The Seaside Sisters

I just finished The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M Kelley and here are my thoughts.


Hannah is struggling to write her second novel after the success of her first and the personal loss she suffered months ago. Her aunt invites her to come visit so she can work on her book and relax. It's a win-win as her sister Sara lives in Chatham too with her husband and four boys.

Sara wants more from her life than a stay at home mom and dreams of getting back into the book world so when she gets the chance to work in the local book shop, she is thrilled. Trouble is, her husband is not supportive.

Hannah gets the opportunity to shadow a lawyer, grumpy Spencer for her book and her whole world opens up in the most beautiful ways.

Pamela M Kelley always writes the coziest books. You know what you are going to get when you pick up one of her books and it is a beautiful story.

I didn't feel as invested in Hannah as I did with Sara but I think that's because I am also a mother who stays home and loves books. I always love small town cute books and this one scratched an itch I didn't know I had. It was a quick sweet read and I enjoyed the heck out of it.

I love that we get the POV of family members and felt the story was well paced but I would have liked a little excitement. I also like the lengthy food parts in the books. Haters gonna hate haha and I am not one.

4 stars

Thank you to @stmartinspress for my gifted copy. Out now.

Solid, If A Touch Generic, Beach Read. You know those tales where you go into it knowing roughly what is going to happen from the get-go, but also knowing you're going to enjoy the experience because you know this type of tale and know nothing too shocking or controversial will be a major plot point? In other words, a somewhat Hallmark Movie type plot, but more on the women's fiction side and featuring multiple storylines in one?

Yeah, this is pretty well exactly that, in coastal Cape Cod + NYC as the "big city". Solid enough to be a solid, inoffensive choice for lounging at the pool or on a beach reading while relaxing as the kids make a fool of themselves in the water... in other words, fairly idyllic "summer read". And what do you know, positioned to release right at the beginning of the "summer season" in the US, just over a week after Memorial Day and when many - particularly more Yankee-area - schools are getting out of school for the summer later that week.

So if this is the kind of tale you're looking for - and based on the Hallmark Channel's success, clearly there is a fairly substantial market for this type of tale - then you're going to enjoy this one and it is pretty well going to be everything you expect it to be. For those looking for something with more teeth... look for some of my other reviews, wherever you may find them. :)

Very much recommended.