The Bookshop by the Bay follows two lifelong friends dealing with life’s obstacles as they reunite on Cape Cod in Chatham, Massachusetts. Jessica Coleman is a lawyer in Charleston, South Carolina who is now divorcing her husband and fellow attorney, Parker, after thirty years of marriage. To take a break from her tighter knit community, she decides to go back to her hometown of Chatham and her daughter, Caitlin, will join. Caitlin is going through her own transition with losing her job at a department store, so the trip with her mother is coming at a good time. Jess is excited to reunite with her childhood best friend, Alison Page, who has remained in Chatham. Alison has been the editor for the Chatham magazine; however, circulation is down, which means it may be time for a career change. Her daughter Julia has opened her own jewelry shop and Alison dreams of having Julia’s fulfilment in her own career.

The two best friends reunite and catch up on their lives while the reader gets the lives of the four characters established. One day Alison visits Chatham Books, the local bookstore, where she discovers that the owner, Ellen, is ready to retire. This leads to Alison and Jess having the idea to become the new owners. The transition for them to become the new owners is a little improbable as it seemed to go too smoothly. For me, I would have preferred a little more realism to the bookshop side of the story as I think it would have added a new dimension to Jess and Alison’s friendship. This also occurred with romances and other obstacles where problems were presented and then fixed a little too easily. While I love fiction for the happy/fantasy side of it, I do love some realism and struggle for the characters integrated into the writing. There were obstacles presented in their love lives and professional lives, but I wanted more exploration to make me connect more with the material.

Since this is essentially four stories in one as the reader follows the journeys of Jess, Alison, Caitlin, and Julia, there is a lot of ground to cover. For me, it was a little too much as it was difficult to fully invest in everything when there aren’t enough pages to delve into the characters. There are amazing descriptions of the food and setting, but with only a few hundred pages, I think these could have been better if they were reallocated to the characters. I loved the food and Cape Cod was the perfect backdrop, but the novel either needed to expand to give more time for character development and emotional journeys or they needed to be reduced. With Caitlin and Julia being the daughters of Alison and Jess, I loved the two mother-daughter dynamics represented. Each character was at a different place in their life, and it was nice to see how their journeys would play out. The story can be accurately described as “breezy” since there is a lot of predictability, which means this is a fantastic beach read when you just want to escape. Overall, I can see many people loving the ease of the story, however, I just want a little bit more depth from the stories I read.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Jess thought her life was perfect until one day everything came crashing down around her. She has no idea what to do next, so she packs up and heads to Cape Cod where she grew up and where her best friend Allison lives. Things will be much better when she has her best friend by her side.

Caitlin is Jess’s daughter, and she too comes to Cape Cod. Caitlin has no idea what she wants to do with her life, so she is hoping she will find her passion in the place where her mother called home so long ago.

Allison is an editor for a magazine, but print media is on the decline. What she really wants is own her own business and find love again after her divorce. With Jess in town, maybe Allison’s dreams can become reality.

Julia, Allison’s daughter seems to have it all together. She owns her own artisan jewelry store and is making her own way. When she befriends Caitlin, she finds a new friend and new opportunities.

This is a fabulous story of two best friends and their daughters on a journey of self-discovery. Each character has their own battles, but also their own strengths to not only help themselves, but each other. They throw what they should be doing to the wind and discover that anything is possible. I loved watching each character evolve and grow throughout the book. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my advanced readers copy. I have voluntarily read and left a review of the book. This is one story that will make you wonder if your dreams can also come true.

This is the story of four women, at different stages of their lives. First, there is Jessica, whose marriage has gone cold and discovers her husband is having an affair. She then retreats to her hometown of Chatham, MA on the Cape. Caitlin, her daughter decides to join her. Allision Page is Jessica's lifelong friend and her daughter Julia has opened a successful jewelry shop. When a local bookstore is for sale, Jessica and Allison do not pass up the opportunity for a change in their lives. They now operate a bookstore and an adjacent coffee shop.

This story deals with unexpected changes of life and have the courage and strength to rise above them. It was also a journey of self-discovery, second chances and true friendships!

If your looking for a feel good beach read, then this is the book for you to start off your summer!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity.

