Friends with Boats

by Alexandra Speck Slater

Friends with Boats opens with news of an accident: Mack Taylor has been in a rollover. Sadie wonders if he deserves it. She and her best friends, Ada and Charlotte, have more in common than they thought: they’re all in love with Mack.



Similar to an Elin Hilderbrand novel, the book is from the perspective of the three women, who are locals living year-round on Cape Cod. Sadie is a mother of two in her forties with a stalled marriage, who reunites with Mack, her old flame from high school. Charlotte is Sadie’s best friend since childhood, an ex-model from Manhattan, and she longs for attention. Ada is a working mother of two, who is fighting to save her job and marriage when she falls for Mack.



When Mack arrives back in town to start a fancy seaside resort, the women are smitten. He charms them with his looks and humor. When Sadie finds Charlotte’s necklace at Mack’s seaside cottage, it becomes clear he’s a liar and has duped her. After a fight on the beach, the friends seek revenge with the help of Mack’s Nanna, a wealthy socialite, who cuts him off from the family trust. Mack’s return to the Cape forces Sadie, Ada and Charlotte to confront their marriages, personal demons, friendships, and realities.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Humor, Contemporary

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2023

About the author

I like to write books that are relatable, funny, and poignant. I also write in a fast-paced style with lots of dialogue, because that's kinda who I am! I love when people review my books, so please leave a review (but don't be too mean, because I'm a sensitive one).

I love cheese and pretzels, animals, oceans, boats, Bravo TV, and books!

I have two children, and I split my time between Cleveland (where I grew up) and Boston.

Thanks for checking out my bio. For more, visit my website: alexandraslater.com

Reviews

[belle · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent read. I realized the further I got into the book that I am definitely not the target demographic for this. This book is perfect for fans of adult beach reads such as Nicholas Sparks and Elin Hilderbrand. However, there is a very catty, almost anti woman theme throughout the entire book from both the women and men. The characters looking down on others, trying to steal each other’s love interests, and overall having a very “I’m not like other girls” vibe. Without this inner monologue from the characters, I may have enjoyed it more. I also felt like the ending fell flat for me personally. The storyline kept me hooked though and I was definitely entertained the whole time.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2/5 stars

[Amanda Botelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from GoodReads giveaway. When I entered I had no idea that it was based on my home town of Falmouth, MA. I would have enjoyed the book either way but being able to visualize the specific areas, restaurants, bridges, and beaches mentioned in the book brought my 3 star rating up to a 4.

[LeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooo, this was delicious.

A little contemporary romance for CoHo & Hildebrand fans.
A little Alice Hoffman-style Practical Magic (sans the magic perhaps).
A little mystery/thriller a la Lost Summers of Newport.
And a writing style reminiscent of Backman's Anxious People and Ng's Little Fires Everywhere.

On the surface, it's a story about friendship, sisterhood, and what happens when those relationships break down and fall apart. And it's about how to put yourself back together.

But, oh, it's so much more complex than that.

Each of the major characters has a distinctive voice, and a depth of feeling that the reader will grow to love. Lots of secrets, lies, and misunderstandings.

Play a little of Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind", maybe pour a glass of wine, and enjoy this summer's epic and moving beach read. Trust me, it's not a long book, but it's a story that will stick with you.

"But obviously, nothing is what it seems now, is it." - Ada

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This women's fiction debut was not at all what I was expecting! Set on Cape Cod over one summer, this story follows three women, all fairly unhappily married who end up having an affair with the same man! Parts were relatable (mental health/depression, post-baby bodies, motherhood, marriage, etc) but I felt like all of these topics just got glossed over a bit and I wanted more depth. I also wasnt a huge fan of the infidelity. Overall just an okay read for me, definitely not a standout or one I would readily recommend. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Steam level: open door!

