Chasing Stars by Linny Mack (arc review)

This book was everything I wanted and more. It was such a heartwarming book that also had a bit of mystery mixed in with the plot, which had me constantly wanting more at the end of every page. I say this all the time, but I love that this book has a bit of an intertwined friend group. It's one of my favorite aspects of small-town romances because it always makes it feel more relatable, and the banter that tends to follow is nothing short of hilarious. Something else that readers may find enjoyable about this book is that the author doesn't focus solely on the sexual attraction, tension, and spice. Linny Mack does a very good job of developing the characters' relationship on more than just the instant physical attraction. Jenna and Miles have to learn from each other, break through the walls each of them has built, and readers see them grow together through all of the challenges that come at them and come to light from the past.

Jenna and Miles's story is one of moving forward despite feeling as if the universe is against you at every turn. Chasing the Stars is a book that shows readers that life can feel like it is constantly beating you down; however, there is still magic in the small moments, there is comfort in the most unlikely places, and that though it may feel dark now, the sun will shine again.

It was an honor to read this author's second book in this series. I fell in love with Cape May after reading Linny Mack's debut Changing Tides, and this book did not disappoint me. I give my most loving thank you to the author for writing this book, and I also thank Page & Vine and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book prior to its release.

I was so excited to return to the quaint, charming town of Cape May. This is book two in the series and it was everything I hoped it would be. I especially loved seeing the couple from book 1. It’s nice to see them living their hea. This couple though… the way their relationship developed was written with so much heart. This emotional, pull on your heart strings romance was exceptionally written. This author once again penned an unputdownable, heartfelt story. This is a must read!

Chasing Stars
By Linny Mack

Jenna Rossi returns to Cape May to deal with her grief after her mother's death. She's at a crossroads since she has no home, no job and no family. Finding her childhood beach home untouched after 25 years is overwhelming. Now she's has some serious decisions to make.

Miles Corbin has the perfect setup, romance the tourists, work with his brother and surf under the stars. All of that changes when Jenna comes to claim her inherited home. Miles is immediately drawn to her and wants to lesson her burdens. But Jenna is used to taking care of herself and letting someone in is difficult after so much loss. And Miles isn't sure he can trust himself to be what she needs.

I got this ARC on NetGalley from Victory Editing.

Miles gets his own book. Miles has been hurt by his ex-wife. She left him so he decides it is just better to have flings, after all he lives in a tourist area. What could be more perfect they are only here for a few days to a month. He wasn’t expecting Jenna. Jenna’s dad died when she was 9, now her mom has passed away and she has lost her job. She feels alone and that she has nothing. Jenna finds out the house in Cape May they lived in as a family is paid for and left to her to do with what she wants. She thinks she can remodel and sell. Easy right? This house turns into a money pit. Miles company manages the property and catches Jenna peaking in windows. Jenna is emotional and in her feelings. Miles is unsure of her but wants to help if he can. They become fast friends but both want more but have a lot of issues they are dealing with. Will they be able to overcome the past and move forward?
I will be honest here, I loved the first book but was a little disappointed with this book. It is still a hallmark but a lot more spice, a lot! I enjoyed the storyline, the mystery that connects them and getting to know more of the Cape May characters. I will for sure read the next book, I hope it is about Jake and Joy!

Chasing Stars: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/692955
Pub Date: Sep 16 2025
Archive Date: Sep 14 2025

Well, Linny Mack has done it again! 4.5 Stars for The Second book in the Cape May Series, Chasing Stars is a special one! Its characters are deeply feeling, recovering from trauma, flawed but kind hearted humans. As always, Linny’s writing transports us back “home” to Cape May (which incidentally is a character of its own)! Her writing just flows and makes me relax into feeling like I belong and am a part of Cape May just as much as the familiar characters from Book 1! This story is bitter and sweet as we follow Miles and Jenna through all the feels! It has more spice than book one, but doesn’t feel gratuitous and can also be passed over without impacting the depth of the story. I do feel like these books stand alone, but do yourself a favor and deepen your connection by starting with Changing Tides and moving through the whole series! You won’t be sorry! I promise!

