| Title | : | The Bookshop by the Bay |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1250861616 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781250861610 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published June 6, 2023 |
Two lifelong friends. One bookshop by the beach. And the summer that could change everything.
Jess loves her work as a high-profile lawyer in the respectable and austere city of Charleston. But when she finds her husband, Parker, has been cheating on her with his assistant, she retreats, with her thirty year-old daughter Caitlin for support, to her childhood home on Cape Cod, in Chatham. Caitlin has always been bright but directionless, looking for her passion but keeps coming up blank. And Jess needs to regroup with the help of good food and wine, the company of her best friend, Allison, and come up with a plan for the future.
Allison’s career has hit a low. After twenty years as an editor for the Chatham magazine, circulation is dwindling and though her boss and long-time friend, Jim, does everything to keep her, she has no choice but to take a step back. With a career on hiatus and her main relationship being with Chris, her ex-husband who is still a good friend, Allison is at a pivotal point in life. Her daughter Julia opened her own artisanal jewelry shop a year prior, and she has the kind of day-to-day fulfillment Allison yearns for.
When Allison stops into her beloved local bookstore one day and learns that the owner wants to sell, a long-held dream turns into a reality, thanks to Jess. Allison and Jess set a plan in motion and what was once a place that held warm childhood memories is now theirs to run. As the two friends, along with the help of their daughters, reopen the doors of the cherished bookstore and adjacent coffee shop to the community, they also open themselves up to the possibility of romance, the bonds of mothers and daughters, and the magic of second chances.
The Bookshop by the Bay Reviews
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I was lucky enough to win a copy of The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley in a goodreads giveaway. Right before I was ready to read it, I noticed that I had been approved to listen to the audiobook of it through Netgalley. Lucky me! It was easy to switch back and forth between listening and reading. As far as book titles go, I seem to gravitate towards any book that has bookshop or bookstore in the title. The attractive cover of this book also drew me in initially. This was the first book that I have read by Pamela Kelley and I was impressed. I enjoyed the setting of Chatham, Cape Cod and the mention of all the mouth watering descriptions of the local food, especially when it had lobster as one of the ingredients. I really enjoyed Pamela Kelley’s choice of characters and how she portrayed them in this well plotted book.
Jess Coleman and Alison Page grew up in Chatham and had remained best friends throughout the various stages of their lives. Jess now lived in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband, Parker and her grown daughter, Caitlin. Both Jess and Parker were attorneys in Parker’s family’s law practice. Jess loved being an attorney. Things between her and Parker had shifted, though. The spark that had once been there was missing. They had grown apart but neither Jess nor Parker felt inclined to address their problems. Then Jess discovered something. It was monumental and she knew her marriage was over. Alison convinced Jess to come to Chatham for an extended vacation. Jess and Caitlin decided that would go to Chatham for a month. Jess’s mother still lived there and would be delighted to have them.
When Jess arrived in Chatham, she and Alison picked up right where they had left off. Alison had been divorced for several years now but she remained friends with her ex-husband, Chris. In fact, Chris had become one of Alison’s closest friends. Alison had remained in Chatham and worked for a magazine in editing. She also had a grown daughter, Julia, who owned her own jewelry store in Chatham. Julia designed all the pieces of jewelry in her store. Alison had always dreamed of owning a bookshop. The owner of the local bookshop was closely approaching retirement age and had made up her mind to sell the bookshop. Attached to the bookshop was also a coffee shop. Alison’s mom had worked the register at this bookshop when she and Jess were just girls. The best friends recalled spending many happy hours together in the back of that bookshop reading romance novels that they tried to keep hidden from Alison’s mother. Too bad Alison was not in the position to be able to purchase the bookshop from the current owner. Maybe someday. When Jess heard about the bookshop her mind started spinning. Was owning a bookshop/coffee shop in Jess’s and Alison’s future?
