This romance novel is about Sophie, fresh off her divorce from her cheating husband, and her move to Cape May to stay with Ellie and try to figure out her next steps. While there, she befriends their neighbor, Liam and babysits his niece Lucy. Liam has lots of trauma of his own that he is also dealing with. This cute, slow burn romance is tied up neatly at the end and it shows that healing and growth is not linear, but also that our trauma does not have to define us.

3.5

Loved that the book was set in my home state, however there were parts I struggled to get through because the pacing was a bit slow. Looking forward to what the author puts out in the future, as I love supporting authors close to home.

I really loved this book. It was set in an adorable beach town, with two main characters that have been through their fair share of heartbreak. I fell so far in love with these characters and found myself laughing at their banter and swooning over the love.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing Coop/Page and Vine for this ARC! I really enjoyed Sophie and Liam’s emotional and heartwarming story. I could totally relate to these characters. They were both struggling with challenges, such as grief starting over and coming together, experiencing love when you least expect it.!
I thought the way that the mental health representation of grief was handled so well it was true, authentic and I could definitely feel for these characters and wanted them both to find love . I loved the small town Cape May setting! I’m originally in New Jersey girl, and I loved the beachy vibe throughout this book. I would highly recommend this book and I will definitely continue to read more from this author.!

Changing tides is the first book in the Cape May series and it's Sophie and Liam's story. It's an emotional, heartwarming tale about finding love after divorce/grief and when you least expect it.

The story is set in Cape May, a lovely oceanside town and I easily fell in love with it's characters.
We get a great mix of heartbreak, loss, healing, hope, friendship, love and so much more.

Sophie and Liam both had heartbreaking backstories which caused them to be closed off, but there was a undeniable spark between them from the moment they met and I was glued to the pages to see how it would all play out.

I loved that both characters were older with life experiences as it made the story feel more authentic and that they were surrounded by supportive secondary characters who added so much to the novel.

I loved that the author focused on mental health, showing us the struggles the characters faced and the emotional journey they took towards healing.

This was an enjoyable tale and I look forward to reading more in the series. I would recommend this novel to romance lovers.

Linny Mack did a phenomenal job at blending light playful moments with heartbreak and healing and a twist I didn’t see coming that added even more emotional depth to this amazing book.
The prologue alone hooked me. I was immediately drawn in. I loved the small coastal town setting and the charming side characters, especially Ellie! One of my favorite scenes is the yoga class they take together. I laughed so hard! This book was such a sweet, comfy, quick read and perfect for summer.
The dynamic between Sophie and Liam really stood out. At first, Liam comes off as gruff and distant, and Sophie understandably thinks he's a total arse. Liams grumpiness stems from exhaustion and grief after losing his sister in an accident, suddenly becoming a single dad to his niece, and still carrying the weight of past trauma that’s left him struggling with communication and commitment.
Meanwhile, Sophie is recovering from a painful marriage marked by infertility and infidelity, ultimately leading her to seek a new start.
Something about Sophie makes Liam think he could open up and be committed, and Sophie starts to see through that gruff exterior of Liams, and sparks begin to fly.
Both characters have a lot to work through, which made their journey feel authentic and a little messy in the best way.
Overall, Changing Tides is a heartwarming small-town romance with grumpy x sunshine vibes and a fresh start theme. I knocked off one star because something that happened near the end felt a bit rushed considering Sophie’s recent divorce and her ongoing personal uncertainty. But that’s just my opinion, and it doesn’t take away from how good this book is.

A beautiful story about how love can find you at the most unexpected time. Even if you believe you don't deserve it will show up for you. Our two main characters are both dealing with tragedies though in different forms. Together they learn to overcome it and learn to lean on each other.

Thank you to Page & Vine Books for the eARC!

Sophie has had a rough go at life recently. After going through fertility treatments and never getting pregnant, it has to be hard to find out her husband and his mistress not only slept together in her bed, but she’s also pregnant. Needing a fresh start, Sophie moves and she meets Liam. He’s her new next door neighbor with a sweet little girl. After getting to know him a little she agrees to watch his niece who he I s raising as his own daughter. For her, this explains some things about him. She goes from watching his niece while he’s on a date (that’s what she believes) to then becoming more. This is a sweet story about second chances and new beginnings.