The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley is the story of four women, at different stages in life, when circumstances open their eyes to new possibilities and new dreams. Jessica Coleman’s marriage has gone cold. When she discovers her husband has been having an affair with his assistant, she retreats to her hometown on Cape Cod. Caitlin, her daughter, decides to join her mother on the cape. Allison Page, Jessica’s lifelong friend, is at a crossroad in her life. While her daughter, Julia, has opened a successful jewelry shop, Alison is looking for a change. When a local bookstore comes up for sale, it is too good to pass up for Allison and Jessica. As they reopen the store and add a coffee shop, they find new romances, stronger bonds of mothers, daughters and friends, and new life in second chances.
The Bookshop by the Bay is a women’s fiction about the unexpected changes of life and the strength to rise above them. All the characters were believable as to their reactions to the circumstances. Even when some characters tried to be hard nosed and the villain, they were quickly shot down and put in their place. I enjoyed Jessica and Allison’s friendship. I enjoyed their relationships with their daughters. I loved to see Julia and Caitlin develop a friendship despite never being close growing up. The potential romances were fun to watch develop. I loved how the characters came to realize what they thought they wanted wasn’t what they truly needed. Overall, I enjoyed The Bookshop by the Bay. If you enjoy women’s fiction with friends and second chances, you may enjoy The Bookshop by the Bay.

The Bookshop by the Bay is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

This is my first Pamela Kelley book and it won’t be the last!

The Bookshop by the Bay is about two childhood friends, Allison and Jess, who have remained friends, but have followed different paths. Allison remained in their hometown of Chatham, MA, while Jess became a lawyer living in Charleston, SC.

Jess finds out her husband has betrayed her and feels the need to escape to and figure out her next steps. Her daughter, Caitlin, who is struggling to find the perfect job joins her and they spend the summer living with Jess’s mom.

Allison works for a magazine and her job is on the line. Her daughter, Julia, is a jewelry designer hoping to hit it big.

The bookshop is the catalyst of change for each of them and it’s what brings them together.

The Bookshop by the Bay is a lovely book about second chances, chasing dreams, and the importance of friendship.

You’ll definitely want to add this to your to be read pile.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

#NetGalley

Jess Coleman and Alison Page have been best friends since they were growing up and living in Chatham, Massachusetts in the touristy area of Cape Cod.

Jess is married to Parker and both are lawyers in his father’s law firm in Charleston, South Carolina. They are parents to daughter, Caitlyn, age 30. Jess has felt that their marriage has grown stale and knows it’s more than that when she sees that Parker’s young secretary is pregnant and realizes that Parker is the father. Caitlyn has just lost another job and her boyfriend has dumped her. So, Jess and Caitlyn decide to take an extended time in Chatham where they will stay with Jess’s mother. Jess know that spending time with Alison will be good for her.

Alison was married to Chris for 10 years and now has been single for 20 years. She and Chris are parents to Julia, age 30. Alison and Chris are still best friends and Julia has finally found her niche by opening her own jewelry shop in Chatham. She is quite talented and successful. Alison has worked for a magazine for a number of years but declining subscribers has pushed the owner, Jim, to the point of having to reduce staff.

There is a bookstore in town called Chatham Books that was a favorite haunt of Jess and Alison when they were children. Now, the owner is ready to sell and Alison and Jess realize it's a great opportunity. So, after much research and consideration, Jess buys it and the coffeeshop next door. They are working hard to make it a success. Even Caitlyn and Julia and involved and they see how nice it is to meet a lot of the locals and enjoy what Chatham has to offer.

I hope I have whetted your appetite to read this book because it is so good! I loved all of the characters and the indecision they all faced and how well everything turns out for them. I truly didn’t want this story to end. Don’t miss it. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
The Bookshop by the Bay is a lovely second-chance story perfect for summer reading, especially if you find yourself by the pool, beach, or even the bay.

Reading Experience:
What I loved most about this story is how utterly relatable it was for me. The characters' dreams are my dreams, and watching them fulfill their dream just warmed my heart and made me feel like anything is possible.

Jess Coleman is a lawyer who recently experienced her marriage imploding. She returns home to get a break from her husband and her life in Charleston. Alison Page has been Jess' best friend since childhood. She still lives in Cape Cod and works for a local magazine that once thrived but is now struggling. Both are in a place in their life where they need to make some significant changes. And they are both strong and supportive female characters that forge their own path.

