Book Review: Habits of the Sea by Shea Ernshaw

Pages: 304

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 7, 2026

Publisher: Atria

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "The night Clay Lockhart’s wife dies, a violent storm tears their home—and the eight hectares of land beneath it—away from the Scottish coast, sending it adrift into the Atlantic. Thirty years later, twelve-year-old Ellie Mills discovers the fabled floating island off the coast of Nova Scotia and finds Clay still living in the weatherworn farmhouse perched on its highest hill.

When the island vanishes overnight, Ellie is left questioning whether it ever existed at all. But decades later, now in her thirties, the island resurfaces—and Ellie returns, determined to uncover the truth. What she finds is even Clay hasn’t aged a single day.

Faced with the impossible, Ellie learns that some mysteries aren’t meant to be solved—and that a life shaped by wonder may hold more promise than one bound by certainty.

Spanning centuries and coastlines, Habits of the Sea is a haunting, romantic journey through time, memory, and the invisible tides that pull us home."

 

 

Clay Lockhart's wife dies on the night a storm ravages his home along the Scottish coast, and the storm is so strong that it tears apart the strip of land his house is on and forms an island. This island floats away into the sea, adrift forever. People question Ellie's version of the story until one day twelve-year-old Ellie Mills spots the floating island off of Nova Scotia and ends up meeting Clay. The next day, the island is gone, and it has Ellie wondering if it even existed. Years later, the island returns and is spotted by many. Now Ellis is a grown woman and she wants to meet Clay once again and finally get some answers to her long-awaited questions. When she does, she finds out Clay hasn't aged at all. Habits of the Sea by Shea Ernshaw is a beautifully written and genre-bending sort of romance that transports readers.
 
Immediately the premise of Habits of the Sea sucked me in. I mean, what a concept! I was intrigued. People were even making comparisons to Outlander, and if you know me, you know that is right up my alley. Plus, Ernshaw, who is a new-to-me author, writes beautifully and lyrically. However in the end, Habits of the Sea had so much potential, but the romance really fell flat for me. I just didn't feel connected to the characters as much as I wanted to, and in turn, the pacing of the story felt slow to me at times.
 
What truly stood out in Ernshaw's work was her genre-bending and atmospheric storytelling. I appreciated the magical realism woven into the narrative as well as the Gothic elements, and her lyrical writing brought those elements to life beautifully. However, despite her outstanding writing, I found Habits of the Sea to be just okay in the end. Have you read Habits of the Sea? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Mini Reviews: A Touch of Magic

 

Sometimes some of the best romances are the ones with touches of magic in it. That's the case with these two new romances that are perfect for a light summer read.

 

 

An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton 

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: July 7, 2026

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author:  The House on Biscayne Bay,

The Last Train to Key West,  When We Left Cuba, Next Year in Havana, Our Last Days in Barcelona, The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes,

The Cuban Heiress,  The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, 

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door.

Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars.

As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her."

 

 

Vivian Mitchell is a former journalist from D.C. and is now married to Joe, an astronaut at NASA. It's the 1960s, the peak of the Space Race, and her husband is on a mission to the moon. Joe's spacecraft loses contact with mission control. NASA says that Joe and his crew are now lost in space and is pointing the blame at Joe, who was the mission commander. Vivian knows this can't be right, and from talking for countless hours with Joe, perhaps NASA rushed this mission, and things weren't as safe as they thought. She plans on partaking in an interview with a top journalist in D.C. about this very issue, but then Vivian starts to get weird and unexplainable messages from Joe, who is supposed to be dead. One message says, "Wait for me," and now it has Vivian thinking about wormholes, time travel, and more. How could Joe be communicating with her? Chanel Cleeton's An Infinite Love Story is just that. It's a swoonworthy romance set during the space race of the 1960s. It's compelling, emotional, and a perfect summer escape. 
 
I really loved Joe and Vivian's romance from the start in An Infinite Love Story. Cleeton provides flashbacks to the start of their courtship and Vivian's time working as a journalist. Cleeton does a really great job bringing to life the 1960s and the excitement around astronauts, NASA, and the race to get to space. The real star of the show is Vivian and Joe's romance, which was oh-so-sweet and memorable. Even when the story started to venture into magical realism with the discussion of wormholes and time travel, I was still entirely invested. While it wasn't my favorite of Cleeton's historical novels, I thought it was a solid novel about a most compelling time period in America.

