This was a strong debut and enjoyed the overall feel of this book. I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed the romance going on. Libby Buck has a strong writing style and enjoyed how good the characters worked in this universe. It has a strong plot and was invested in the world in this.

Port Anna by Libby Buck is a beautifully written novel, taking place in the small coastal town of Port Anna, Maine. Ms. Buck captivates the reader from the prologue on, with her atmospheric descriptions of the town and the sea. Gwen returns to her hometown, after 20 years, hoping to find solid footing among the people and places she knew as a child, in spite of the family tragedy that took place there. However she finds herself in over her head with no way out, or so she believes. I found myself stealing moments to read this one as I couldn't put it down. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Fantastic! I was completely immersed from the start - the prologue is haunting and beautifully written. Gwen has reluctantly moved back to her hometown after two decades away. As she settles into the charming but dilapidated cottage she inherited, she becomes reacquainted with old friends as she tries to make ends meet.

There is a cast of characters (many charming, and a few you want to root against!). Gwen is easy to love - I was so glad to see her find support, rekindle friendships, explore a new romance, and figure out where she belongs. The writing is gorgeous and helped me imagine the beauty and ruggedness of coastal Maine.

Thank you very much to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Port Anna was the perfect book arriving at just the right time for me. An impressive debut, the author creates a wonderful sense of place, develops characters that you can cheer for (and a couple you can loathe!). The story captivated me and I finished the book in about 24 hours. I enjoyed the descriptions of the rugged Maine coastal town as it traveled through the seasons along with Gwen's journey to move on from the past that's been holding her back. The secondary characters and the "found family" elements were just the icing on the cake!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for offering me the ARC of this book.