Port Anna focuses on main character, Gwen, who is down on her luck and decides to move back to her family’s summer home in Port Anna, Maine. In Port Anna, Gwen must confront the figurative and literal ghosts of her past while trying to get a fresh start in her life.

Gwen’s story contains themes of romance, mystery, grief, betrayal, growth, found family, and even some magical realism. I think author Libby Buck did a fantastic job of setting the scene of this story. Her depictions of this fictional town made me want to book a trip to Maine ASAP. The story kept me entertained and overall I really enjoyed it. I’m so glad I took a chance on this author debut and this book will definitely be on my recommendation list.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and of course Libby Buck for this advanced copy!

Port Anna was a disappointment for me. I really expected to like it more than I did. There was way too much crammed into a fairly short book for my liking. I never could figure out what the true message was. There was climate change, new buildings replacing historical buildings, a missing teen, reuniting with old friends, local history/myths, mystery, romance, birds, grief, and even ghosts. In this case, I didn’t find more is better. About the time something had my interest, the story went off in another direction.

Gwen returned to her family cabin in Maine to begin a different life. She reunited with her high school friends - some to be trusted and others not so much. She gets herself into a real estate nightmare while figuring out her life in Maine.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy. This book is released on July 1, 2025. The ratings on Goodreads have been very high so come July give it a try.

Set along the coast of Maine, Port Anna is a story about 2nd chances, about friendships - old and new - and about love and forgiveness of yourself and others.

What a fantastic debut novel! "Port Anna" is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story that many will find incredibly relatable.

This must-read centers around Gwen Gilmore, who finds herself at a crossroads both personally and professionally. After inheriting her mother’s home following her recent passing, she decides to return to her small hometown in Maine. Here, she embarks on the journey of creating a new normal in a very familiar place.

This novel is packed with depth and emotion on every page! As Gwen navigates her challenges, I appreciated how Libby Buck framed Periwinkle, Maine, as a healing balm for both the characters and the readers. I loved Gwen's journey, and I felt her character arc was incredibly organic. I'm amazed that this is Libby Buck’s first novel, and I will certainly read everything she writes in the future!

Port Anna is a charming debut novel about hope and second chances. Fans of J. Courtney Sullivan and Sarah Addison Allen will enjoy Gwen's story of looking for a fresh start at her family's Maine coast cottage, with its resident spirits. At times, I found the myriad characters and subplots slightly confusing and overwhelming, and some of Gwen's choices (or lack thereof) frustrating, but the way everything (and almost everyone) came together in the end was a satisfying conclusion.

This book had me confused. The plot felt like it was all over the place. I wasn't sure if this was a romance or a thriller. I feel like it had potential, it was just a little too chaotic for me.

You should 100% read this when it’s released!

I’m such a fan! Going on this adventure with Gwen and watching as she makes her home in Port Anna was very heartwarming. There were instances where I got confused, and that calls for the 4 stars. I felt a little too confused through the story and was left with questions. Overall, I loved the concept of the Misses, Gwen’s backstory, and how the rest of characters come from that backstory. I loved Shina and how she was a pivotal part of this story! Hugh was something else and so was Leandro. I’m such a fan of Leandro. He seems so sweet and so handsome. I would love to visit this place and meet the characters. I feel like I connected with each one of them!

4/5 stars for friends, finding your home, and standing up to real estate injustice!

**Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy! I’m leaving this review voluntarily!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

I LOVED this novel. This is reminiscent of Catherine Newman’s Sandwich (another awesome novel), as stated in the description. I would say this skewed a bit more serious, though, and there's nothing bad about that. This novel follows Gwen, a down-on-her luck 40-something with a tragic past. Gwen moves back to her family's summer cottage in Maine, totally unprepared for the harsh winters there. This is a story about coming to terms with trauma, with creating a found family, with learning to find your purpose. There are parts of this novel that are tough, but the writing is so good. Read this if you want a slow, simmering literary story with a great setting.

Port Anna is the debut novel by Libby Buck. I really enjoyed reading Port Anna, lots of interesting and well written characters. The novel flowed well and held my attention.

Gwen comes back home to Maine and is reintroduced to many folks she hasn't interacted with since high school. A lot has changed, a lot hasn't.

