Women’s fiction, mystery, friends, we’ve known each other, their whole life… Throw in Brenda Novak’s special touch and you have one fantastic read from beginning to end!

The Seaside Library
Brenda Novak
April 11, 2023

Novak takes us to Mariners Island. Spring is ending as it’s still a bit chilly but the time is coming that the shops and beach will be filled with tourists and travelers. Ivy Hawthorne spends her days working in the library donated to the island by her grandmother. She spent her early days reading and exploring the magnificent world her gram built. She knew that one day she would work in this building. Ivy and her two best friends Cam and Ariana played on the beach, worked on school projects and just hung out from childhood all the way up through high school when they left the island for college. Cam came back to open an architectural firm, get married and have a daughter. Ariana went on to New York City to the publishing arena. Recently Ivy heard she was quitting to come home to help Alice, her grandmother. Ivy did go on to run the island’s media center.
Recently news from the past came back to haunt the trio. The skeletal remains of Emily Hutchins were discovered at the lighthouse next to the beach. Her twenty year ghost as well as the sad news headlines reappeared.
The Seaside Library: A Novel by Brenda Novak will be published by Mira of Harlequin Sales on April 11, 2023. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review her latest publication via NetGalley. It’s been awhile but this story is another one of her amazing suspense tales. She keeps the reader on edge making us wonder who committed the felony and ended twelve year old Emily’s life.
Just an excellent journey. Truly enjoyed this novel.

A long ago murder, a little romance, and a new investigation. This was a good story and I was happy with the ending, but it tended to drag.

Good for fans of Brenda Novak. The story goes from teen years to twenty years later. The main characters are the same as the old mystery is renewed. A bit slow.

Not my favorite Brenda Novak book. It's an intriguing mix of women's fiction and mystery but it dragged a bit and I was a bit confused at times.
It's gripping but it would bave been perfect with some less lies.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This is another great book by Brenda Novak. This is a book that you will not want to put down. The three main characters are Ariana, Ivy, and Cam. They have known each other all their lives. Ariana has returned to their hometown after being away for years. Ivy runs the local library. Cam is married with a little girl and is an architect. His marriage is in trouble. They want recapture their childhood friendship. They each have issues but they work them out and have a good friendship.

I love a good twist and buried secrets, but I found this was just too much. By the end, I was frustrated with all the lies, aggravated by most of the characters, and just needed to know what happened for resolution.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this April 2023 release in exchange for my honest review.

The Seaside Library, Brenda Novak, 03/12/23

Ivy, Ariana, and Cam grew up as best friends on the small island of Mariners. They were like the Three Musketeers. When they were 17 years-old, a twelve-year-old girl went missing. Cam was a suspect, and his two best friends covered for him. Twenty years later, they were all brought back together on the island for the first time since they were teenagers. They discussed how they had each continued to carry around the guilt regarding the little girl’s disappearance. Ironically, the girl’s remains were found during their time together. Cam was once more the prime suspect. Did Cam kill Emily? Will his friends continue to cover for him this time around?

I felt that this book dragged on in the first half. There appeared to be too many superfluous conversations, and I struggled to continue reading. Once I got past the 60% mark, I was hooked. I had the murderer pegged but was anxious to see how all the pieces fit together. “The words “She/he protests too much me thinks,” is the phrase that describes how I pinpointed the guilty party. In the end, this story became a very good ‘who done it.’

The characters were in-depth, colorful, and well developed. I automatically loved the characters wearing the white hats, hated the black hats, and was mostly annoyed by the ones in between. I could picture each scene and feel each character’s emotions as if I were there.

I ended up enjoying this book and would recommend it to anyone that likes Women’s Fiction, Mysteries, or Romance. I will certainly be reading many more of Brenda’s books in the future.

I am grateful to Author Brenda Novak, Mira by Harlequin Publishers, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This is a voluntary review, and all comments and opinions are entirely my own.

Not what I was expecting. The title is a bit deceiving since not much of the story took place in the library. The mystery of who killed young Emily seemed to drag along at times. The killer was obvious to me but the reasoning behind it took awhile. Ivy was the most sensible one of the three friends. Cam's crazy wife seemed to be added to the story more for drama than substance. Just an okay book.

Don't let the cover fool you! This is more than just a beach read. 20 years ago, a 12 year old girl went missing, and recently, her body was discovered.

Cam was a suspect, then and is the primary suspect now. His best friends covered for him then, will the still now 20 years later?

