Summerland Cove is a multigenerational family story of one summer at the family’s vacation home in coastal Maine.
Summerland Cove by Ellen Baker
Genre/Categories/Setting: Contemporary Fiction, Complicated Family Drama, Multigenerational, Secrets, Maine
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My Summary:
Thanks #NetGalley @MarinerBooks for a complimentary eARC of #title upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Lindy has a summer of celebrations planned at the family summer home in Coastal Maine: her husband’s 50th birthday, her parents’ 50th anniversary, and her daughter’s wedding. The day of the birthday party, her husband doesn’t show up. In fact, he doesn’t call and no one knows where he is. The family puts all the other celebration plans on hold and organize a search. As the search continues, family tensions rise. Alzheimer’s, past trauma (sexual abuse), and a bride who is second guessing her upcoming wedding complicate all their lives in this multigenerational, complicated family drama.
My Thoughts:
Multigenerational
Multigenerational stories are especially enjoyable reading. In Summerland Cove, we hear from three perspectives: grandmother, mother, and daughter. Grandma (Greta) is trying to salvage the summer by concealing her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis from her family and friends and hiding a traumatic event from her past; the mother (Lindy) is speculating about the various reasons her husband has gone missing; and the daughter (Hailey) is disappointed that her fiancé is not there for her (emotionally or physically helping with the search). Each of these characters is well-drawn, and we are invested in their well-being.
Complicated Family Drama
Summerland Cove is a complicated family drama with some heavy content. Triggers warnings apply. The best thing about this family is their loyalty and commitment to each other. When the husband/father is missing, it’s all hands on deck to find him. They might disagree on the methods but never the urgency. Secret-keeping is part of the family drama. Although I enjoyed the family dynamics, I think the content is a bit heavy for a beach read (as the cover suggests).
Setting
Coastal Maine provides a lovely setting for the story. Through the author’s vivid descriptions, we gain a strong sense of place. The cover picture is a bit misleading because the story is centered around the family home and not the water or water sports.
Content Consideration: Alzheimer’s, Attempted suicide (in the past), sexual assault of a minor (in the past), mental health
Recommending Summerland Cove:
If you’re OK with heavier content and enjoy a multigenerational family story, add Summerland Cove to your TBR. Might be heavier than I would recommend for a typical beach read.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Meet the Author of Summerland Cove, Ellen Baker
Ellen Baker is the author of the novels SUMMERLAND COVE (coming June 2, 2026), THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON, KEEPING THE HOUSE, and I GAVE MY HEART TO KNOW THIS. She has worked as a museum curator and as a bookseller and event coordinator at an independent bookstore. Originally from the Upper Midwest, she currently lives on the coast of Maine.
QOTD:
Do you love multigenerational stories?
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