I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this review because I already feel like I lost too much time reading this book. This flat, robotic, endless description of what people ate at different restaurants.

My expectations for a “beach read” are low, but this one had me rolling my eyes and yawning on every single page. At one point, three different people shared a scene, all three of their outfits were describes in full detail, and all three of them were wearing pink and gray. Really? We’re going to go into description overload but can’t think of more than two colors?

Boring. Silly. Badly written. Barely finished.

Thank you Pamela M. Kelley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Griffin for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a sweet and simple summer-y read, but sadly it just didn’t give me what I needed it to. 

Thoughts:
-Focused on two sisters and their aunt dealing with their own issues in life as well as the sudden loss of their mother/sister, I was expecting an emotional read of grief and growth. I wish the grief aspect was explored in more than just one chapter 
-Unfortunately, both of the sister's storylines felt one-dimensional and the dilemmas they faced were wrapped up too neatly and quickly
-Hannah’s love felt forced and unneeded. It felt like it came out of nowhere and I felt no chemistry between the two. Individually they were fine characters, I just didn’t see them together
-Sara’s relationship with her husband irked me and I enjoyed reading about her standing up for herself, but the resolution seemed too easy 
-The setting definitely pulled me in with its beachy shores, bookshops, and coffee shops
-I did really enjoy the aunt and uncle's storyline. I wish the story focused more on them and dove into their relationship deeper

Overall, this wasn’t my favorite read, but it was giving all of the summer beach vibes.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was very cool how it was a multi-generational family story but instead of moms and daughters we had aunts, cousins, etc. And also plenty of friends! It did wrap up sort of abruptly, but overall I enjoyed it!

A great way to kick off summer! I absolutely loved being in Chatham! This story has a lovely cast of characters in such a fun setting!

You will have in love with Hannah, Aunt Maddie, and Sarah. Their paths to happiness are all intertwined and they are so supportive of each other!

definetely a fan of Pamela M. Kelley, I love her writing, easy listening, great story line, very relatable. Overall 5 star

Love, loved this audiobook. It was a sweet, clean romance but so much more than that. It was a quaint & cozy setting in Chatham, Mass. and the author made it feel like I knew the town for ages! This is the perfect beach read for summer 2024. Definitely recommend!

🎧🎧 Book Review 🎧🎧 In the elbow of Cape Cod sits the quaint and idyllic town of Chatham. Home of the Anglers and great white sharks, it is the quintessential summer spot. Countless people vacation there and a few are lucky enough to call it home. Like all home towns, some people stay and some leave, and some return home to heal or find inspiration. After losing her mother, Hannah returns home to Chatham to finish her second novel and spend the summer with her sister, Sarah. The summer is full of reuniting with old acquaintances and making new friends, finding hope and healing in these connections. Perhaps it is serendipity, the tie of friends or family, or something in the ocean air, but the women of summer form a special sisterhood that pulses from the love of books. This book perfectly encapsulates the charm of Chatham and the narration matches the spirit of the book delightfully! Go ahead and plant your toes in the sand or find somewhere calming to sit and enjoy this wonderful summer read!

Review is posted on Goodreads and the final review will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced audiobook. The Seaside Sisters is a novel about a young author who goes back to the cape where she grew up to try and hone her writing skills. Once she’s fully moved into her aunt’s place, she meets Spencer and shadows in him at work. Throughout the story, Spencer and Hanna fall into a nice, easy friendship but will that friendship deepen to become something more? I felt the story started out rather good and, though the narrator told the story well, I felt it seemed to move too slow for my taste. Overall, a novel that I would recommend to others who like very descriptive books but just not for me.

I just finished this one right before we got to the beach and really enjoyed it. It was a good read that is perfect for grabbing while you put your feet in the sand and waste the day away. All the women in the story are just a little lost and find help in each other just when they need it. They all find the confidence to take the next steps in their lives and each one will bring a smile to your face! I recommend you check out @pamelamkelley if you haven’t yet.

This book was good, but not great. It is a cozy tale of two sisters (and their aunt) who are mourning their mother's loss and figuring out new stages of life. I enjoyed Kelley's characters--they were interesting and had development that made you like them. The story needed a bit more action, however. It was a bit slow.

“The Seaside Sisters” is a cute quick read perfect for those heading to Cape Cod this summer. Hannah is a Brooklyn based best selling author that is struggling with her next book after a personal loss and decides to return home to Cape Code for the summer to see her sister, Sara, and her family and her aunt Maddie.