Port Anna, Maine is a fictional location; but Libby Buck's family had a cottage in Maine and she seems very well versed with the fine folks from that area of the country.

Definitely a worth debut novel in my opinion.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishers for approving my request to read the advance read copy of Port Anna in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is Jul 1, 2025. Approx 352 pages.

Gwen Gilmore must cope with a life that has suddenly worsened. Her mother has passed away, and she lost her teaching job and long-term boyfriend. Anxious to get away and start a new life, she packs her ailing car and heads to the Maine coastal town of Port Anna, where Periwinkle, her family’s long-time home, is located.
Hoping that her childhood home will open up opportunities for a new life, she suddenly faces the old and painful memories she may never forget – old friends, dreams of a future that never happened, and a sister whose life tragically ended at such a young life.
Periwinkle is still the cozy she always remembered. Although it requires extensive repair, everything else is the same, including the friendly spirits she calls the Misses, who move about the cottage day and night. Unfortunately, the town is changing to meet the demands of its location and popularity with visitors to the coast. Condos are replacing many homes along the coast, and one relentless realtor is threatening Periwinkle. Gwen finds that her house has been condemned because of the repairs it needs, which she can’t afford. She now faces having to leave her childhood home.
Despite it all, Gwen continues to seek new possibilities and opportunities, but things in the town's past continue to haunt her. As the town prepares for the harsh winter ahead, Gwen soon finds the changes she will have to make in her life will lead her far astray from the life she had always dreamed of having.

I really enjoyed this sweet tale of a woman trying to find her way in the world while dealing with loss, grief and how she takes charge of her life. The setting is lovely as are the friendships and relationships she makes in a new place. Cosy read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, & the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I need time to really think before deciding on what to rate this one because it was beautifully written, but I never felt fully invested or captivated by the story. It felt like too much was going on at all times. There were so many characters, and none of them were very well developed in my opinion, mostly because I couldn’t picture them in my head or tell them apart for a while there. I couldn’t figure out friend or foe either for most of the story, but I think that may have been the point?!

I’m actually a fan of the paranormal, and I really enjoyed the sprinkles of that thrown in amongst the chaos of this book. I looked forward to it, and I almost wish there was a hint more depth to it. I wanted more of Anna’s story, and I actually wanted to hear more about the Misses!!! I just wanted more from this! It was exciting, and I was waiting for Molly the entire book…

I am not sure if it was the TINY font on my phone reading this arc or the story itself that kept me bobbing for (let’s just keep it clean here) apples…I nodded off almost every time I picked this arc up. I felt like it took me forever to finish, and it was not a long story at all. The last 20% I did not want to put down…


***possible spoilers?!? Don’t read beyond this if you are like me & never read the back of the book first lol…







Once Hugh’s true nature was discovered I was horrified. I knew something was up with all the hints dropped, but if all of these supporting characters were truly friends of Gwen’s…how did this happen?! It was too easy & too annoying for me. I felt so confused how no one warned her about him knowing she was spending time and knowing how he truly was. SHOCKED!

That ending is what has me really wanting to leave four stars. I just don’t think I can ultimately because the entire story as a whole was three stars for me. It was good!! I just wouldn’t read it again personally or run to tell everyone I know about it either. I did feel that it was a beautifully written story, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The ending was 4.5 stars, but the book was 2-3 for me, so I’m leaving 3.7 stars for this one as a whole. I will absolutely pick up her next book!!

Gwen Gilmore is a woman whose life has recently fallen apart. 40ish, single, completely broke, and jobless, she moves into the small Maine summer cottage previously owned by her now-deceased mother. The cottage is haunted by the Misses, a pair of sassy women who built and lived in the cottage prior to Gwen's family owning it - a charming touch of magical realism. Overall, though, this is a very poignant story of a woman finding herself and a community. A colorful cast of characters (and an almost cartoonish villain) round out this easy read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I received a free ARC ebook of <i>Port Anna</i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

The coast of Maine takes center stage in this novel. Returning to her parents' summer cottage after decades away, Gwen is a personal and professional mess. She has been fired from her job, and her boyfriend has broken off their relationship. She has little money and no living family, but she does own Periwinkle, a rundown, haunted summer cottage on the coast. In her youth, Periwinkle was a blissful haven, but the drowning death of her little sister, Molly, changes everything.

