The Sandy Page Bookshop                     by Hannah McKinnon

Publishing July 22, 2025-Atria Books-Women’s Fiction-384 pp     Book Summary   After her publishing career and engagement fell apart in Boston, Leah Powell has no choice but to return to her sleepy coastal hometown on Cape Cod. Feeling lost and discouraged, she stumbles upon a once prominent historic sea captain’s home that now looks as dilapidated as she feels. Suddenly inspired, Leah decides to transform it into a bookstore and café she will call The Sandy Page.Luke Nicholson, a life-long local and contractor, remembers Leah even if she doesn’t remember him. Intrigued by her return and her project, he agrees to help her bring the old captain’s house back to life. As they work together, The Sandy Page slowly becomes the town’s go-to gathering spot for locals, tourists, and anyone who is feeling adrift during this long, sweet summer. It’s a home for second chances. But will it be enough for Leah and Luke?   Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab   The idyllic setting of Cape Cod beckons readers to a small beach town filled with citizens looking for human connections and a little joy. Main character Leah is returning to her childhood home in Chatham, Massachusetts, after almost a decade in publishing and a broken engagement; backdrop enough for a “starting over” story filled with dismay, doubt, and anticipation. Leah has always “loved stories, devoured novels,” and thought “words mattered.” She visualizes stories unfolding as events are happening. Hannah McKinnon draws readers into the lives of sisters Lucy and Ella, widow Eudora, and of course, a love interest, Luke Nicholson.   The tragic secret between sisters, a dog-loving widow with severe anxiety, and a handsome, talented craftsman lend plenty of hubbub to Leah’s return to Cape Cod, her plans to open a bookshop, and her search for a new beginning. “The late-day sunlight was bouncing off the water, a million little refractions of hope on a midsummer evening.”  This is the perfect summer escape.   Hannah Roberts McKinnon is the award winning author of six women’s fiction and beach read novels with Simon and Schuster. Her titles include Message in the Sand, The View From Here, Sailing Lessons, The Summer House, Mystic Summer, and The Lake Season. She previously published two YA novels, Franny Parker and The Properties of Water, with FSG/MacMillan. Hannah lives in Fairfield County, CT with her family. When not spending time with family and friends or writing in her home office she can be found in her backyard chasing chickens, wrangling rescue dogs, or at the lake.