There’s something so comforting about a novel set in a bookshop—especially one nestled in a quaint coastal town—and The Sandy Page Bookshop delivers just that. I was drawn to this charming story for its seaside setting, community spirit, and of course, the promise of a fresh start built around books.

After losing both her publishing career and her fiancé in Boston, Leah Powell returns home to Cape Cod feeling defeated. When she comes across a crumbling historic sea captain’s house, she sees potential—not just in the building, but in herself. Channeling her passion for stories and fresh starts, she decides to open a bookshop and café she names The Sandy Page.

Luke Nicholson, a kind-hearted local contractor, remembers Leah from their youth—though she doesn’t recall him. He signs on to help restore the property, and the two slowly grow closer as they work side by side. While their romance had a gentle build, I found myself wanting a bit more spark between them. The chemistry felt somewhat subdued, and I would’ve loved to see more emotional depth to really root for them as a couple.

The novel is told from multiple points of view, and I really appreciated how the story extended beyond Leah and Luke. One of the standout storylines for me was Lucy’s—an employee at The Sandy Page whose sister was critically injured in a car crash. While the mystery surrounding the accident wasn’t entirely unexpected, the emotional layers of Lucy’s journey and her family dynamics felt authentic and moving. Her arc was a highlight for me.

Another storyline I enjoyed followed Eudora, an older woman quietly confronting ghosts from her past. Her reflections added depth and heart to the story, reminding us that it’s never too late to heal or begin anew.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook edition, narrated by Mia Hutchison-Shaw. Her gentle, expressive performance perfectly matched the tone of the novel. Her narration added to the cozy, feel-good atmosphere and made this a lovely listen.

Final Thoughts:

The Sandy Page Bookshop is a heartfelt, multi-layered story about second chances, community, and finding home in unexpected places. If you enjoy books set in small towns with a touch of romance and emotional resonance, this one is worth adding to your summer reading list.

I received an ARC of this audiobook from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

I really enjoyed this women's fiction novel about books and new beginnings. I loved the main characters: Leah, the bookstore owner with no experience who must rely upon the kindness of an old flame (Luke) to get her business started, Lucy, the sister of a recently injured college-bound teen who can't communicate with anyone due to her injuries, but seems to have a secret, and Eudora, the widow whose anxiety flares up when she leaves the house, but who is determined to conquer her fear. This story has a very small-town feel, and there is a strong sense of community driving the story. It's definitely a feel-good novel, with everything wrapped up neatly, but that makes it the perfect beach read.

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw did a great job as the narrator of the audiobook. She had distinct voices for each character, and I never had any trouble remembering whose POV I was in. I don't often seek out titles to listen to based on the narrator, but I liked her so much that I'm going to do just that.

Thanks to Netgalley and Brilliance Audio for the advance listening copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc in exchange for my honest review.

This was an adorable and charming read. If you are a fan of Elin Hilderbrand (and are upset that she is no longer writing Nantucket novels), this is the perfect book for you! Hannah McKinnon (not to be confused with Hannah Mary McKinnon) is a fantastic writer. I loved the characters in this book and it was like being wrapped up in a big hug. This is the perfect beach read in 2025! Furthermore, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw is a fantastic audiobook narrator, and is quickly becoming one of my favorite voices to listen to!
I can't wait for Hannah's next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon (audiobook)

Set in Chatham (aka one of my all-time favorite places) this one had me hooked from the start. I devoured it like a beachside lobster roll. The cozy bookshop setting, the coastal charm, and the layered POVs gave it all the makings of a perfect summer read. The narration was excellent, bringing each character to life beautifully. My only (small!) complaint? Some of the drama felt a bit unnecessarily drawn out. But if you’re a fan of Mary Kay Andrews or Beverly Jenkins, add this to your list ASAP. It’s heartfelt, warm, and the ideal companion for a lazy afternoon in the sun.

The Sandy Page Bookshop is a heartwarming beach read set in the charming and idyllic town of Chatham on Cape Cod.

The FMC, Leah, has to regroup and start over after she loses her publishing job in Boston and her fiancé subsequently ends their engagement. With nowhere else to go, she returns to her childhood home in Chatham. She quickly decides to rent a historic home and turn it into a bookstore. Along the way, we meet various other characters and the novel alternates POVs. These include the handsome contractor Leah hires to help her renovate the house, two staff she employs to help her run the store, and an elderly widow who becomes one of their primary customers. Each character has their own struggles and secrets they are navigating during the summer.