I also loved that this is a story about mothers and their daughters, family, and friendships. Even one of these themes would make for a heartwarming story, so you can imagine what having all three in a story does for your heart.

It's a bookish book, and I love a good bookish story, don't you?

I didn't really love the plotline regarding Jess' marriage imploding. This one felt like it needed to be more authentic. Jess's husband was too flippant about what he did, and considering he and his wife are lawyers, they would realize the legal complications behind what happened - trust issues aside. (I'm being vague to avoid any spoilers, no matter how small.)

Lastly, I enjoyed that this story is about learning more about yourself and taking risks to be true to yourself. I can't think of a more empowering message than that.

This story is solidly and consistently a medium-paced read. I enjoyed that I did not feel mired down by the story. It just flowed with a natural feeling pace.

Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is an idyllic little northeastern seaside town that sits snuggly near the bays and ocean surrounding Cape Cod. What a fantastic place to grow up, and it is the perfect place to set a story about dreams and make them a reality.

Read if you are in the mood for:
* Hopeful, Lighthearted, Relaxing story
* Medium pace
* A Character-driven Story
* Loveable Characters with strong development

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

When she discovers her husband's affair, Jess packs up for the summer and goes to visit her mother and best friend in Cape Cod. Jess and her best friend, Alison, along with their two daughters end up purchasing a bookstore and coffee shop. The four of them experience many changes over the course of the summer that changes all their lives.

I absolutely love St. Martin's Press, and have enjoyed every book I've read that they've published... but dang. This one fell so flat. There were so many characters, with basic white people names, that I just couldn't keep track of who was who. There were no feelings and no personalities. How do you settle on ending a 30-year marriage during a calm 10-minute coffee break? Everything was so neat and tidy - every divorce, break up, mishap. The story reeked of privilege. Between the four main characters, they owned a bookstore, a coffee shop, a rental space, a jewelry store, a family law firm, and an independent law firm. The girls had friends (in passing, they considered dating) that had a private jet and were discussing purchasing multi-million dollar flats in Manhattan. The writing was okay. It felt repetitive at times and included details that felt forced and weren't needed. The story was predictable - which didn't bother me - as many of these light "beachy" reads are.

I wanted to love it. I really did.

If you know me you know I love Pamela Kelley books. They are relaxing comfy reads for me. I grew up in a small town and i miss the comradarie of knowing everyone and their business. i loved the Nantucket Inn series and now I am headed off to Cape Cod where Jess has started a bookstore/coffeeshop with her best friend from high school , Alison. So we meet their daughters, their exes, and all the cool people in their lives. I often listen to her books as audios - but it was a treat to have an ecopy of this one. I am not sure if this is the start of a series but i sure hope so.

Pamela Kelley’s novel The Bookshop by the Bay not only is a wonderful testament to friendship, family, friends, love and books, but quite the homage to the other character lurking in the background of the beautiful story…Cape Cod! Kelley gets everything right about why not only Chatham, MA is so glorious, but Cape Cod in general!

Alison works as a magazine writer in Chatham. But unfortunately, because everything seems to be going online, they have lost subscribers and need to downsize the office. Alison has been saved this round, but realizes her days are numbered. She is divorced but her best friend is her ex-husband, Chris. They have a daughter Julia who owns a jewelry shop in Chatham and is beginning to become known. Although she seems content with her life, she realizes that she needs to figure out a new path.

Jess is Alison’s childhood best friend. She is an attorney at her husband’s family’s law firm in Charleston. She has always gone to visit Alison for a few weeks in the summer but has missed the last few years. When her marriage is shockingly turned into turmoil and her daughter Caitlin loses her job as well as her boyfriend all in the same day, she knows they need to get away to somewhere they can both decompress and relax.

They decide to head to Chatham for a month to see her mother and Alison. She needs to sort her life out and needs the comfort of family and friends as she tries to make the most difficult decisions of her life.

And that’s the beginning of when all their lives start to change.

Alison discovers the local owner of the Chatham bookstore, a staple in her life since she was a child is being sold, she decides she must somehow save it. And when Jess agrees, they become business partners in the endeavor. But trying to sustain a bookstore, while still working part-time and coming up with creative ideas on how to make money and get people excited to come into the shop is not easy. But with the help of their family and friends they begin to actually succeed in getting patrons excited.