I couldn't put this book down, I was pulled, and
wanted to keep reading. I had my idea who the murderer was, and I wanted to know if I was right .

This author has a great knack for keeping her readers engaged in her stories. Get your copy when this releases in April!

While the cover makes this seem like a light hearted read, it actually has quite a bit of depth. Cam, Ivy and Ariana were close friends that were effected after a murder on the island twenty years ago. They went there separate ways as each dealt with the secrets they held differently. When the girls body is found, they are reunited. They struggle with what to do not only with their unhappy lives but with the secrets they hold. While I figured out early, the direction the story was going, it was so well written that I wanted to see how it all played out. A good read that has a lot of depth especially with the variety of characters.

I enjoyed this story and got invested in the mystery, eager to see Cam cleared of wrongdoing. Thanks for giving me a copy. I'll post a broader review on Goodreads.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. I thought this book was going to be a lovely summer beach read based on the title and the book cover. Was I ever surprised. This book held my interest all the way through as the story was a page turning mystery. It was a quick read as I couldn't put it down. I had to know who did it?? Three grown friends who were close during their teen years and were embroiled in a disappearance of a young girl come back together when the young missing girls body is located. Not only are you anxious to solve the mystery, you also get deeply invested in the three main characters. You share their trepidations, fears, anxiety and joy throughout the book. A great read that will keep you captivated from start to finish.

20 years ago a 12 year old girl goes missing. Ivy and Ariana cover for their friend Cam. Present day the skeleton of the missing girl is found. Ariana returns home and reunites with her friends. Suspicion still falls heavily on Cam.
Secrets are revealed.
This was an entertaining read that I sped through. Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC that will be released April 11, 2023!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eBook title.

This was a great book and I absolutely loved it. The mystery was a bit predictable towards the middle with who killed Emily, but all the characters were very lovable. This novel was a quick and easy read. If you love books with a beach scene, small-town, family secrets, romance, mystery and friendship then this book is for you! Great book club read too. Lots of discussion questions in the back. ❤️

Ivy was probably my favorite and most relatable character with Ariana in a quick second. And who didn’t love Cam? Their friendship was what I loved most and how they had been friends for such a long time, even though Ariana had moved away- it was like no time had passed at all when she returned to the island. I loved how Ivy let her conscience get the best of her and was morally a great person. Also, she stayed true to herself and remained on the island which she loved, and unexpectedly met someone.

I’m so glad the author stayed away from Melanie and Cam’s marital problems, because the scenes that were in the book were not pretty and showed Melanie’s true colors. Not a fan.

Overall, the novel was great, the plot thickened and fast read.

While I've really enjoyed reading several of Brenda Novak's novels, The Seaside Library was not a favorite. I found it a bit repetitive at times and predictable. Regardless of this one being a miss for me, I will continue to look forward to future novels by Novak Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review. y

The Seaside Library
by Brenda Novak
Pub Date: April 11, 2023
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a disappointing book for me and is not on par with the other Novak Novels that I have read in terms of plot, pacing and character development.
I'm not sure why this book was titled "The Seaside Library" as the library itself plays a very small role in the plot and setting of the story. And the cover art is very misleading, as this is not a 'beach read'.
I cannot recommend it.
2 stars

I'm not sure why this book was titled "The Seaside Library" as the library itself plays a very small role in the plot and setting of the story. And the cover art is very misleading, as this is not a 'beach read'.

I almost DNF'd the book a few times. While the mystery of what happened to Emily Hutchins was somewhat interesting, the romance between Cam & Ariana felt awkward, and the character development for the story overall fell flat for me.

A novel of friends, of a mysterious death, and of it all coming to a head many years later. A young girl disappeared one summer night, her body never recovered until the summer Cam, Ariana, and Ivy reconnected. The girl’s sister, Jewel, is all over the media again accusing Cam. What really did happen that night? Who is lying and who is telling the truth? An electrifying novel of friends who will do anything for each other.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Brenda is a favorite author for me. So for sure I wanted to read this book.
I was a little mad at first, as I thought this was a romance novel or women's fiction, however its a murder mystery. And I glad I continued to read it. Its a great read with many twists and turns. Just when you think you know who did it, it changes gears. You don't know who till the end.
If this isn't your normal genre, I highly recommend you read it anyway. You will be glad when you do.
I was given an ARC copy from net gallery for my honest review.