Jamie Brenner is the best storyteller and this one is my favorite! I love reading about older women like Ruth who have retired because it gives me hope for my future LOL! The setting is Cape Cod, which is on my bucket list!


This novel is about friendship, motherhood, and love and is PERFECT for summer reading...or fall reading. Or winter reading. Or spring reading.

Plus, Elin Hilderbrand blurbed it, so…. Need I say more?

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Summary from Goodreads: When a baby is left on the doorstep of a Cape Cod beach house, an unlikely group of women risks all they hold dear to harbor and protect her in this "touching, nuanced summer yarn" (Publisher's Weekly).

Ruth Cooperman arrives in beautiful beachside Provincetown for her retirement, renting the perfect waterfront cottage while she searches for her forever home. After years of hard work and making peace with life's compromises, Ruth is looking forward to a carefree summer of solitude. But when she finds a baby girl abandoned on her doorstep, Ruth turns to her new neighbors for help and is drawn into the drama of the close-knit community.

The appearance of the mystery baby has an emotional ripple effect through the women in town, including Amelia Cabral, the matriarch who lost her own child decades earlier; Elise Douglas, owner of the tea shop who gave up her dream of becoming a mother; and teenage local Jaci Barros who feels trapped by her parents' expectations. Ruth, caring for a baby for the first time in thirty years, even reaches out to her own estranged daughter, Olivia, summoning her to Provincetown in hopes of a reconciliation.

As summer unfolds and friends and family care for the infant, alliances are made, relationships are tested, and secrets are uncovered. But the unconditional love for a child in need just might bring Ruth and the women of Provincetown exactly what they have been longing for themselves.

With heartfelt storytelling, Summer Longing is Jamie Brenner's eagerly anticipated return to Provincetown; another unforgettable tale about motherhood, friendship, and finding your way home.

Thank you to Net Galley and Little, Brown and Company for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Love all of Jamie Brenner's book so far and this one was no exception. A emotional read from start to finish. A wonderful story of community, friendship and finding your true happiness. While the main characters were not perfect, they were all flawed but full of heart and hope and love. An engaging story about what it means to love unconditionally and finding a home.
Can't wait for her next book!

Summer Longing is the perfect beach read. If you are a fan of Elin Hilderbrand, then you will love this story by Jamie Brenner. A baby is left on the doorstop of a home in Provincetown, and the ladies of the town rally together to take care of this child. Eventually the secret of where this baby came from is told, and all the women truly grow from this experience. I found this book to be such a positive and encouraging story, and I definitely recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I am such a huge fan of Jamie Brenner's work, but this one wasn't as compelling as I've found some of her previous works to be. I loved the setting of Provincetown and the eclectic secondary cast of characters. However, something about the main characters were a little off-putting - I just didn't have any attachment to their lives.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ruth Cooperman has decided to retire to Provincetown. She is a single woman in her fifties who recently sold her successful cosmetics company. After dedicating her life to her work, she Is excited for a change of pace in a new community. On the first morning in her new home, she finds an abandoned baby on her doorstep. Ruth is confused about what to do and contacts Elise and Fern who are the owners of her house.

Elise and Fern run the local tea shop and have been trying to conceive a baby for many years. They can’t help but believe that this baby is a sign from above and was purposely left for them. Together they convince Ruth not to notify the authorities. Needing more space, they also convince Ruth to let them move back into the house. Ruth suddenly finds herself surrounded by people and love and her life changes in unexpected ways.

Summer Longing delves into issues surrounding motherhood, relationships, and family. Enjoy your summer as Jamie Brenner takes you to Provincetown.

Every summer, I look forward to a new novel from Jamie Brenner. I love how she can take me to these idyllic beach towns through her stories. This time she took me back to Provincetown, which was also featured in The Forever Summer, along with some characters from that novel. I enjoyed visiting with them again, even though they were supporting characters this time.

Summer Longing is one of those books where you forget you're reading something because the characters feel so real that it seems more like you're watching friends interact. I loved the descriptions of Provincetown, as well. It provided a great way to escape while being cooped up at home. I liked all of the characters except for one, whom I was not expected to like anyway. I especially liked that there was some diversity within the group of characters.

The only concern I had was about some timing issues, which I hope got sorted out in the published version.

There were a lot of sweet moments that made me smile. They made it worthwhile when I was reading through some of the difficult or stressful moments. It provided a nice balance where things weren't perfect, but there was still good to come of it.

Summer Longing is a great story to read at any time of year! Another winner from Jamie Brenner!

Movie casting suggestions:
Ruth: Elizabeth Perkins
Olivia: Nina Dobrev
Jaci: Jenna Ortega
Marco: Diego Boneta
Elise: Lindy Booth
Fern: Tika Sumpter
Bianca: Dyana Ortelli
Tito: Esai Morales
Ben: Billy Campbell

This book was a breath of fresh air! Jaime’s books are always a treat each summer! I enjoyed the storyline and how the relationship with the mother is examined. The characters were developed in a smooth, subtle way and they were all like able. The storyline was easy to follow and the setting and characters were depicted in such a transparent way. I enjoyed how the relationships all developed throughout the story.

