
Member Reviews

A Heartwarming and Feel-Good Beach Read
Pamela M. Kelley delivers a charming and uplifting story in Seaside Sisters, perfect for fans of cozy beachside fiction. The novel beautifully explores themes of family, friendship, and second chances, all set against the picturesque backdrop of a coastal town.
The characters are relatable and well-developed, with strong emotional connections that make their journeys engaging. Kelley’s writing is easygoing and inviting, making this a comforting read. While the plot is somewhat predictable, it’s the kind of heartwarming story that leaves you with a smile.
If you enjoy feel-good stories about family bonds and fresh starts in a scenic setting, Seaside Sisters is a delightful pick. A solid 4-star read—light, breezy, and full of charm!

The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M. Kelley is a heartwarming and captivating novel about two sisters reconnecting with each other—and themselves—on the beautiful shores of Cape Cod. Hannah, a bestselling author struggling with writer's block and personal loss, retreats to her aunt's oceanfront house for the summer in hopes of finding inspiration. There, she reconnects with her sister, Sara, who is juggling family life, a stagnant marriage, and a deep yearning to rediscover her love for literature.
As the sisters spend the summer together, they not only explore new friendships and old romances—especially with Spencer, a former high school acquaintance turned brooding yet intriguing love interest—but they also embark on personal journeys of self-discovery. Sara is determined to revive her career in books, while Hannah works through the emotional challenges that have been holding her back.
Kelley’s novel weaves together themes of family, love, and second chances with the backdrop of a stunning seaside town. The chemistry between the sisters and the rekindled romance with Spencer make for a delightful, feel-good read. The Seaside Sisters is a perfect summer escape for fans of novels by Mary Kay Andrews, Susan Mallery, and Brenda Novak—offering a delightful mix of heartfelt moments and beachside charm.

If you have any connection to Chatham on the Cape or if you have ever thought of visiting, book a seat on your couch and start with this audiobook by Pamela M. Kelley- THE SEASIDE SISTERS.
I first read the story last summer and loved it. Then as winter temps have arrived at my house, I needed to fill my thoughts with summertime in Chatham, so I listened to the audiobook over the course of the last few days. Beautifully narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker, I found myself enjoying these fictional characters all over again, but this time was even better! Stephanie is a fantastic narrator!
THE SEASIDE SISTERS is one of three stand alone books by Pamela M. Kelley that are set in the beautiful town of Chatham. They can be read or listened to in any order and if you found yourself falling in love with these fictional characters in your first book, you’ll definitely want to read all 3!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this beautifully narrated story in exchange for my honest review. Pamela M. Kelley’s writing does not disappoint as it returned me yet again to the warm days of summer in Chatham.

Sara is having a bad case of writers block with a side of panic attacks and her Aunt Maddie convinces her to come home to Chatham to stay. Her sister Maddie has raised four boys and wants to go back to work and her husband does not understand why since he makes a good living. Sara runs into Spencer who she had a crush on in high school and there is chemistry there. This was a great story that could be a perfect beach read or since it is mid winter here great for feeling warmer. Love the family aspect.

This was such a nice literary fiction story. I loved the characters and setting so so much. Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Loved the setting and romance! The East coat setting was perfectly depicted. This was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last!

This was a really cozy read with some wonderful characters. I felt that they were very relatable and felt very real. This reminded me a lot of a Mary Kay Andrews or Elin Hilderbrand novel and I especially liked the narration. The relationships developed very naturally and I really liked the ending. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not written for me, and therefore I will not do it the disservice of focusing on its lack of relevance to me or my fellow under 80 crowd. It appears to be for a very specific audience, and perhaps one that is a bit underserved in modern publishing: rich white ladies age 85+ in assisted living communities.
Among the features that make it perfect to listen to during your visit with grandma/Aunt Mary/Mrs. Ferguson from down the street….
*The narrator speaks loudly and clearly in a voice reminiscent of Daria’s sister’s squeal.
*There are no confusing non-white, non-straight, non-cis, non-conforming characters to make grandma uncomfortable.
*Everyone agrees without argument or discussion that marriage is the purpose of a woman’s life, and that getting or staying married is always the only correct answer. Marriage is always about compromise, which in this context means the woman putting her own plans and goals aside to fully support the man’s every whim.
*However, men are infantalized morons who would be dead within minutes if their wives were not there to tell them what to do.
*Everyone gets up stupidly early even if they have nowhere to be, so by 8am they’re on their third activity of the day. Anything ending at 9pm or later is considered a very late night.
*There is extensive and repeated discussion of meals, which consist of only the most unseasoned meat based mid-20th century dishes. Garlic bread is considered a spicy and exotic delicacy which must be described in detail.
*It is pointed out that regular rich people are really down to earth, unlike the really rich people who are somehow more limited in their decor and food options. It doesn’t really matter, though, since money is meaningless and debit authors get advances that allow them to quit their day jobs and pay rent on apartments in Brooklyn that they’re not even using.
*There is free parking that is both near a hospital and within walking distance of Fenway Park, a situation which probably last occurred when today’s 85 year olds’ grandparents were children.
*Aunt Mary can show off her knowledge of pop culture by having heard of Pearl Jam, the oddly specific and generationally unlikely favorite band of the twenty something characters.
*There isn’t too much unseemly and unladylike law talk at the law firm, thank goodness, but there is the gentle but controversial suggestion that not everyone prosecuted for an alleged crime is guilty. Like grandma, the lawyers are also a bit confused by the concept of an adversarial justice system, but that just makes them more relatable.
If you attempt to read or listen to this outside the company of the elderly, rage, bitterness, and a general sadness at what Fox News has done to our elders may result. But for the target audience, it’s a home run with free parking.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Escape to Cape Cod in this cozy and heartwarming story about Sara, Hannah amd their families. The setting was so well written you could smell the salt in the sea breeze and feel the sand on your feet.
It is the perfect stress free escape with interesting characters that have real world problems. The plot held my attention easily and is the perfect summer escape, especially if you love beach getaways! I enjoyed the pace of this book, it's not to rushed but doesn't feel too drawn out. There is a lot going on with each character so rotating the different point of views keeps the story moving.
I listen to the audiobook and it was wonderfully narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker. She did a wonderful job conveying the emotions of each character. I only wish this would have been read by a cast because at times it was hard to follow the point of views since they all have the same voice.
All of these opinions are my own but I am grateful to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this heartwarming audiobook through Netgalley.

