Hannah is stuck. She's written a bestselling book, and now the publisher is eagerly awaiting book #2. Stressed by the monotony of everyday life, Hannah decides to head back to Chatham, Cape Cod for a change of scenery.

She's joined by her sister Sara; a mom of 4 stuck in the rut of life. Trying to find a new identity other than "stay-at-home mom" she's determined to show her work-a-holic husband and children that she's capable of more.

When Hannah finally starts writing and Sara picks up a part-time job, both of their lives are changed for the better.

Part family dynamics, finding yourself in the midst of whatever life throws at you, and a sprinkle of romance, Pamela Kelley knocked it out of the park once again!

"The Seaside Sisters" was an enjoyable family and romance novel focusing on two sisters (Hannah and Sara) and their aunt (Maddie) coming to terms with the death of their mother/sister, as well as relationship issues (Hannah has just ended a two-year relationship, while both Sara and Maddie are experiencing marital issues). Hannah has been living in Brooklyn for years, but Sara and Maddie live in Chatham, part of Cape Cod, and that is where Hannah and Sara's mother lived as well. As a writer working on her second book, Hannah is not tied to a specific location, so she takes up her aunt's offer to spend the summer with her, hoping that being around family will help decrease her stress and help her break the writer's block that is holding up her second book. The summer will prove beneficial, as Hannah reconnects with her family, makes some new friends, including a fellow author (Niall) and members of a writer support group facilitated by her aunt's neighbor, makes progress on her book, and sees an old acquaintance (Spencer) in an entirely new and more favorable light. Sara will experience her own changes, as she re-enters the workforce, on a part-time basis, after years of being a stay-at-home mother, and deals with a husband who does not appreciate all that she does to keep the household running smoothly (or as smoothly as possible with four active boys) and does not understand why she wants and needs to work. Maddie and Ritchie, her husband, have been drifting apart, worsened by the grief over the death of her sister, and are not sure how to repair the relationship. However, a series of unforeseen events and opportunities will give them the chance to reclaim their marriage.
 
I enjoyed Ms. Kelley's most recent book, "The Bookshop by the Bay", so I was happy to see the main characters from that book (including the bookstore/coffee shop) make an appearance/play a role in "The Seaside Sisters", including having Sara take a part-time job in the bookstore and Hannah using the coffee shop as her place to sit and write. The dynamic between the characters is quite good. There are many enjoyable and tender moments. The main characters are well developed, and the reader will enjoy seeing how the characters grow and change in terms of what they want out of relationships, careers, and life.

I received a free copy of, The Seaside Sisters, by Pamela M. Kelly, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Sisters Sara and Hannah, get to spend the summer together. So much has changed since they spent endless summers together as kids. Sisters are the best, I really enjoyed reading about Sara and Hannah, this is a really good read.

I have enjoyed several of the author’s novels in the past and this latest offering was an entertaining read that kept me engaged throughout.

Hannah is a successful rom-com author who is struggling with her second book following the death of her mother and the ending of a semi-serious relationship. She accepts her aunt’s offer to return to her hometown of Chatham, Cape Cod, hoping the change with break through her writer’s block. The strategy works…but Hannah gains so much more than a manuscript. She reconnects with her sister, Sara, begins to heal her grief over the loss of her mother, finds a community of friends and even develops romantic feelings for an acquaintance from her past.

There are two other thematic threads that add interest and depth to the novel. Sara has been a stay-at-home mother who is ready to return to the workforce in pursuing her love of literature. While she finds great satisfaction in her work at a bookstore, her enthusiasm is tempered by the strain it puts on her marriage. The second thread relates to the sisters’ aunt whose long-term marriage is going through a rough patch that results in a “temporary” separation.

Overall, this is a well-paced, pleasant read with a feel-good ending.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the family reconnecting theme that brought the two sisters closer together. I always like when there are multiple storylines in one book. Here, there was the storyline of the sister whose husband seemed to take her for granted; the separated aunt and uncle storyline; and the main character, Hannah's, storyline of which man to choose and if that would be enough to get her to move back "home." I have read other books by Pamela Kelley before, and The Seaside Sisters ranked right up there with her previous novels I've read. I would definitely recommend this book and any other books by this author.

