The Bookshop By The Bay is a heartwarming story about mothers and daughters and the changes life throws at you.

Two childhood friends reunite after one discovers her husband’s affair and future child. A marriage that had been of convenience is suddenly questioned. Jess goes back home to Chatham and reunited with her childhood friend, Allison. Their daughters, Julia and Caitlin, who never bonded the way their mothers did , find their way to a deep, strong friendship.

This is a novel about finding your way when life changes. It’s also about finding true love.

I enjoyed visiting the town of Chatham, MA. As a Cape Codder, I love reading novels by local authors. Pamela Kelley is a favorite and she’s hit it out of the park again.

It’s a pretty cute and fulfilling read. I hadn’t read anything by Pamela prior to this book. I’ll have to hunt down more. I received a review copy from the publisher and have left my honest opinion.

This was a great book. It’s all about reassessing your life, reaching for your dreams and not letting anyone treat your dreams as less than theirs. I liked the characters a lot. The writing is wonderful. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

“The Bookshop by the Bay” is by Pamela M. Kelley. I can understand why it’s considered to be a beach read. It is about family, friends, new starts in life, and new beginnings in general. The area of Cape Cod in which this takes place is very well described. While I understand why this book has the title it does, I wish more had been focused on the actual bookstore - instead of it being the background in the book. If you like a quick, light and predictable read, this book is one you should pick up - especially if visiting a beach or while on holiday. I can see this book being the beginning of a series and, possibly, made into a very well done Hallmark movie. BTW, my rating of three stars isn't against the author - it was a well written book and I'd read another book by Ms. Kelley.

This is the first Pamela Kelley book I have read, but it was a great beach read. The Bookshop by the Bay is a sweet story of second chances and fresh starts when life doesn't end up quite as you planned. Thank you St Martins's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

A wonderful, refreshing read. A book about starting over and second chances at life. Like all of Pamela Kelley’s books, it was hard to put down once I started! Awesome beach read!

I've been reading Pamela M. Kelley's books since her first one - I especially like her Nantucket series and hope she'll start a new series with all the characters in this book. I truly enjoyed it, and even though winter is here, it'll be coming out just in time for all you beach readers. Fun and quick book to read. Netgalley, so glad you finally are offering Kelley's books!!!

This book is a must read. I will be recommending it as our common read for the summer once it is available. Pamela Kelly never disappoints and always keeps her stories interesting and wholesome. The four main characters in this book are at a crossroads and have decisions to make regarding their next steps in life. By the end of the book, they made the decisions that were right for them and reasonable to the reader. The characters are all well-devoloped, and interesting. As a reader, you will see what it is like to have real friends who support each other beyond what would be expected. A key point from the book that will be helpful to everyone, but especially college students is that you may not know what your passion is going to be in life. It is fine to major in one field and change to another. It is even okay to have a degree from a prestigious university and decide to be a plumber if that makes you happy.. Another point is that women should not settle when looking for a life partner.. Too many people think having anyone is better than being alone ,but these 30 years know better. I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I highly recommend it for anyone from their teens to their nineties.

I really enjoyed this book. True independence and starting over is what made me read on. I wish this story would continue. I feel like i need to know more.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts - Present Day

Jessica Coleman, a Charleston, SC lawyer, is making a life-changing decision. After more than thirty years of marriage, she is seriously contemplating divorcing Parker, her husband, and fellow lawyer. They are both attorneys in his father's law firm, have an adult daughter, Caitlin, and are well known in the Charleston community. But for several years, Jess had known that she and Parker have grown apart, and she recently discovered that he's been seeing his secretary. To make matters worse, Jess recently noticed that the younger woman is obviously pregnant. In order to wrap her head around a decision she knows she has to make, Jess is going back to her hometown of Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod where her mother still lives. She's glad to know that her daughter will join her, too.

Caitlin Coleman has just lost her job at a local high end department store. Obviously her honesty with a client about a dress the client liked didn't go over well with her boss. So flying to Chatham with her mother seemed like a good idea to Caitlin. She'd have to put feelers out around Charleston upon her return for another job. Luckily, she still lived with her parents, so housing wouldn't be a problem at first. Caitlin is aware, however, of her parents' troubled relationship.