I grew up in Chatham and it was clear reading this that the author really knows the town and included several real businesses and locales in this novel. For the first time in several years, I won't be spending part of my summer in Chatham, so I enjoyed living vicariously through Leah! However, you don't have to be familiar with Chatham or the Cape in general to enjoy this quaint coastal setting and the complex characters created by McKinnon who become found family.

Regarding the audiobook specifically, the narrator was great at voicing several different characters, despite them being different genders and ages. Overall, if you're looking for something that is a step up from a cookie-cutter beach read, I can't recommend this heartwarming story enough!

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

What a refreshingly heartwarming read!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for early access.
I read/listened to this book in one sitting. It was 3am when I finished. I could not put it down!
I connected so much with the characters. I have a new favorite book character I do believe! I love them all but Eudora just might be my spirit character. :)
I appreciated the storyline and just how well written the bookshop aspect was done. It made me want to go find a building and run with it!
This truly was the cozy, heartwarming read I needed.
I can’t wait to read more books by this author, this was my first.

The Sandy Page Bookshop is a good and charming beach read.

Leah loses her dream job and her fiancé ends their engagement. Returning to her hometown in Cape Cod seems like the only option for her. Then on a whim, Leah decides to rent "the Captain's house" a building with lots of history, but also needs lots of work. Leah plans to fix it up and open a bookshop. As Leah is working hard to open the bookshop we meet different characters who are struggling with their battles and come to find refuge in the bookshop.

I enjoyed this heartwarming story. Has multiple POVs, a small town setting, and characters looking for a second chance at different stages of life. I love a book about books and I enjoyed the popular book titles mentioned here and there. I also loved how the bookshop becomes a main character in this story.

The narrator did an excellent job with different voices and adding a personal touch to each character to embrace their personalities (I could see Brad's sass and loved it).

I received an ALC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio for this advanced copy.

Cozy beach read!

Leah loses her job and her fiancé dumps her. She moves back to her hometown. While there she decides to open a bookstore. The bookstore brings people from the community into her life. Everyone is going thru something and the bookstore brings them together and helps them get thru it all.

I enjoyed the beach setting and also
A bookstore. What could be better? I really enjoyed the secondary characters in this story. Brad is her first employee, who quickly becomes her friend. When his grandmother kicks him out for being gay, Leah becomes his found family. Luke is the love interest. He has had a crush on her since high school. Eudora is a widower, who has suffered major panic attacks since her husband’s death. She rarely leaves her house but the bookstore gives her a renewed sense of purpose. Lucy is a high school student, whose sister has been in a major car accident. She is looking for a job to get her out of the house and distract her. Each chapter is told from one of their points of view.i do wish that Brad had chapters with his point of view. We learn about him thru Leah. I really loved his character and think the story could have benefited greatly from having his prospective.
I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator does a great job.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brillance Publishing from providing me this audiobook for review in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed The Sandy Page Bookshop. The Cape Cod setting gave off such cozy coastal small-town vibes and I loved being immersed in this close-knit community. The story is told through multiple points of view and each character had a unique and heartfelt story to share. The audiobook was a highlight for me. There was only one narrator but she did an amazing job bringing each character to life with distinct voices and emotion. This is the perfect pick for a summer read. It’s warm, emotional, and full of charm.

There’s cozy, and there’s aimless. This story falls into the latter category.

The narrator has a pleasant voice but tapers off at the end of sentences, which makes it difficult to understand her at times.

I was extremely confused when additional POVs were introduced as the book’s description made it seem like it focuses on Leah and Luke. I think the narrative would have benefited from leaving the others out. As it stands, it’s extremely info-dumpy. The stories meander in circles. The deep-dives into minor characters’ backstory, combined with the constantly shifting POVs, means that nothing really happens in the main storyline.
Twenty percent in, we’re only just beginning to inspect the captain’s house, and I’m bored. Not least because the characters feel stilted.
The way Leah interacts with the gay side character rubs me the wrong way. It’s virtue-signally in an icky way. This is where I DNF.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah McKinnon is a fabulous author!! She knows how to write the most darling story. This is one of my favorites of hers. She takes you to another place completely. Darling story!