[Carly Burns · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was SOOOOO bad!!! (Spoilers but not flagging because no one should read this) Writing was bad. Every woman in the story had an eating disorder which was the first thing you learned about them. 2/3 narrators were soooo annoying, sadie sucked and I’m not even sure why ADA existed. The only one I supported was charlotte but she was so cringe most of the time too. All of the girls getting mad at each other and not the man made me SO ANGRY! Like please use your brains. I had told my friend that the only thing that would make this book actually good would be in the teamed up to kill him. I liked the grandma intervention but we were soooo close to Mack dying but noooooo. Also Ada blacks out for Xanax and wine (her mental illness only brought up in her final chapter- shit writing and so random) but then she is never heard from again. Sadie mentions here but we really have no idea what happens to her or her marriage or the fact she blacked out like ???? Only reason I read was because it was set on cape cod but they did this so poorly it was like a cringe fan fiction to read. But she did do the classic cape cod thing of being a year round person and shitting on rich tourists for being rich while also being members to a country club because of course.
This shit SUCKED and there were like no boats!!!!!

[Morgan Payne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was well written, but just wasn't my cup of tea. The general premise of the story was about 3 women willing to cheat on their husbands with a new man in town that they all like. I didn't realize it was going to be about infidelity, and that's not a subject I'm generally interested in.

That said the writing was good, the story line moved along at a nice pace and I think had all the women been single or divorced, I would have really enjoyed the story! I loved the beachy, cape cod vibes and the friend group's times together. The banter was fun to read!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy to review!

[Madi Nichols · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover and description of this book was so intriguing, and I was so excited to read it. Sadly I found all three women so difficult to like, they were terrible to one another, and constantly ridiculing the other people they saw, whether that was body shaming, or gossiping about them.

I understand that the characters in this story were all very human, but they were just so incredibly unlikeable to the point where as a reader I was almost wishing for all of their downfalls. Even the romance was uneventful and unappealing.

I finished the book mainly due to it being a very short story and fast paced enough that I didn’t feel like it would be a complete waste of a read.

I hate to leave low starred and negative reviews, the writing itself was fine, but everything lacked depth within the novel and it all felt very incomplete and not thought out. I’m sure in the authors mind each character mentioned is extremely complex and there would be more to all of their stories but I wish that was actually on the page. Any social commentary that seemed to be made wasn’t solidified in the writing, even the discussions of eating disorders and social exile weren’t properly discussed and rectified instead they felt glorified and very ‘pick me’.

I was very much not a fan of this book, it had potential to be great but missed the mark massively.

[Kelley Corbett]

This was so so terrible

[Mimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally won a free giveaway contest….but I get a terrible book. The story was not believable, the characters were insipid, the ending was absurd. The only reason I’m giving it 2 stars is because the depiction of the Falmouth area of the cape was spot on.

[Carol Tynan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful- I felt like I was reading an eighth grader’s work. Being from the Cape Cod area, I thought this book would be fun to read. I enjoyed picturing all the places mentioned, but that was it.

[Mary O · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading a book that referenced all the places I know in my hometown, from my past and present. As one reviewer said and I concur, reminds me of Nicholas Sparks books which are not my typical read. Fun to read if you are on the beach in Falmouth!

[Karen Magno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book at the Market Street Bookshop in Mashpee after seeing that the author was going to be speaking at the Falmouth Public Library and also because I was intrigued because the story was set in Falmouth, Mass where I own a home. I enjoyed the changing friendship between the three women because of Mack and also the character Nana. Unfortunately there are a lot of men like Mack that like to play on women's insecurities. You could also tell that the author spent a lot of time in Falmouth as she captured a lot of the people and places accurately. A delicious quick read. Looking forward to reading another book by this author.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Green Leaf books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

It’s been a while since I completely devoured a book like this. I simply couldn’t put it down. It was like an episode of Desperate Housewives!!

Three friends Ada, Charlotte, and Sadie get wrapped up with the wrong man during summer on the Cape. After Mack returns for the summer after he gets divorced, he turns their world upside down.

A tale of friendship, the secrets of affairs, sex, violence, and crumbling marriages, this book had it all! Reading it was like spending a day out on the beach and sun on the Cape! And I feel like this will be the hottest read this summer!

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was happy to read this book as a chill beach read while staying in Falmouth! It was entertaining and a quick read (I read it in one day, so.)