As the summer season starts to wind down and Jess knows she must go back to Charlston and salvage that part of her life, she can’t help but question where she truly belongs. Coming back to Cape Cod has given her a gift she never asked for…peace.

Filled with interesting relatable characters, imaginative picturesque scenery and a wonderful storyline, The Bookshop by the Bay will have you not only eating up (pun intended) this delicious story but wishing to go to this charming seaside town. Long live The Lobster Pot!

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPressGriffin #TheBookshopbytheBay #PamelaKelley for the advanced copy.

This was my first book by Pamela Kelley and I really enjoyed it. Jess Coleman’s marriage is over and she needed a change. Her grown daughter Caitlin and her head back to her hometown of Chatham for an extended vacation. Jess is able to spend time with her best friend Alison. Alison and Jess decide to take a chance and buy the local bookstore that was for sale.

I really enjoyed the mother/daughter relationships. I will definitely be reading more books by Pamela Kelley.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Three generations, two life-long best friends, and their two daughters are the feature of this women's fiction/romance that makes the perfect beach read. Jess is burned out from her job as a lawyer and, when she learns of her husband's infidelity, leaves Charleston to return to her roots on Cape Cod. She and her best friend, Allison, have always dreamed of working together, and when the local bookstore goes up for sale, it looks like the perfect opportunity.

As a reader, a bookstore setting is always something that interests me, and I love this quaint setting in New England. Add to that a story that delves into so many questions and challenges we all face at some point in life, and this heartfelt, inspirational story is the perfect read. Starting out for the first time, starting over later in life, and finding one’s place in the world are handled with charm, humor and grace. Compelling, intuitive, and heartwarming, this phenomenal story is not to be missed.

Pamela Kelly's THE BOOKSHOP BY THE BAY is a charming summer beach read featuring two friends, two daughters, a book and coffee shop, and a summer of change and new beginnings!

Set in a quaint seaside town of New England —Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a heartwarming generational tale of mothers, daughters, friendship, and strong women.

Jess is a high-profile lawyer in Charleston. Her husband, Parker, has been cheating on her with his assistant, and she is pregnant.

She accompanies her daughter, Caitlin, age 30, to the childhood home on Cape Cod in Chatham. Caitlin has not found her passion, so she and her mom, Jess, are here for the summer.

Allison is Jess's friend, and her career takes a hit when her editor's job at a Chatham magazine goes part-time and is ultimately cut due to the economy and online business. Her daughter Julia has her own jewelry shop that she loves.

Allison discovers her local bookstore wants to sell, which has been her big dream. Jess helps her with the financial end, and they go into business together—a place of fond memories of their childhood.

With the help of these friends and their daughters, they open the bookstore and the adjacent coffee shop with new ideas and new beginnings.

No matter your age, it is never too late to start over. The women come together with new friends, new business, good food, and wine—finding Cape Cod the perfect place for second chances. These women drink a lot of WINE!

THE BOOKSHOP BY THE BAY is a light, breezy beach read about mother-daughter relationships, friendships, family, romance, and taking chances.

Who doesn't love quaint bookshops, coffee shops, and charming beach towns?

For fans of Sherryl Woods, Viola Shipman, Susan Wiggs, Mariah Stewart, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Debbie Macomber. I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker for an engaging beach escape.

Thanks to #Macmillan Audio #StMartinsPress #StMartinsGriffin #NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC for review purposes. #SMPInfluencers

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: June 6, 2023
June 2023 Must-Read Books

Four women, mothers and daughters, each at a turning point in their lives. Are they ready for the changes they face?

Jessica knows her marriage is in trouble. Taking time to clear her head, she heads for her childhood home on Cape Cod where her mom and her best friend can lend a sympathetic ear..

Alison, Jessica's best friend, chose to stay in their hometown of Chatham. For years she's had a successful career as a reporter for a local magazine. Unfortunately, with circulation and ad revenues falling, her job just may be in jeopardy. Now she needs to figure out what might come next.

Alison's daughter Julia is happy creating her own jewelry and selling it from her little shop. Unfortunately, her personal life isn't going as well. She's no longer feeling it with her long time boyfriend.