 

 

Every Version of You by Natalie Messier 

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: July 7, 2026

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says,  "Joey Vasquez’s life is the definition of good on paper. At thirty-two, she’s a Los Angeles lawyer on the cusp of making partner, but while she’s a professional success, she’s a personal disaster. Her social life mostly consists of nights spent watching TV with her elderly cat. Life isn’t quite what she dreamed when she was younger, but really, whose life is?

But a dinner party with the best friend she’s secretly pined after for years and its aftermath changes everything.

When Joey is given a second chance at life, she finds herself in college again. Armed with memories from her first life, Joey is certain she’s come back to finally convince the one man she ever loved to love her back—so why does she find herself strangely drawn to the man she thought she hated?"

 

 

 

 

Josephina Vasquez, or Joey for short, is a corporate lawyer living a most uninspired life. She isn't talking to her best friend, things with her family are strained, and she has so many regrets. Regret number one: never sharing her feelings with her college crush, Elijah Aarons. She missed her chance, and Elijah, or Ellie for short, is now married. During a dinner party at his house, she finds out that he and his wife are expecting a baby, and to top it off, she finds herself in an argument with another college friend, Alex, who drives her nuts. Feeling rather forlorn, she drives home in a cloud of sadness and gets into an accident. Then she finds herself in a strange room being offered a second chance at her life. So Joey finds herself able to start fresh again; she is back at college and able to do everything all over. Maybe she doesn't want to be a lawyer anymore, and maybe this time she will pursue Ellie differently and make her feelings known. But what is even more compelling is the fact that she finds herself hitting it off with Alex this time around. Every Version of You by Natalie Messier is a lovely story involving some magical touches and second chances.
 
Who doesn't wish they could wake up and re-do parts of their life again? Knowing what you know now, maybe you would play it out differently this time? Well, Joey gets this chance due to her many regrets, and she finds herself back at college, where her regrets really started. She has a chance to pursue Ellie, change things with her family, and even switch her major, ultimately starting a different career. Who says she wants to be a lawyer anyway? Every Version of You examines life and how every moment counts and makes you think about the decisions we make. It tugged on my heartstrings for sure, so if you are looking for an emotional and contemplative summer read, this fits the bill.

 

 

Have you read An Infinite Love Story or Every Version of You? Let me know in the comments below.  

 

Book Review: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Pages: 400

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: April 7, 2026

Publisher: Knopf

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them.

Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn't her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

As darkly funny as it is shocking and gripping, Yesteryear is an electrifying examination of tradition, fame, faith and the grand performance of womanhood, from a thrilling new talent in fiction."

 

 

 

Natalie Heller Mills is living what looks like the perfect life online. She has married into a powerful political family; she and her husband share a bunch of kids on an idyllic farm in Idaho, and she has scored a ton of internet followers by peddling her tradwife life on her ranch, Yesteryear. She isn't your usual country wife though; she churns her own butter, makes her own bread, takes care of the farm, and lives (what appears to be) a life on her sprawling farmhouse. Except behind the scenes, she has two nannies, a marriage that is crumbling, and a team of producers to film her. She doesn't even spend time with her kids; instead, she cultivates her online presence and exploits the children for her online fame. When a new producer, Shannon, comes on board, she threatens to expose online Natalie versus offline Natalie, and in turn, her world threatens to come crumbling down. Plus, there's the huge problem that after some indeterminate amount of time, Natalie wakes up at Yesteryear, but in 1855. Her kids look like her kids, but aren't, and same with Caleb, her husband. She is trapped in a different and dangerous time, and she wants out. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke is a sizzling debut that is satirical, compelling, and at times, very dark.
 
Natalie is a character that you can't help but dislike right from the start in Yesteryear. I knew this going into Yesteryear, but her character really bothered me. She is so tragically flawed that I found it difficult to get through the book. It's clear that she struggles with mental health issues, and I didn't enjoy being immersed in her world. The stress! The flashbacks to her childhood and college years do help to illustrate her background and how she ended up to became an online tradwife influencer. I don't know much about tradwife influencers. I've heard that Ballerina Farms inspired this novel, but perhaps that lack of knowledge affected my understanding of the story. It felt like the book was trying too hard to convey a message about women, MAGA culture, unconventional society, and a specific group of individuals who believe this is the superior way to live. Natalie appeared to be deluded, and I found it uncomfortable to navigate her existence, which involved medicating just to get through the day and dissociating from reality. 
 
