Absolutely loved this book! The storyline was so good. The way it was written was so wholesome and great. I devoured this book!

Three sisters are left a popular, but somewhat dated restaurant on Nantucket by their grandmother. They were genuinely surprised since they didn't realize that she owned it. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters who seemed like real individuals. I thought dialog flowed well. I also liked the back story that the women's grandmother won a restaurant many years ago in a card game. The history comes out through a found diary, written by Gram many years before.
Each sister has a busy life already, but work together to meet the terms of the will. The author enjoys food and cooking and that comes through in the book.

This is the first book by this author that I've read. I'm looking forward to reading more. I listened to the audio version of the book and I found the narration to be very well done.

Update: I originally read this book in 2020. It's been updated and some new characters have been added. Like all of Pamela Kelley's books, this is a light read and the characters are likeable. Reading her books is like catching up with friends.

I picked this one because it gave me Elin Hilderbrand vibes and it did NOT disappoint. This was a great read and so happy to have read it before the summer. Thanks so much for the copy!

“The Nantucket Restaurant” tells the story of three sisters whose grandmother dies and leaves the family’s favorite restaurant to them in her will. The girls had no idea their grandmother was the owner of the restaurant, and her will stipulates that they can’t sell it until they spend a year working their together, so the three sisters band together to learn the restaurant business and get to know each other better as adults.

This book will inevitably be compared to Elin Hilderbrand’s books, especially to one of my favorite of her books, “The Blue Bistro” which is also about a restaurant. While this book is a pleasant read with a fun plot, it isn’t on the same level as “The Blue Bistro” or other books by Hilderbrand. It also doesn’t have the same sense of place as Hilderbrand’s books. And the writing and stylistic choices felt a little bit amateurish and just slightly off. For example, there are two characters who live in NYC and their favorite restaurant is Rosa Mexicana … and not in an ironic way. And the interludes with diary entries from the grandmother also felt a little too convenient and pat.

Lastly, the foodie aspect of the book didn’t work for me. There was a lot of descriptions of food, but the food described didn’t sound all that good to me or like food that would really be served at the upscale restaurants in question. It sort of seemed like someone who isn’t a real foodie was writing the descriptions.

All that said, for readers looking for a replacement for Elin Hilderbrand’s annual beach read set on Nantucket, this book will do just fine as long as readers go into it without setting their expectations too high!

Pamela Kelley’s "The Nantucket Restaurant" is a heartwarming story about family, second chances, and finding purpose in unexpected places.

Set against the charming backdrop of Nantucket, the story follows three sisters - Mandy, Emma, and Jill - who inherit their grandmother’s beloved restaurant, with one condition: they must run it together for a year before deciding its future.

Each sister brings a unique perspective - Mandy is practical, Emma is ambitious, and Jill is quietly strong. These differences between them create tension, but also lead to growth as they reconnect and rediscover what truly matters. The character of Chef Paul, a longtime fixture at the restaurant, adds warmth and depth to the story.

Kelley’s writing is simple and heartfelt, capturing both the beauty of the island and the emotional journey of the characters. While the plot is somewhat predictable, the joy lies in watching the sisters rebuild their bond and embrace a shared legacy. "The Nantucket Restaurant" is a cozy, feel-good read about love, resilience, and the ties that hold us together.

(3.5 rounded up to 4)

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read The Nantucket Restaurant before its release date!

Three sisters - Jill, Mandy, and Emma - are floored to learn that their late grandmother was the owner of their favorite restaurant on Nantucket, Mimi’s place. A secret held for many years, their grandmother revealed her truth in her will, along with the news that she was transferring ownership to the sisters - as long as they all worked there together for one full year. This book covers the transformative year of the womens’ lives as they navigate entrepreneurship as well as the changing nature of their own personal lives, in very similar and different ways.

I feel like this book will be a hit for readers looking for something quick, easy, and fun. However, for me, this book unfortunately fell flat. While I did enjoy the overall story and all the delicious food (seriously, this book made me SO hungry!), I really struggled with the overall writing and style of the book. Parts of the book felt a bit unbelievable. Having worked in the restaurant industry for many years I cannot imagine that three women with almost no experience could pick it up as quickly as they did. I also felt that they all uprooted their lives so quickly and easily - it seemed unrealistic. The writing was very basic and obvious - there was no tension, no room for interpretation. I felt the characters lacked depth and the story was rushed.

I think the premise of this book is good, and with a deeper level of story telling this could have been a home run. However, for me it was too simple and too predictable. I definitely think there is a market for a book like this, I just am not sure I am part of that market.

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars for me.

Ms. Kelley is a prolific writer and I've read a number of her prior novels, particularly enjoying her storytelling, interesting characters, and the Nantucket setting. I always like how she presents Nantucket - it's a character and important part of the book, but she doesn't overwhelm us with extraneous details.
In The Nantucket Restaurant, Jill, Emma and Mandy are all sisters who are originally from Nantucket and who are busy living their independent lives. The illness and death of their beloved grandmother brings them together and all back to the island in an unusual way.
Elements of the storyline were a bit predictable and I would have liked a deeper look into the grandmother's life, but The Nantucket Restaurant is a perfect book if you like an island setting and restaurant (ie food porn) focused novel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks/Landmark for the opportunity to read The Nantucket Restaurant. I received a complimentary copy of the book and opinions expressed are completely my own.