The Bookshop by the Bay was a wonderful book that explored mother/daughter relationships, fresh starts, second chances, romances, opportunities, trust, friendships, taking chances, family and strong female characters. I would describe The Bookshop by the Bay as women’s fiction. I took a real interest in most of the characters and I wanted them to succeed in their relationships, business endeavors and choices they made. I really enjoyed listening/reading The Bookshop by the Bay and highly recommend it.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley through a goodreads giveaway and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen the audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Publication is set for June 6, 2023. -
How dreamy is this cover? This is the perfect summer read!! I loved it. ❤️Thank you so much @stmartinspress @smpromance for this gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰
If you are looking for a beach 🏖 read.. look no further! I was hooked instantly… How do you know when a marriage is truly over?? Great first line… 😉… my answer came a few pages later with a shocking… umm development..😳😬
That’s it… Jess is packing her bags 💼 and heading back home 🏡 … to Cape Cod… this high profile lawyer needs some sun and fun… hanging out with family and her BFF…. Alison… 👯♀️
What happens when Alison proposes an offer that Jess that is so tempting that Jess might not want to refuse? 🤔
Awww guys this book!! I want to pack my bags 💼 and head to Chatham.. and not come back!!! 😍 No really… I could live there FOREVER!! 😂
I loved all the small town feels!! This book had it all… small town… a bookstore… second chance… and yes… some drama… 😂… definitely pack up your bags… and off we go!! You won’t want to miss this trip to Cape Cod!! Perfect beach 🏖 read!!
After a string of thrillers this was exactly what I needed! -
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This type of review is hard for me because this book has all of the ingredients for a great read, but when put all together, it just didn't work for me.
For starters, there were just too many storylines and characters: 4 main and 5 secondary. To add to the confusion, 4 of the 9 had names starting with the letter J. I felt like each time the POV changed, (sometimes within a chapter) I had to stop and think, "wait, who is this person and how do they fit into the story?". The hardest part, however, is that the writing was very dry. It read more like a journalistic/documentary retelling of events, rather than an engaging story that draws you in and just flows. For example, 3 of the characters went out to dinner and we were given a detail accounting of the roughly 8 dishes ordered. It was choppy and obscure details were given page time instead of actual substance or character building dialogue.
There were also some predictability and believability issues. Who buys a bookstore and an out of business coffee shop and gets both up and running all in a matter of 2-3 weeks? Mind you, this was all done by people with no prior experience.
So the deal is that the premise is cute. I especially loved the idea of the mother-daughter relationships and all of the "it's never too late to start over and create your best life" vibes. However, this really felt more like a first draft to me and could really use some significant editing. -
“There’s nothing like browsing a bookstore. Smelling all those books, flipping through the pages and choosing the perfect one for your mood at that moment.”
The thing about an opportunity is that it doesn’t often come gift-wrapped - we need to take a risk. Nobody knows that better than the two women in this novel. Jess Coleman and Alison Page, besties from childhood, learn that the greatest joy and lessons came when they shifted their focus and got out of their comfort zone. It would have been easy for them both to remain negative and stuck in a rut, but they grabbed the opportunity and were the better for it! The best part? Their daughters had a front row to personal growth. Strong, independent women become that way when they’ve been forged in the fire and/or when they’ve watched others come through an experience and want the end result for themselves.
Chatham, Cape Cod is the perfect place to make a change and with love and support, these women show that it’s never too late for second chances.
You’ll want to put this beach read on your tbr list! Looking to make a change? Need direction? Like mother-daughter stories? If the strong, supportive female characters don’t sway your choice, then you may want to know that there’s a bookstore and a coffee shop featured. Kelley explores friendship, trust, second chances and the angst of making important decisions.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. -
A delightful relationship between grandmother, mother, daughter, and best friend, highlight this novel. A feel-good ending that will brighten your day! Women’s Fiction story about taking chances when life throws you curveballs. Each of the ladies face change that will make them or break them. They stand together and support each other; opening a bookshop/coffee bar. The author shows and tells the story with great narrative and descriptions. 5 Stars! I highly recommend.
