The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon

Leah never expected to have to return home after her life implodes. Yet hope stirs when she finds the historical home of a sea captain and decides to batten down the hatches and create a local bookstore and cafe in the space. A place she calls The Sandy Page.
When Luke offers to help at cost, she never expects to feel anything more than friendship but the gentle friendship he provides has her hoping there is more to life after hitting rock bottom.

Leah is living my life! I want a charming bookstore with a cafe!! I loved the quaint town and the amazing people. I loved that we didn’t just get Leah’s POV and if you know me… You know I don’t normally like multiple POVs but this one worked really well in building a story through the eyes of different people on different journeys who have all now crossed paths. I love small town books so I was going to love this one no matter what and the narration was epic!

Such a great book.

4 stars

This story is an absolute delight for fans of small-town romances and heartfelt second chances. Leah Powell, reeling from heartbreak and career loss, returns home and finds herself drawn to restoring a crumbling captain’s house into a bookstore café. Alongside Luke Nickerson—the local contractor who never forgot her—Leah not only rebuilds the house but begins to rebuild her life.

I loved how Hannah McKinnon brings together a cast of quirky, endearing characters who form their own little bookish family. Each has a backstory that unfolds with warmth, heartbreak, and humor, making the community feel real and lived-in. The beach and small-town setting adds to the charm, giving the story an easy, summery vibe that makes it perfect for a vacation read.

The romance is sweet and tender, a slow-burn second chance at love between Leah and Luke. I especially appreciated how the novel explores themes of starting over, finding belonging, and the healing power of community.

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw’s narration is wonderful—she captures both the coziness of the setting and the emotions of the characters, making the listening experience smooth and immersive.

Verdict: A perfect summer audiobook—heartfelt, relaxing, and filled with small-town charm. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy quirky characters, sweet romance, and the idea of building a new life surrounded by books.

Leah Powell, once the prodigal child, returns to her home town to clear her mind and figure out her future. She buys a historical sea captains home and transforms it into a bookshop.

Luke Nicholson is a talented woodworker with more clients than he knows what to do with. He hasn’t quite perfected the art juggling jobs and being so well sought after.

Honestly my favorite character in The Sandy Page Bookshop is a side character named Eudora. She is a tad saucy and sassy. She has a vested interest in economic development but also preserving historical sites. She is maternal and a problem solver. She is a dog lover and a supporter of small town businesses. She loves deeply but only reveals that secret through small acts of kindness. She was a guidance counselor by trade. So when Eudora recognizes that Leah needs help getting her bookstore off the ground and running…she suggests that Leah ask for a little help from Luke.

The shop is a success in the charming town of Cape Cod once its doors open to the local residents.

Charming, witty, and lovable characters.

A bookstore in a quaint town puts you in the mood for this novel of second chances. The back story of each character gives the feeling that you are with friends, not strangers. Well crafted and developed. A good summer read.

An enjoyable summer read! I loved the bookstore family and the way they stood by and helped each other.

I went into The Sandy Page Bookshop expecting a breezy romance—bookshop meet-cute, small-town magic, a bit of will-they-won’t-they charm. And while there is a romantic thread in the background, what Hannah McKinnon delivers is something much more layered: a character-driven story about grief, reinvention, and unexpected friendship that—frustratingly—isn’t being marketed that way at all.

The novel follows three women at very different, very vulnerable points in their lives. There’s Leah, newly dumped by both her fiancé and her publishing career, who flees to Cape Cod to figure out what’s next. Lucy, still reeling from her sister’s tragic car accident, trying to escape the sympathetic stares and the suffocating expectations of how she should be coping. And Eugenia, a widow whose world has shrunk to the four walls of her home, battling anxiety and borderline agoraphobia since her husband passed.

The thing tying them together? A charming little seaside bookshop that’s being resurrected—and with it, so are they.

This is a small-town summer novel through and through. Sand dunes, quiet streets, community gossip, second chances. There are twists (yes), emotional reckonings (many), and a warmth that builds chapter by chapter. If I hadn’t been primed to expect a romance, I probably would have enjoyed it more from the jump. But because the synopsis leans hard into Leah and Luke’s storyline—when really, he’s a subplot at best—it felt like the book was misrepresented. It’s not a love story between a woman and a man; it’s a love story between women and the lives they’re trying to rebuild.

Also, I listened to this one as an audiobook, and I have to say: the production was rough. At times, it sounded like completely different voices were spliced in to fix certain lines—or worse, like AI narration had been dropped in mid-sentence. It made for a jarring and disjointed listen that kept pulling me out of the story. Hopefully just a fluke, but it added an unintended layer of distraction.

That said, The Sandy Page Bookshop still worked for me in the end. It’s a cozy, heartfelt story about loss, resilience, and the way our lives can intersect when we least expect it. Not a romance, but something quieter and maybe more meaningful.

If you’re in the mood for a women-centered novel about finding purpose, opening yourself back up to life, and maybe building something beautiful out of the wreckage—this one’s for you. Just… don’t go in expecting swoon. Go in expecting heart.

