This was a good read! I really enjoyed it and it was the perfect way to kick off summer reading. There was a deeper dive into the characters and you felt like you really knew them throughout the story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Bookshop by the Bay" and all opinions expressed are my own. I did the audiobook. I don't know that I would have liked actually reading the book. But I did like listening to the story. Overall a light read, maybe for the summer beach time.

The Bookshop by the Bay
Author: Pamela Kelley
Narrator: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
Macmillan Audio
Release Date: June 6, 2023

The power of female friendship shines in the setting of the Cape Cod village, Chatham, Massachusetts. Bookshop by the Bay is a multigenerational story of two mothers, their daughters, and new beginnings. I always love a book featuring a bookshop, and when a coffee shop is included too, it is a winner for me. The sense of gathering in these places of books and beverages serves to connect the characters and make the reader feel part of the scenes. Nemeth-Parker's vocal delivery of the story was so easy to listen to with a performance that really captured every moment. It was soothing for the gentle scenes yet strong during moments of tension.

This book transports me into the lives of Jess and Alison as they take chances, focus inward, and learn to seize the moments of opportunity. Lots of sensory details make the tastes, smells, and sights come alive. Kelley makes sure that as a reader, I was able to see, smell, taste, hear and feel the atmosphere of friendship, food, books, coffee, and coastal setting. I felt a sense of relaxation while listening to this book, loving the escape and tranquility that it brought me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listener's copy of this audiobook. My review is my own.

A light summer beach read about two best friends and their daughters. Each is at a pivotal point in their life and this book explores how they grow as people. While classified as a romance, please note that the romance is very light. Nearly non-existent. And mostly distracts from the story.

While good for a light fluffy read, there is little substance. So if you are looking for more, this may not be for you. This centers around four main characters- and throughout the book, I never remembered their names. (Yikes!) I thought of them as "the lawyer on vacation", "the local", "local's artsy daughter", and "lawyer's annoying daughter".

I feel like the storyline had potential but was far too broad. Romance or growth and self discovery? I think it may have been better if one had been focused on instead of trying to do both.

I listened to the audiobook. It was narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker, who can always be depended on to do a good job.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

A bookstore and coffee shop on the cape brings together a new start for so many women. Jess, Allison, Julia, and Caitlyn we’re all on different paths. But now the two mothers and their daughters are finding their paths, with the help of the bookstore and coffee shop. Cape Code is the perfect setting for this heartwarming story. Definitely a book to gear up for summer.

Stephanie did an amazing job bringing Pamela’s word to life in the narration.

This is a book you’ll want to take with you on summer vacation—a perfect beach day read! It’s also perfect for all my fellow bookworms who have ever *dreamed* of owning a bookshop. The whole setting + small town vibes gives the story an extra quaint, cozy feel.

When Jess finds out her husband has been cheating and impregnates another woman she moves to Cape Cod to start fresh and open a bookshop with her friend. Caitlin, Jess' daughter moves temporarily to help them get started and is also going through relationship issues. Good beach read.

I was a little disappointed in this book. I loved the premise. Loved the multigenerational storylines. I just didn’t feel attached to any of the characters. That being said if there was a sequel I would probably read it.

I liked all of the characters in this book and how each one had their own storyline but it all worked well together too. I love a summer read where I feel transported and this one took me to Cape Cod. The mother daughter storylines and the bookstore that they own were all things I loved and I literally didn't want to stop listening and I read this quickly! The narration was fantastic and brought the characters to life even more! Perfect summery/beach read.

Book Title: The Bookshop By the Bay
Author: Pamela M. Kelley
Narrator: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance
Pub Date: June 6, 2023
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 320

This story features a grandmother, two mothers, two daughters, and a bookstore!

Jess Coleman and Alison Page, have been best friends since childhood - they both grew up in Chatham, Cape Cod; Alison never left but Jess remained in Charleston after graduating college.

Jess as well as her husband Parker are lawyers and have one daughter Caitlin who is now thirty.
Alison is the editor and sometimes writer at a popular Cape Cod magazine- she is divorced but she and ex-husband Chris are best friends they also have a daughter Julia who is Caitlin’s age.

Jess just found out that mild manner Parker has been unfaithful and he admits it.
Jess admits that is really isn’t a big shock as things have not been good between them.

Then we have Alison whose job at the magazine has been reduced to part-time as magazine sales have taken a deep dive. (Aww am I the only one who remembers the fun of getting the latest issues of a favorite magazine and turning to the back and flips the pages forward? Can THAT be done on-line?) However, we all know that on-line is definitely the way things have gone.

Additional we have Caitlin who in just a matter of hours got dumped by her boyfriend and let go from her temp job at an upscale boutique.
Jess decides that the timing is right to visit her mother and Caitlin agrees.
Awww is there any better place than Cape Cod to make a change.

Alison is interested in the local bookshop/coffee shop as the long time owners are ready to retire. Jess agrees to help financial and will work in the bookstore during this summer while she and Parker either work this out or call it quits. Daughters Caitlin and Julia decide they can help with running the coffee shop/bakery next door.
These ladies discover when you have love and support and the belief that it’s never too late for second chances.
(When Alison stops in the Bookstore and told the latest Harlan Coban and Fiona Davis just arrives ~ Aww both are fav authors and I knew I was going to love this story!)