***That photograph scene was amazing!!!

Honestly, I didn’t expect this book to hit me the way it did.

It wasn’t just a cute romance (though the slow burn was so satisfying, by the way). What really stuck with me was how it handled grief — not in a dramatic or overdone way, but in those quiet, everyday moments that feel all too familiar. The kind where you're just trying to get through the day, where even making coffee feels like a win.

There’s this gentle unraveling of what it means to lose the version of your life you thought you'd have, and the awkward, painful, hopeful process of figuring out what comes next. It felt honest. No quick fixes, no magical turnarounds — just a woman learning how to live again, step by step.

Also, shoutout to the small-town vibe and the group of people who slowly become her people. The warmth, the awkward friendships-turned-family, the way love sneaks in when she least expects it — all of it worked.

I came for a cozy read. I stayed because it quietly wrecked me in the best way. Now I'm officially entering my romance era.

Such a perfect beach read!
I loved this! Real life problems dealt with in real life ways. This took you through handling grief and coming to terms with a life that no longer existed while trying to figure out how to move forward. Such a great found family and cute small town tied it all in a bow.

Sophie and Liam are both broken people with Sophie moving to Cape May after divorcing her husband for cheating. They find each other (first as neighbours) and develop this relationship like no other. Yes there are plenty of up and downs, cute moments and cold shoulders but it's for the right reasons. Liam is such a gentleman and all he cares about is making sure Sophie is ok when he also needed to focus on himself and letting himself forgive himself that terrible day from all those years ago. But seeing them together is so stinking cute and they really were a perfect pair to help heal each other's trauma and brokenness. The story was beautifully written and has convinced me to find some more romances to get stuck into.
Small warning though, their is one open door scene.
Thankfully it's not too bad but just a little heads up.
All together, this is such a cute romance book and I'm so happy I could give it at read. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a cute romance to wind down to bed with or even just to read wherever.

This is so heartwarming and definitely a comfy beach read. A story set in a beautiful town by the ocean with probably the best place for a romance. Sophie and Liam have been through it, the emotional rollercoaster they took each other on and then took us on was definitely calling for a drink. The slow burn was definitely chef kiss. This would be a movie I watch on my couch with a comfy blanket. Great debut novel.

This story gave me those fussy warm feelings. That one feeling when you are outside and the air just brushes against your skin and hair and slowly dances around. Thats how this book made me feel and I loved every second of it.

With these two individuals who have some traumatic past, each in their own way, they both are healing from the impact.

I believed in these two from the very beginning and you can tell them were for one another by just reading about how they complimented one another in a special way.

I loved their story and even how it ended.

A beautiful story about learning to find love and friendship again.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story but I didn't care much about the writing style.
I simply couldn't put this story down until it was finished.
Wonderful characters with a story that matched the story inside.
The way the author described the community I fell in love with the town and she made feel like I was there.
I didn't want to leave.
5 stars for an excellent read. I highly recommend
.My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive note. All opinions expressed are mine.

Tropes:
☀️single dad
☀️neighbors to lovers
☀️slow burn
☀️second chance romance
☀️unexpected family
☀️grumpy/sunshine

This book is such a heartwarming book about love/loss, overcoming trauma and dealing with heartbreak, and learning to discover yourself again and knowing there is happiness/love after heartbreak.
Linny does a beautiful job talking about sensitive and fragile subjects. I love the new found family that Sophie finds in unexpected areas.
Sophie’s best friend was the best friend that every girl wants, she has your back, always there for your and likes to have a good time, but also gives you the space to figure out your life in your own timeframe with all support.
There was some frustrating moments where lack of communication and lack of talking immediately makes the other person think that everything was over.
But those moments captures how it feels with new relationships and friendships and learning to trust new people with our past struggles.


