Quick Summary: A sisterhood and secrets novel

My Review: Summer on Cape May by Monica Garner is a contemporary, women's fiction novel. It is scheduled for release on 4/29/25.

About the Book: "...three longtime friends find that past secrets, new loves, and hard choices test their bond like never before."

In My Own Words: A trio of friends have secrets and entangled lives.

My Final Say: Summer on Cape May represents a place where lies persist, lines are crossed, and love becomes the glue that binds a group of friends together.

I really wanted to love this book, but in the end, it was just a like for me. It was an interesting read, with a lot of moving parts. Some of those parts were believable and some were unbelievable.

I did love that the characters were multicultural and that they dealt with emotionally sobering issues.

It took me a minute to warm up to the writing style, truthfully. Also, the pacing was challenging for me, as a reader. I wonder if an audiobook format might set a better tone.

Other: Readers who enjoy stories of friendship and sisterhood, stories on overcoming situations in life, and stories on fresh starts may like this book.

Rating: 3.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Triggers: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: E-book

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Kensington Publishing | Dafina), and to NetGalley for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I am appreciative for the opportunity. I look forward to reading more from this writer.

4 ⭐. Not one to normally like more of a literary fiction book. I enjoyed this one. I like that there were multiple key elements in the book- including friendship, living at the beach and surprisingly secrets between best friends. I found that very interesting how Monica Garner brought about secrets and shattered these strong relationships. The novel has strong female characters, but they all had me equally invested in them. I was content with the ending and how everything panned out.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a nice story about friends who are like sisters. It helps that it is set in a beach town! But can they overcome one friend's betrayal?

Lu, Kenya, and Natalia are best friends who share not just meals and laughter, but also unspoken truths that eventually threaten to break their bond. The beachside setting of Cape May adds warmth and atmosphere, yet it’s the emotional tides beneath the surface that drive the story forward.

Garner crafts strong, relatable female leads, none of whom stand out more than the others—which works well in a story focused on the dynamics of friendship rather than individual arcs. The unfolding secrets inject just the right amount of tension, culminating in a believable, if painful, fallout.

For foodies, the vivid culinary details woven into their weekly gatherings are a treat. And for everyone else, the novel offers a comforting reminder that self-doubt and vulnerability are part of even the most seemingly put-together lives.

This is a solid, heartfelt novel—one that reflects the messiness and resilience of real relationships. A good pick for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with emotional depth.

This one had a lot of drama going on. No one was perfect in this story but all three were trying their best to do the right things. Each woman’s situation is explained as they all try to move forward with their lives.

Such a fun book that will have you longing for true friendship and the beach!

One summer, three women. Lu, Kenya, and Natalia are all on Cape May for the summer. They all have a secret, they all have some troubles. They also all have each other. This is all about friendship. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. One to slip into your beach bag.

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of Summer On Cape May.

Three friends who are like sisters are all going through things in their lives and trying to navigate the right path forward.

I had to stop reading after the first chapter the talk about the miscarriage was just too much for me. You should probably put some kind of trigger warning at the beginning of the book.

Which is worse - being betrayed by your mother, your wife, your fiance’ or your best friend?
Lu, Kenya and Natalia are doing their best to live the lives they have and the ones they want. Then, there’s a shake up! One after another, the friends are dealt some interesting cards. But...what do they do? How will they handle these fractures? This story has a few moving parts but it all goes together well. I quite enjoyed the story and loved getting to know the friends and seeing them through their ups and downs. The author does throw a curveball or two when you least expect it so be prepared!

three friends living on cape may, are planning a wedding for one of the friends. Secrets come to light, good read

friendship and love isnt built on ideals. its built on all the in-betweens too. sure the good time add those sprinkles to it. but the base, the base is the deep connection that you just have with some folk. those bonds are the ties that bind and bond you.
in friendship like with our three girls there is layers to each of you as individuals and together. when growing up different life happens to all of them. they can weather it together. but when things not only effect their own separate life but go on to shatter and betray the groups. what then? if you can withstand that. if you can withstand grief,sadness and hopelessness and come out holding each other up at the end. well, then youve made it.

i love how this book went deeper. it showed the light and shade of it all. communication and wanting to do to the right thing can often be the catalyst for so much of lifes mishaps! especially with those we love. when you think your doing the right thing, or trying to protect, or too scared, embarrassed or ashamed. it sucker punches you into silence, or doing something silly. but then its how you work your way out of that i guess. and how you allow others in. and these group prove that.
it sounds morbid to say i enjoyed this book because they went through an awful lot of angst. but i did. it was such a well balanced book. it handled everything the good and the bad with equal tender and sensitive writing.
i didnt favour any of the characters over the other and felt for each of them. together i just hoped theyd be ok because their friendship truly held my heart.