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Review coming soon.
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Just the word bookshop in the title drew me to this one. I can't resist books involving bookshops/bookstores. And the beachy picture on the cute cover was cute too and made me wish for summer and the beach. This is fhe first time I've read anything by Pamela Kelley I think.
Description:
Jess loves her work as a high-profile lawyer in the respectable and austere city of Charleston. But when she finds her husband, Parker, has been cheating on her with his assistant, she retreats, with her thirty year-old daughter Caitlin for support, to her childhood home on Cape Cod, in Chatham. Caitlin has always been bright but directionless, looking for her passion but keeps coming up blank. And Jess needs to regroup with the help of good food and wine, the company of her best friend, Allison, and come up with a plan for the future.
Allison’s career has hit a low. After twenty years as an editor for the Chatham magazine, circulation is dwindling and though her boss and long-time friend, Jim, does everything to keep her, she has no choice but to take a step back. With a career on hiatus and her main relationship being with Chris, her ex-husband who is still a good friend, Allison is at a pivotal point in life. Her daughter Julia opened her own artisanal jewelry shop a year prior, and she has the kind of day-to-day fulfillment Allison yearns for.
When Allison stops into her beloved local bookstore one day and learns that the owner wants to sell, a long-held dream turns into a reality, thanks to Jess. Allison and Jess set a plan in motion and what was once a place that held warm childhood memories is now theirs to run. As the two friends, along with the help of their daughters, reopen the doors of the cherished bookstore and adjacent coffee shop to the community, they also open themselves up to the possibility of romance, the bonds of mothers and daughters, and the magic of second chances.
My Thoughts:
I loved the long-time relationship between Jess and Allison. The way they supported and complemented each other. I also iked the friendship that developed between their daughters, Julia and Caitlin. The setting in Cape Cod, Chatham was picturesque. Although taking over a bookshop is risky, this was an exciting change and I loved reading about the development of the bookshop and the changes they were making. Julia's jewelry making business was interesting as well. An enjoyable read.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on June 6, 2023. -
Wow do I have a lot to say about this one. Let me start with this: it’s a good women’s fiction book. If you were looking forward to reading it, don’t let me discourage you. This is much longer of a review than I normal write because I do have some serious issues with certain aspects that didn’t make any sense. However, if you’d like to stop reading here because you plan to read the book, go for it. If it interests you, read it.
Now. Let’s get into it.
There are plot holes GALORE in this read and they were very difficult for me to look past. I think the story had so much potential and it just didn’t get fully realized. There was also a lot of potential for conflict which didn’t go anywhere. Everything was very chill and peaceful. We’ll go through my issues by character. Some of these points may be mild spoilers so BE WARNED.
Julia. We start off her portion of the story seeing she’s just turned down a proposal from Kyle. She tells him “not yet” and doesn’t give us an inclination that she plans to end things. Just that she’s not ready to get married. When Kyle begins to display personality traits she doesn’t like, for the very first time in their long relationship might I add, it’s immediately no I must leave him. Okay that’s fine but….you just said you planned to marry him. There was a lot of potential for conflict with Kyle and then he just lets it go, which was rather boring.
Caitlin. I swear if I had to hear one more time her explaining to someone that she’s just in town for the summer and going back to Charleston…talk about repetitive. Her storyline overall was repeating after repeating after repeating. There was also nothing unique or special about her character arc.
Alison. Probably my favorite character, and I can’t think of too many issues I had with her part of the story. Maybe just that she relied so heavily on her daughter to provide inspiration for things to make the store successful. Like you’re the one who wanted this, get creative yourself.