Nonetheless, Yesteryear made for a compelling novel. It was like a car crash on the side of the road. I knew it was going to be rough, but I couldn't stop looking as we drove past. I will give Burke a lot of credit, though; she created a novel that is compulsively readable and crafty. I just wish it was easier to stomach. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. 
 
Have you read Yesteryear? Many people feel it is one of the best books of the year, but ultimately, it was just ok for me. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

Mini Reviews: Beach Reads with Memorable Settings

 

There's nothing like a beach read with a setting that is beautiful, glamorous, and, of course, memorable. That's immediately what I thought when I read that The May House is set on Coronado Island, set across from the bay from downtown San Diego. Who wouldn't want to spend a glorious week there? And then, of course, there's Nantucket, the setting of Worse Than Strangers. It's where everyone's favorite beach read always seems to take place.

 

The May House by Jillian Cantor

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Fiction/Beach Read

Publisher: Atria

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "No matter what’s going on in the May sisters’ lives, the one thing they can rely upon is seeing each other for one week each year, while staying at their grandmother’s beachside home in gorgeous Coronado. As adults, Julia, Emily, and Nora aren’t particularly close, spread out across the country and busy with careers, relationships, and the minutia of life, but their promise to Grandma Vera keeps them anchored together, if only for one week every May.

One year Julia, the oldest and most dependable sister, doesn’t show. And suddenly Nora and Emily start to question how much they truly know about their sister’s life. Told in alternating points of view, spanning from their time together with Grandma Vera as kids into their adult lives, The May House explores how a decades-long family secret has unknowingly shaped each sister and, ultimately, how it brings them closer together.

Funny, poignant, and brimming with heart, The May House is an irresistible story about the special bond between sisters and figuring out what matters most in life, in all its ups and downs.

 

The May sisters have inherited a beach house from their Grandmother on beautiful Coronado Island. They have been going there for a week in May ever since they were little, and they always promised their grandmother they would return every year. Now the sisters are adults and dealing with real-world issues, finding it hard to carve out time to come back. However, despite their obstacles, all three sisters have met each year for a week of bonding by the sea. Except this year, Julia, the eldest sister, doesn't come and is nowhere to be found. This leaves Emily and Nora confused, as their older sister has always been dependable. How well do they know her? The May House by Jillian Cantor is a solid beach read with a gorgeous California setting, perfect for fans of stories involving sisterhood and family drama.
 
The three May sisters don't have much in common except for their beach house, as they don't actively participate in each other's adult lives. Their bond is rooted in their Grandmother Vera, who has helped care for them since their mother's death. The story unfolds through the various points of view of the sisters, along with flashbacks to past summers, providing readers with deeper insights into the May sisters' backstories. A common thread among the sisters is their next-door neighbor, Nate, who is Julia's former boyfriend and Nora's long-time crush. There is also a secret box of letters that Grandma Vera keeps hidden, which threatens to reveal some family secrets. The May House offers a charming beach read, and having just visited Coronado made the experience even more enjoyable.
 

 

 

 

 

Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy 

Pages: 320

Genre: Romance/Beach Read

Pub. Date: June 23, 2026

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A debut novel for fans of Jane Austen, Elin Hilderbrand, and Gilmore Girls, Worse Than Strangers is a Nantucket-set retelling of Austen’s Persuasion about finding romance, second chances, and a new path in life.

Rose and Lily are best friends first, mother-daughter second, which is good because right now, Lily could really use a friend. Recently fired from her NYC magazine job and heartbroken, Lily has fled to the family cottage in Siasconset. She is shocked when she stumbles across her first love at the grocery store holding hands with his new fiancé—a fiancé he never mentioned on their many, many late-night phone calls.

Rose has secrets, too. A therapist about to start her own private practice, Rose’s world is rocked by the handsome renter staying in their guest cottage, Thomas Wentworth: the one person she thought she would never see again and the man who has always (unfortunately) held her heart.

A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion set against a backdrop of blue and purple hydrangeas, swollen brick sidewalks, tall sea grass, and uniform, shingled houses, Lily and Rose Gardner’s summer journey of second chances, healing, and hope begs the question: Can you repeat the past, and is it ever too late to try again?"