3.5 stars - I received an eGalley ARC of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

A lighthearted, fun read that, while predictable, was thoroughly enjoyable. Hannah is an author struggling with the recent death of her mother and with writer’s block on her second book. She leaves NYC to spend the summer in her hometown on Cape Cod with her aunt. She spends time with her older sister (an exhausted stay-at-home mom of 4 boys desperate for a part-time book-related job to get out of the house), makes new friends, and reconnects with Spencer, a guy she knew in high school.


There are no major conflicts and all problems are resolved in a tidy manner by the end. I did feel like some things were wrapped up a little too easily (Hannah’s writer’s block, Tom’s disrespect of Sara), but this is a beach read and less drama is not necessarily a bad thing for a book like this. That being said I didn’t really get a feel for the sadness over their mom’s death that Hannah and Sara were feeling. It was mentioned several times, but in a way that didn’t show the intense grief they supposedly had. Spencer wasn’t really that grumpy and I would’ve liked a smidge more tension between Hannah and him earlier in the book. All in all the characters were relatable and likable and I was rooting for all of them. The descriptions of the food and wine and ocean made me desperately want a beach vacation with my mom and girlfriends. If you want a light, summery read, pick this one up. I will definitely check out more of Pamela M. Kelley’s books.

A couple things that puzzled me: Hannah is supposed to be going to Chatham for the summer but has been there awhile before it is mentioned that Memorial Day weekend is coming up. Chatham is supposed to be a “small town” but there seem to be a lot of people who don’t know each other that probably should.

Pamela Kelley is a new author for me. I was drawn to “The Seaside Sisters” by the description and am so happy I downloaded an ARC from NetGalley.

I found this book to be a comfortable read, which was a good balance to some of the action-adventure and mystery titles I read. The relationships between sisters Hannah and Sara and their aunt were beautifully written. I felt the love all three had for each other as well as the angst of their individual personal struggles.

I was envious of Hannah, who was able to pick up her life and move it to her Cape Cod hometown to continue her work. Anyone who enjoyed remote work during the pandemic will understand the envy. Her budding relationship with Spencer as well as others who live at the shore were delightful to watch.

“The Seaside Sisters” is a perfect beach read, in keeping with the setting. Author Kelley has a deft hand when creating relationships and slowly building the overall story.

I will definitely be looking for her other titles.

Charming story of family, friendships and of course a healthy dose of romance! Enjoyed this one very much, I kept imagining myself beachside in Chatham with a bagel and cup of coffee. The detailed storytelling along with the intricate details of the scrumptious food and landscapes, I felt transported throughout her storytelling.

This was my first by this author, and I can assure you, it will not be my last!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

Love this of family reconnecting and helping each other out in one of my favorite settings! Sara dream of literature and making it come alive. Her marriage is fizzling out and she needs a distraction. She was once a librarian and misses that part of her life so so gets a part time job in a bookstore and it makes her unhappy soul happy again even if her husband isn’t happy for her. Her sister Hannah comes to town and they need this time together. Great easy family story.

I enjoyed #TheSeasideSisters #NetGalley very much.
Even though this isn't my typical genre to read, the cover , title, and description called out to me, so I decided to give it a chance.
Hannah is an author who lives in New York, but her family home is Chatham, MA. Hannah and her sister Sara are grieving the loss of their mom, so Hannah decides to visit Chatham for the summer, staying with her aunt.
The three women are sweet and I love their relationship, but each of them have issues in their own lives they are trying to resolve.
I am happy with the way the book ended and I'm going to recommend this book to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

The Seaside Sisters, by Pamela M. Kelley, is a feel-good book with characters you'll love. The setting got my attention and the characters and the story kept it until the end. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Pamela Kelley's books are such a treat for me and this one was just as good as I expected.