However, as other reviewers have mentioned, the women in this book are not well-written characters. The undercurrents of internalized misogyny and rampant fatphobia were honestly really upsetting. I would describe this book as The Clique for 40-year-olds.

You could scramble the three women’s names throughout the whole book and it would not change the story - they do not have distinct personalities. And the man has absolutely no personality traits other than “hot.” The ending consisted of a near-death experience that was TWO pages. Not a great payoff. There are good elements here and if you like Falmouth and Nicholas Sparks, it’s worth a read.

[Karen Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

What horrible characters and juvenile writing. I don’t often write reviews, but I am shocked by how many high ratings this book received.

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

🎵IT'S ME, HI, I'M THE PROBLEM, IT'S ME🎵!!!!!!!! Friends With Boats written by Alexandra Slater was just NOT for me. There was just a bit too much wrong with this book for me to actually enjoy it. When I saw the cover it gave me summery vibes which I was so excited for, it definitely had the beach theme, warm summer days, sand between your toes, and all day swimming. In my opinion, this book was too middle school vibes for me, with the "I'm not like most girls" line. When I picked up this book, I thought I was going to get a group of best friends just having the best summer of their lives, but it was NOTHING like that, at all. What I didn't love about this book was the love triangle trope, the cheating trope, and the miscommunication trope. ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS LITERALLY HAD SEX WITH ALL THREE LADIES IN THIS FRIEND GROUP, and they never once talked about it until the end of the book, LIKE WHAT? If you're best friends, shouldn't you tell each other these kind of things? I'm an outlier for this book, but don't let this review stop you from picking up this book, you might have better luck than I did, but it just wasn't for me at all.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND GREENLEAF BOOK GROUP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

Three best friends, Sadie, Charlotte, and Ada are locals who live year round on Cape Cod. All three women are struggling with their marriages and don't know why, they think it's because they aren't pretty enough anymore, but that's not the real reason. Sadie is a mother of two, in her forties, and has a stalled marriage, Sadie reunites with Mack Taylor, Sadie's old flame from high school, but we will get into that in a little bit. Charlotte is Sadie's best friend since childhood, she's an ex model for Manhattan, also has a stalled marriage, no kids, she also longs for attention. Ada is also Sadie's best friend, Ada doesn't really get along with Charlotte too well, she's a mother of two, Ada's also working to save her job, she also has a stalled marriage. Ada is the type of mom who drives her kids everywhere, has a hard time saying no. Sadie, Charlotte, and Ada have more in common than they thought: they are all in love with Mack Taylor. Mack is recently divorced and has moved back home to Cape Cod to open a resort. Friends With Boats starts off with news of an accident: Mack Taylor has been in a rollover.

It started off with a simple friend request on Facebook, Sadie has received a friend request from Mack Taylor. Sadie and Mack dated in high school. but lost their spark. When Mack returns to Cape Cod, Sadie feels like she has dibs on a renewed friendship with Mack, but she soon realizes she has competition from Charlotte and Ada. All three women are looking for attention, but Mack's personality is alluring and magnetic. These three women are best friends and they are all falling in love with Mack Taylor, don't you think they should talk this out? But no, the miscommunication was so bad. Mack Taylor is a cheater and it drove me nuts. How can he have sex with all three women, yet all three of them are so blind? I tried so hard to enjoy this book but the love triangle, cheating trope, and miscommunication trope annoyed me. The cover is so pretty though, it gave me summer vibes and I was so excited, but it just fell flat for me. Don't you think you should talk to your best friends if something seems off before letting it destroy your friendship? I don't know, maybe I'm just putting too much thought into this book, thank you for coming to my ted talk.

[Shannon Pilcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends with Boats is a witty, entertaining, and emotionally insightful contemporary novel that proves life's biggest crossroads often arrive long after we think our futures have been decided. Set against the irresistible backdrop of Cape Cod, Alexandra Speck Slater blends romance, humor, friendship, and self-discovery into a story that is as reflective as it is delightfully escapist.

