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

This was a great beach read. It was cute, happy, predictable, and pleasant. The characters were likable, and you definitely wanted them to succeed. The relationship between the sisters was extremely relatable! I loved that their relationship was the main focus of the book, and the romances were secondary. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to listen to this outdoors or at the beach!

a lovely beach/summer read. I fantastic story and a a wonderful ride. I don't think this book was typically up my alley . but i can totally see how it is for others!

The Seaside Sisters is a nice addition to those looking for a light summer read in a coastal town setting. I listened to the audiobook in one day. This book is more about relationships than it is romance. It is cozy and slow building with very likable characters.

The narrator had a pleasant voice; however, I think that many of the characters sounded the same and the men sounded slow and flat. I liked the story enough to overlook that.

Hannah is a best selling romance author who has been struggling with panic attacks and writer’s block. She’s also still grieving the loss of her mother to cancer and decides to return to Chatham, Cape Cod, the seaside town where she grew up. Hannah is hoping the change of scenery will help clear her head and her writer’s block. Plus, she can reconnect with her older sister, Sara, and their Aunt Maddie, who both live there.

Hannah’s not the only one dealing with some challenges. Sara was once a dedicated librarian but gave up her career to get married and have children. She really wants to return to the workforce, preferably in a bookish field, but her husband has no interest in stepping up around the house so that Sara can follow her dreams. Even Aunt Maddie isn’t immune to life’s challenges. She is still grieving the loss of her sister and she is separated from her husband.

There is a sweet, slow burn romance featuring Hannah and an old friend from her past, but what really made this such an enjoyable read for me were the personal journeys of the three women. As the book’s tagline states, “One summer can change everything.”

This was my first time reading Pamela M. Kelley and I really enjoyed the experience, especially the way she writes characters and relationships. I also enjoyed Stephanie Németh-Parker’s narration of the audiobook. She does a wonderful job creating distinctive voices for Hannah, Sara, and Aunt Maddie and bringing those characters to life.

With its charming seaside setting and its heartwarming storyline, The Seaside Sisters is the perfect beach or poolside read.

Having visited Cape Cod and, specifically, Chatham, Massachusetts several years ago, I enjoyed getting lost in the setting of the book. This was definitely light summer beach read. A little too much romance for my taste. But still the characters were well developed and the relationships were well done. I enjoyed reading about Hannah’s writing process and how she was influenced in a variety of ways. Just a light easy read that is perfect for time by the pool or next to the ocean.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Breezy beach read. A little too much telling rather than showing, which made for a tedious listen at times. I enjoyed Kelley’s The Bookshop by the Bay much more.

This was a really good, very pleasant, feel-good, summer read!

Different from anything I usually gravitate toward, this was such a relaxed and wonderful book that read like a diary or log book of what Hannah and the other MC’s were up to as the summer progressed. Following three primary MC’s—Hannah, Sarah, and Maddie—this had all the “relaxed summer on the Cape” vibes.

Hannah is an author whose first book hit the bestseller lists. She and her sister Sarah grew up on the Cape, and have a close relationship with their Aunt Maddie—especially now that their mom died. Hannah moves back to the Cape from her Brooklyn apartment for the summer and we’re along for the (very pleasant and beachy) ride as she settles into the slower pace of Cape life, writes her newest novel, and makes new friends and dates a little.

I spent a lot of the book trying to figure out what the point of it was—and once I finished reading, I realized that sometimes, a book is written just to be enjoyable and help the reader envision a perfect, relaxing, summer. This also had threads of family and sisterhood—but it was more a “follow your heart” type of read.

The narrator of the audio was excellent, and she added a lot to the book’s ambiance.

Cheers to this book, and cheers to what will hopefully be a wonderful and relaxing summer of reading!

I would like to say “Thank you” to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the privilege to review an ARC copy of the Audiobook.
Publication date June 4, 2024 Narator: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
The narration was wonderful, the characters were well distinguished and the voices were pleasant and endearing. It made the experience wonderful. I really enjoyed the book.
In this book you meet Hannah who is a successful writer struggling with writer’s block and anxiety. As a best selling author, living in Brooklyn, Hannah decides to return to her home town in Cape Cod for the summer. She is in search of rest, relaxation, and inspiration. Her sister Sara is there with her family. Sara, a former librarian, is looking for a new career now that her kids are old enough to attend school. Stuck in a stagnant marriage where she feels under appreciated, Sara wants to renew her passion for books.
The two sisters enjoy the summer making new friends, rekindling love, and getting lost in the magic of books.
This is a wonderfully charming story - perfect for a summer beach read or anytime you want to feel like you are there! The characters are beautifully developed and interwoven in the story, complete with warm famity reunions and new friendships. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a light hearted read that is just fun and clean.

