An uplifting and fun beach read., set in wonderful Cape Cod and Charleston. Those descriptions rang true. it was a predictable plot with exploration of mid-life divorce, mother/daughter relationships, careers and second chances.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book. Sweet story about friends that decide to open a bookstore. If you are looking for a light read this is it. This would make a great Hallmark movie.

This is a sweet read for the right demographic and i don’t know that i was the right demographic, unfortunately,

It was very sweet, had moments I-enjoyed, but overall i found it repetitive and a bit predictable.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I adore books about bookstores, but that is pretty minimal in this book. The main focus is on relationships and everything that comes along with them. I would classify this as a predictable romance, but there are times when I want my books to be predictable. I felt like there was a bit of repetition that was a little annoying. I don't need to hear about sharks/seals 4 times. Once is enough. I also disagreed with the notion that a 30 year marriage ending in divorce is a failure. It served it's purpose. They successfully raised a daughter to adulthood.

Another wonderful read by Pamela Kelley! In the Bookshop by the Bay, you get to follow the story of best friends Jess and Allison, who are in their 50s, and also Julia and Caitlin, their daughters as they all navigate through life. You also get to meet a cast of characters ranging from their friends, to coworkers, to their families. Pamela’s books always feature such likeable and kind characters and that holds true in this story as well.

Pamela’s book are also so descriptive and written in a way that I feel like I’m in the book, and the characters are my friends. This book tackles important matters like divorce, being laid off, cheating, controlling relationships, friendship, and not knowing what you want to be “when you grow up”. Her books have the ability to transport you to the Cape while you’re reading her story.

A truly delightful story that kept me smiling and interested each page. Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy by one of my favorite authors Pamela Kelley.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela M. Kelley. I enjoyed reading this book, but felt, at times, it did drag. With that said, I never wanted to stop reading it or skip pages. I was fully invested in the two mother/daughter duos and what issues they were experiencing. I could’ve predicted the ending by mid book, but that didn’t make it any less special for me when it all rolled out and came together. I would definitely recommend this book.

I read this book in 2 days. It covered many important topics, and was both soul-searching and uplifting. Unfortunately, it has a huge amount of errors -- it is seriously in need of a proofreader. I give the story 5 stars. The use of redundancies such as "replied back", the constant use of "up" as in grill up, cook up, type up, etc. appeared to be simply a desire to increase the word count. I give the writing/editing 3 stars.

This is definitely a book I would recommend if you’re looking for something easy and light. A beach read, you might say. Although I did find everything a tad predictable, it wasn’t necessarily predictable in a bad way. The plot points were exactly what anyone would want from such a light-hearted read. If you’re looking for something with a little more substance to it, you should probably pick up something else.

two best friends buy a bookshop on cape cod, love this story. I always enjoy a book by Pamela Kelly. enjoyed the story very much.

A fun light hearted read that I enjoyed very much! Definitely a perfect beach read.
Yes, some was pretty unbelievable but that's why it's called fiction. I think that's why I love reading fiction because it's fun to imagine yourself in Jess and Caitlin's place. Well, not in a couple of places. I wouldn't want that at all!
I've read this author's work before so I was happy to see this book. Of course I grabbed it. I devoured it right away! More please!
I feel like that I would know Cape Cod if I went there thanks to the author's wonderful description.
I feel like it's a magical place almost like my beach town here but much more beautiful and interesting!
I hated to leave after I finished this book. I didn't want to come back to reality.
5 stars for a job well done! I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received an advance copy of this book from Net Galley. I love every Pamela Kelley book that I have read and this is no exception.

The book is set in two of my favorite places in the United States- Charleston and Cape Cod.

It is the story of two best friends who buy a bookstore on the Cape and how their lives change. They each have a daughter and their lives intertwine with their daughters and all explore and evaluate their lives.

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs an uplifting and happy book.

Seriously good! This book was a fantastic romantic comedy. The characters were lovable, and I was so sad when it ended. I loved it!

The Bookshop by the Bay is another great beach read by author Pamela Kelley. If you’re not familiar with this author you’re missing out and should definitely pickup her newest book. The book was entertaining and the setting in Chatham, Cape Cod sounded like a great place to visit. The story is about family, friends, and starting over.

Jess and Alison have been lifelong friends and are both at a crossroads in their lives. Jess is an attorney living in Charleston with her husband and thirty year old daughter. Jess discovers her husband is cheating and retreats to her home town in Chatham along with her daughter for support.

Alison is an editor for the Chatham Magazine but due to low circulation her boss and friend has no choice but to cut her job. Alison’s daughter Julia opens a jewelry store and is quite fulfilled something Alison is looking for.

When a beloved bookstore comes up for sale the two best friends go into business together along with reopening the coffee shop next door. With the help of their daughters the women discover friendships that grow, bonds will strengthen, and love is a possibility when starting over. I appreciate that the main characters were older women who discover that you can start over and there are second chances when it comes to romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC I received in exchange for my honest opinion.

My review will be posted to Goodreads on 11/06/22 and Amazon closer to the publication date.

5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Bookshop by the Bay
by Pamela M. Kelley
The book was ok for me. Not great, but not bad. Some parts were unbelievable, It was a family-friend book. Just not my type of book. Maybe a Lifetime movie vibe.

Predictable but sweet story about childhood friends living their dream. Well written as all her books are and fun. I enjoyed this more than some others of her.

Jess and Alison have been friends for a long time. When Jess discovers her husband's infidelity, she leaves Charleston and heads north to Cape Cod for the summer. Her and Alison buy a bookstore and coffee shop together, and their daughters Caitlin and Julia step in to help. Enjoyed this one, and the 4 romances the women have too. Did have trouble balancing out who was who at times though, but otherwise highly recommend this one.

General women's fiction
Multiple stories happening at once which was hard for me to follow at times.
I did enjoy the characters for the most part but by the end it felt like there was too fast of a wrap up after all the story buildup.

Typical women's fiction like we’re used to from Pamela Kelley. When Jess discovers her husband is cheating on her she and daughter Caitlin leave Charleston for a month on the cape. There she reconnects with her oldest friend Alison and her daughter Julia and they decide to open a bookstore coffee shop together. There are some mild life problems along the way for all four women but Kelley always has them easily solved. A predictable read, but still pleasurable.

Kindle copy for Review from NetGalley and St Martin’s Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Two long time friends decide one summer to open a bookstore. Their lives will change that summer as their friendship will grow. It is a story of love and struggles that will endure over time. This will make you value the bond of friendship.

This is a heartwarming story about two women who have been friends their whole lives, and are now at a point in their lives when they need to make some changes. Jess is a lawyer in her husband's family firm, but finds that he has been cheating on her with his assistant. She decides to leave for an extended visit to her mother's home and the Cape Cod area where her best friend Allison also lives.
Allison finds herself in a situation where her job is changing and she's not sure of what is next. When she learns that the local bookstore is for sale, she finds a dream opportunity presented. Allison and Jess explore new paths in life and watch both old and new relationships grow.