What immediately stands out is the dynamic between Sadie, Charlotte, and Ada. While Mack Taylor's return certainly ignites the central conflict, the true heart of the novel lies in the evolving friendships between these three women. Each is navigating marriage, family, identity, and unrealized dreams, making their emotional journeys every bit as compelling as the romantic tension that unfolds.

I was particularly impressed by the way Slater explores reinvention. Rather than presenting romance as the ultimate destination, the novel thoughtfully examines the questions many people quietly ask themselves: What happened to the person I once wanted to become? Through moments of humor, vulnerability, and unexpected self-reflection, the story reminds readers that personal fulfillment often begins with rediscovering oneself.

Another strength of the novel is its vibrant setting. Cape Cod becomes far more than a picturesque backdrop. From elegant waterfront homes and sailing excursions to golf clubs, beach gatherings, and summer soirées, the atmosphere is immersive and inviting. Slater captures both the glamour and intimacy of coastal life while grounding the story in authentic emotional experiences.

Ultimately, Friends with Boats is more than a beach read, it is a thoughtful exploration of friendship, second chances, and the courage to redefine happiness. Alexandra Speck Slater has crafted a novel that will resonate with readers who enjoy women's fiction filled with warmth, humor, romance, and meaningful personal growth.

[Paperwitches ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW; Cheating, violence.

To start, I definitely was NOT the target demographic for this book. I believe this is meant for mostly middle aged based romance, or people who find a thrill in infidelity - which I am strong opposed to even in the face of struggling marriages.

However, it was quite well written! I just didn’t expect it to be about infidelity. It’s written in such a gripping way, that it feels almost as if you are watching a movie or reality Tv akin to ‘desperate housewives’ the banter, and cattiness was somewhat welcome and nicely done. It’s a predictable read, but a fun one.

I disliked all of the main characters, but I felt Ada was somewhat more relatable than most. However, I will give warnings that at times - although it’s very clear that the author intends the cattiness to come from insecurity, it seems as if all of the characters love to just tear other women down for fun. In a way, this book has very anti feminist themes. But if you choose not to take it too seriously, it’s a quick interesting read. I would recommend as long as you are ok with reading about infidelity.

Thank you to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy to indulge myself in in exchange for a review!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultimately , this book struck me as a bit silly. I chose to read it after being approved for it via NetGalley and knowing that it takes place on Cape Cod, one of my favorite places in the world. The three central characters are supposedly friends but with friends like these, who needs enemies. Mack, the handsome former local who is now older and somehow even more irresistible, returns to town and most of the women of Falmouth can't seem to resist his charm and good looks. This includes the friend group of Sadie, Charlotte and Ada. Mack happens to be Sadie's first love- the one she thought got away. Each of these women are dissatisfied with their marriages. One by one, they look to Mack for love and attention. The infidelity is written in a way that suggests it is no big deal; happens to everyone. That did not appeal to me. Were there portions of the book that were entertaining and a bit of fun? Had some elements of a beach read? Yes. Yet overall, many things seemed a bit far-fetched, particularly the "Nana" storyline. Thank you to @netgalley and @greenleafbookgr for the complimentary e-galley of this book. My opinions are solely my own. #bookreviewer #bookstagrammer #goidreads #netgalley #booksandmrdarcy #withhernosestuckinabook❤️📚

[Lisa Hennessey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am married with kids, and I loved this book. A great Rom Com! Hilarious. Light, quick, and took me on a vacation to the Cape! I enjoyed how the author showed relationships among women, which can be complicated but also frank, honest and they make mistakes! Someone on here mentioned "anti-woman". Not sure what that is but this is not Harvey Weinstein-like book. Every storyline needs characters with flaws, and these women are suffering from insecurity. The dialogue is fluid, relevant and it set the perfect pace...pulled me in and I (unfortunately) identified with the characters most of the time. LOL. I think most married women in mid life and beyond would. I liked the raunchy parts, not over the top. It takes place over one compact summer and wasn't abrupt end for me at all. If this was author's first novel, I can't wait to read the next!