Jess. Oh, Jess. Where shall I begin? It is absolutely completely MORONIC to impulsively but a bookstore WHILE YOU ARE STILL MARRIED TO THE MAN YOURE ABOUT TO DIVORCE. Not I don’t know about the laws in South Carolina, but where I live if someone is buying any property they must disclose it to their spouse and the spouse has to sign a paper at closing stating they are aware. I’ve done this myself. It’s law. Maybe it’s different in SC, probably, but regardless it is absolutely ridiculous to do that when you’re getting a divorce. I have no doubt the previous owner would’ve been more than okay with waiting until the divorce was final to sign the store over. Now, that gets in the way of the summer story, doesn’t it? Yes, but it makes way more sense. Also, we see her husband saying he wants to work things out, meanwhile buying a condo and taking his mistress go dinner? Like it doesn’t add up? When Caitlin goes back to visit why would he volunteer information that he’s hanging out with baby mama if he is seriously trying to get Jess back? Doesn’t add up. He again also just lets things go way too easily at the end so that everything stays peaceful.
NO CONFLICT!!!! None. Overall as you can tell, I have a lot of issues. Maybe it’s because I don’t read a ton of women’s fiction so I am used to a more interesting and difficult road to the happy ending. This whole book was like mild conflict at beginning, then road to happy all the way to the last page. I was missing the near end conflict.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC. -
One star for the book. One star for Grace Burrowes showing up in the book. Five stars for my buddy read.
@readingwithmrleo was joking with me that this book was going to put her into a reading slump. But I think it actually did put me in one because I haven't liked the last 3-4 books since I finished it.
All of the relationships for all the characters started falling apart in the beginning of the book. Then there were just WAY too many characters and POVs to keep up with. Once I finally figured out who all the characters were, I felt like more characters were thrown in to create love interests for the main characters and then it just got confusing all over again.
This book was so hard for me to get through. The book's plot made no sense to me. Jess, who was going to get a divorce, decided to buy a bookshop and coffee shop because it had always been her friend's dream. It wasn't even HER dream. It would have made more sense if it was her dream, but she bought it thinking she wasn't going to stay at the Bay.
Besides the plot and too many characters to keep up with, I just found the writing a bit lacking for me. It was hard to follow along and the dialogue and descriptions made no sense at times. Things that we didn't need descriptions of were described in detail; however, things that I would have liked a description for were not described at all. I didn't feel like I was in the bay or bookstore or picture anything about it.
Overall, this book was not for me. While this was is my first book by this author I MIGHT give another one of their books a chance just in case it was the book I wasn't feeling. But I won't be going out anytime soon to buy this one.... or ever. -
This will be a wonderful beach read. This book will be released in June 2023.
'Bookshop by the Bay' is about 2 Mothers (lifelong friends) and their Daughters but it's about so much more. It's a story about new beginnings, second chances and where you belong in this crazy thing we call life.
The main characters are Jess (Jessica), Caitlin, Alison, and Julia. They are all a little lost about where they are headed in life. But with the help from each other and their family/friends they get to where they belong in a small town named Chatham with a bookshop and coffee shop. What's not to love!?!
All the characters about likeable...even the cheating husband. This was a fun and easy read...great for a Summer vacation read on the beach. You won't be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins's Press for the e~ARC. -
I love books about books and I love books about friends. So this was the best of both worlds. If you have not read Kelley's book yet this one would be perfect for your first book. I really enjoyed it. The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
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I just finished an arc for my first summer beach read, and the only thing that could have made this book better is if I'd actually been on the beach when reading it.
Pamela Kelley is a new author for me, and she created a lovely world on Cape Cod with strong women, smart choices, and deep friendships. I hope this is book 1 in a series because I'd like to spend more time with these women.
Thank you to @stmartinspress for allowing me to read in advance of the 6/6/23 release date. -
The Bookshop by the Bay
by Pamela Kelley
Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker
Pub Date 06 Jun 2023
Macmillan Audio
General Fiction (Adult)
Rating: 4.5/5
Pamela Kelley always writes a wholesome, feel-good story. This sweet audiobook has a perfect narrative and is a pleasure to listen to. The characters are all delightful and make me feel at ease. This book is full of truths about friendships, families, and moving forward after things don't work out as planned. I enjoyed the bookshop setting, which provided a good backdrop for the plot. If you like clean heartwarming stories, this audiobook is fantastic. This would also make a great gift for a friend.