A charming story, set mostly in Chatham on Cape Cod, about two sisters and their aunt figuring out where and what they want out of life. Hannah's an author who is visiting for the summer to finish her book. Sara and Aunt Maddie are working their way through the ups and downs of marriage and careers. The stories of friendships, finding love, loss and finding happiness with themselves will leave you wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was an easy read for me with people who were interesting, fun, with real life problems, careers and families. It’s set in the beautiful beach area of Cape Cod where I can only dream of being one of those annoying touristy folk. I could taste the crab rolls and smell the ocean. The story has break-ups, new and old love, romance, loss, new beginnings, friends and relatives.
Sisters Hannah and Sara are spending a summer in closer proximity while Hannah visits their aunt to overcome writers block. She’s escaping from her hectic Brooklyn life. Sara never left their hometown, has a workaholic husband and four boys. The sisters are still grieving the loss of their Mom. Sara misses working and being something besides Mom, housekeeper, cook and taxi service. Hannah can’t get the words to flow in her latest novel. She makes new acquaintances and revives an old one with a handsome former high school snob. Hannah’s aunt was going through her own changes in career and husband. I really enjoyed her character. There are life lessons on taking chances and being open to new people, places and experiences. This would be a wonderful beach read and equally good for escaping winter’s endless snowy days. I’ve read this author before and will look forward to more of her compelling women’s fiction.
An uncorrected digital galley of “The Seaside Sisters” by Pamela M. Kelley, published by St. Martin’s Griffin, was provided by NetGalley. Expected publication 06/04/2024. These are always all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without any compensation.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this upcoming summer blockbuster. I requested a copy of this book for a mini escape to Cape Cod while sitting at home in an Utah winter. Being from Massachusetts myself and loving all things south of Plymouth, I jumped in with both feet.

I was hooked from the beginning and immediately invested in Hannah, Sara and Maddie. Their daily experiences spirited me away. The colorful descriptions of the Cape and local businesses made me feel like I was a local right along beside them. I also enjoyed the local terminology like cookout instead of bbq, etc. it made me feel like I was at home.

The story is mostly told by Hannah, Sara and Maddie. Each of them having something in their careers that tie them to books, reading, publishing or writing. It was refreshing to learn a bit about publishing houses, authors and agents.

The end is predictable or anticipated in a good way. The reader is rooting for it, it would have been disappointing to go any other way. After all It is a feel good story. I read it in three sittings and hated to see it come to an end.

This author has such a gift with how she describes settings and food also lovely characters who are smart and lead interesting lives. Love all the book additions such as all the writers, publishing and the sweet bookstore where Hannah’s sister works. Great friendships. There are no big car chases, no gory murders. Just s really nice story that makes you feel good about the world.

The Seaside Sisters are Hannah and Sara. Hannah lives in NY but grew up on Cape Cod. Sara still lives on the Cape. Their mother died a few months before Hannah decided to go back to the Cape for the summer. Hannah stayed at her aunt’s house and made some new friends. One of the friends she reacquainted herself with was Spencer.
Hannah was writing her 2nd book and Spencer helped her get rid of the writer’s block she is facing.
Before the summer finishes, Hannah and Sara, Hannah and her aunt and Hannah and Spencer all have a relationship that Hannah doesn’t want to lose. Does she go back to NY? Guess you need to read the story to know what happens.
If you have read any of Pamela Kelley’s books before, you know this book is going to be a sweet romance story and a great beach read.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Pamela Kelley’s team for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was able to read a digital ARC through Netgalley of this book. Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. I've loved some of the author's other books like The Restaurant, but this book was only ok for me. There were points where the writing felt a little stiff and I found myself focusing on that and unable to get into the storyline. The book did have some good points and the romance was good as well.

This a a perfect book to read for relaxing and enjoyiable time! It’s an easy read, the story isn’t too dramatic, but it makes you think about things in life that really matter. Friendships and family are key to happiness! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this advance copy

3.25 ⭐️ I enjoyed this story about two sisters, Sara and Hannah, navigating life after losing their mother. Both sisters were easy to relate to with the varying challenges they each had in the book. In addition, I found it interesting to read about Hannah’s writing process, and how her writing was inspired in different ways throughout the novel. The setting was lovely in Chatham and described in a way that made me want to spend a summer there.

It took several chapters for me to get drawn into the book, but once I was drawn in, I didn’t want to put the book down.

The plot was predictable, and the conflicts weren’t intense, but sometimes that is exactly what I need to read after reading an intense book.

This book would be a great summer or beach read with light hearted plot and sweet romance.

This is a cute story with charming characters. The story is relatable to many people’s lives. There is great family relationships, and great friendships, a little romance. Many problems amongst the characters. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more about the Seaside Sisters. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.