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a first time read for me by this author. The story was well-written with interesting characters. The story is about three friends, Ada, Charlotte, and Sadie, and all three are going through their own issues. They each fall for Mack, who is back in town to start a seaside resort. He charms them all and after realizing they had all been duped by him, they plot their revenge.
The theme of infidelity didn't sit well with me, but the writing was well done and held my interest. The story moved at a nice pace and the characters were interesting. The general premise of the story sort of turned me off, but as I said, the writing was good and made for an entertaining read.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This felt like watching a reality tv show play out in real time! I was captivated by the story line and this was the perfect transition to summer read. The characters were relatable, I found myself nodding along to their thought processes and laughing out loud with them throughout the story. You’ll be transported to Cape Cod with all of the local references and descriptive story telling.

I loved the depth of women’s experiences from all of the ladies and the integration of the older generation toward the end.

Overall - LOVED this read. Eager to read more from the author!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite well written! I just didn’t expect it to be about infidelity. It’s written in such a gripping way, that it feels almost as if you are watching a movie or reality Tv. There is a lot of cattiness in this book. On the surface, it's a story about friendship, sisterhood, and what happens when those relationships break down and fall apart. And it's about how to put yourself back together. It is so much more complex than that. Overall it’s a tale of friendship, the secrets of affairs, sex, violence, and crumbling marriages, this book had it all! I would say it was about a 3.5 stars I went ahead and bumped it to a 4 stars. Thank you goodreads for the win on this book.

[Ashley South · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy read.

It is about a town in Cape Cod during the summer and it follows three women who all fall for the same man. He is quite a player and has a reputation for same. One of the women has a history with him as she dated him in high school.

The novel starts that he is a terrible car accident, then it goes back and tells the story of what happened during the summer and his fall from grace. I definitely recommend reading if you enjoy Romance, books about summer, and books about relationships.

Thank you to Goodreads and the author, Alexandra Slater, for the kindle version of this book.

[Merrill Glist · Rating 2 out of 5]

i never expected to read a book set in falmouth and all the local references cracked me up. this book was pretty fun and had a lot of drama, but i felt a bit underwhelmed at the end. basically a book about 3 women who kinda hate their husbands and all cheat on them w the same man but then 2/3 girlies STAY w their shitass husbands!! so tell me what was the point of all that..🤷‍♀️ also the fact that the book starts AND ends with Mack getting bonked up in a car, going into critical care & no one knowing is he’s going to survive or not is Goofy as hell. but overall i had fun reading this even if it was a little redonko.

[Luna Gerrits · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows 3 women who all fall for the same man, and all have an affair with him, unaware that their best friends did the same. You follow them getting their life back together afterward.

I liked this book, and I loved the depth of the characters' personalities. I had only hoped there would have been more to the plot (eg. The girls had done something to him when they found out he cheated on all of them). However, it was still an enjoyable read!

Thank you to netgalley, as well as the author, for sending me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Eileen Sullivan]

I actually read this book while at the beach in Falmouth on Cape Cod. The author wrote about three college friends who were now in their 40s and living on the Cape. The trouble was that each was not too happy with their life and ended up needing affirmation from the sane man. Most of our favorite places were mentioned in the book and that was fun. And to start with my favorite rose’ on the first page- lol- that was a plus. It’s a beach read book for summer and it’s particularly fitting for our Falmouth book groups. Lots to discuss too!

[Becki · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review is voluntary, thank you for the ARC copy.

While this book is well written, it just wasn't for me. The women were ruthless and their back and forth went past cheeky many times. They are all fighting to cheat on their spouse with the new guy in town and tend to cut each other down in ways that felt unnecessary for the storyline.

But maybe a good book doesn't require to actually like the main characters... They kept me reading and wanting to see what would happen next. All in all, it was a good read but their characters' personalities left me conflicted.

[Christine Cottrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, adventurous, dramatic (in an entertaining way) page-turner! I think I finished it in two sittings. Who wants to read a book about boring people?? Not me. Although clearly not without their foibles, I found the female characters to be relatable in a lot of ways. Mack seems like the amalgamation of every handsome, charming, self-centered, careless man I bet most women have come across. I enjoyed waiting for him to get his dues, and found the way in which that happened delightful! I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Slater.Alexandra Speck Slater