Jess' best friend, Alison Page, has never left Chatham. Employed at a local magazine, Alison is aware of the issues at the business. Subscriptions are down, as is advertising, so it's apparent that layoffs are in the future. After work one day, Alison retreats to Chatham Books, the local bookstore, where she will drown her worries in a new book The store owner, Ellen, informs her that she's planning to sell the store as she is past retirement age, and she wants to travel. Alison is saddened to hear this, but understands.

Jess and Alison have been life-long best friends, and when Jess returns to town, the two get together right away. When Alison tells Jess about the bookstore, Jess turns thoughtful, and wonders if an investment might be a good idea? Attached to the bookstore is a coffee shop that's been closed for a while. Jess has her own money, separate from Parker's, and investing in her hometown sounds to her like a viable idea. Even Caitlin and Jess' mother agree.

THE BOOKSHOP BY THE BAY is a definite beach read for the summer. Located in the seaside community on Cape Cod, Chatham's local inhabitants welcome the tourists and maintain old friendships. Jess and Alison are both embarking on a new part of their lives, and Caitlin is struggling to find something that will give her some direction. All three women are willing to try something new. Will the bookshop be the new beginning for them?

A totally enjoyable read, THE BOOKSHOP BY THE BAY will be a relaxing tale for the summer.

The Bookshop by the Bay is the first novel that I have read written by Pamela M. Kelley. It definitely lived up to my expectations. It is a great beach read. The story is about two friends who are starting over in life. Jess discovers that her husband has been having an affair and spends the summer with her daughter, Caitlin in her hometown of Chatham, near Cape Cod. Her friend, Allison and her daughter, Julia are also at a crossroads. This a lovely book about starting over and making changes to one's life during midlife. It is uplifting and was a pleasure to read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

If you’re an Elin Hilderbrand fan, you’ll love this and also struggle to read it. I am in the middle. Love a good Nantucket character drama. Just maybe compared it too much to you know who…
That said it’s probably not fair to rate it in comparison to one of my faves. So four stars.

Thanks so much for the ARC.

Quick and fun read. I love how Pamela makes you feel like you are catching up with your old friends in her books. Loved seeing the growing friendship of old and new friends in this story. Definitely add it to your must-read list!

Sweet, comfortable beach read. Sometimes a book is completely predictable and sometimes that is just what I need. I always enjoy Ms Kelley’s books. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

loved this book
the story of mothers and daughters.

Jessica Coleman is undergoing a divorce and she and her daughter Caitlin move to Chatham, Massachusetts for the summer , as they usually do. This year there are some changes, Jessica and her friend Allison become business partners of a bookstore and coffee shop. Caitlin works in the coffee shop.
Julia Allison's daughter has a jewelry store and makes her own jewelery..
Gradually Caitlin and Julia become good friends.
It is Julia and Caitlin's intent that their stay in Chatham is only for the summer initially but then that stay becomes until mid October to get the bookstore and coffee shop to be a success.
Caitlin comes to realize that she prefers the quietness of the Cape and decides to stay
Jessica decides to stay as well and opens up a law office close to the bookshop and the coffeeshop.

New romances blossom as well

I get so excited when I see Pamela Kelley book released. When I got the email that I was receiving a copy of Bookstore By The Bay I knew it would be my next read. What a fun little story of mother daughter duo, Jess and Caitlyn and their best friend mother daughter duo Alison and Julia. Jess is struggling with her husbands infidelity and what her next move in life will be. Spending the summer in Chatham with her mother and daughter proves to be the best medicine. What a delightful read.

Pamela Kelley writes short, womens fiction with great characters. I’ve enjoyed many of her books. That said, I appreciate that this one is a bit longer story than usual that really developed several of the characters and their relationships. .
While it can be a beach read it works well any time of year. This story is set in Chatham, MA with a bit of the story in Charleston, SC. I loved the dynamics and relationships between mothers and daughters and that two of the main characters were “middle age.” Lots of drama and romance will keep the reader interested to the end.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A quick and fun read. This book was very endearing and even though it was predictable, it was well written and the characters were ones you were rooting for.

This is a cozy feel good book about friendship and family. The beach setting was fun. I will definitely read more books by this author. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed this book. True independence and starting over is what made me read on. I wish this story would continue. I feel like i need to know more.