I love books and tend to gravitate to ones with bookshops on the cover or in the title. So I of course wanted to read this in me right when I saw it. I loved the perspective from several different main characters and the different ages. My biggest complaint with this one was that I felt it ended too soon. I listened to it and so I didn’t have a book in my hands turning pages to see just how much was left. When it wrapped up, I was surprised and truly wanted more of the story. I did wrap up each characters storyline, but I could have easily done with more chapters of each!

I love this authors books, but this is my new favorite!

Small town, new start on life, book about books, and summer vacation town vibes!

This book follows a woman who loses her job in publishing and loses her fiancé, causing her to need a new start on life. She heads back to her hometown to start over and ends up opening a bookstore/cafe.

I loved the messages in this book about starting over, and thought it was so great that the main character got the help of locals to make her dream happen. Reading about her building her business and create her own new purpose in life was so wholesome. I also loved how many characters we got to know in this book! Such a great summer read.

Thank you Netgalley for this amazing audio from a new-to-me but fantastic author! I absolutely adored everything about it - the small town vibe, the old flames reuinited love story, all the adorable yet quirky characters and of course, the book store! The mystery was also intriguing and I found I couldn't stop listening to any of the characters stories and found myself wanting more! (I really hope this is the first of many stories about the Sandy Page Bookshop and the people who love it). I will definitely recommend this to a lot of people and I have already decided to read it with my book club next year! Ten stars!!

The Sandy Page Bookshop is a charming and heartwarming read set against the picturesque backdrop of Cape Cod. The cozy bookstore setting is a dream come true for any book lover, and the meaningful relationships that develop as the characters bring the shop to life make this a truly feel-good story.

I thought this was an enjoyable story with good character growth and depth to the storyline. The narration was enjoyable. Overall, it was a wothwhile read/listen, it just didn't quite capture me enough to make it 4 stars or higher. I would recommend this for readers who enjoy family dramas, sibling storylines, a bit of romance, and a hint of mystery/secrets. I enjoyed the bookshop setting for this one, it is a place of healing and reinventing oneself for the MFC.

A love letter to books, bookstores, and Cape Cod. The book opens as Leah returns home to the Cape following a career catastrophe and the dissolution of her 3-year engagement in Boston. After fumbling for a bit, she decides to open a bookstore in a large, rundown house in Chatham. This decision spirals out to create meaningful connections among a wide cast of characters. The POV stays primarily with Leah, but also shifts to 2 other women as well - Eudora, a retired guidance counselor with crippling anxiety and Lucy, a 15-year-old whose older sister has been hospitalized since early summer following a devastating car accident. There are definitely romantic elements, and a bit of mystery as well, but the theme of the story is really the possibilities that open up when you're willing to be a little vulnerable and take a chance - in a variety of situations. The audiobook is narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, who does an excellent job of distinguishing all the different characters without getting overly dramatic about it. Finally, Cape residents and longtime visitors will get a kick out of the mentions of local businesses and other landmarks - and the fact that the last name of Leah's love interest is Nickerson!

Audiobook/Book Review 🎧📚
Thank you so much partner @atriabooks + Brillance Publishing for the gifted copies and audiobook!

The Sandy Page Bookshop
by Hannah McKinnon
Narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw

About the book 👇🏽

After her publishing career and engagement fell apart in Boston, Leah Powell has no choice but to return to her hometown. Feeling lost and discouraged, she stumbles upon a once prominent sea captain’s historic home that now looks as dilapidated as she feels. Suddenly inspired, Leah decides to transform it into a bookstore and café she will call The Sandy Page.

Luke Nickerson, a life-long local and contractor, remembers Leah, even if she doesn’t remember him. Intrigued by her return and her project, he agrees to help her bring the old captain’s house back to life. As they work together, The Sandy Page slowly becomes the town’s go-to gathering spot for anyone who is feeling adrift during this long, sweet summer. It’s a home for second chances.

📚 My thoughts:

I love a book about second chances. Whether it is second chance romance or just a second chance at the life you want, I am here for it! This book is full of heart and resonance. We may not have gone through the hardships that Leah has but we have still experienced hardships and sometimes we are just looking for somewhere to land. When given the chance to go back to the life that she found comfort in, she chose a place that now feels more like home, and that’s something that personally warms my heart. It’s not always the easier choice but it’s the right one. I really enjoyed this story and the personal growth we get to see in this story making this a book I’d recommend! The narrator was also the perfect choice for this story as she kept me engrossed in the story from start to finish! If you’re looking for a warm read then look no further, The Sandy Page Bookshop is out TODAY 7/22/25!


Happy reading 📖🎧📚

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Rounded Up.

Thank you Atria and Brilliance Audio for the gifted copies.

The Sandy Page Bookshop
Hannah McKinnon
Publishing Date: July 22, 2025

🎧 Narrator: Mia Hutchinson-Shaw🎧

This small-town story really took me by surprise with how much depth it held. Set in Cape Cod, this is the perfect beach read if you’re looking for cozy heartwarming vibes wrapped around some heavier emotional themes and plot lines.