Thank you NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio, for sharing this incredible audiobook with me. Your kindness is appreciated.
#TheBookshopbytheBay
#bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #audiobook -
THE BOOKSHOP BY THE BAY is an easy story to get lost in for a day. It's about friendships, family, and starting over. I loved Jess and Allison's relationship and how they were always there for each other. Their daughters' always supported their mothers' and that just made me smile even more. If you like heartwarming stories with great endings, this one is for you! It would make the perfect beach read for the summer. This was my first Pamela Kelley book and I'm looking forward to reading her previous works.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future. -
Pamela Kelley’s novel The Bookshop by the Bay not only is a wonderful testament to friendship, family, friends, love and books, but quite the homage to the other character lurking in the background of the beautiful story…Cape Cod! Kelley gets everything right about why not only Chatham, MA is so glorious, but Cape Cod in general!
Alison works as a magazine writer in Chatham. But unfortunately, because everything seems to be going online, they have lost subscribers and need to downsize the office. Alison has been saved this round, but realizes her days are numbered. She is divorced but her best friend is her ex-husband, Chris. They have a daughter Julia who owns a jewelry shop in Chatham and is beginning to become known. Although she seems content with her life, she realizes that she needs to figure out a new path.
Jess is Alison’s childhood best friend. She is an attorney at her husband’s family’s law firm in Charleston. She has always gone to visit Alison for a few weeks in the summer but has missed the last few years. When her marriage is shockingly turned into turmoil and her daughter Caitlin loses her job as well as her boyfriend all in the same day, she knows they need to get away to somewhere they can both decompress and relax.
They decide to head to Chatham for a month to see her mother and Alison. She needs to sort her life out and needs the comfort of family and friends as she tries to make the most difficult decisions of her life.
And that’s the beginning of when all their lives start to change.
Alison discovers the local owner of the Chatham bookstore, a staple in her life since she was a child is being sold, she decides she must somehow save it. And when Jess agrees, they become business partners in the endeavor. But trying to sustain a bookstore, while still working part-time and coming up with creative ideas on how to make money and get people excited to come into the shop is not easy. But with the help of their family and friends they begin to actually succeed in getting patrons excited.
As the summer season starts to wind down and Jess knows she must go back to Charlston and salvage that part of her life, she can’t help but question where she truly belongs. Coming back to Cape Cod has given her a gift she never asked for…peace.
Filled with interesting relatable characters, imaginative picturesque scenery and a wonderful storyline, The Bookshop by the Bay will have you not only eating up (pun intended) this delicious story but wishing to go to this charming seaside town. Long live The Lobster Pot!
Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPressGriffin #TheBookshopbytheBay #PamelaKelley for the advanced copy. -
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
A feel-good story of a group of women at individual crossroads who come together for fresh starts and second chances. The perfect beach read for folks who enjoy wholesome, Hallmark style women's fiction. -
I’m so disappointed that I didn’t like this book. I’ve been looking forward to reading it for awhile. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. Four pov’s, two mothers/two daughters. They all sounded the same to me. So many characters that sometimes it took me a minute to recall who the person was. Mostly a lot of telling me what was happening in the story, rather than just a fluidity to the plot. This just didn’t work for. By 70% I was getting absolutely bored because everything just felt the same.
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This story had so much promise. The premise is amazing, but the execution is not that great.
It is easy to see where the author wanted to introduce conflict, but every potential conflict fell flat. Each instance of conflict was wrapped up in about four sentences. For example, the author wants the reader to believe that Jess is pining over her relationship with Parker, but I didn't feel any kind of connection.
Also, there was a huge missed opportunity with the food. I could easily have craved every food listed, of which there was a lot, but it was just a long list of names of foods followed by "it was delicious." There was entirely too much telling and not enough showing.
It was also hard to connect with Jess's ability to purchase a bookstore and coffee shop directly out of her savings account. This isn't a possibility for most readers, so it is hard to believe.