I’m a believer in appreciating beach reads throughout the year, but now that we are officially in beach read season, I’m even happier to appreciate a warm summer breeze while enjoying a heartwarming book. Pamela Kelley’s latest novel, The Seaside Sisters, drew me in on all possible fronts. A fantastic summertime read!

If you weren’t hooked by the term “beach read”, then surely knowing this is a book about two sisters, one of whom is a writer and the other is a librarian, will pull you in. The setting on Chatham Cape Cod is positively idyllic. I loved the dynamic between the sisters and the point in their journey through life and creativity each was at. Their aunt is also a wonderful character and I was glad she was included with her own perspectives.

Hannah lives in Brooklyn and wrote a bestselling romance novel, but finds herself struggling with writer’s block each time she tries to start her second book. Hannah recently lost her mother to cancer and has been suffering from panic attacks (surely contributing to her creative block) and she decides a break might make all the difference. Hannah heads to her hometown of Chatham, Cape Cod in Massachusetts to stay with her Aunt Maddie for the summer.

Aunt Maddie has recently separate from her husband, and she’s looking forward to spending time with Hannah. Maddie isn’t sure she made the right choice with her marriage, though. It’s weighing on her. Meanwhile Hannah’s sister Sara still lives in Chatham. Sara used to be a librarian, but took a break to raise four kids. Now, she hopes to fall back in love with her literary side and find a job, but the shift back to that world is more difficult than she imagined. Sara feels stuck, and with family responsibilities taking up her time and energy, she can’t fully engage in her new job at the local bookstore.

Hannah is the central character, but all three women have stories to tell. The pacing is more like a lazy summer afternoon, which is perfect for a beach read. Each woman is looking for something, and reconnecting with family may be the thing that helps them heal and find happiness. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed some outdoor time, and found that Stephanie Nemeth-Parker offered a wonderful narration for this book. Her smooth tone and level emotions added to the beach read quality. This wasn’t a book that needed someone fraught with emotions, and it was perfectly delivered.

A story about family, self-love, confidence, finding yourself, and above all, finding your happiness. A lovely story with three central characters who I cared about. Their stories are touching and lovely, as are their relationships with one another.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Great ensemble book about two sisters and their aunt. After her mother dies and suffering with writer's block on her second novel, Hannah decides to spend the summer writing in Chatham Cape Code with her sister Sara and her husband and four sons. Her aunt invites her to stay with her in her house next to the water. With one bestseller, Hannah knows she has to get the second one written and to her agent and the publisher by her deadline.

Sara is struggling with her own sense of her worth and takes a job in the local bookstore. Her husband is less than pleased and the struggles between Sara and Tom are really true to what many families struggle with.

Great characters, wonderful small town atmosphere, very true to the challenges we all seem to encounter throughout life. I highly recommend this book and also this author. I have read several of her books and enjoyed them all.

#NetGalley #PamelaMKelley #MacMillanAudio #Romance #Fiction #StephanieNemethParker #TheSeasideSisters #bookpublishing

This book is good for what it is, but for me, it's a little bland.

The FMC returns to her hometown the summer after her mother died to write her next book thinking that time away from the hustle and bustle of the city will help. It does. She then immerses herself into the small town and her relationship with family. The Aunt and Sister have more romance than the FMC, and both are experiencing marital problems. Nobody wants to deal with the mom's house, and it is ignored most of the story, only popping up as a sighting at one point, and then an incomplete project at the end.

The writing isn't bad and I'm sure this type of romance works for some - it's just not for me. I kept expecting more action, and was a bit disappointed when the story ended without it.

I very much enjoyed The Seaside Sisters. The narration was great as were the characters and the background setting. This is a great read for anyone who likes women's fiction and it would make a super beach read.

The narrator's voice fit the characters and made the story come to life and was distinct between the characters - top notch. The flow of the audiobook is superb - it moves along very nicely. and is not choppy when new chapters begin or end.

I have never read or listened to anything by Pamela M Kelley before, but will definitely be trying some of her other works. The story centers around a young writer working on her second book; she goes to Cape Cod to work on it for the summer where she spends quality time with her Aunt and sister. And, of course, meets some new friends.... The characters are well drawn and interesting.

Overall, this is a great. read in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed it!