 

Rose and Lily are a mother-daughter duo similar to The Gilmore Girls. Rose is a beautiful single mother and therapist, and Lily is making her way in the world in NYC, but they are still as close as ever. Unfortunately, Lily gets fired from her job in NYC and returns home with her tail between her legs to her mother's cottage on Nantucket. This cottage holds a special place in her heart as it was her beloved great-aunt's cottage and she spent many summers there. Upon her arrival on the small island, she runs into her first love and former boyfriend, Henry, at the grocery store holding hands with his new fiancée. This shocks Lily as they had just spoken not too long ago and he never mentioned her. Lily and Henry never really had a clean break, so this hits her hard. She is set for a summer of rebuilding her life when her mother rents out the other cottage next door and finds out it's been rented to Thomas Wentworth, a man who played an important role in Rose's life. This is proving to be a complicated summer for Rose and Lily, filled with second chances and finding their way. Kyleigh Leddy's Worse Than Strangers is a wonderful retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion and makes for a delightful beach read.
 
First and foremost, Persuasion is my favorite of Austen's novels, so I couldn't wait to dive into a modern retelling. I enjoyed every aspect of this novel, especially how each chapter was presented from the perspectives of Lily and Rose, along with a few chapters from their beloved aunt, Lottie. Leddy also did a fantastic job of bringing Nantucket to life; she truly conveyed a strong sense of place. It was clear that she spent a lot of time there, and I appreciated the vivid details about the gardens, restaurants, beaches, and more. While Leddy addressed some difficult topics, such as cancer and addiction, she managed to keep the narrative light, ensuring it never felt overly heavy. The arrival of extra family members at the cottage added humor to the story while maintaining a strong focus on rebuilding their lives and mending past relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed the debut novel Worse Than Strangers and can't wait to see what Leddy writes next.
 
Have you read either The May House or Worse Than Strangers? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

Mini Reviews: New Beach Reads

 

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson 

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 30, 2026

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Pineapple Street

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie. Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a kid: His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.

Together, the group runs wild through the marshes, beaches, and bars of Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, spending long afternoons sunbathing with their children, and playing games the way they always have. But when Bailey discovers that she is pregnant with Van’s baby, the delicate balance of the group’s friendship is thrown off. Soon Caroline is cast out of the circle and what she does next—in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak—exposes long-held secrets and works the entire town of Greenhead into a lather. Dazzlingly funny, sexy, and as juicy as it is astute, The Shampoo Effect is a story of late-night parties, early mornings with small children, the dawn of midlife, and a group of old friends finally growing up despite all their best efforts to the contrary.

 

Caroline Lash is relocating to the close-knit seaside community of Greenhead, MA, after winning the opportunity to serve as a residency writer. While there, she falls for Van, an environmentalist and super outdoorsy kind of guy, despite their differences, as she is a city girl through and through. The more she hangs out with Van, the more she is privy to his friend group, all their hangouts, whether at beaches or bars, and their secrets, too, as they are dysfunctional. Things are smooth sailing until Van realizes that his ex-girlfriend, Bailey, is pregnant with his baby. But he assures Caroline that he wants to be with her and will platonically support his lifelong friend and on-again-off-again girlfriend, Bailey. There's more drama amongst their friend group, and things get challenging between Van and Caroline, leaving her to question whether they have what it takes to make this work. The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson is pure beach read fun. If you love a dysfunctional friend group and lots of drama, look no further. 
 
Jackson alternates points of view from each friend in The Shampoo Effect, so readers get a behind-the-scenes look into the character's lives and their problems. Each character is dealing with issues, whether it be Bailey's pregnancy, Augusta's marriage issues, Fran's parenthood strife and issues with aging parents, and more. They have always tackled these issues together as friends, but the arrival of Caroline upends their close-knit group. It's always fun when an outsider comes into the circle and really shakes things up, and that is what happens in The Shampoo Effect. While a lot of it felt like rich people problems, that is exactly what I wanted on a hot summer weekend. 
 

 

 

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren 

Pages: 352

Genre: Romance

Pub. Date: July 24, 2026 

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Love and Other Words,

The Paradise Problem, The Unhoneymooners

and Twice in a Blue Moon 

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Three years ago, Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.

But now, Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge research comes to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.

Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule to bring him back. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together...all of it is gone.

It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.

 

 
Dr. Emery Martin is living a perfect life at first glance. She is married to her love, Luca; she is working a meaningful job with medical-grade lasers; and she is living in Southern California. Except her job isn't really with lasers, and she hasn't even told her husband. Emery works at a San Diego lab that is working on bringing animals back from the dead; it's top secret, so she can't even talk about it with Luca. Her obsession with work is taking its toll on their marriage, and Luca is starting to get frustrated. On the night of their anniversary dinner (which she forgot about!), Luca gets into an accident, and Emery witnesses it. She administers this drug (which hasn't been tried on humans yet) and saves Luca's life. But at what cost? He wakes up and has no recollection of her. Emery makes it a goal to appreciate him this time around and get him to remember the special love they shared. But things are never easy as that! Christina Lauren's The Romance Revival is a departure from their normal romance novels, as this involves a lot of STEM elements, some sci-fi, and even some aspects of a thriller.
 