Thank you to Page and Vines Books and Netgalley for the gifted eARC.
#changingtides #netgalley #pageandvine

I’ve spent every free moment I’ve had with you so maybe I just thought it was obvious but Sophie, I’m totally gone for you." - Liam

Tropes:
🌊 Enemies to friends to lovers
🌊 Twist of fate
🌊 Starting over
🌊 Forced proximity
🌊 Single dad
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️ /5

"I was given the opportunity to read this book as an ARC and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sophie is starting her life over in Cape May after divorcing her husband of 13 years. This is where she came as a child and loved how she felt here so there was nowhere else she wanted to go when she had to start her life all over again. Here is where she meets Liam who recently got custody of his niece and swears he will never fall in love as he has past trauma that he still hasn't worked through. Together Sophie and Liam save each other.

I did really enjoy this book but to me, the pacing was just a little bit off. The beginning is kind of slow and Liam never really opens up until like the last 20% of the book. They both do grow in this book, it just seemed fast in some areas and slow in others.

"Changing Tides" will be available on May 6th. And I recommend picking this book up if you love books about starting over, finding yourself, and giving into love

“Sophie, clearly we were meant to find each other. My life hasn’t been the same since you walked into it and left a mark on my heart. I know it will never be the same again, it’ll be better than I have ever imagined.” - Liam

Sophie's life quickly spirals when she comes home, on her birthday no less, to find her husband with another woman. While he insists it was a one time thing, she soon realizes that this was a full on affair and the mistress is pregnant. After years of struggling with infertility herself, Sophie needs an escape, so she flees to her childhood beach vacation town of Cape May, NJ. She rents a cottage house from sweet Ellie and that's when she meets the next door neighbor, Liam. Liam is grumpy and cold at first as he is trying to battle his own demons and lick his own wounds from a past he'd rather forget. As they spend more time together they both feel the attraction between them but can they work through their issues or do they have to work on themselves first?

I enjoyed this romance! It had beachy vibes and the power of the ocean and some sand to take away all our problems. The whole book had a calming effect and made you take a deep breath and really savor the moments.

This book worked because it was a slow burn and the two main characters took their time and didn't rush into a new relationship. I liked how they got to know each other gradually and organically. Unfortunately the romance was a little jerky. Just when things get moving and the attraction is starting to bloom, the brakes are put on hard and we are back to square one. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

While I enjoyed the moments between Liam and Sophie, they were sometimes stilled because they were always second guessing themselves or not communicating but I appreciated how they were able to work through their traumas with maturity (aka therapy!) and grace. It's not easy to carry such a heavy load for so long so I was glad Liam was able to find some relief and some hope for a new beginning.

Ellie, owner of the house and guest cottage she is staying at, is like a fairy godmother and matchmaker all in one. She was such a warm and charming character that made you want to sit at her house and enjoy a cup of tea with her.

This was a charming book about finding love again after loss and past trauma and while fairly predictable, it's still worthy to read as an easy book before bed or even better, at the beach!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op/Page and Vine for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book. Was my first by this author. A fantastic debut and I'm sure I'll continue to read her books. Gave all the emotions

Sofie’s life falls apart on her birthday when she discovers her husband cheating—just as the other woman turns up pregnant. Heartbroken, she escapes to Cape May to heal.

Liam, a local woodworker raising his niece after tragedy, is also carrying emotional scars. When these two wounded souls become neighbors, their slow-burn friendship begins to blossom into something more.

This book has everything:
- Mature, relatable characters
- Emotional depth & healing
- Slow-burn, friends-to-lovers
- Coastal summer setting
- Excellent audio narration

Sweet, heartfelt, and full of hope. I adored Sofie and Liam’s journey and can’t wait for book 2!

Sofie’s life falls apart on her birthday when she discovers her husband cheating—just as the other woman turns up pregnant. Heartbroken, she escapes to Cape May to heal.

Liam, a local woodworker raising his niece after tragedy, is also carrying emotional scars. When these two wounded souls become neighbors, their slow-burn friendship begins to blossom into something more.

This book has everything:
- Mature, relatable characters
- Emotional depth & healing
- Slow-burn, friends-to-lovers
- Coastal summer setting
- Excellent audio narration

Sweet, heartfelt, and full of hope. I adored Sofie and Liam’s journey and can’t wait for book 2!