Pack this one in your beach bag, because Port Anna is a must add to any summer reading list. The perfect vacation read, or read for those in need of a vacation, Libby Buck’s debut transports you to the perilously beautiful Maine coast. Part history, part mystery, and altogether captivating, Port Anna tells the story of Gwen Gilmore who, through a series of unfortunate events and questionable decisions is dangerously close to losing her family home. But with a little magic and a lot of help, she just might be able to save the thing she holds so dear.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced reader copy!

I have never visited Maine, let alone lived there over the course of dramatic turns in the seasons, but Libby Buck brings it to life with the fictional coastal town of Port Anna, with her tourist packed summer ideal, and the raging winter nor’easters. Gwen, and what she’s going through I can relate a little more closely to. She is returning to Periwinkle, her family’s summer cottage, after her life blows up in North Carolina. And in true blow up fashion, everything is falling apart around her: her job, a romantic relationship, the house, herself. She’s lucky to have good friends looking out for her, but also is unknowingly dealing with a former friend who isn’t. The reader will likely pick up on it, but in a place of desperation, Gwen is trying to grab on to any lifeline she can, even if it turns out not to be one. When she comes back to Periwinkle she also has to face the loss of her younger sister Molly, and try to figure out the best way to handle a runaway teenage girl who is relying on Gwen’s generosity for survival. Through this all she’s also exploring an unconventional relationship, but one that might be exactly what she needs. It seems like a lot, and it is, but when it rains, it pours. And it shows that while there are awful people in the world, there are also good people that get through hard times while giving and accepting help. I wish Buck had explored more what happened with Gwen’s parents after the death of Molly. In the book it certainly seems like they’re both gone, her mother after suffering from Alzheimer’s, but it doesn’t really go into how it changed their family dynamics. Beyond that it’s hard to find complaints about the story. Some people might have trouble reading it because Gwen goes through a lot of hard things, but it’s also inspiring and uplifting with an ending that’s very satisfying without being too unrealistic. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

This debut novel follows the story of Gwen, a woman in her forties who is returning to her family’s cottage, located in the fictional coastal town of Port Anna, after many setbacks in her life, like a failed relationship and career loss.

This aging seaside cottage was owned by her family for generations. She goes there again for solace and some rethinking of where she stands. Going back there awakens many memories and secrets. What surprises Gwen is that this time she is drawn to the community that she once fled from. It will be like an opportunity to rekindle old friendships and explore what used to be her home once again.

The story is not fully contemporary fiction and has some magical realism elements in it due to the presence of ghosts. At times, the plot felt overcrowded with events, making it seem unnecessarily stuffed. There are parts of the story that will appeal to many readers, but the ghost part might not be among them.

In my opinion, the overall atmosphere of the coastal town is what makes this story appealing. That atmosphere reminded me of the movie Safe Haven. Although the two stories are different, they both take place in a coastal town and have ghosts! If you loved the atmosphere of the movie, you might also love the atmosphere of this book, which I think can be an excellent beach read choice.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

3.5 rounded up. A great book to read in the fall while cuddles under a blanket. Really enjoyed the Maine setting. Maine was in fact my favorite character. I didn’t even mind the house ghosts and thought they added to the book’s charm. Definitely pick up this book if you are looking for a “quiet read.”

This book is amazing! Gwen leaves North Carolina after loosing her job and her boyfriend, and goes to her family home in Port Anna, Maine, where she spent her summers growing up. She hasn't been back for 20+ years, and as the book progresses we find out why. Going back to the house challenges her to deal with the loss of her family, the changes in her friendships, and where she is going with her life. The writing is beautiful, the characters are strong, and I couldn't put this book down.

A LOT of different plotlines but they actually all work together harmoniouslY! would recommend. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC. I really enjoyed Libby Buck's debut novel. Port Anna is a charming seaside town in Maine. Tourists flock there for the beautiful summer months, but winter brings on formidable and dangerous weather that only. the hardiest endure. Those who call Port Anna home year round form a tight-knit community. Gwen Gilmore spent the summers of her childhood and teenage years in Periwinkle, her family's run down and aging cottage right on the sea.

