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.

"The Seaside Sisters" by Pamela Kelley is a romance and family drama fiction novel.

Hannah is a popular rom-com writer, and after the passing of her beloved mother, she decides to move to her hometown in Chatham, Massachusetts, for the summer. She moves in with her Aunt Winnie, who is taking a break from her husband, Richie. Her sister, Sarah, lives in Chatham with her husband, Tom, and four sons. Tom takes Sarah for granted. Spencer is a lawyer and a former classmate. There is kind of an "enemies to lovers" trope in this book. (FYI, no spice.)

The characters are well developed. The plot is very Hallmark-esque, but with more in the subplots. The dialogue is realistic. The narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker is exceptionally done with distinct voices for each character.

The descriptions of the scenery in Chatham on Cape Cod and the delicious seafood were truly mouth-watering!

I don't really enjoy romance novels. I found myself quite bored. I think people who like light rom-coms will like it much better than I did.

Characters -5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 2/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 28/8 = 3 4/8 rounded up to 4

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio, and Pamela Kelley for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a cute little romance, a quick and easy summer read. It almost felt too uncomplicated for a romance at times, but was a nice read. The narrator did a good job.

Reading "The Seaside Sisters" by Pamela E. Kelley was a heartwarming experience that transported me to the charming coastal town of Nantucket. The novel, centered around three sisters—Jillian, Brooke, and Emily—felt like a warm embrace, full of familial bonds, personal growth, and second chances. Kelley's portrayal of the sisters' relationships is authentic and relatable, capturing the complexities of sibling dynamics with grace and humor. However, the story does have its downsides. The plot follows a familiar trajectory, making it somewhat predictable and lacking in surprising twists or fresh angles. The characters, though endearing, sometimes felt stereotypical, and their development could have been more nuanced. Additionally, the pacing dragged at times, particularly in the middle sections, making it difficult to stay fully engaged. The resolutions to the sisters' challenges felt too convenient, lacking the realism that could have added more emotional resonance. Despite these flaws, it's a delightful read for anyone seeking a feel-good story about family and new beginnings.

The Seaside Sisters is set in a small beach town of Chatham, Cape Cod. Hannah and Sara are sisters. Sara stayed in Chatham, got married and is the mother of four. She gave up her job as a librarian and stayed home to raise her four boys. She is ready to return to the workforce and takes a part time job at a bookstore. Hannah is an author and is struggling with her second book, as well as dealing with a recent loss and panic attacks. She heads to Chatham for a fresh start and inspiration. She moves in with her aunt, at her ocean front house. Her Aunt Maddie is in publishing and is recently separated from her husband. All three women rely on one another and rekindle supportive relationships to decide what is next in their lives.

The book is told from multiple POVs, but was easy to follow. I enjoy stories of family, especially sisters and this was a comfortable story. Sara's story will be familiar to many women. The wife and mother that lose their personal identity and are taken for granted. I got very frustrated with her husband and was happy to see her take the steps necessary to force not only her husband, but her children into seeing all she did for them and getting the chance to become more than a wife and mother. Hannah's story was okay for me. She rekindles a relationship and works on her writing with others, but she was just an okay character for me. Aunt Maddie's story was also a bit slow. I thought her feelings about her relationship was a bit forced and it works out quite easily, without much depth. This was an okay story for me, not much happened, except for Sara's story. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and I liked the voices she gave the three women. If you enjoy an easy listening story of family and new beginnings, this one might be for you to read at the beach or by the pool.

Oh this was so good! I loved the narrator, she has such a smooth, calming tone. The perfect beach read.

The Seaside Sisters was the third book that I have had the pleasure of reading/listening to by Pamela M. Kelley. Last year I had read The Bookshop by the Bay and was glad to revisit some of the characters from that book in Pamela M. Kelley’s newest book The Seaside Sisters. Once again, Pamela M. Kelley transported me back to Chatham on Cape Cod. The Seaside Sisters was definitely a stand-alone book but I welcomed the chance to step back inside the bookshop that Allison and Jess had purchased once again and see how well Allison was doing. I also enjoyed the familiar and delicious smells from the coffee shop with its relaxed atmosphere and getting to see how well Allison’s daughter, Julia, was doing with her jewelry business. Of course, The Seaside Sisters introduced several new characters as well that I enjoyed getting to know. I listened to the audiobook of The Seaside Sisters that was narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. She did a great job at distinguishing between the different characters. I enjoyed her performance very much.

The Seaside Sisters was about two sisters who had grown up in Chatham. Hannah Brewster, the younger of the two sisters had become an author and had made Brooklyn her home. Sara, the oldest of the two siblings had gotten married, had four sons and had remained on Cape Cod in Chatham. Sara was a stay at home mom but had recently been thinking about returning to the work force. She had been a librarian before she had had her sons so she wanted to do something that pertained to books. It wasn’t that Sara needed a high paying job, she just wanted something that would make her feel satisfied and like she was making a difference and would coincide with her sons’ schedules. Sara’s husband made a good living so he wasn’t sure why Sara wanted to work when she didn’t need to. Her husband took the things Sara did for granted. A lot of the magic had started to disappear from their marriage. Both Hannah and Sara had recently lost their mother. The grief that Hannah was experiencing was impacting her creative ability in writing her second book. Hannah was finding it difficult to make the progress she was expected to on her second book. She started to fell a lot of stress about being able to meet her deadlines. Between the grief and the stress Hannah was feeling it was not unexpected that she experienced a panic attack. With some encouragement from both her sister and her Aunt Maddie, who was also her literary agent, Hannah decided to leave Brooklyn for the summer and move into Aunt Maddie’s oceanfront home in Chatham. Perhaps a change of scenery and being closer to her sister and aunt would allow Hannah to make the progress she needed to on her second book. Upon Hannah’s arrival, she learned that Aunt Maddie was having marital problems. It was the last thing Hannah expected to hear. Hannah also ran into an old high school friend, Spencer. He had been ahead of Hannah in school but Hannah had had a big crush on him back then. What were the chances that Hannah would run into Spencer after all these years?

The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M. Kelley was a light yet feel good book. It was about family, loss, grief, the willingness to make a marriage work, friendship, romance, ambition and recognizing what others need by putting aside individual wants. I really enjoyed catching up with some of the characters from The Bookshop by the Bay and meeting the new characters that were introduced in The Seaside Sisters. It would be nice if Pamela M. Kelley decided to write a third book that was set on Cape Cod in Chatham. I enjoyed both the setting and the characters. If you are looking for a good beach read with a touch of romance then I highly recommend The Seaside Sisters.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M. Kelley through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

💭 MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed this sweet story! It was my first time reading a Pamela Kelley book and I’m definitely a fan.

I loved all the women in the book and exploring the relationships with them other and the men in their lives. The seaside setting in the women’s hometown of Chatham on the cape was the perfect summer setting and you could feel their nostalgia for the place.

The audiobook was great. I loved the narrator, Stephanie Nemeth-Parker’s voice. She made the emotions come to life and it was an enjoyable listen.

Read for:
🩷 Friends to Lovers
🟰 Family Relationships
🔥 Slow Burn
🚪 Closed Door
📍 Cape Cod

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
Spice Level: 🧼 Squeeky Clean