This book just wasn't great for me. -
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley. I love every Pamela Kelley that I have read and this one is no exception.
This book is set in two of my favorite places in the United States - Charleston and Cape Cod.
It is the story of two best friends who buy a bookstore on the Cape and how their lives change. They each have a daughter and their lives intertwine with their daughters and all explore and evaluate their lives.
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs an uplifting, happy book. -
This multigenerational story is my pick for beach read of the year! It is a great example of finding your way whether you are young and starting your life, middle aged and needing to start over or more mature and finding your way in later years. The friendships that are woven throughout this story are aspirational and wonderfully encouraging. I truly hope the author decides to give us more glimpses of the people in this book with a follow-up as one visit to this Cape Cod setting is not nearly enough! Anyone who has ever desired a fresh start or been wondering if they could start something new at a more mature age, needs to read this book for inspiration! I absolutely devoured this book as I completely relate with the need to find a new beginning. In my case, my husband and I are both looking for something different to do as we have both become somewhat disenfranchised with our current careers and after 30 years, it may be time for us to find a different career as a second act. This book inspires you to live your life to the fullest and find that place with the help of friends and family to truly be happy. The plot is incredibly well written. It drew me in and kept me enraptured for an entire day! Good thing I had a day off today!
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I am 4 hours into this 6 hour book and I already know how I am going to feel about it. Nothing!
I feel nothing. There is no emotion to any of these characters. Even when broken up with or cheated on. Nothing!
I am going to finish since I used a credit and it is a book club book but I have had the same emotion from the beginning as I do now.
It is a good mindless read I guess when you just need to zone out. That is exactly what it was. -
Review galley from St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley in exchange for my review.
I’m not going to rehash the publisher’s synopsis so I hope you’ll read it. The Bookshop by the Bay is my kind of beach read. It’s women’s fiction and involves longtime friends and their daughters – all going through personal dramas.
Jess has lived in Charleston for most of her adult life. Her daughter Caitlin is grown and at loose ends so the timing couldn’t be better for the two of them to visit Jess’s mother on Cape Cod for the summer. Having found out her husband was unfaithful and clearly heading in a different direction from Jess the time away from Charleston will give her space and time to think and make some decisions.
Jess’s best friend from childhood is Allison. She has always dreamed of owning a bookstore and when the opportunity arises she can only hope to make that happen. When Jess agrees to being a business partner suddenly the future looks brighter in many ways. Allison’s daughter is a local jewelry designer whose business is taking off. She wishes her love life looked as bright.
If you’ve read enough romantic women’s fiction you’ll predict the ending and probably be right. I enjoyed it all and look forward to reading more by Pamela Kelley.
3.5 stars rounded up -
Pamela Kelly's THE BOOKSHOP BY THE BAY is a charming summer beach read featuring two friends, two daughters, a book and coffee shop, and a summer of change and new beginnings!
Set in a quaint seaside town of New England —Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a heartwarming generational tale of mothers, daughters, friendship, and strong women.
Jess is a high-profile lawyer in Charleston. Her husband, Parker, has been cheating on her with his assistant, and she is pregnant.
She accompanies her daughter, Caitlin, age 30, to the childhood home on Cape Cod in Chatham. Caitlin has not found her passion, so she and her mom, Jess, are here for the summer.
Allison is Jess's friend, and her career takes a hit when her editor's job at a Chatham magazine goes part-time and is ultimately cut due to the economy and online business. Her daughter Julia has her own jewelry shop that she loves.
Allison discovers her local bookstore wants to sell, which has been her big dream. Jess helps her with the financial end, and they go into business together—a place of fond memories of their childhood.
With the help of these friends and their daughters, they open the bookstore and the adjacent coffee shop with new ideas and new beginnings.
No matter your age, it is never too late to start over. The women come together with new friends, new business, good food, and wine—finding Cape Cod the perfect place for second chances. These women drink a lot of WINE!