Then there's Caitlin, Jessica's daughter. She's been drifting, working temporary jobs, just trying to find her place. When she learns her mom is heading back to the Cape, Caitlin decides to join her, hoping the change of scenery will be the boost she needs to put her life in order

I found this story to be much more than advertised. It's about friendship and relationships, about change, taking control, and going after what you want. Unfortunately, I had a couple of problems with the telling of the story.. While I normally prefer a book with shorter chapters, in this case, they interrupted the flow of the story. Only four or five pages each, the chapters jump from one plotline to another. Because the author didn't do much to intertwine them,, I found it a bit confusing and difficult to get caught up in any one plotline, especially over the first several chapters. I was also disappointed with the lack of power and intensity in the scenes of conflict in the story.. There was little time devoted to the solutions and the resolutions were very simplistic and held no emotion..

In the end, I found this an enjoyable, uplifting story. I wish it had been told with a bit more depth.

Jess knows her marriage is in trouble, but when she discovers her husband has not only been unfaithful, he has impregnated his assistant, she knows there's no saving the marriage. Her lifelong best friend, Alison, is worried about losing her magazine job, so Jess decides to visit Alison and her own mother in Chatham. She takes her 30-year-old daughter, Caitlan, who is also at a crossroads after losing both her job and her longterm boyfriend on the same day.

When Jess and Alison learn the local bookstore is for sale, along with the next-door coffee shop, Jess decides to invest in it. While both Jess and Caitlan plan to return to Charleston, SC in October, they both find life in Chatham more appealing than they'd anticipated. Caitlan becomes friends with Alison's daughter, Julia, and all four women find new romantic interests.

There are few things better than bookstores, coffeeshops, and the beach. All the characters are likable, with different personalities and interests. The very definition of a beach read. #BookshopbytheBay #NetGalley

Oh my gosh, I loved this book! The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley is a beach read type of book that centers around friendship. The characters learn that sometimes you have to make lifestyle changes in order to live your best and happiest life. There was nothing that I didn’t like about this story. It had everything, a bookstore, a coffee shop, an old friendship and a new friendship between daughters. And the location was perfect! I’m not sure if I’ve ever read this author before but now want to read everything that she writes. I’d like to thank St. Martin’s Press for accepting my request and NetGalley for the arc. I enjoyed this so much and recommend it highly. I’m giving this book a 5 star rating.

This is a wonderful story that focuses on friendship, family, and that it's never too late to make meaningful changes to your life. Jess is a high-powered attorney in a Charleston law firm. When Jess discovers her husband is cheating on her, she decides to take a step back and take a vacation in her hometown in Cape Cod to think. Her daughter Caitlin join her when she loses her job and her boyfriend on the same day. Jess's best friend Allison also needs to make some changes in her life. Her work at the magazine is slowing down and the bookstore that she loves is for sale. Her daughter Julia owns a custom jewelry shop and has hopes for a bright future, but she isn't so sure about her boyfriend. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I love seeing how each character is at a crosswalk of life and takes the time to reflect. There is a little romance in the story, but the focus is the friendships. I love seeing how supportive the relationships are between the four women. I am adding Pamela Kelly to my TBR pile and looking forward to reading more in this series.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a chance to read this book early. Unfortunately it was a slow start for me and I'm putting it away for another time.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, I love books about books, bookshops and libraries. There is something comforting about those kinds of stories. This one is as well despite the fact that there is way more to the story. With multiple POV's, from both mothers and both daughters, each has a unique story and issue going on in their lives. These are not kids. Both daughters are in their thirties. One doesn't know what to do with her life while all around her, everyone seems to be living their best life. One has the bottom drop out of her life while another seems to have her life together but things are changing. Take a journey to Chatham, Massachusetts and into the lives of four women who must lean into each other and find their own paths in order to find happiness. A good summer beach read. No spice to speak of but the story didn't really need that anyway. I am now hoping to get down there someday and see the places that were mentioned (some were real, others not).

Jess's marriage has been off for a while when she finds out by chance that her husband got his new, barely older than his daughter, secretary pregnant. Their daughter, Caitlin, just got fired and dumped by her boyfriend in the same day. They decide to get away for a month in Jess's hometown on Cape Cod, much to the joy of her mother and her best friend, Alison. This leads to a summer of finding themselves, new friendships, and new opportunities.

I received a free copy of this book to review through NetGalley and thoroughly enjoyed it.