A great beach read by Jamie Brenner that makes you feel like you're on Nantucket. When Ruth arrives on Nantucket commencing her retirement, little does she know that an unexpected event will shape not only how she transitions, but also touches so many others. In a small town, word travels fast and things are not quickly forgotten, and expectations can weigh on a person.

This story touches on career ambitions, the illustrious work-life balance conflict, companionship, parenting, and so much more.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Little, Brown, and Company for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was a DNF for me. Although I enjoyed the previous book, this one felt unrealistic and I wasn't connecting to the characters in the way that I had hoped.
I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and I feel that my opinion may be a matter of timing. With all of the serious matters going on right now, I couldn't concentrate on this one.

Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner

Amends are so complicated to initiate when the emotional turmoil is at a boiling point and your not sure if even you ask for forgiveness that it will resolve anything.
Ruth owned her own business, but she had worked hard and it cost her a lot especially within her family dynamics. She married young and her husband decided to go to school to be a anesthesiologist instead of being a playwrighter they had a child while young and Ruth worked to help put her husband through school and in doing so discovered a cosmetic company that became highly successful. All of this put a strain on their marriage with Ruth becoming more successful than her husband, but she was being more productive and independent, but she also was not the P.T.A. Mom. Her business became her first and most important priority and instead of her husband trying to help figure that out with her, he became more silent and spent more time with their child and Ruth became the outsider.
After Ruth sold her business and decided to retire to the one place that made her the happiest, Provincetown she wants to try and have a relationship with her daughter!
The author, Jamie Brenner actually bases her book on a real town and real stores and people that she met and this book compiles a unique haven of a place to recharge and someplace that we would all want to live and raise our children! It’s a nostalgic city of the past except it’s a real place in the future that truly exists!!!
Ruth feels powerless in trying to reconnect with her daughter so to facilitate a communication bridge she lies to her by letting her assume she might be dying to get her to visit! This was underhanded, but she needed to see her face to face to ask for forgiveness and hopefully they can start fresh. You can’t change the past all you can do is apologize and move forward the best way you know how to do as a person!
Provincetown has your matriarch just like a family does who is Amelia. She knows everything about everyone, but she tries to do good for all and is not a busybody, but a wonderful person.
Ruth rents a cottage from a married couple, Fern and Elise who own the local tea shop. They have tried to get pregnant via IVF but were unsuccessful and it was an emotional roller coaster for the couple. The first week of Ruth’s rental of the house was its own roller coaster of adventure! She was locked out on her first evening by Elise because she didn’t really want to rent, but Fern said it was for only one summer and the money was beyond amazing and since this was the first summer of the opening of the tea shop it will come in handy! The next thing was someone abandoned a 2 week old little girl on the doorstep! Obviously this person was not aware that Fern & Elise had rented out the home. Then Ruth is accosted by Bianca the previous owner of the houses mother who was upset she sold it to Newcomers Fern & Elise over 5 years) and the fact they had the gall to rent it to another summer vacationeer!!
The book is full of the townies and their lives and how they are weaved to interconnect with the summer vacation people! It’s amazing how in a short amount of time that you can get attached to others and drawn into their world. With the onset of social media it’s even easier, but people lose that one on one, but within Provincetown they have big city gatherings and the residents themselves have gettoghers that people used to do way back when! I know that there used to be block parties and neighbors would have cookouts and it would start with 2 families and end up with 10!
The author has portrayed this mother and daughter relationship with the utmost mature objectivity. I have truly enjoyed the book because of the inventive way the author kept the book moving using the townspeople as her characters!! How creative and ingenious to take an actual town and do a storyline for your novel! The author must have been extremely observant and the townspeople obviously were good natured, genuine, and enthusiastic to be part of this endeavor!!
I recommend this book for anyone to read and purchase for their own library and to share with friends!
I received a advanced copy from netgally and these are my thoughts and words and opinions!

Ruth has come to the gorgeous coastal village of Provincetown to celebrate her retirement. She couldn't find a home to buy, so she rented the most perfect house. However, upon her arrival to the house, drama ensues. Not only is the house not ready for her, she meets the owner who is very reluctant to leave for one reason or another. To add to the drama, there's an abandoned baby left on her porch in the days that follow. What was supposed to be a peaceful house is now filled with adults and a baby... All of this reminds her of her own fractured relationship with her daughter, Olivia, whom she feels like she never really had time for.
Then there's the owner of the house, Elise, who has always dreamed of being a mother and after a series of heartbreaking events, it does not look promising. She has her tea shop, a committed partner, so what more could she want? The baby at the door brings Elsie hope but she doesn’t seem to realize all the complications that come with the situation.
I’m still not quite sure what I think of this book. There were parts I really enjoyed and I loved the close knit community she described in the town and the joys and complications of family and friendship that are found there.
I had a hard time liking lots of the characters. I’m not sure if that was intentional of the author or not. The selfishness of multiple characters had me cringing in areas but towards the end I did warm up to most, I just think it was a little too late. The other issue is though it’s my own personal taste this book wasn’t exactly realistic. If a baby showed up at a doorstep small town or not there is no way things could just happen as they did. The ending too while it did have closure and I was generally happy to where all the characters ended up the last chapter was a woosh of events that happened so fast that I think she should have spread it out a bit more.
Jamie Brenner's Summer Longing is a light beach read. It’s the first I’ve read of Brennan’s and though this one did y quite fit what I liked I will try out another one of hers. Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy.

