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.  

 

Blog Break

 

I’m taking a blog break to soak up some sunshine with my family. In between adventures, I’ll be reading good books and enjoying the beautiful summer season. Thanks for visiting and I’ll be back soon!

 

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.  

 

  

10 Books to Read in August

 

We’re in the thick of the dog days of summer, and there’s no better time to curl up with a good book. Whether you’re at the pool, the beach, or relaxing at home, a book is the perfect companion for a long, hot summer day. If you are longing for cooler temperatures, fall thrillers and cozy autumn romances are already hitting the shelves!

 

1. The Unknown by Riley Sager (8/4)

"In 1926, five women disappeared from a remote island in Vermont. Now, one hundred years later, it’s happening again."

 

 

2. The House of Boleyn by Tracy Borman (8/4)

"Acclaimed Tudor historian Tracy Borman weaves the dramatic history of the Boleyn family into a richly imagined novel of ambition, bloodlines, and the opulent and deadly court of Henry VIII."

 

 

3. The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen (8/4)

"The next thriller from #1 bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen combines a decades-old mystery with spine-tingling paranormal elements in this twisty novel of the seen and unseen."

 

 

4. The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson (8/4)

"For readers of Wild Dark Shore and The Time Traveler's Wife, a fierce, haunting story of one woman caught between her first love and a mysterious stranger who upends everything--and the two worlds that won't let her go."
 

 

5. One of the Family by Mark Edwards (8/4) 

"A novel best described as Succession set in the Scottish Highlands where a plot to murder the patriarch’s younger fiancée entangles an innocent outsider in a nest of deadly secrets."

 

 

6. The Matchmaker's Cottage by Kat Sloane (8/11)

"A cozy fall romance wrapped in small-town charm reunites the owner of a bed-and-breakfast with her childhood sweetheart for a celebrity matchmaking scheme which has them both seeing stars."

 

 

7. Something About September by Julia McKay (8/18)

"A fall-inspired second-chance romance about a woman who returns home after inheriting her grandmother’s diner, only to discover the contractor she must hire was her high school crush."

 

 

8. That Night by Gillian McAllister (8/18)

"An electrifying thriller about three siblings torn apart by the cover-up of a death while on a family vacation in Italy."

 

 

9. Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty (8/25)

"In this highly anticipated sequel, Liane Moriarty examines the complexities of modern women’s lives, shining light on family dynamics and long-hidden truths with wit and compassion. Whether you’ve read Big Little Lies or not, this is the perfect novel for longtime fans and new readers alike."
 

 

 

10. Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier (8/25)

"A serial killer recants his long-ago confession regarding a small-town high school girl—and her then-best friends are forced to confront what really happened that night and what's happening now."

 

Let me know in the comments which books catches your eye this month.  

Favorite Books of 2026 (so far!)

We are more than halfway through the year, so I thought I would share some of my favorite books...so far! There are a few backlist reads that I was completely absorbed in, so I thought I would include them, too. 

 

 

My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney - This novel is one of the best audiobooks I've listened to this year and one of my favorite psychological thrillers/domestic thrillers. 

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger - This backlist gem I listened to on audio and it did not disappoint. Talk about a family drama! It's such a smart read that truly gets readers to think about the consequences of AI.

Kin by Tayari Jones - This memorable novel read like a modern classic to me and had excellent character development. The story follows Nicey and Annie and their strong friendship over the years. It also brings attention to Southern culture and the realities of the Jim Crow era.

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan - This novel is a favorite beach read of the year for sure! Annabel Monaghan never disappoints and I adored this heartwarming romance set in Rhode Island.

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune - I'll read anything that Fortune writes! Her latest beach read is an emotional romance and includes a gorgeous Canadian setting.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett - This audiobook was also one of the best of the year. If you love historical fiction, this shouldn't be missed.

Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen - This one is a young adult novel that will surely resonate with teens. Dessen writes another coming-of-age story about a transformative summer that is heartwarming and memorable.

When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams - This book is written by another favorite author of mine, so I savored every detail. This novel combines elements of a beach read + historical fiction + a romance. A gem! And did I mention there's pirate treasure?

JFK: Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli - This is a fantastic audiobook that dives into JFK's relationships with Jackie, his parents, his friends, etc, and how they shaped him as a person. 

 

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What books are on your best of 2026 list so far? Let me know in the comments below.