stuffed mushrooms, caviar, foie gras, fried chicken strips, and scallops wrapped in bacon.

Steak and Lobster


Sushi


Stuffed Mushrooms


Caviar and Foie Gras


Fried Chicken Strips


Scallops wrapped in bacon


In the course of the story Taylor hobnobs with her friend Abby and Abby's siblings; enjoys working in the newspaper's dog-friendly office; interviews a mystery book writer; makes cute needlepoint tchotchkes; gets a visit from her dad; eats pizza and watches movies; and more. To see the story's more dramatic occurrences, you'll have to read the book. 🙂

This is a pleasant homey book, perfect for an afternoon's relaxing reading.

Thanks to Netgalley, Pamela Kelley, and Piping Plover Press for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
52 reviews
September 22, 2021
Wonderful read!

I’m only sad that I finished it and now have to wait for the next one! Another great book. Pamela Kelley makes me want to visit Nantucket and check out all that the lovely place has to offer. Don’t read this book on an empty stomach as you’ll be starving as she describes all of the delicious seafood and always gets me with the stuffed mushrooms!!
Profile Image for Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader.
1,682 reviews206 followers
September 27, 2022
This was book 7 in the series A beach plum Cove. It was a long series but so much fun catching up with all the characters. I hate to see it come to an end. I recommend this series and it would be a fun vacation series to enjoy.
Profile Image for Jessica.
552 reviews18 followers
September 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nantucket News was a pleasant read, but it didn’t fully grab me the way I hoped. I enjoyed the island setting—it really does feel like a little escape, with its cozy restaurants, festivals, and small-town charm. The characters are easy to like, and I appreciated the different storylines weaving together, especially Taylor’s drive to succeed and the community feel of the series.

That said, some parts felt predictable, and the conflicts wrapped up a bit too neatly for my taste. I also found a few consistency issues that pulled me out of the story, and at times the large cast of characters was hard to keep straight. Overall, it’s a sweet, light read that fans of comforting women’s fiction will probably enjoy, but for me it landed in the middle of the road.
Profile Image for Kaye.
4,341 reviews71 followers
October 24, 2021
This is the comfort reading. Pamela M. Kelley writes cozy, clean books, that focus on family, friends, food and romance. There are a lot of people to keep track of but it comes fairly easily.

The basic storylines in this are:
Taylor Abbott moves to the island to work as a junior reporter for the local newspaper. She really likes her boss but doesn't feel it would be acceptable to date him.
Rhett suspects theft at his restaurant.
Marley's ex is coming to attend a conference on the island and wants a second chance. She isn't interested but it creates a blip of a drama in her new romance.

But while those stories are happening you attend family cookouts, parades, trivia contests, needlepoint class etc. And I don't think Kelley ever mentions food without giving a full description. Every appetizer, entree, hors d'oeuvre, sauce, dessert and wine pairing is listed. And strangely it is very addicting. The whole book to me was like watching a gentle soap opera in a good way. You're a part of the lives of these people.

I enjoyed listening to novel. Leslie Howard's narration flows smoothly and the characters are easy to distinguish by her voice. I also found this is the kind of story I could easily do other tasks while listening. This is part of her Nantucket Beach Plum Cover series of which there are at least six listed on Goodreads. But it starts with an appearance by Nick and Bella from The Hotel (which I have read), so I'm confused if that should be listed as part of this series as well. Any hoo... I'd recommend for those who like clean, comfort reads. Especially if you want a new series. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Dreamscape Media for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sheri.
505 reviews
October 25, 2021
I love reading these books when I’m stressed. It’s a simplistic fantasy world with amazing food and wine and I’m all for it!
Profile Image for Jennifer Kayes.
654 reviews8 followers
September 22, 2021
Great story

Really enjoyed going back to Nantucket and visiting old friends. This is one of the best series ive read. Feel like the characters are my friends and hope there will be more.
Profile Image for Maria.
2,990 reviews96 followers
November 19, 2021
Pamela Kelley does a fantastic job of creating communities that you want to be a part of. All of the residents of Nantucket are so kind and helpful that you feel welcomed in and want to hear their stories. I enjoyed getting to know Taylor as she made her way on her new island and in a new job. I did have a hard time keeping all the people straight; I haven’t read the rest of the series so this may have been why it seemed so confusing in the beginning. Otherwise, this was a quick and comforting read.

Narration was well done; no issues.

I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

276 reviews
November 30, 2021
Without writing about eating and drinking there wasn’t much here. I’m starting to think the author gets a royalty from certain wine companies!!
Bread and Butter Chardonnay anyone??