One thing I always appreciate about Lauren's novels is the chemistry she creates between her characters. I really loved the romance between Emery and Luca in The Romance Revival. I enjoyed the way they met and their blossoming love. Luca is a fantastic male lead, and I know many of Lauren's fans will thoroughly enjoy him. While I didn’t mind the STEM details in the novel, there were times when they felt a bit over-the-top and unbelievable. This was especially true during the cat-and-mouse chase towards the end of the novel. I appreciate that Lauren tried something new here; while I enjoyed the adorable romance, I felt that other aspects of the novel fell short. Additionally, the cover led me to expect more beach read elements than were actually present. Am I right in thinking that? I still look forward to reading more of Lauren's romances in the future.

 

 

Have you read The Shampoo Effect or The Romance Revival? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

  

Book Review: Love You More by Emily Giffin

 

Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 7, 2026

Publisher: Ballantine

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Summer Pact,

Meant to Be, The Lies that Bind, First Comes Love, 

and Something Borrowed 

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Billie has built the perfect life. Her practice as a doctor in New York City is thriving, and she’s finally found the right partner in Dean after years spent trying to move on from her high-school sweetheart, Mick. Their young love had been intense and true, but distance and ambition pulled them apart when she left Wisconsin for medical school.

Then one morning, just after accepting Dean’s romantic marriage proposal, Billie’s phone rings. It’s Mick—calling for the first time in nearly a decade. His news is urgent, and in a moment, everything changes.

As Billie boards a plane back to Wisconsin, the past comes rushing in—her friendships from home, the love she shared with Mick, and the choices that shaped them. What awaits her is a reckoning with what she’s lost, what she’s built, and what she still wants.

Gripping and deeply moving, Love You More is a story about the plot twists life throws at us—and how love, in all its forms, has the power to change everything."

 

 

Billie is an established doctor in New York City; she owns her own fertility clinic, and she is married to Dean, a successful surgeon. Things are going well for her, and she is newly engaged. A perfect life? Pretty close. But she receives a phone call from her ex-boyfriend back home in Wisconsin. Mick calls her with some upsetting and life-altering news, and she has to return to her hometown. Once there, she is reunited with her parents, her friends, and of course, Mick. Being in this close proximity to Mick brings back a lot of memories, and spending more time in Wisconsin adds to the nostalgia; New York City feels like a world away. Some big decisions and big changes are in store for Billie as she tackles the family friend emergency, and the more time she spends in Wisconsin, the more she is questioning what she wants. Emily Giffin's Love You More is being described as a Midwest Sweet Home Alabama, and that description fits it perfectly. Even though the novel tackles some depressing issues, the story kept me flipping the pages, and I wanted a happy ending for Billie. 
 
Giffin does a good job developing Billie in Love You More, as there are many flashbacks to high school and her close friend group, including her blossoming romance with Mick. It spans all of high school and college, so Giffin takes us through it all. She also develops the friendship between Erin and Billie, which also spans many years. Billie leaves both Mick and Erin behind, though, as she pursues her dreams of being a doctor. While she tries to make things work with Mick, the extended absences and all the studying, tests, etc, have her spread too thin. But the question in the back of her mind was always what would her life look like if she decided to stay or even pursue medicine closer to home? What about the path not taken?
 
While the flashbacks to high school and their romance were a bit rushed and felt like choppy narrative at times, I really enjoyed it. The summers they spent together, Mick's family orchard, and the descriptions of a Wisconsin summer were some of my favorite aspects of Love You More. Once Billie gets that phone call, things start to get serious and, in turn, a bit more melancholy.
 
My only issue with Love You More is the unrealistic turn of events after the phone call. I just don't see a successful doctor who owns a clinic in New York City upend her life as quickly as Billie did. I don't want to give too much away, but the whole thing felt rushed and really unrealistic; however, once I suspended my disbelief, I enjoyed the story a bit more.
 
While this isn't my favorite of Giffin's, I tend to enjoy some of her earlier works a bit more, I still thought Love You More was a solid beach read, especially for fans who like a story about the different paths we take in life and ultimately the question of what if? Let me know in the comments if you are a fan of Emily Giffin and if you plan on reading Love You More this summer.   