This book truly highlights the city of Chatham, at times reading like a travel blog of where the main characters went and what they did. I was missing the depth and conflict, which there were many missed opportunities, that is usually needed to connect me to the characters. Speaking of, there were a lot of characters in this book, at times, I was not sure who I was supposed to be routing for. This might have been better as a series that explored each main characters story allowing for conflict and exploration rather than resolving things within a single scene. Overall, an okay quick and easy summer read that would be perfect for a couple days in Cape Cod.

“…home didn’t have to be a physical place as much as where she felt most connected; where her people were.”

Sara and Hannah are sisters who grew up in Chatham, Cape Cod and they live very different lives. They are also united in the grief for their mother.

Brooklyn-based Hannah is feeling stuck in the writing of her sophomore novel and heads back to the beach for a break and some inspiration. There she crosses paths with a former high school classmate who may just move her off course.
Sara has stayed in Chatham and has a busy family life but she finds reclaiming her identity as a woman and a lover of books, is harder than she thought it might be.

As the sisters navigate big changes, disappointments and small victories, they learn that the best chance they have to move forward is to lean on one another.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M. Kelley
Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Women's Fiction
Expected Publication Date: June 4, 2024

The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M. Kelley is the ultimate beach reach for this summer! I definitely recommend this romance!

This lighthearted read is set on the Cape and was such a pleasure to read! The characters were interesting and very likable. This sweet romance made me so happy to read. There were times when I laughed out loud or smiled to myself.

It definitely made me consider a beach or poolside vacation this summer. I look forward to re-reading this curled up somewhere with a mocktail!

I loved the narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker. I really enjoyed listening to her tell this story!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was my first Pamela M Kelley book. I got it because it was about books, librarians and, of course, romance. It was a winner! I loved it! I love the relationships between the sisters and their aunt. I also really enjoyed the neighbors, especially Spencer.
Cape Cod seems to be a magical place. After reading this one, I will read more books by Ms Kelley. If you are a fan, or new like me, I believe you will enjoy reading “The Seaside sisters”.

The audiobook was well made and I liked the narrator.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the ARC. This would make a good, light beach read. Two sister are reunited in Cape Cod. Hannah returns home and is dealing with writers block and her sister Sara isn’t completely satisfied with motherhood and marriage. Hannah is staying with her aunt who is having marital problems. These three women deal with their issues throughout the novel. Some discover love and some rekindle love ❤️. This was well done audio narration.

An easy summer read about two sisters, each facing their own challenges. Pack your beach towel, sunscreen, big floppy hat, & your favorite frozen drink and settle into your chair with your toes in the sand & enjoy every page of this book! Fall in love with the characters & Chatham.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great summer read set in Cape Cod. I enjoyed the families and the realistic relationships. A marriage that needs to hit the refresh button, another couple separated, and loss of a parent. I can sometimes get overwhelmed if there are too many things going on, but this story flowed well. Nothing felt extra or added on.
The storyline with Hannah and Spencer was my favorite followed by Sarah who needed a break from just being a mom and a wife. The slow steps to realizing how Hannah felt about Spencer was honest. I enjoyed the fact that they knew each other from high school and that they took time to reconnect with outings and events with mutual friends.
If you like Nancy Thayer’s books, you will enjoy this great summer read.

Pamela M. Kelley always has some of the best and quick beachy reads. She did not fail with The Seaside Sisters.
Hannah hopes leaving Brooklyn and going home to Chatham, Cape Cod will help her write her next book.
The book is a winner in many ways….
On the beach
Grumpy/Sunshine trope
Family drama
Motherhood hardships.

And of course having Stephanie Nemeth-Parker has the narrator makes it even better. She has the voice that takes you right to the sandy beach.

It’s overall a wonderful read.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I chose this book because I wanted a fun, summery read, and the setting is home for me, which is always a bonus. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the story at all.

We have a lot of characters, but none are all that interesting or well developed. I wanted more complexities, more depth, more connection between the sisters and the aunt. It all felt superficial.

I didn't get any sense of atmosphere or setting.

I'm not sure what the plot was supposed to be. I got to the 53% point, and not much of anything had happened. The "romance" was only beginning, if it was indeed a romance at all. I was really bored.

Stephanie Németh-Parker did a great job with the narration, but it wasn't enough to keep me engaged.

DNF

Loved this novel. Pamela never disappoints! Such a perfect summer read. Definitely recommend. Can’t wait for it to be released in a few weeks, so others can rave about it too!