Yes I did enjoy this story. I really am not a romance fan but the book cover and title had me.
A story featuring a bookshop near the beach sure sounded like a great beach read filled with love and hope. Yep ~ and it was.
In addition it was a great audiobook. Narrator Stephanie Nemeth-Parker has such a sweet/ pleasant voice (true sometimes a bit too sweet!) However, most time she made the story enjoyable.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granted me this enjoyable early audiobook!.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 6, 2023.

Jess is a lawyer who needs a change when she finds out her husband is cheating on her. Her childhood best friend, Allison needs to take a hiatus from her career.

When Jess decides to return to her childhood home with her daughter, she decides with Allison to reopen the beloved bookstore in their sleepy beach town. Both Jess and Allison find meaning in their lives through the new venture and grow closer with their adult daughters.

This is a quintessential beach read for anyone who loves a cozy bookshop book.

This is my second beach read book in a row! I think I'm just in the mood for these fun family stories. Alright let us get into it. We have 2 sets of mothers and daughters, both moms grew up together in Chatham, Massachusetts, which by the way is a cute little town I've never been there but I googled pictures! I do that sometimes to get a better brain picture of stories I'm reading. I have never been to Massachusetts at all and the Cape Cod area is pretty in pictures, any way... these 2 moms have a daughter each but they did go there separate ways after college. We have Jess the successful lawyer from Charleston who is going through a separation from her cheating husband. Jess's daughter is Caitlin, who is used to big city life with no real idea what she wants from her life and she's 30. Caitlin is used to the lifestyles of the wealthy social scenes. These two head down to Chatham yearly for a few weeks but this time they are spending the entire summer. Caitlin decides to stay to help her mom but really wants to go back to the big city.

Our second mother daughter duo is Allison who's an editor at a magazine, a print magazine. Let's guess how that's going in the current market place. Allison's job winds up going part time and she is hoping to find something that sparks joy in her life. Allison's daughter is Julia who has her own jewelry shop and seems to be doing pretty well for herself, she and Caitlin were kind of friends because of their moms but not really because Julia is small town life and Caitlin is not.

So all four of these women are going through relationship changes with the men in their life. From divorce, break-ups, and finding new loves, they all find someone this Summer of crazy. Of course we know that the story takes place around the bookshop because Allison and Jess buy the thing plus the attached coffee shop and apartment. Their daughters all jump in to help and the summer is busy.

I really did like this story, it is a feel good story with all 4 POVs going through relatable life changes, all similar, but all different. It is just really nice how everything ties together and there are no really horrible things that happen and even though their life changes occur quickly it feels really believable. Each woman is likeable, their interactions with one another is just amazing, and also the interactions with the people in the town.

It is really nice to read a well written feel good story about mothers, daughters, and friendships that help you through the hard times as well as the amazing times.

This book was a fun light read. But highly predictable plot. It didn't differ from most books so didn't stick out much in the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator was wonderful to listen to and the book itself was a fun book to listen to. It’s the perfect read for summer or to take you back to summer. I love the multigenerational story with the grandmother, mother, and daughter, as well as close friends. The bookstore sounds like one I’d love to visit, especially the coffee shop next door to get a black bean brownie.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to access this audiobook in advance of publication.

Life changes very quickly for Jess when she finds out that her husband has cheated on her. She decides to take some time off from the law firm owned by her husband’s family and trades in the bustle of Charleston for the serenity of Cape Cod. Her daughter, Caitlin, has recently lost her job and decides to join her since they haven’t had a chance to spend time on the Cape for a few years and both look forward to spending time with their mother/grandmother.

Alison has been an editor for a popular magazine for two decades, but with the changing tides of media, the company needs to downsize. When she hears that the owner of the bookstore on the Cape is looking to retire, she imagines what it would be like to run it, but fears that it may be impossible for her dream to become a reality since she knows that she can’t afford to buy it.

Jess and Alison have been best friends for years and are cherishing the time they are now getting to spend together on Cape Cod. Alison has a dream of owning the bookstore and Jess has money saved, so just like that a partnership is formed.

This is a novel of second chances and newfound opportunities. Sometimes we don’t take time to assess what is important in life and what we may be missing, but Jess and Alison along with their daughters have decided to take chances to help them grow in life and love.

I enjoyed listening to Stephanie Nemeth-Parker narrate this novel and would definitely listen to other books narrated by her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to an ALC of this novel. #NetGalley #TheBookshopbytheBay

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- listened on audio-I really enjoyed this beach read about two mothers who are lifelong friends friends and their daughters. I enjoyed each woman’s story and how they handled curveballs that were thrown at them. Giving 4 stars because I wanted more out of the ending and would love a sequel.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I really enjoyed listening to this light, happy story. Filled with great relationships, and only a bit of drama, The Bookshop by the Bay should be on everyone's summer reading list. The settings are easy to imagine, and while not quite my reality, the characters are believable and make me wish I knew more real people like them. The narrator did a good job, but could have had more variety in the male voices. Overall, I would recommend this title to anyone that likes to read about beaches, books, and female relationships. Thanks to Netgalley and/or the publisher for giving me this title in exchange for an honest review.

This book is cute. It's a fun beach read or just a lazy rainy day read. Mostly predictable and follows the basic romance script but that's half the fun isn't it? Well written and enjoyable.

I loved this story. It was the first book I had read from Pamela Kelley but it won’t be the last. The characters were so well written that they felt real. I loved the relationship between the women and the growth that each made. I highly recommend this story. It will be a great beach read.

Oh my gosh! I love Pamela Kelley! This is the perfect beach read! Coming out June of 2023. This book had the most cozy, feel good ending that truly brighten my day! Thank you for the ARC!