This was a pretty quick, easy listen and I thought the premise was good. However, I felt no connection to the characters and their personalities seemed to be lacking. I enjoyed the setting but wished for more descriptive writing to really put me in the story. Overall it was fine but forgettable. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC.

"The Seaside Sisters" focuses on Hannah and her sister Sara as they navigate the loss of their mother and general life woes.
Hannah is a writer who is feeling blocked. Sara is a mother of four who is feeling underappreciated and stuck. As Hannah returns to their hometown of Chatham, looking for inspiration, the two sisters reconnect with themselves and each other. Along the way, friends and family support and encourage them as they each discover what it takes to live a fulfilled and happy life.
An enjoyable beach read, this story looks at life, love, work and relationships at various stages of life and in different scenarios.
Thank you to Pamela Kelley, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an advance review copy. I look forward to reading more by this author.

This is a good beach read type of book! The characters are easy to relate to and have good personalities. There are a lot of characters in this book so it did take me a little to remember who was related to who. Very descriptive details about Chatham, MA, it sounds like a nice summer place to visit. If you're into these types of fiction novels with some hints of romance, this book is for you!

As an author, I love a book with an author main character, so I was interested in The Seaside Sisters as soon as I read the description.
This heartwarming summer read follows Hannah, a bestselling author from Brooklyn who's hit a bit of a creative wall after some tough times. Her aunt, who is also her agent, tells her to go crash at her beachfront pad in their hometown of Chatham, Cape Cod for the summer to get out of her funk.
Hannah says yes, anxious to soak up the salty air and hopefully kickstart her writing. She's looking forward to hanging with her sister Sara, a former librarian who's ready to dive back into the working world and rediscover her love of literature.
Sara has her own problems. She's juggling four kids and a marriage that's lost its spark. She's itching to find something that allows her to reconnect with her own passions and, despite her husbands protests, she takes a job at the local bookstore. Unfortunately, it's not as easy to make the transition back into working as she thought.
What follows is a touching tale of sisterhood, friendship, rekindled passions, and – hello! – a reunion with Spencer, their old high school buddy who's turned into a total hottie with a grumpy exterior (you know the type!). The characters are incredible relatable, and it's one of those feel good summer reads that can brighten up even the most dreary of days.
Trust me, The Seaside Sisters will have you believing in the magic of books, beaches, and new beginnings. Grab your sunscreen and dive in!

Another great summer fun beach read. I read this while on Cape Cod and it just added to the fun. Lovable characters and great easy plot. A great beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Pamela M. Kelley for an advance audio copy of this book. Fans of Pamela M. Kelley won’t be disappointed by her latest book set in Cape Cod. Hannah and Sara are two adult sisters who are adjusting to life after the loss of their much loved mother. Hannah, a writer based in Brooklyn, is struggling with her second book and Sara, a stay at home mom of four active boys, is eager to get back into the workforce. Looking for a change of scenery, Hannah decides to spend the summer at her aunt’s spacious home on the Cape where she will have a quiet place for writing and be able to reconnect with her family. This is a very well written book, the story is relatable and the characters are likable. As in all Pamela M. Kelley’s books, the small town beach setting is an important element in the story. The narrator has a pleasant voice, the narration flows smoothly and is well paced. This is a warm and uplifting story, an enjoyable summer read either by the pool or at the beach or inside in the comfort of air conditioning.

Good, light summer read with an interesting array of characters and situations. Narrator was very good.

I really like this author. I loved everything about this story. The narrator was excellent. A great summer read.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

This was a book with well developed
characters that I could see myself being friends with. Set in Massachusetts, Pamela Kelly wrote in such a way I felt l like I was there experiencing the places myself. The beach, the foods, and the wine made me hungry for a vacation. I really enjoyed getting to know sisters Hannah and Sara in this contemporary romance.
Thank you to Netgalley for the audio of this book!

This book is just what you'd expect based on the title and cover. It's a happy little beach read that also includes some food for thought. Hannah is a published author whose first book was quite a hit, but she's struggling with her sophomore book. And it's no wonder - she's still grieving the recent loss of her mother, and she's recently split with her long-time boyfriend. Her aunt recommends she come send the summer at her home on Cape Cod where Hannah grew up, and she does. As a result she gets to spend some quality sister time with her aunt and her sister Sara, who still lives there and is married with 4 boys. She loves her life, but is feeling the pull to go back to work in order to have something for herself. It's a book about family and closure and second chances. And books! An excellent all-around beach read (or an anytime read, really). The narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker was excellent.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

I always love a good beach reach! The narration of this audiobook is perfect! The narrator has a soothing voice that will have you falling into the world of Cape Code during summer.