Normally I like Brenda’s books, but I couldn’t get into this one. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mindset when I started reading it.

This one was not what I was expecting, but I ended up really enjoying it. A cold case mystery with a seaside setting, it definitely held my interest. I did feel a little misled by the cover, but maybe that was my fault.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Nice beach read with mystery and romance. I thought with the title being what it is that there would be more about a seaside library in the story and there really wasn't. It was good but wasn't great.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Published 11 April 2023.

This is a story of friendship that began when they were young and proceeds to present day as grown adults. Mariners Island is barely ten miles long, but when Ivy, Ariana and Cam were teenagers, it was their whole world. Beyond the pristine beaches and iconic lighthouse lies the beautiful old library that belongs to Ivy’s family. While that bound Ivy to the island as an adult, Ariana could not leave Mariners behind fast enough. The town holds too many… memories . Not only her unrequited feelings for Cam, but the tragedy that left a scar on the community.. It’s now 20 years later and an old murder threatens them all. Could Cam really be a killer. Someone is stirring up the cold case and they need to stick together now more than ever. I was expecting a romance from the cover but it’s a great read.

THE SEASIDE LIBRARY by Brenda Novak is a women’s fiction/mystery/suspense mash-up with romantic elements. From my initial impression of the title and cover I was expecting more of a romance, but that is not the focus of this story.

Three friends, Ivy, Ariana, and Cam are inseparable on Mariners Island even though their family circumstances are very different as they grow up. During the summer of their sixteenth year, a young girl goes missing and the police are focusing on Cam. Ivy and Ariana swear to protect him even though they must lie to the police.

Twenty years later, the case is still unsolved, but a walker and her dog uncover the girl’s body. Ariana has returned to the island for the summer, Ivy runs her family’s library and Cam has become a restoration architect, but the rumors and accusations against him still abound. Over the summer, the friends are determined to find out what happened that night. Will it fracture their friendship or bring them even closer together?

This was not the story I was expecting, but I did enjoy it. The three friends are well developed and realistically drawn. The cold case murder mystery/suspense kept me turning the pages with unexpected revelations interspersed throughout. There is a balance between trust and suspicion between the friends throughout the story with a budding romance that I feel was handled believably. All the plotlines are pulled together in the end and left me satisfied.

An entertaining read about trust and friendship with a cold case mystery.

Brenda Novak always writes books that pull the reader right into the story. The Seaside Library does just that. I started the book on a rainy morning and never put it down. But as I got to the end, I slowed my reading because I just did not want it to end.



Mariners Island is a fun location. I love that it was a very small island with a small population. Everyone knows everyone and they know that Cam could not have had anything to do with the disappearance of the girl. Yet, even as they knew he was innocent, some of the clues pointed in his direction. His best friends Ivy and Ariana decided to keep his secret to protect him, but after twenty years it is not as easy to do as it once was.



I enjoyed that the romance part of the story took a back seat to the mystery of what happened to the young girl. There were clues given almost from the very beginning of the story and I am proud to say that I had it put together before the author gave it away at the end. I really enjoyed seeing how the detective wanted to believe Cam but was willing to work the clues and question all who could have knowledge of what happened.

Brenda Novak wrote a great book. It was easy to read. The characters were mostly likable, except for the ones not meant to be liked. The setting was quaint and fun. I would love to read more from Mariners Island.

My mother in law loves Brenda Novak so I thought I'd give her a go. Not my favorite but good. Thanks!

Three friends reunite after the body of a teenager is found to deal with their part(s) in the mystery. Twenty years ago teenagers Ivy, Arianna and Cam were the best of friends, each needing the connection due to difficult lives. When a visitor on their island goes missing Cam is the prime suspect, but Ivy and Arianna give him a solid alibi. In the present as the investigation ramps up again secrets come to light and they questions everything they once thought to be true. Will their friendship survive and what really happened that night? The cover is a bit deceptive as this is not a beachy read about a library. The twist was figured out early, but stuck with it to the end.