I think the description says it all “book 7 of the Nantucket Beach Plum Cove Series……… and?
Profile Image for Karen Wahl.
191 reviews5 followers
January 20, 2022
2.5 A very light and quick read but enjoyed catching up with people from previous books. There were a number of errors using the wrong name and even the wrong day of the week which is a shame. As always, loved all the food mentioned in the story.
Profile Image for Nan.
9 reviews
August 23, 2023
Find it interesting that the term ‘sat Indian-style’ is in a book published in 2021 and hasn’t been edited out on the e-book version yet.
Profile Image for Jill Anderson.
Author 4 books365 followers
November 24, 2021
This is the first book I've read (listened to) in the Nantucket series. It's an enjoyable story and can easily be a stand-alone read, although I can see where it helps to know the background of some of the main characters.
I've visited Nantucket, and this book makes you want to live there. I'd call it a cozy mystery/romance, with more romance than mystery.
If you are looking for a stress-free, feel-good story with a little romance and mystery (and will make you hungry with all the good food mentioned!) this is the book, and series, for you!
I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this author's Nantucket series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this fun book.
Profile Image for Alex (Alex's Version).
1,137 reviews110 followers
October 18, 2021
Pamela Kelley’s latest book, Nantucket News is a must read for those that like the warm buzz of a Hallmark movie on a winter evening. It was a nice read, but I really don't care to read the next book in the series..
The literary equivalent of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.
Profile Image for Beatrice Followill.
1,610 reviews41 followers
December 2, 2021
Love the narrator , she brings the story alive! The characters are wonderful and personable, their stories are interwoven with each others , easy flow , so the reader/ lister can stay within the story and not get lost. This is a great series , really like this group of characters .
Profile Image for Paulette.
610 reviews12 followers
March 31, 2025
It was ok in a restful, not very exciting, nice people living their life kind of way. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need. Too much going on these days so this was a quiet interlude.
Profile Image for Diane Hidey.
274 reviews4 followers
July 9, 2022
Cozy, easy, clean, fun read. I liked the series.
Profile Image for Joan Westgate.
416 reviews32 followers
March 26, 2022
I've now completed Ms. Kelley's Nantucket series. All are very easy reads with likeable characters. And because Pam Kelley is a foodie, there is lots of delicious snacks and other foods, mentioned throughout the storyline. This book is like eating ice cream--easily digestible. I'm going to try her mystery series next!
Profile Image for Ally Boyd.
101 reviews4 followers
November 9, 2021
I was given the audiobook of Nantucket News by Pamela M. Kelley Narrated by Leslie Howard through Net Galley for an honest review.

I do not typically read or listen to this cozy romances but it makes me want to cozy up next to the fire and soak up this sweet romance. Pamela is a wonderful writer that captivates her audience with wonderful charecters who are so vibrant and have such depth. I was so sad once the book was over, this is defiantly a book that you could re-read all fall long!
Profile Image for Alexandra.
331 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2021
I didn't realize this was part of a larger series but Ms. Kelley does such a great job describing characters that this novel can stand alone. A great story about a small town and it's cast of characters. This novel focuses on the town's newspaper and a new writer joining the paper. There's town gossip to cover and other stories affecting the local business. We get to meet all the people that make the town special. I found myself wanting to visit Nantucket and stay at the Inn, try the local bakery for sweets, and get food from all the local spots. Small town charm comes alive.
Profile Image for Fiorella Zummo.
10 reviews
December 11, 2021
Interesting and OK

This is a good read but so very predictable. Just like her other stories. Good to read about the familiar characters but needs a new spin.
531 reviews1 follower
Read
November 21, 2022
Not much to say since this is book 7 of the series, Beach Plum Cove. A delightful read, a feel good story. Yes, predictable like a Hallmark movie but sometimes we just need 'feel good' even if it is predictable. Looking forward to the next book in the series. And enjoyed some offshoot books having the same characters in them. Nice to keep the characters going as they seem like friends.
Profile Image for Jodie (That Happy Reader).
740 reviews58 followers
October 25, 2021
It was lovely to return to this book series with its likeable and relatable characters.  The series focuses around Lisa and the Beach Plum Cove Inn as well as her family and other members of the community.