 

Book Review: Wasp's Nest by Kat Stoddard

 

Pages: 272

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 23, 2026

Publisher: Celadon

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Tess wants nothing more than for her upcoming society wedding to overshadow the failure of her first marriage. Her fiancé Warren, a steady soon-to-be state senator, is nothing like her first husband. Tess’s relationship with working-class artist Peter was a passionate crash-and-burn, and a chapter of her life that she's ready to forget.

Peter hasn’t seen Tess in five years, so he’s shocked to receive an invitation to her wedding. But he’s moved on too, and it wouldn’t hurt to prove it by showing up with a handsome younger man as his plus-one. Mitch, an aspiring writer, is intrigued by Peter and jumps at the chance to pry into the lives of his Waspy ex-in-laws. What he’s not bargained for is developing serious feelings for both Peter and Peter’s ex―Tess, the bride. But Peter and Tess have complex desires of their own, and Mitch is dangerously close to uncovering them.

Wasp's Nest is a fast-paced, humorous, and heartfelt exploration of the shape of our affections that proves real love triangles connect on all sides.

 

 

 

Tess Lowell is planning her second wedding on her family's gorgeous Cape Cod estate. Her society wedding will be quite an affair, especially since her future husband has senate plans. Except things aren't going quite as planned. Her mischievous brother, Sebastian, has invited her ex-husband, Peter, to the wedding. Tess divorced Peter years ago when he was dealing with his addiction issues and Peter hasn't heard from her since. Peter isn't as acceptable to her high-achieving family as he is merely an artist, but he wants to attend the wedding to get some closure. He decides to bring Mitch, an aspiring writer, whom he met at a dinner party; this should throw them all off! Mitch agrees to attend as he needs inspiration for his next writing project. What ensues over the next seven days on Cape Cod is anything but a simple family wedding. Kat Stoddard's debut, Wasp's Nest, is inspired by The Philadelphia Story and is a juicy, if somewhat, superficial beach read.
 
Much like The Philadelphia Story, Tess comes from a well-off family and her parents have high hopes for her second marriage. However, the sparks are still there between Tess and Peter and things get complicated when Mitch is thrown into the mix. This triangle (it's messy!), plus a wealthy Cape Cod wedding, is sure to keep readers flipping the pages as this is a juicy beach read. But that's where the sparkle ended for me. 
 
I am a huge fan of The Philadelphia Story, so I had high hopes for Wasp's Nest, but the characters weren't nearly as endearing as the original story, not to mention the lack of humor like the original tale. Wasp's Nest felt a little more serious at times. While I did appreciate the allusions to the original story, the new touches definitely modernize the story, as there is bisexuality, current politics, and more. Unfortunately, the Wasp's Nest characters were unlikable, and I didn't find myself caring what happened to them, which ultimately made the story never really take off.
 
I love the idea of a modern The Philadelphia Story, but unfortunately, Wasp's Nest didn't hit its mark or capture the magic of the original story, and it ended up being just an ok read. Have you read the debut novel, Wasp's Nest? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

Book Review: When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams

 

Pages: 464

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 23, 2026

Publisher: Ballantine

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: A Hundred Summers, 

Husbands & Lovers,  The Secret Life of Violet Grant, 

The Summer Wives, The Beach at Summerly, and Under the Stars

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Local history insists that a legendary pirate buried his treasure somewhere beneath Windward, the decayed Cooper estate on Winthrop Island, but Lucy Cooper never trusted the fable that broke her family apart. When a widowed Lucy returns with her young daughter to grieve her estranged father, she discovers the property’s buried under a mountain of debt, and Ben Ressler has just turned up on her doorstep.

Thirteen summers ago, a teenaged Lucy never meant to fall in love with Ben, a Dartmouth football star vacationing next door at the Peabody estate, and the object of an all-consuming crush by Laura Peabody, Lucy’s best friend. Those two weeks with Ben were the best and worst of Lucy’s life, dooming her friendship with Laura. Now Ben’s returned to live quietly in the Peabodys’ caretaker lodge, after a fatal accident ended his dazzling NFL career. He’s also the last person who saw Lucy’s father alive.

As Lucy reconstructs her father’s troubling final days, she uncovers his research on the frozen winter of 1717, when a desperately wounded pirate sought refuge on Winthrop Island with an enigmatic healer. To Lucy, this history points the way to a different kind of how to forgive yourself for the mistakes of the past and earn a second chance at love. But just as Lucy’s long-buried emotions sear to the surface, a shocking turn of events reveals that someone else on the island will do whatever it takes to claim the fabled plunder.