THE BOOKSHOP BY THE BAY is a light, breezy beach read about mother-daughter relationships, friendships, family, romance, and taking chances.
Who doesn't love quaint bookshops, coffee shops, and charming beach towns?
For fans of Sherryl Woods, Viola Shipman, Susan Wiggs, Mariah Stewart, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Debbie Macomber.
I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker for an engaging beach escape.
Thanks to #Macmillan Audio #StMartinsPress #StMartinsGriffin #NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC for review purposes. #SMPInfluencers
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: June 6, 2023
June 2023 Must-Read Books -
When I read the synopsis for The Bookshop By the Bay I knew it was a book I wanted to read. It features middle-aged female protagonists, personal growth, friendship and a well-described beach setting in Cape Cod. It did not disappoint.
Jess is a respected lawyer working in the same practice as her husband when she learns he has had an affair with his assistant who is now pregnant. Their daughter Caitlin is thirty and has recently lost her job and ended a relationship. Jess decides to take some time off to think about her next steps and go visit her mother in Cape Cod. She invites Caitlin to accompany her and she accepts.
Jess is no stranger to Cape Cod. She grew up there. Allison is her lifelong friend and also resides on the peninsula. Her position as editor of a local magazine is being threatened and she knows she needs to look at making a change. Allison’s daughter is an artisan with her own shop in the area.
Throughout the summer, each of these four women experiences challenges and opportunities. I appreciated that the focus of the book is on change and personal growth along with the strength of friendships. It was interesting to observe Jess and Caitlin’s recognition of the opportunity to discover what brings them joy at this point in their lives. There are several romances that I enjoyed which develop but are not the focus of the book.
I recommend this book to those that enjoy Women’s Fiction or General Fiction.
I received an ARC of this ebook from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own. -
If you are a Pamela Kelley fan she is delivering exactly her style of beach read book. It is going to be clean or behind closed doors, cover multiple characters with some drama, and one or more will get a romance. And she will never miss the opportunity to describe every appetizer, entree, desert or drink that everyone orders. Also her setting will be somewhere on Cape Cod. All of that is true for this book.
Jess is a successful lawyer in Charleston working with her husband at his family firm. Her world falls apart when she realizes her husband has cheated on her with an assistant who now is expecting his child. She takes a leave of absence returning to her childhood home to stay with her mother in Chatham on the Cape. Her daughter Caitlin (30) decides to join her after getting let go from her latest job. Once in Chatham Jess reunites with her lifelong best friend Allison works as an editor for a local magazine. Circulation is down and layoffs are coming. Allison’s daughter Julia is a jewelry designer and has a new shop in Chatham. Even though their mothers have been BFs forever, Caitlin has lived her whole life in the south, but Julia befriends her.
The story covers the few months on the Cape as Jess and Allison makes decisions about their careers and futures. I actually thought there may be a romance between the daughters, then realized that would be an unlikely choice for Kelley. LOL. All four women get a romantic interest that feels organic and easy going.
This is easy reading, women’s fiction and just as the cover suggests perfect for by the pool or beach. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars) -
3.5 rounded up. I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. It publishes in June 2023 which is appropriate as it's a good beach read. The further I got into the book, the more I enjoyed it. I think the beginning set up chapters are confusing with 4 main characters and their significant others. I had a hard time remembering who was who for about 1/5 of the book since situations were pretty similar. The 4 women are in the midst of momentous changes in their lives, failed marriages, failed relationships, lost jobs. They converge in Chatham, a small Cape Cod village which they are tied to through childhood summers, former schoolmates, and best friends. There is no mystery here; the book is about starting over, giving happiness a chance, making a new life and looking forward. At some point around the middle, the book took off for me and I enjoyed it a lot. I love books about libraries and bookstores and this one has a coffeehouse as well.