However, after tragedy struck with the drowning of her little sister, Molly, Gwen left without a backward glance. She left behind friendships, a boyfriend, and a community that had embraced her and her family. Grown Gwen is alone and the future she hoped for has gone off the rails when she flees her life and escapes to the cottage. Coming back brings up trauma, the need for relationship repair with many in the community, obstacles caused due to storms and cold weather, and a search for who she is in and the future she wants to form. This story is full of surprises, ghostly visitors, secrets, friendship, romance, and deception.

Wanted to love this one.
The summary sounded so promising.
Gwen returns to her hometown after 20 years to rebuild her life. There’s so many add ons to this book. I wasn’t sure where it was going.

I am a cross between a little confused and a little disappointed as I had high
hopes for this book. The cover art reached out to my heart and pulled me in
but sadly the story did not take hold.. To be fair, this is not the kind of story
I was expecting, but I worked through the tangled themes and paid special
attention to each character from start to finish. There is nothing wrong with
the characters, but I am disappointed that I do not have any feelings for
them.
I will wait a week and see how the story feels. I will post if it turns out
that I feel differently.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster via NetGalley for the download
copy of the book for review purposes.

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

This has a great cover - it drew me in, but the book seemed a little scattered. Redemption, lost child, ghosts, high school heartthrob, shady real estate, jobless, home renovation -- there was a lot going on, and while it was mostly successful, it wasn't all successful. The Maine setting added to the story, and was used to bolster the narrative.

This is a good first novel -- maybe just edit some of the story lines a touch. I think you'll have more concise book. But again, really good first effort.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but how could I not when it's as beautiful and inviting as this one?! The synopsis sold me and I couldn't wait to dive in, but unfortunately I had a hard time settling into this one. I struggled to connect with Gwen, and there was a bit too much going on. The ghost storyline also completely threw me. So while this one wasn't for me, I can see how others would like what I bumped up against.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own:

In Port Anna, our main character Gwen decides to move to her family’s summer home off the coast of Maine to try to begin life anew.

Setting descriptions were beautifully written and the way Gwen confronts past mistakes and sets off to get her feet back under her after love, loss, and everything between was moving. I think at times there were a few too many things happening at once and I could get lost a bit, but nothing super overwhelming. This did, however, bring forth a fun aspect to the book in that I was never bored at any point with this book.

I also think the cover of this book was gorgeous and sets a great starting picture in my mind to really envision how beautiful this whole story was.

What a nice little trip to Maine I just took right in the middle of winter!

The author's love for the New England state is abundantly clear in this book. Readers are transported to the coast, complete with a lighthouse, sailboats, and nineteenth century cottages with ceilings of knotted wood and roofs of silvered shingles.

Our main character Gwen left her hometown of Port Anna over twenty years ago in the wake of a personal tragedy. Now in her forties and suddenly without the job and partner she assumed would be hers forever, she returns with her tail tucked between her legs. In Port Anna Gwen spends time confronting her missteps, as well as reconnecting with old friends and making some new acquaintances (including a potential love interest and a runaway teen hiding out in the forest). She begins to build her life anew.

While mostly a contemporary fiction novel, there are dashes of magical realism sprinkled throughout the story as well, most prominently exhibited by the Misses - ghosts of the lesbian couple who built Gwen's family cottage who still let their opinions on the matters in their home known by making the walls creak or the doors slam. There is also the legend of the woman lighthouse keeper who would dive into the sea to save drowning sailors, and what ultimately happened to her.

Besides being transportative, this was a very healing story about meeting ones past mistakes head on and putting one foot in front of the other until one finds their way in the world once again. Much thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review. My Goodreads review is live now, and I will post to my blog on July 1st and Bookstagram around that same time.

This book was… interesting. Maine folklore. Lesbian ghosts. Historically tragic love. A run away teen. A runaway adult. A dead sibling and related guilt… All these thing collide in Port Anna at the worst possible time of year. Our FMC wants to do the right thing but is taken advantage of by a former friend for business/financial purposes, and the rest of the novel is her friends trying to encourage her to fix it and fight the good fight… while ghosts and lovers and orphaned run-aways flit in the background. There was a lot going on in this book. It was an interesting read, but I never really put the pieces together with the intent behind the ghosts and how they related to the story.