Despite decades away, Gwen does have local friends, and they instantly step up to help her. But, perhaps, not everyone's motives are pure. Coastal Maine property is very valuable.

The relationship between Gwen and Shania, a homeless teen runaway, is troubling. Gwen knows Shania is without shelter or food in the wintery Maine woods, yet her efforts help support Shania's continued isolation. Common sense and the law dictate a different approach. But Gwen's quest for independence and a fresh start make her look at Shania's situation in a different light.

This book is perfect for readers who love gentle ghost stories in a gorgeous setting.

A lovely novel, fiction with a touch of the supernatural, about Gwen who returns to a family home in Maine and learns about rebuilding every area of her life. When she loses her boyfriend and her job, penniless and alone, Gwen limps back to Maine, years after the death of her sister Molly.

She finds old supportive friends and neighbors as well as an unscrupulous realtor who wants to develop her land. She even finds romance. The characters are decent and likable, except for the requisite villain. Gwen unexpectedly finds romance and rescues a lost teenager.

The novel recounts some of the legends and lore of the area. I enjoyed this book.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

This book was an unexpected and delightful way to start the new year. Set in the heart of a charming Maine seaside town, this story enchanted me with its sweet, found-family vibes and the warm embrace of a small-town community.

The haunted home at its center exuded a magical realism, the kind of ghost story that wraps you in wonder rather than chills. The author’s love for Maine’s rugged beauty, its historic architecture, and breathtaking landscapes shines on every page.


🏠 Haunted Maine home

🌟 Sweet, found-family vibes

💛 Gentle ghost story

🌊 Beautiful landscapes

💌 Sweet romance

When everything in her life goes wrong, Gwen retreats to her family cottage in Maine which is occupied by the ghosts of her aunt and her partner. .On the water the rickety structure is sought after by developers for the land value. Gwen is trying to preserve her aunt’s home while surviving on very little income. She seeks some help from old friends with mixed results. She has a romantic interest in an artist and gets a job at the local high school doing college advising and essay help. She also becomes entangled in the life of a runaway who seeks shelter in the forest behind Gwen’s house. This is an engaging story with likable characters. I look forward to more books from Libby Buck. I thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

***One of the plot points possibly revealed too much...POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT!!!!!*** ⚠️


I really enjoyed this book! I love stories about locals living in vacationing towns, especially the east coast! I enjoyed the pacing and the story itself. If I had one criticism, it would be the whole 15 year old living in the woods for three seasons. Come on. One call to the police? I don't know...I know this is fictional, but in a book full of realistic topics, this was a miss for me. I think it would have been better if Gwen would have harbored her from the beginning instead of letting a child "decide" where to be, especially if that decision was a wooded lot in Maine.

Port Anna by Libby Buck - What a delightful book that will tug at your heart and fill it with a rainbow of emotions. Set in current time in the upper Maine coastline. Young Gwen returns to her childhood home and finds her high school friends still around but not always the happy-go-lucky teens she left behind. The town of Port Anna welcomes her back but with many changes, yet her family home Periwinkle stands true with ghosts and memories. Can Gwen overcome grief that has molded her life for 24 years or will that grief release her to a new life of so many loves she never expected? This story is a quick read with good hardy laughs throughout it with the heart tugs. I give this book 5 stars.

This delightful story takes place in Maine where Gwen has returned after being away from her family’s summer home for many years. Gwen is at a crossroad in her life. Her mother has passed away and she has inherited the dilapidated and haunted cottage that holds some wonderful, and also some devastating memories. Her long term relationship has recently ended, her career is unfulfilling, she is in financial straights, and she has decided to return to the cottage to start a new phase of her life.
Returning to the cottage also means she can no longer suppress her memories of her little sister’s drowning that occurred decades earlier here when she was a teen. Her feelings of guilt and sadness come back to her along with the cottage’s familiar ghosts. The story is about reconnecting with old friends, making new friends, a new love, and also dealing with an old friend’s betrayal. All of this made for an interesting and nostalgic story.