A timeless story of love and atonement, When You Loved Me maps both a centuries-old treasure hunt and the intimate territory of the human heart, weaving together past and present as only Beatriz Williams can."

 

 

Lucy Cooper returns home to Winthrop Island after her father's mysterious death. She hasn't seen him as much as she would have liked to in past years due to her relocation to Europe and her father's preoccupation with treasure hunting, which she thinks is a dead-end road. But when she returns home to her father's house along with her daughter, Elise, she starts to wonder if her father was right all along, as many clues are pointing to a possible treasure. Also on the island is her former boyfriend, Ben Ressler, whom she spent a summer dating. Once they reconnect, Lucy realizes that there still may be something there. However, Ben is dealing with his own issues as he is now divorced, and his stint in NFL football has come to an end due to some upsetting circumstances. Quickly, Lucy realizes someone is stalking her on the island, and she starts to realize that perhaps it's someone who wants the information her father had regarding the treasure. Williams also includes flashbacks to the summer Ben and Lucy first dated, as well as a flashback to 1717 on Winthrop Island. When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams is an engaging tale that combines elements of a beach read + romance + historical fiction; her fans won't be disappointed.
 
I really enjoyed Lucy from the start of When You Loved Me. She has had a difficult time after her husband's death and now must sort out her father's death and his house on her own while raising her precocious daughter. She takes a teaching job on the island and falls into the everyday routine on Winthrop. Except things aren't going smoothly with trying to sell her dad's house; plus, there are the clues he has left behind that start her thinking about an actual treasure. Also, the slow-burn, second-chance romance between Ben and Lucy was so very well done. I really enjoyed it, and the flashbacks to their first summer together further illustrated their romance and backstory.
 
As always, Williams does a wonderful job developing Winthrop Island; it was very atmospheric, and the pirate treasure only added to that feeling. Fans of her previous novels might remember a few characters who show up in When You Loved Me, which I appreciated. 
 
My only issue with When You Loved Me was the flashback to 1717 and the story involving Hephzibah and pirate Ramsay. At first, it was really jarring as I didn't feel it meshed very well with the story in both style and pacing. I almost wanted to skim it to get back to Lucy and Ben's story, but I knew that Williams would bring it all together. And she did! So be forewarned, the 1717 subplot is a slow start, but keep with it.
 
I love a good second-chance romance, and Williams delivers with When You Loved Me. Let me know in the comments if you plan to read When You Loved Me this summer and if you are a fan of Beatriz Williams. 

 

Book Review: Down with the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell Moore

 

Pages: 320

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 2, 2026

Publisher:William Morrow

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books by Author: Mansion Beach, 

The Islanders, Summer Stage, Two Truths and a Lie, 

and Vacationland 

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "It’s the week after Fourth of July, and the Shipman sisters are returning to their picturesque summer home on the New Hampshire coast for what they believe is a family reunion, the first without their late mother. However, their tranquil setting quickly becomes a stage for drama when their father, Calvin, drops the bombshell news that he plans to sell the cherished beach house.

Mae, the youngest daughter, who has a newfound penchant for attracting trouble, is distraught, already dealing with her own emotional scars and a problematic rescue dog. Natalie, the middle sister and social media darling known for her seemingly idyllic life as a tradwife, is equally anxious, especially since her flawless public image is on the verge of imploding. Meanwhile, Jordan, the eldest, a high-powered crisis communications expert, is ready to be rid of the house so she can tend to her own professional disaster.

As old memories are stirred up and the sisters navigate both the packing of the house and their personal crises, the arrival of Calvin’s new wife pushes Jordan, Natalie, and Mae to decide how far they’re willing to go to preserve the Shipman bond."

A delicious summer read that explores the enduring power of family and sister connections, Down with the Shipmans is a humorous, heartfelt reminder that home is not a place, but the people who love you, no matter how imperfectly.

 

Three Shipman sisters gather at their family's New Hampshire beach house for a sort of reunion after their mother's untimely passing. Except their father, Calvin, has different plans. Not only has he remarried since their mother's death, but he also wants to sell their beach house, unbeknownst to the sisters. So, this week is looking to be more than just a relaxing trip. The eldest sister, Jordan, is a high-powered communication consultant who lives and breathes her job. Natalie, the middle sister, is a bit of a tradwife influencer, except her social image is about to blow up. And lastly, there is Mae, the youngest daughter, who is dealing with some issues of her own and working on training a rescue dog. All of the sisters and their families come together for this week, and they have to deal with memories of summer's past, memories of their mother, and how each person grieves in their own way. Meg Mitchell Moore's Down with the Shipmans is a heartfelt beach read for those who enjoy a family drama with a beachy setting. 
 