Taylor Abbott is an enthusiastic and eager young woman looking to build her reporting career.  There is definitely an attraction between herself and her boss which builds as the story progresses.  Taylor’s co-worker Victoria, is a more seasoned reporter and sets up the book for a discussion on the role of the press when it comes to celebrities and other public figures.  There are newspaper team-building moments at the Friday Night trivia at a local bar which provides an opportunity to learn more about the newspaper’s characters.

Rhett is Lisa’s husband and owns one of the restaurants on the island.  He’s been noticing that the nightly receipts aren’t quite adding up to his expectations.  His quest to discover who is stealing from him was done respectfully and provided a good mystery to the storyline.

Abby has a storyline that is unfortunately relatable to many women and I appreciate that it was included in this book.  I appreciate how Abby welcomed Taylor to town and included her in many of her regular activities.  It’s always fun for me to read what other women’s groups get up to!

The food described throughout this book will have you craving some seafood.  The recipes all sound delicious and definitely something I would like to indulge in. Community events such as the Daffodil Festival really make me want to visit.

All in all, a really good read that has me wanting to go back and read books 3-6.  I also look forward to book 8 in this series.

I listened to the audiobook version of Nantucket News which was narrated by Leslie Howard who gives a great performance.  Her voice is clear and crisp, and her tone is very pleasing to listen to.  For those readers who enjoy audiobooks, I would not hesitate to choose this format of the book.
Profile Image for DiAnne.
226 reviews11 followers
October 1, 2021
I absolutely love this series AND all of Pamela Kelley's other books! She has yet to write anything that has disappointed me. They are page-turners from beginning to end. The storylines and characters (some you will love and some not so much, lol) are always so relatable to real life people and situations. Some of her characters are not the very likable type but isn't that also true in real life? However, a lot of her characters will become your friends.
You will find yourself looking forward with great anticipation for the next book in the series. Whether you start with this series or one of her other series, you will fall in love Pamela Kelley's books. Pamela Kelley loves her readers and it shows. She is always open and loves hearing from them whether it's ideas, cover selections, sharing books we are reading, or just a friendly chat.

It's Spring on Nantucket and Charleston native, Taylor Abbott, has just relocated to the island for her dream job as a junior news reporter at the local paper.
She's excited to live near her college roommate and best friend, Abby Hodges, and will be staying at her mother's Beach Plum Cove Inn initially.
Taylor's new boss, Blake, is swoon-worthy, smart, and she enjoys spending time with him and her co-workers. She has to remind herself that it wouldn't be appropriate to get any romantic ideas though—after all, he is her immediate boss.
Rhett discovers someone that works for him at his restaurant is a thief and tries to figure out who it is.
Marley's ex has decides he wants her back and is flying out from San Francisco for a conference that she's also attending and wants to meet up.
Abby meanwhile is dealing with an issue she thought she'd resolved.
And rumor is there's a celebrity or two on the island and the media (including Taylor's co-worker, Victoria), is in hot pursuit to track them down.
Profile Image for Jodie (That Happy Reader).
740 reviews58 followers
October 28, 2021
It was lovely to return to this book series with its likeable and relatable characters.  The series focuses around Lisa and the Beach Plum Cove Inn as well as her family and other members of the community.

Taylor Abbott is an enthusiastic and eager young woman looking to build her reporting career.  There is definitely an attraction between herself and her boss which builds as the story progresses.  Taylor’s co-worker Victoria, is a more seasoned reporter and sets up the book for a discussion on the role of the press when it comes to celebrities and other public figures.  There are newspaper team-building moments at the Friday Night trivia at a local bar which provides an opportunity to learn more about the newspaper’s characters.

Rhett is Lisa’s husband and owns one of the restaurants on the island.  He’s been noticing that the nightly receipts aren’t quite adding up to his expectations.  His quest to discover who is stealing from him was done respectfully and provided a good mystery to the storyline.

Abby has a storyline that is unfortunately relatable to many women and I appreciate that it was included in this book.  I appreciate how Abby welcomed Taylor to town and included her in many of her regular activities.  It’s always fun for me to read what other women’s groups get up to!

The food described throughout this book will have you craving some seafood.  The recipes all sound delicious and definitely something I would like to indulge in. Community events such as the Daffodil Festival really make me want to visit.

All in all, a really good read that has me wanting to go back and read books 3-6.  I also look forward to book 8 in this series.