Linny Mack delivers another hit with Chasing Stars, the second book in the Cape May series, which can easily be read as a standalone since it features an entirely different couple. However, I recommend reading both books as they are just that good!
The story combines a sweet and spicy 🌶️ romance with a deeply affecting past tragedy, creating an engaging narrative.
Jenna and Miles show us that falling in love isn’t always easy but is always worth it. 💞
I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing a complimentary advanced copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

✨Chasing Stars✨

loved this book! This is a small-town romance set in the cozy, nostalgic beach town of Cape May. Jenna, the FMC, who’s grieving the loss of her mom returns to her abandoned childhood summer home. She’s overwhelmed, heartbroken, and not sure what comes next... and then in walks Miles! He’s a surfer, a real estate guy, and basically the definition of the golden retriever boyfriend! 😍
Jenna and Miles have such a sweet and slow-burn connection! They’re both dealing with heartbreak, Jenna from her past and Miles from a recent divorce and watching them slowly open up to each other was so sweet! I loved their banter, the beach nights, the fixer-upper moments! I especially loved how real Jenna felt! She’s strong but vulnerable, and Miles is so patient and quietly steady and I was here for it!
This book has healing, forgiveness, growth, and some spice! Plus, cameos from Sophie and Liam from book one which I also adored! If you’re into beach-town settings, emotional but hopeful stories, or romances where the characters truly see each other, this one’s for you! I can’t wait for book three!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐫𝐞:
🙅🏻‍♂️ A divorced MMC who avoids love
👩🏻‍🦱 A FMC who doesn’t need a white knight
🏠 An abandoned family beach house
6️⃣ Year age gap
👍🏻 Atta Girl!
🤫 A secret from the past
🌪️ A twist of fate that will either bring them together or tear them apart for good.

This was an entertaining read that I truly enjoyed reading.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
I really liked the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read book two in Linny Mack’s series that takes place in Cape May, one of my favorite places. Jenna returns to town after the death of her mother to sell the family home. Enter Miles, the handsome divorced real estate manager. Instant attraction ensues, but a tragic secret from the past threatens to end this sweet love story. This was a perfect read with end of summer and fall vibes in a most charming setting. Thanks to Netgalley and Page and Vine for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Linny Mack does it again with the second book in the Cape May series Chasing Stars! There is something about the way she writes that makes you deeply feel every emotion her characters feel. From the grief of loss, to the anxiety of not being good enough, to the endorphin pumping cloud nine feeling of falling in love. I felt it all and I loved every minute of it!

I really appreciate when characters feel like real everyday people and Miles and Jenna with their imperfections makes them feel so relatable and makes me feel understood as a person.

I love how they both grew as people together. Both Miles and Jenna were used to keeping their walls high and not letting people in but when it came to each other they almost couldn’t help themselves and that to me was beautiful and special. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for the Cape May Series!

Well…well…well… I thought I wouldn’t like anyone more than Liam and Sophie, but then I met Miles and Jenna. And here we are. Obsessed.

Jenna feels alone in the world (for many reasons) and heads back to Cape May to close out a chapter in her life she didn’t even know still existed. But what she didn’t know is that Cape May, the community, and Miles would heal her. Theirs is a relationship with two emotional and broken and lonely people who find each other and together find healing and a new life.

I’m still obsessed with Cape May. I am still obsessed with these characters. And I’m very excited about book 3 next year!

Run, don’t walk, toward Linny Mack books. They’re the perfect mix of romance, coziness, and emotions with great characters and storylines that will make you feel like you don’t want to leave the pages.

P.S. I actually give this a 4.5 stars, but alas... :)

Chasing Stars

Linny Mack

Surfy vibes romance

FMC Jenna uproot her life after losing her mum and job all in one month. Luckily, she has inherited a house in the beachy tourist town of Cape May, where she moves on a whim. On inspecting the property to sell, Jenna bumps into estate agent Miles.

From the start, the chemistry between Jenna and Miles is great as they navigate the many issues that arise from repairing her new house. However, further into the story, this does fall away, and even a massive and gut-wrenching twist fails to bring it back. Overall, it is a good read and a very interesting plot, especially with the aforementioned plot twists.

Thank you, Netgalley and Linny Mack, for this read.

Jenna inherits her family's beach house in Cape May that she didn't know was still theirs. She can't believe how rundown it's become. Miles is a local estate agent who's divorced and surfs every day and after his heartbreak with his divorced vow not to get seriously involved again. He decides to help Jenna

when i saw Linny was back and back to take us to Cape May i was so happy. her last book was just stunning. so could this ever touch that same feeling i got from book one? well, yes of course it could. its different but just as wonderful to read and shines in its own right. but through it all stirs the same beauty of Linny and her style of writing and the way she gives us wonderful places and wonderful characters.
this book was full of heart and it held mine tight throughout.
we a re bought to Jenna who is returning to the place of her childhood summers. her mother has died and shes inherited the long forgotten and worse for wear house. Jenna cant see anything but the need to sell and move on. seeing the house brings only more pain especially seeing it in the state its in. she needs out and fast.
and in step Miles to the scene. hes the real estate that has been handling this property. hes carrying his own issues right now after the emotional weight of a recent divorce.
on meeting Miles instantly looks up and see something in Jenna. and so sets about offering his help on the repairs to the house.
as the two spend more and more times together its not just the house that is building strength and healing. its not just the house that is brightening and starting to feel loved.
the steady anchor they have for each other is something they never saw coming and didn't know how much they needed nor that it could be from each other.
they share some lighter and flirty moments at the start. but this quickly and often gets woven with something so much more. something deeper is happening here. something kind of like love,
this book was lovely. from start to finish i was involved, invested and adored the plot and characters alike.
i ended up once again caring about this community the people in it and especially how our two main character would fair in the end.
this book couldn't be better and i couldn't do it justice in any review i tried to write. Linny please let me live in your pocket so you can tell me your stories all day?