Summer on Cape May by Monica Garner is more than a summer read or a beach read. The novel explores friendship, strength, and trust. Lu, Kenya and Natalia are besties. They get together weekly sharing a meal, companionship, and feelings.

While their friendship is a key element, their living on the beach at Cape May is also one of the key elements for the book. However, secrets are another element. Each of the women is inadvertently placed in a situation where they know a secret that should be shared with one of the others, but they don’t. So when the secrets come out - which we all know they will - the information shatters their friendship.

The novel has strong female characters and while I appreciated them all, I was not liking any one character more than the others. This is a novel that if you are a foodie, the food described might be something for you. The novel reminded me that even the most together person has areas of self doubt and confusion like the rest of us! Summer on Cape May by Monica Garner is a good read.

A great premise and synopsis. Unfortunately the novel was lacking in every possible way. I do not recommend!

"Summer on Cape May" follows three longtime friends: Lu, Kenya, and Natalia, whose deep bond is tested during one summer.

The story portrays authentic female friendship. They have weathered many life's storms together, but now face individual challenges that threaten not only their personal happiness but their own bond.

What captured me most was how the author balanced the serious emotional themes with the vivid charm of the setting's backdrop. Cape May itself becomes a character, with its historic real estate, beaches, and warmth of small town comfort. While following the familiar women's fiction beats, the characterization and thoughtful handling of difficult subjects, grief, forgiveness, betrayal, and second chances elevate the reading experience. This story reminds us that true friendship can survive the most difficult revelations and that healing often comes through honesty and vulnerability.

This was an enjoyable beach read about friendship, relationships, family and secrets. I loved the setting in a relaxed beach town and the characters relationships with each other, their growth and realistic struggles.

Totally gave me all the Jersey vibes! Growing up in NJ, I couldn't resist picking this one up right away. The story follows three very different best friends, each dealing with their own struggles, plus a few secrets thrown in. At times, the book moved quickly, while in other parts, it slowed down. Overall, it was an enjoyable and easy read!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this Arc!

What a great book!
I haven't read anything by Monica Garner before, and I was pleasantly surprised.
The story follows three friends (or sisters, as they call themselves) as they deal with their life's troubles and situations. This was very slow and fast-paced at the same time, but very moving and entertaining. Loved all three women and how in the end they came together. Sisterhood is the best thing ever in this world.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC.

This story of strong female friendships and forgiveness was such a good read! I enjoyed following Lu, Natalia, and Kenya on their different journey’s and even though they had some struggles between themselves, when it really mattered, they forgave each other and were able to move past their lies to each other. There seemed to be a few too many secrets and the three main storylines only connected by their lies to each other. There was some romance between Kenya and one of Natalia and Zach’s friends and the family struggles for Natalia that let Zach support her in so many ways even after he was not honest about his past. Lu had a different set of struggles with wanting so badly to be pregnant after losing her first pregnancy and even the shock that her husband delivered later in the story.

This story started on the slower side, but quickly pulled me in and made me want these women to find everything that they deserved! It also showed the female friendships can survive anything.

We meet three friends, but friends that keep secrets from each other.

Lu owns a B&B and is engaged to Zach.

Natalia owns a winery and wants a baby but keeps losing them.

Kenya's husband was killed in a car accident.

Then a huge surprise phone call causes Lu's life to spiral. This seems to be a huge secret.

It sounds like everything is out in the open between these three friends, but each friend found out a secret about one of them and a secret they kept to themselves.

They couldn't share these secrets just yet, but how long can they keep them?

We follow the three friends through everything - good and bad.

Found out how it all turns out in this change of pace and a true tribute to friendship read. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Great read! First read from this author. This book makes me want to read more from this author. Kept my attention and interest until the end.

"Set over one summer in the charming seaside resort of Cape May, New Jersey, amid the planning of a lavish wedding three longtime friends find that past secrets, new loves, and hard choices test their bond like never before."

This book had everything I could've wished for in a book, although it didn't deliver how I'd hoped. A Jersey girl through and through, I will truly read just about anything if it takes place within this state, especially if it takes place somewhere I frequent often. This book had very sweet moments between friends, but their fall out and make-ups felt rushed and unrealistic. I also feel like the second half of the book was rushed just to fit in the wedding and anything that came after that in the timeline.

This would be a perfect beach read if you want something quick and breezy to read that leaves you feeling warm inside!