We get four main POV and at first it’s unclear how they will all weave together. We have Leah, who is returning to her childhood home on the cape after life took some tough turns. Luke, the dependable local who never left. Eudora, the widow and retired guidance counselor who struggles with anxiety. Lucy, the teen whose sister is in rehabilitation after a terrible car accident. And a cast of side characters who all add something special to the story.

What brings them all together? The opening of a The Sandy Page Bookshop.

This book had some really sensitive and emotional topics that the characters were living through, which took us on journeys of self discovery, recovery, and resilience. And yet despite this, it was also somehow cozy, sweet, and heartwarming at the same time. And who doesn’t love a story centered around books and a bookstore 🥰

🎧 Mia Hutchinson-Shaw’s narration was really great!

Highly recommend this heart warming read filled with lots of memorable characters! I absolutely loved the setting of a new bookstore in Cape Cod - I am a sucker for any small town bookstore story. Beyond the setting though, the characters were all so endearing, and you can't help fall in love with them. There is a wide range of characters who are all going through a difficult time, and they all find solace in the new bookstore in town. This is definitely not a tear-through-the-pages book, but I will remember these characters for awhile. I'm not sure if this is my first book by McKinnon, but I will definitely be checking out more of her writing in the future!

The Sandy Page Bookshop is a calm, easy read that left me smiling. Leah returns to Cape Cod after her life in Boston takes a turn, and she ends up restoring an old house and opening a bookshop and café. It has all the elements I love, books, beach-town charm, and a romance that’s sweet but not overdone.

The pacing is good, the writing is straightforward, and the characters feel real. It’s not a dramatic book, it’s more about healing, starting fresh, and finding comfort in small things. Luke, the love interest, is kind and gentle, and their story unfolds in a very natural way.

It’s the kind of book you read on a quiet afternoon with a cup of tea or coffee. Nothing flashy, just a solid, feel-good story.

Favourite quote from the blurb: “Sometimes second chances happen in the places we’ve left behind.”

Recommended for anyone who loves women’s fiction with heart, especially if you’re in the mood for something soft and hopeful.

Thanks to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the audio ARC.

Settle in to a comfy chair and enjoy the story. The characters are real, flawed and lovable. This should be the first book you pack for your vacation.

Pub date 7/21/26
4.5⭐️

#TheSandyPageBookshop
#hannahMckinnon
#netgalley

Audiobook Review: The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon
🎙️ Narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw

The Sandy Page Bookshop is the ultimate cozy, feel good escape. A heartwarming story that feels like a warm hug for any book lover. Hannah McKinnon has gifted us a beautiful tale of second chances, self discovery, and the magic that happens when books bring people together.

Our heroine Leah is exactly the kind of character you root for. After a painful breakup and the loss of her job, she returns to her coastal hometown and does what so many of us dream of. She opens a charming little bookshop. But this isn’t just a story about books and new beginnings. Leah’s bookstore becomes a haven, a place where people connect, heal, and grow. The way she touches the lives of those around her, both longtime friends and new faces, makes the whole story shine with warmth and kindness.

Enter Luke, our sweet, steady male lead. He’s been carrying a quiet, unrequited love for Leah for years, and when she returns, he sees a chance not only to help her rebuild her life but maybe finally step into the role he’s always longed for. Despite juggling a hectic construction schedule, Luke finds time to support Leah in creating the store of her dreams, one bookshelf, one coffee at a time. Their chemistry is gentle and genuine, and watching Leah slowly open her heart again after betrayal and heartbreak is deeply satisfying.

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw’s narration is simply perfect. She brings Leah’s voice to life with heart and nuance, making you feel every hope, hesitation, and triumph. The supporting characters are distinct and memorable, and the atmosphere she helps create makes it easy to picture the salty breeze, the cozy shop, and all the lives being quietly transformed by one woman’s dream.

This is the kind of story that deserves its own genre. Bookstore fiction for the soul. If you're a fan of stories about community, compassion, and the healing power of books, The Sandy Page Bookshop is a must listen. 💛📚

A sweet story about a bookshop in a small beach town got me intrigued with this story. Leah returns home after some major life changes and decides to open a bookshop at a local infamous building. With the opening of the bookstore, she hires and meets people that becomes found family for everyone.

I love all the side characters and how much each story added to the charm is the book. I was vested in each of their situations and what happens.

The small town vibe is always so fun and I love how supportive the town was in the success of the new bookstore.

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw did a great job in bringing the beach town vibes with her calming voice.

Thank you @brillanceaudio @atriabooks for a copy of the book.

A charming story about new beginnings, finding love and friendship while navigating new chapters in life. I enjoyed the lovely characters and coastal setting.
Each person faced their own private sorrow, yet they still managed to form connections with others which helped ease some of their grief.
I connected deeply with Eudora and
am really glad I read this.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.