Chasing Stars by Linny Mack is a heartfelt and beautifully written romance that swept me away from the very first page. The chemistry between Miles and Jenna felt genuine and tender, and I loved how their journey unfolded against the charming backdrop of Cape May. The story balances emotion, hope, and second chances in a way that felt both uplifting and deeply moving. I truly enjoyed this book and rated it five stars.

Being given the opportunity to step back into the Cape May series had me kicking my feet with joy. The first book in the series, Changing Tides, was perfect and this one was definitely close on its heals.

The beginning of this novel was slow to start, but once you got into it, it blossomed so beautifully! I loved both of the main characters, Jenna and Miles. Their story was bittersweet and the ending had me happy as can be. It had loss, heartbreak, second chances, and all of the feels. The vibe was Hallmark with a little spice. My cup of tea!


Linny Mack has became one of my recommended authors to friends/family. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Thank you so much to the author, Page & Vine, and NetGalley for allowing me to ARC this.

Thank you Linny Mack , Victory Editing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All information below is based off my own opinion of the book! I also like to keep my reviews short and simple as someone who looks at the short reviews before reading books. 💕⭐️
Book rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorite characters: Pete & Jenna
Review: I enjoyed every minute of this book! I never expected the secret from the past to be what it was. I felt so much emotion through out this book. From grief, to love, to joy, laughter. What’s not to love about a small town romance? It was so nice to read about adults in their upper 30-40’s. You don’t get that with a lot of books. Overall I would recommend this to anyone for a quick romance read!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

Wow what a great book! I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The characters are great. I even enjoyed the secondary characters. The writing style was great and this really was an easy read. It had meek hooked from page one. I don't always have a hard time putting books down but this one had me..lol. I highly recommend this book if you are in a reading slump. This was a first for me by this author but will not be my last.

We read the story of Miles and Jenna. Jenna learns her family's Cape May property is still in the family's name, so she heads to Cape May to see if she can sell it. That's where she meets Miles, whose family's real estate company has been taking care of the property for decades. Sparks fly between the two of them, but a secret could ruin it all... 🌊

What a great and cozy, fall book 🥰🍂

What I liked:
• The places in Cape May; I knew exactly what places the author described (The Ugly Mug!!)
• I love how characters from the previous book make cameo appearances.
• The chemistry between Miles and Jenna...🔥
• Of course...the spiiiiiiiice 🌶🌶🌶
• I've been to Cape May during fall and Christmas time; when scenery was described I could picture it perfectly!
• I admired Jenna's strength throughout the story; even though she did fall apart a few times she managed to pick herself up and keep going.
• How grief was depicted in the story. I unfortunately went through what Jenna had gone through so I was able to relate to her so much.
• The Hallmark feel of the story 💓

What I didn't like:
• There was a part in the story where Jenna noted it was weeks since she had seen Miles, but a few pages later says she hasn't seen him in a week. I was just a tad confused about that.

I loved this book so much that I pre-ordered a physical copy 😁 I can't wait until the 3rd book comes out! 📖

This book hit me right in the feels! Chasing Stars was the perfect blend of heartfelt emotion and small-town charm. There were a few moments where I felt the tears creeping in, the kind that remind you you’re really connecting with the story. I have to say, when Jenna talks about her “trauma bangs", nothing captures the chaos of coping (and healing) quite like the impulsive decision to grab scissors and hope a new hairstyle fixes everything. (Honestly, haven’t we all been there? 😂)

As an older Millennial reader, I really appreciated the age of the characters and the point they’re at in their lives—baggage and all—because, let’s face it, we all have it.

This is definitely a slow-slow burn. The steamy scenes fit seamlessly into the story, enhancing the romance instead of overshadowing it or feeling like they were there just for the sake of it. Although I sometimes found myself a little frustrated toward the end regarding the pace of the story but I was pleased with the ending.

At its heart, this is a story about tearing down walls, finding where you belong, and realising home isn’t always a place, it can be a person too.

I came into this book without reading the first in the series, and it still felt completely satisfying on its own. It was also my introduction to Author Linny Mack, and I’m eager to explore more.