The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak is a fun little cozy mystery set on the fictional Mariners Island. One thing I found curious is that the story is not really about the island's library at all -- it is mentioned from time to time, but it plays no real role in the mystery that needs solved (with the possible exception of a bit of research done there). The mystery is 20 years old, and our main suspect and his two best friends are at the heart of the investigation. The characters are somewhat one-dimensional and I was able to see the twist at the end a mile away, but it was still a fun read, and the perfect book for a sunny day at the beach.

I normally love Brenda Novak novels but I was disappointed in The Seaside Library. I struggled to get into this one and the murder mystery and secrets aspect wasn't what I was expecting with the cover and past books of hers.

Ivy, Ariana and Cam have been friends since childhood. Life has gotten in the way a few times but they are now back together on Mariners Island after 20 years. But they are harboring a big secret. When the remains of a young girl are found at the lighthouse, they each know their secret is about to be revealed. Can their friendship survive?

Now, this book does not really look like the cover. Y’all know I am a cover girl. And this cover is fabulous! But the story inside is more of a murder mystery. I expected a story about a library and the beach. I mean…there is a library and a beach but there is so much more. So, this took me in a wild, unexpected ride.

I really enjoyed these three friends. There were times I wanted to smack Ivy and not because of what she did (you will have to read this to find out!) but she was just a bit too wishy washy. However, these three definitely come through for each other and when the story unfolds their world is rocked to the core along with their friendship.

Need a story about friendship, secrets and murder…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review

Old friends Ivy, Ariana and Cam are reunited in the beach town where they grew up. They are involved in a series of secrets and lies related to the disappearance of a young girl years ago. As they are together again, Ariana reconnects with her long-ago crush on Cam as well.

The mystery was woven well throughout the book and there are twists and turns as the story unfolds. This would be a good summer read, involving both a mystery and a beach setting.

The Seaside Library is a story so full of lies and secrets.
Teenagers now twenty-five years later returning to a place that holds many memories. Some new evidence has come up….will their past come back to haunt them? Have their lies caught up to them?
The story seemed to be dragged out a bit longer then necessary which was unusual with reading a Brenda Novak novel. The plot definitely was intriguing and the murder/mystery angle was interesting.
Overall a ok read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Mariners Island is close to Nantucket, but it’s much smaller and everyone knows everyone else's business.

As teenagers Ivy, Ariana and Cam were the closest of friends. When a young girl goes missing, Cam is the number one suspect. Ivy and Ariana vow to protect him at all costs. As adults, they grew apart. Ivy sticks close to the island volunteering at the local library, while Ariana leaves to create a career in New York City. Cam remains on the island and settles down with his family.

Twenty years later, Ariana decides to spend the summer on Mariners Island and get reacquainted with her friends. Then, new evidence is found, and the three friends are once again in the hot seat. They are desperate to find out what really happened on that fateful night.

The characters are well-developed. They weren’t always likable, but they did make you care about them. It’s a fast-paced story about betrayal, romance and friendship. The cover might be a bit deceiving. The mystery is the main focus with the romance being secondary. Just the way I like it.

I admit I did suspect the guilty person early in the book, but that didn’t stop me from being captivated and enjoying the adventure. A few times I thought I was wrong, but either way, I had no idea of the full story. I just kept swiping pages on my e-reader.

Brenda Novak did a great job of keeping this reader hooked right from the start. I found myself reading late into the night. I just had to find out what was going on and why.

I’ll definitely be checking out Novak’s backlist.






FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

#TheSeasideLibrary#NetGalley
Brenda's books are always a must read. She makes you feel like you know the characters and want to visit the towns they are in.
As the characters grew up on a island they had close friendships one who stayed as an adult and the others moved away. There is mystery surrounding a young girl who went missing. Twenty years later they question their memories, their friendships, their ties that bind them to each other.
Read this amazing book and find out the answers of trust, friendship, maybe even how far we will go for our friends. Thank you, Harlequin Publishing, for allowing me to read and review this. book

I’ve enjoyed several of Brenda Novak’s books over the years and usually reach for one when I feel a book slump coming on because they typically fire up my excitement for reading again. The cover caught my eye, and the blurb sounded intriguing, so it was time to dive into this romantic suspense by a trusted author.

The book didn’t reel me in immediately, as the first few chapters seemed to drag a bit. And I have to admit that it was hard to really like Cam and Ariana. I felt like they should have treated Ivy better than they did, considering they still claimed to all be best friends. Otherwise, the suspense had me invested once the plot started moving, which kept me turning the pages. The ultimate villain was not quite a surprise, but the red herrings kept me guessing enough that I wasn’t sure I had it right until the big reveal.

With dynamic (even though not 100% likable) characters, a good mystery, and a decent moving pace, this romantic suspense is one you’ll want to grab for your beach reading pleasure this summer!

Another hit by Lori Foster! This sweet small town romance will have you swooning and falling in love! 5 stars for this!
Emily is running her flower shop in the town of Cemetery, where she's quietly lived her life since her divorce, taking care of her aunt and uncle who raised her. Everybody loves her, they think she's perfect, but she isn't. When Saul starts paying attention to her, she's taken aback, what would the most eligible bachelor want with a plain Jane like her?
Saul has wanted to get together with Emily for a while, and with the big wedding going on he takes his chance. He only has eyes for her, and she can't comprehend that, but he does his best to show her, only thing is, he's got some other things going on in his life, so making time for her is the most important thing.
This story will take you on a journey of learning to love again, while also through other characters in the story, show you how to heal. I loved it!

I went into this story expecting a "beach read" and came away with a delightful surprise story of friendship, romance and even mystery. Set on the fictional island of Mariners, we follow Ivy, Ariana and Cam who have been friends since middle school. When a 12 y/o on the island goes missing, everything changes. Especially so, two decades later when the body is found. This read was the perfect escape and the mystery compelled me to keep turning the pages. Highly recommend!

Okay, even though I knew better after reading Novak's previous work, I was still fooled into thinking this would be simple beach read based on the cover, but once again it was more! A murder mystery decades old was not what I was expecting but I'm sure glad that's what I got!

Brenda has a way of combining genres so seamlessly and effortlessly, so her readers are always in for a surprise!

I really loved the mystery aspect and the 3 main characters and their friendship and shared history. I wasn't a fan of the cheating, but that's my only real complaint!

Overall, this book is the perfect read-in-a-day story that many will love!

Thanks so much to Harlequin for the free ARC. This book is available now!

The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak is a reconnection of childhood friends who share a secret that is beginning to unravel and point fingers. The connection between the three is complicated and addictive, while the mystery haunting their past is ready to re-appear in the limelight. This is the story of friendship, secrets, lies, loyalty and murder on a small island. Mariners Island seems like the ideal place to vacation but Ivy, Ariana and Cam grew up there. Ariana left for a while to work in the big city but has recently returned at the same time the body of a young tween who was killed when these three were teens, was discovered after almost twenty years. Ariana, Cam and Ivy have a connection to young Emily and they are hiding a secret that they are desperate to keep hidden.

Ms. Novak did an amazing job with the family drama, secrets, mystery, romance and the beautiful setting making the story come to life. She wrote a story that had everything: regret, love, sadness, friendship, forgiveness, and family, however that might look. I was absorbed with the story from the beginning to the end, following the clues, guessing who the murdered Emily, yet I was able to figure out who the murderer was about halfway through; still finishing the book to be sure. This story was emotional, moving, filled with wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters that is must read. I highly recommend The Seaside Library to other readers; especially those who who enjoys a story based on an in depth friendship that encompasses the core of the story foundation and builds the drama and romance outward.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.