This is my second novel by Jamie Brenner and once again it’s the perfect summer reading experience. This book transports you to Provincetown, which sounds like the dream beach town and summer escape. I think this had the same feel as Lisa Duffy’s My Kind of People so if you liked that one, definitely pick this up too!

A full ensemble of interesting characters and little side stories kept me flipping the pages to find out how everyone’s stories come together. Sometimes these slower paced character novels don’t work for me, but there is something about the authors writing that grabs me and never lets go. I also loved learning more about oyster farming and loose leaf tea - 2 things I love and definitely didn’t know much background info on.

This one has a bit of everything - drama, romance, friendships, complex family systems and a bit of a mystery. Definitely add this to your summer reading list!

Perfect escapist beach read. Heavy dose of rich people in P-town making their dreams come true....what more could you ask? There's mother-daughter conflict, unhealed relationships, multi-generational secrets and struggles., coffee shops, artsy fulfillment, dreamhouses, - it's all good.

Set on Cape Cod, Summer Longing is the perfect read to get you in the summer mood! The main character, Ruth, has just sold her cosmetics company and retired to Provincetown, a cozy, beach town. She expects to relax, but instead finds an abandoned baby left on the porch of her rental house on one of her first days in town. After discovering the baby, Ruth realizes a few things about herself as a mother and tries to reconnect with her daughter, Olivia. Throughout the summer, Ruth forms many friendships, becomes part of a community, learns how to reconnect with her daughter, and realizes the importance of family.

I enjoyed all of the characters in this book. I felt connected to all of them and was genuinely interested in all of their storylines. I loved the summer "feeling" of this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a book with the themes of love, family, relationships, bonding or friendship.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of Jamie Brenner and this book is her best so far. I was transported into the story from page 1 and couldn't put it down until the last page. Un-put-down-able, addicting and beautiful. Not just a beach read but a stunning story with fantastic characters you'll want to know. Highly recommend and Brenner will become a go to author! 5 stars. Fabulous!

Another summer beach read for the win! What did it for me in Summer Longing was that it was set in Provincetown, MA. P-town is the tippy tip of Cape Cod, and it is one of my favorite places EVER. Seriously, if you have never been, start planning a trip now. Jaime Brenner’s descriptions of the town were so spot on, I really felt like I was there (and made me SO sad I am not!). I think my connection to the setting really made me enjoy this book that much more, but even if you aren’t familiar with P-town you will still enjoy this beach read!

Read if you enjoy
🌊Beachy vibes
🌊Provincetown, Cape Cod!
🌊Family drama (mother-d
🌊Mystery babies
🌊Mother-daughter drama

Synopsis: Ruth has just retired after selling her beauty brand, and decides to move to Provincetown permanently. Before finding a house of her own, she is renting out the most perfect cottage: Shell Haven. However, the drama starts up when a baby lands on the doorstop, the owners have to “move back in,” and her estranged daughter shows up. Who’s baby is this? What’s going on with the cottage owners, Fern and Elise? And can Ruth and her daughter repair their relationship?

Ruth Cooperman has finally sold her world famous cosmetic company and is ready to start over in retirement, and she chooses Provincetown as her destination. Renting She’ll Haven is supposed to be a relaxing way for her to restart and to find true happiness. But the people she is renting from, Elise and Fern, a couple who owns the local tea shop and is longing for a child of their own, end up back at Shell Haven after Ruth invites her daughter in hopes of reconciling a tense relationship, Ruth is overwhelmed. As the lies and secrets of Provincetown swirl in and around Shell Haven, will Ruth find what she desires? Or will her desires change as new plot twists develop?

This is the perfect book to read on the beach or by the pool. It's such a great vacation book. I loved the characters and the setting.

Summer Longing is one of those perfect beach reads that allows you to fall seamlessly into the lives of the characters and never want to leave them. You quickly can imagine yourself in P'town with Ruth, Elise, Olivia and all of their eccentric friends. Brenner shows us how quickly life is able to change - from selling your company and hoping for a quiet retirement to finding a baby on your doorstep, through the ups and downs of marriage, through finding love, rekindling love and trying to find happiness. You will not want to put this book down and when it is over you will miss these characters terribly...and you will be checking for vacation rentals in P'town!

Even though this book borrowed some characters from a previous book, this one still could stand alone. Ms. Brenner took a lot of threads of different stories, wove them alll together and came up with a wonderful book. No one can resist a book about a found baby and an artistic old lady, but this book is about so much more--love==old, new, and inbetween-Provincetown is a delightful backdrop for the story, possibly the only setting for the book and the subtle growth of the character (Ruth, Olivia, and Ben) is nice to see. I hope she writes a thrd book.