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I’m really sad to be writing this, but I had a hard time finishing this one. The premise sounded so cute, I love family stories and the setup with the bookshop/café and beach vibes was really appealing to me. But quite frankly, I just couldn't enjoy it. Most people seem to have loved this one, so don't let me stop you from reading it! Might be right up your alley! But for me, it was a no and here is why.
As soon as I started reading, I had my first issue. This book has 4 different points of view (all female) and it was so hard for me to remember who was who. I usually don’t mind multiple POVs but I need the characters to be very different in personalities and it also helps when you might see more of one or something like that. But this book was going from one to the other and the other and since it’s 2 daughters and their mothers it was so confusing to me. Add to this LOTS of side characters and it made it impossible for me to keep up. I couldn’t tell the differences between the characters, to me they all acted/spoke the same way, there was no way to differentiate them.
The way this was written, it was really more telling than actually showing what was going on. What I mean is that instead of assuming the reader will get what a character is feeling, it was always written out for us. This, for me, really broke the flow of my reading experience. There were also a lot of info dumps. For example, a new character appears and suddenly I have all his background info on a past relationship of his written in short paragraphs (not that it is even relevant in any way with the actual story, so it just added to my confusion).
I also had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. They felt a little emotionless to me. They were going through really big life changing situations and I couldn’t see how it affected them in any way. For example, Jess discovers her husband is cheating and it didn’t feel to me like she was sad or mad or anything, except that the narrator told me (telling me something doesn't make it believable to me if the actions don't speek for themselves, you know?). They then decide to buy a Bookshop and yet it didn't feel like anyone was stressed, ecstatic or anything. But like I said, I had trouble with connecting or relating to any character so that might be the reason it felt like this for me.
Every big confrontation in that book ended in 2-4 sentences which made it so hard to believe. For example, Kyle and Julia exchange 2 sentences after their break up and Kyle then says: I guess I’ll just go then, if that’s it. And that is really it... I needed a little more action/interactions for these important parts, and I felt let down.
Also, might just be me but what's up with people buying a Bookshop/Coffee place, or renting a second car, or starting a new business on their own on a whim? It seemed weird to me, to buy something as big when you are going through a divorce.... divorce is already a lot of changes and insecurities... I just don’t get it... And it’s a little hard to believe they can manage to buy and make everything work with that bookshop in such a short time when no one has any experiences with that at all. It was just weird to me, honestly.
I feel like there were too many explanations I didn’t need in this book and not enough interactions/action. I expected something heartwarming, with a cute feel to it and a summer/beach vibe, but it didn't feel like that for me... so yeah... that sums up my reading experience. I'm sorry I didn't like it. :(
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC, all opinions are my own. -
I adore books about books, bookshops, libraries, writers (you get the idea). There’s just something about this genre that feels both so validating, familiar, and cosy. Pamela Kelley has given us a lovely, warm, summer book to sink into with The Bookshop By The Bay you’re going to want for your summer beach/pool/reading bag!
This is a story of getting the wind knocked out of you, of finding new opportunities where you least expect them, and knowing what true friendship really is. It’s going home, three generations of women under one roof in transition, see themselves and each other in new ways. It’s books and a beach, it’s ending relationships that aren’t working and leaning into ones that fill you with light and joy.
When Jess is blindsided by gut wrenching news she leaves Charleston for the summer for home on Cape Cod. Her daughter Allison is in between jobs and decides to join her. Jess’s best friend Allison still lives in Cape Cod and is thrilled to have her back. When they find the local bookstore is for sale it seems out of reach, Jess isn’t staying and Allison doesn’t have the money. Can they work together to make it happen, and is the end result maybe even better than they’d dreamed?
I love the support that Kelley creates between these best friends, between mothers and daughters. It’s warm and comforting. I love how they’re all in different stages supporting one another, growing, reimagining a life that fits them. Initially the number of characters seemed overwhelming so it took a bit for me to plug into who was who. Once I did, this sung! This is available now, and a perfect summer read!!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press @stmartinspress , Pamela Kelley @pamelamkelley , and Netgalley @netgalley for the early copy.