I listened to the audiobook version of Nantucket News which was narrated by Leslie Howard who gives a great performance.  Her voice is clear and crisp, and her tone is very pleasing to listen to.  For those readers who enjoy audiobooks, I would not hesitate to choose this format of the book.
Profile Image for Jodi.
2,727 reviews1 follower
October 21, 2021
Nantucket News by Pamela M. Kelley
Narrator, Leslie Howard
This is the first book I have read by this author and apparently this novel is part of a series although it read well as a standalone. A nice light book of bouncing back. It's Spring on Nantucket and Charleston native, Taylor Abbott, has just relocated to the island for her dream job as a junior news reporter at the local paper. She's excited to live near her college roommate and best friend, Abby Hodges, and will be staying at her mother's Beach Plum Cove Inn initially. Taylor's new boss, Blake, is swoon-worthy, smart, and she enjoys spending time with him and her co-workers. She has to remind herself that it wouldn't be appropriate to get any romantic ideas though—after all, he is her immediate boss. Rhett discovers someone that works for him at his restaurant is a thief and tries to figure out who it is. Marley's ex has decided he wants her back and is flying out from San Francisco for a conference that she's also attending and wants to meet up. Abby meanwhile is dealing with an issue she thought she'd resolved. And rumor is there's a celebrity or two on the island and the media (including Taylor's co-worker, Victoria), is in hot pursuit to track them down.. It is a read that is not overly drama nor suspense just a nice read.
Profile Image for January.
2,847 reviews129 followers
November 30, 2022
Nantucket News by Pamela Kelley [Pamela M. Kelley]
292-page Kindle Ebook
Nantucket Beach Plum Cove #7
related book The Hotel

Genre: Women's Fiction > Chick Lit; Relationships, Romance > Contemporary Romance; Adult Fiction, Beach Read¹ - light and breezy ² set on the beach,

Featuring: Nantucket, Massachusetts; Bed & Breakfast, Journalism, Celebrities, Gossip Authors, Actors, Restaurants, Dogs, Trivia, Real Places, Author's Links

Rating as a movie: PG-13 for adult situations

My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thoughts: 7% 🔖Page 18 of 292 Ch. 3 - I love the setup and the connection to my first Kelley book, The Hotel.
25%🔖70 Ch. 9 - I don't know why nearly every woman under 40 here has a shoulder-length bob, and love mint chocolate chip ice cream, but a dog named Richard? Her stepfather and the boss's dog have the same name. What did the real Richard do?😂 I do like this one so far despite the usual repetitive characteristics and inconsistencies. I was happy this was the last book but now I'm hoping it doesn't end.

I enjoyed this one. It was low on romance, but maybe that helped. There's going to be another book in this series, I'm looking for to it.

Recommend to others?: Yes, the was a lull in the series with the last few books, for me, but this was a huge improvement.
Profile Image for Nikki.
1,189 reviews28 followers
October 29, 2021
Nantucket News by Pamela M. Kelley
Narrated by Leslie Howard
Publisher: Pamela M. Kelley
Genre: Romance, Women's Fiction
Publication Date: October 28, 2021

Nantucket News by Pamela M. Kelley is the 7th book in the Nantucket Beach Plum Cove series. This romance can easily be read as a standalone romance. I have not read any of the previous books in the series and I loved every minute of this one.

My introduction to Pamela Kelley's Nantucket was through reading The Hotel, so I really enjoyed returning with Nantucket News.

I really enjoyed this story. I thought the characters were fascinating and the story was captivating! It moves quickly and is filled with wonderful people, interesting experiences, family, finding love and happiness.

The narration by Leslie Howard was great! She did a great job giving each character their own voice and brought the story to life.

This book would make a lovely beach read, or any kind of read, and I highly recommend it!

I'm so grateful to Joanne Fluke, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
267 reviews4 followers
November 11, 2021
Many thanks to #NetGalley, #Dreamscape,and #PamelaKelley for sending me an advance copy of this adorable audiobook in exchange for an honest review. So fun to just get so wrapped up in this methodically slow boil romance.to spend all day Friday with this audiobook. A young college graduate accepts a reporter job in Nantucket which just happens to be where her college roommate lives and her mom, Lisa, runs a B&B and does have an available room for Taylor to occupy for a season. As it happens Taylor loves her job and finds that her new boss is handsome and is newly available. I Had fun hearing about the location which is prime for young reporter to find special interest articles to write about with a fresh point of view and we learn about the surrounding area and about, the ever growing cast of characters which all are very well developed, makes you want to be their friend.. I will absolutely be recommending this to my friends. Quite the fun listen which translates to a fun read. Once you start you won’t want to stop. Thanks again to NetGalley. I have become a huge new Pamela Kelley fan and will be reading her previous and future works.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews

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