This title was a nice way to start my summer reading this year. I loved the setting, and the character development was good. The author did a great job of telling the stories of the three sisters separately, but also bringing them together with the family restaurant at the center.

A sweet book about sisters who take over a restaurant left to them upon their grandmother’s passing. This is an easy read, with a nice, upbeat energy about it.

I enjoyed the characters, as well as all of the amazing references to different dishes eaten during the course of the book. Each of the sisters’ lives are full of their own storylines that all interweave together, and their relationships with each other are healthy and positive.

The writing style is simple and easy to understand, while at times a bit basic. Some things felt unrealistic, or certain conversations not true to how people talk, but all in all The Nantucket Restaurant is a sweet read, perfect for a day at the beach.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

The Nantucket Restaurant was sweet, thoughtful and delightful….like a warm hug. Maybe because it is set in Massachusetts and there are so many local references throughout, but something about this book made it feel like coming home.

This book was fast and easily read in one sitting, perfect for a beach read or a palate cleanser. A story of three sisters who have gone their separate ways over the years. When their grandmother passes away, they are surprised to discover that she owns a restaurant on Nantucket that she has left to them. They can keep or sell, but her one stipulation is that the three of them must all work there together for one year before they can make that decision. Each sister is going through her own personal challenges and is forced to navigate and find her way over the course of the year. With the support of family and newfound friends, anything is possible. Will they find their happy endings? You will have to read to find out.

A story of love, family perseverance, this cozy story has a little bit of everything. I found this book to be refreshing and food for the soul.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the ARC copy of this book to read and review. It was such a charming read.

Another great summer read by Pamela Kelley. I’ve read the previous version and enjoyed the updates. A family secret leads to some wonderful surprises. Three sisters now own a restaurant after the death of their beloved grandmother. Each sister goes through their own issues throughout the story but in the end, each one persevered. Looking forward to the next novel.

Another perfect beach read from Pamela Kelley. Three sisters, all young adults with their own complicated lives and careers, reunite in Nantucket, where they grew up, because their beloved grandmother is ill. When she dies, they get a big surprise. It turns out that the grandmother owned their favorite restaurant on the island, as sort of a secret partner. She leaves the restaurant to the three sisters in her will, with the stipulation that in order to inherit the restaurant, they must stay on the island and work in it for one year. Otherwise, the restaurant will go to Paul, the chef. They collectively decide to go for it, and by working at the restaurant, they work through some of the complications in their own lives. Doing work they love, together as a family, things start to fall into place, and what's most important becomes clear to all of them. A great story!

Although, the premise was hopeful, this book still needs a heavy handed edit. Dialogue heavy, and unblocked untracked character movements leave the reader feeling disjointed. Having two of the three sisters having failed marriages (notice the lack of name use because the characters are so flat and boring I cannot for the life of me tell them apart) is a cop out. This reads like a bad pitch to a really really bad day time tv soap opera with a faithful viewership of only the delusional parents of the z-list cast. If you as a reader have any functioning grey cells left, well, the plot isn't at all surprising.

Another charming novel by Kelley. Imagine finding out you inherited a home and restaurant from your Mimi, with your two sisters. Nantucket is filled with tourist, beach, fabulous seafood and gorgeous scenery. The three sisters live far from each other, but they must work together. The restaurant was a property which the sisters inherit, but must worked together with Paul, who is the executive chef for a year.

Each sister has there own things they are dealing with, which adds to the authenticity of this story.

I was excited to read The Nantucket Restaurant because Nantucket is one of my favorite settings for a story, and I always enjoy books that revolve around restaurants and food. The coastal charm and small-town feel came through beautifully, and the restaurant storyline added an engaging layer.

One part I especially enjoyed was the discovery of a long-held secret from their grandmother after she passed away. It added depth to the story and made the characters' journey even more meaningful. It also made me think about how special it must be to have sisters to share memories, challenges, and new beginnings with.

Overall, this was a warm and enjoyable read with a great setting and strong family themes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you for sending me this book! DNF at 43%. I loved the plot and the food descriptions in this book. Unfortunately, I felt like the dialogue was stunted and not differentiated between characters. I enjoyed the family dynamic and relationship between the three sisters, but I felt like the description of the plot and circumstances was very straightforward and read like a transcript versus a novel. I typically finish every book I read, but I was not able to pass through the dialogue of this book.

Comfort food and a comfort read: The Nantucket Restaurant is an easy, predictable read that has a feel-good vibe. Set in Nantucket, three sisters each at a crossroad in her life together inherit a restaurant, but it comes with conditions. To keep it, they must live in Nantucket and work in the restaurant for a year. Nothing surprising here, but I liked the characters and loved the recipes imbedded into the book.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I enjoyed this fast, light read.

What a great read! Pamela Kelley's stories never disappoints me. Never!
I loved every minute of being back on Nantucket again. It felt like I've never left!
I really enjoyed in getting to know the 3 sisters too.
And the food! Oh my! Enough to make you drool for sure!
There's hope, reconciliation and love among these three.
5 stars for a job well done and for keeping me interested all the way through. Such a beautiful story. I highly recommend
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Three sisters and an inheritance in a restaurant on Nantucket. You couldn’t find a better subject for a book. You will love this story.
it will be hard to put it down. Happy reading!

Nantucket in the title got me. I love novels about Nantucket. This was a fun novel to read. Family, food and a few problems what's not to like