I thoroughly enjoy stories that alternate between each sister's point of view, as it paints a more vivid picture of the family that way, and that's the case in Down with the Shipmans. Each sister grieves their mother's death differently and tackles the selling of the house in their own way, not to mention dealing with their father's new wife. While this is a heavy topic for a beach read, I believe Moore balances it nicely with the beach house setting and the fact that story takes place right around 4th of July.
 
If you enjoy family drama with issues that are relatable, look no further. I laughed at a few parts in Down with the Shipmans, especially dealing with the training of a rescue dog. Also, the novel tackles the complicated love of sisters, family bonds, resentments, and ultimately moving on from a death in the family. While this wasn't my favorite of Moore's novels, I enjoyed the sisters' heartfelt stories and their chance to come together once again at their beloved beach house.
 
Are you a fan of Meg Mitchell Moore? Is Down with the Shipmans on your summer TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.  
 

Book Review: June Baby by Shannon Garvey

 

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: May 12, 2026

Publisher: Random House

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "At seventeen, Ruth lost her mother to cancer, and her father, unable to handle his grieving daughter, shipped her off to Block Island with nothing but a name scribbled on the back of a Diana Beckett. Diana, a renowned photographer, took Ruth in for the summer, and Block Island became Ruth’s refuge, a place of beauty and creativity, a place where she could nurture her dreams of being a writer, a place where she could fall in love for the first time—with Diana’s nephew, Charlie. 

Now, at twenty-seven, Ruth has spent the last ten summers living and working among the lucky few who get to vacation in this wealthy beach town, and the rest of the year just scraping by, yearning to return to the place where she feels safe and unburdened. But then Ruth’s world is upended by tragedy again. Desperate for an anchor, she reaches for the person she’s been pining for since she met him—Charlie—who has his own startling revelation to share. And when another surprise comes in the form of a box left to Ruth by Diana, its contents raise questions about just how well she knew the two women who raised her. • Torn between what to believe about her past, and what her future might hold, Ruth is faced with another choice: does she dare to rewrite her story entirely?

Both a heartfelt coming-of-age story and a tender exploration of love and grief, set against a backdrop of golden dunes and seaside sunsets, June Baby shows us what it might look like to embrace a life shaped not by loss, but by possibility.

 

Ruth is seventeen years old, and her world is turned upside down when her mother dies of cancer. Her dad, unable to deal with it all, sends her to her mother's friend on Block Island. Diana is a successful photographer with her images in Vogue and other prestigious magazines. Ruth looks forward to the change of scenery and working with Diana on her upcoming book. Ruth has always aspired to be a writer, and after Diana's push, she wants to help her write her photography book. Ruth also has a transformative summer when she meets Diana's nephew, Charlie. Sparks fly, and their relationship crosses many years, all set against the backdrop of glistening Block Island. Years later, Ruth is still on Block Island, but she no longer has Diana as her anchor, and things with Charlie are strained. June Baby by Shannon Garvey is a compelling and emotional debut novel that is part coming-of-age story and part beach read. 
 
The first quarter of June Baby is heavy; it's filled with a lot of grief as Ruth deals with her mother's death from cancer. She has a lot to work through, and the book takes readers through Ruth's process. This felt pretty heavy for a beach read and, if I am honest, pretty depressing because the story kept coming back to that. It also tackled other serious topics like abortion, and at times, it felt too heavy for me. Once Ruth was able to process her grief a bit more and start her transformation while on Block Island, I felt like a heavy weight was lifted. 

I enjoyed Ruth's relationship with Diana and kept wondering what her connection was to her mother. Many secrets unfold throughout the story that kept me flipping the pages, especially those tied to her mother. Also, the romance between Charlie and Ruth was beautifully executed and perfect for a summer read. The picturesque setting of Block Island, with its dunes, seafood restaurants, sunny paths, and stunning sunsets, added to the charm. Garvey effectively brought the setting to life, creating a very atmospheric experience in June Baby.
 
While I do not like my beach reads this heavy, I still enjoyed the novel overall, and June Baby would be best suited for those readers who like a more emotional beach read than something fluffy and light. Let me know in the comments if June Baby is on your summer TBR list.