The FMC was likeable, and her quick BFF (spoiler: her ex lovers husband) was the star of the show in my opinion. I loved him and his husband and the care he showed to our FMC throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Port Anna" is a delightful novel that follows the journey of Gwen as she returns to her Maine hometown after a twenty-year absence. Throughout the story, Gwen grapples with various challenges, making her character relatable and engaging. As she seeks new employment opportunities, she also rekindles relationships with old friends. Although the book incorporates paranormal elements, such as ghostly occurrences in her home and the mystery surrounding a girl's disappearance, it primarily unfolds as a cozy mystery. At times, the narrative may veer off course, yet it ultimately weaves all its threads together by the conclusion. If you enjoy stories set in hometowns with a cozy mystery vibe, this book is a perfect choice.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing the ARC for reading and review.

Interesting story, slow at times and filled with backstories and long ago teen relationships. The character at the center is in financial trouble and trying to retain ownership of the Maine cottage that has been in her family for hundreds of years. She reminds me of someone who has been blown through life like the Maine winds.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A love letter to Maine, and anyone who is looking to untether themselves from the burdens of the past, Port Anna is a beautiful, nostalgic debut that will tug at your heartstrings. Gwen Gilmore lost almost everything, and is driving up to her old family cabin in Maine to try and find her footing in life again. There, she is met with some old friends – many of whom have changed in ways that don't necessarily meet the eye; the broader community that's eager to welcome Gwen back; a couple of benevolent ghosts; a mystery to solve; and the many dark shadows of her troublesome past. I was first drawn in by the evocative setting, as well as a curiosity about what happened in Gwen's past and whether she would find a way back into her community's fold – and back to herself. But as the winter tightened its grip over Maine and Gwen's financial troubles took an even more sinister turn, I found myself sitting at the edge of my seat, unable to stop turning the pages. This is definitely a debut worth reading!

3.5 ⭐️
I was thankful to have been asked to read this debut novel so I could give my opinions on it.
It took me a bit to get through as there was something missing for me.
Lit fiction is such a unique category at times as it can be a catch all for various genres and I think that’s why I struggled as it had a little bit of everything but nothing felt like it was satisfying in the end.

I still rounded it up to 4⭐️ as I think some will absolutely love it as the prose is beautiful. It’s very descriptive, sometimes overly, in bringing the Maine scenery to life. The magical realism of the ghost mentions were great.. but again, it felt unfinished as I wanted more.

I think this book may be a great read for book clubs as there is a lot to discuss!

The book comes out on July 1, 2025 from Simon and Schuster.

What a beautiful debut by Libby Buck. Port Anna is story of a woman, Gwen, trying to find her way in the world. Aren't we all. I found myself utterly transported to the shores of Maine. There is so much heart and heartbreak in this story. So many compelling characters, including Gwen’s home, Periwinkle. I only wish it was already summer and I was reading this by the sea.

Thanks to NetGalley Simon and Schuster for my advanced copy.

Port Anna is the debut novel by Libby Buck. First, let me say that I adored this novel and didn’t want it to end. Gwen Gilmore has recently lost everything of value to her, so she heads north to her family’s cottage on the coast of Maine. Her mother has recently passed away, leaving the cottage to her, but when Gwen arrives she finds the cottage in a sad state of disrepair. The ghosts of the cottage (The Misses) are still there, making noises, moans, and slamming doors and cabinets. Much about the town is the same, the fog still rolls in, but there are huge changes such as the new real estate built and the strange, strained relationships between her old friends. Gwen hopes to find a job, settle into the cottage, and live a quiet life. She has sad memories from Port Anna including the death of her sister at a young age and she wants to be left alone. However, life has other plans for her if she can find the courage to change. She reconnects with old friends, meets a charming artist named Leandro, and becomes a friend to an unlikely companion along the way.

The pacing of this novel felt just right. I was never bored. The novel was interesting and I was heavily invested in Gwen and her story. There is also a historical fiction slant to the novel that I loved. The descriptions of the trees and the sea were beautiful. I can tell the author loves Maine and I can’t believe this is her first novel. I will be recommending this book to everyone. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.