Set on breathtaking Coates Island, off the coast of North Carolina, bestselling author Rochelle Alers’ new series debut brings together three book-loving women whose summer will offer a chance to rewrite their own stories . . . For three decades, the Seaside Café has served delicious meals to locals and island tourists alike. Kayana Johnson has moved home to help her brother run the café—and to … home to help her brother run the café—and to nurse her wounds following a deep betrayal. Between cooking favorite recipes—creole chicken with buttermilk waffles, her grandmother’s famous mac and cheese—and spending time reading, Kayana is trying to embrace a life free of entanglements, while staying open to new connections . . .
After striking up conversation with two customers, Kayana suggests a summer book club. Each week, they’ll meet on the patio to talk about their favorite novels. But there are plot twists awaiting them in real life too. For schoolteacher Leah, this two-month sojourn is the first taste of freedom she’s had in her unhappy marriage. Cherie, filled with regret about her long-term affair with a married politician, discovers a powerful new passion. And Kayana finds a kindred spirit in a reclusive visitor who’s ready to make his true identity known, and fill this summer with new possibilities . . .
“Stunning coastal settings, heartfelt moments…this novel whisks readers away to the beaches of North Carolina…a tale of love, friendship, and new starts.” – Woman’s World on The Seaside Cafe
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I thought it was too predictable and have personally rated it “boring”.
I love this author and have read other books by her. I couldn’t get into this book. Not sure what contributed to that but this was a different venue than what I was expecting from her. I didn’t finish it as it didn’t hold my interest.
Not what I expected! Just ok
good reads
This is the first book in a new series that started out well. I loved the beach town setting and the restaurant. The history of Kayana’s family on the island and starting the restaurant was interesting. I also liked the secondary characters and all of the book discussions and how the women felt comfortable enough with each other to discuss their personal lives and problems. Graeme also added a different perspective to the story and brought out a lot of issues to be explored. I am looking forward to learning more about Kayana’s family and seeing what will happen next on Coates Island.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This the first book I have read by Rochelle Alers but it certainly won’t be the last, I really enjoyed The Seaside Cafe (The Book Club #1). Ms Alers did a amazing job describing Coates Island, she made me feel like it was somewhere I knew somewhere I had visited and I loved the concept of this story, 3 women who form a book club whilst spending the summer on the island.
Over the summer friendships are formed as they share their love of books ( something most of us here can relate too), secrets are shared and new romances are in the air so what more do you want in a great read, all in all this ticked my boxes. For me this is a perfect beach holiday read and I’m looking forward to picking up other works by this talented author.
Loved the friendship bond created in this story!
First Book of Exciting New Women’s Series
This should be a very good series. This episode ended too soon for me as I wanted to linger in how this couple will lead their lives. I am interested in how the author will expand the series. There are plenty of more characters that we read about their life-expanding experiences. Because this story somewhat centers around a book club, there are many discussions about books. I found that a bit boring, even with the books I had read. There are also some graphic sex scenes that could easily have been omitted. Beyond that, I can’t wait for the next book. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Good book. It has two main storylines; both centered around Kayana. She is a forty-six-year-old woman who returned home to Coates Island two years earlier after divorcing her cheating husband. She has found peace and healing in helping her brother run the family café and spending her free time reading. Part of the book is spent on the book club she started with two female customers, Leah and Cherie. The other part covers Kayana’s unexpected connection with Graeme, a visitor who is more than he appears.
The book club aspect was an interesting one. A voracious reader herself, Kayana struck up a conversation with Leah about a book she was reading while dining at the café. Kayana proposed that they get together once a week over the summer to talk about what they are reading. A second customer, Cherie, was also invited to join. All three women have issues in their lives, which color their opinions of the books they read and discuss.
I was a bit put off by one of the women, Cherie, who was somewhat abrasive in her interactions. She was frequently rude and often seemed angry at everything and everyone. Leah also had her moments, especially when dealing with Cherie, leaving Kayana to play peacemaker. Though originally meant just to discuss books, the three women found themselves becoming friends and sharing their personal lives. Leah is married, but not happily, and the mother of grown twin sons. She has stayed in her marriage to provide a stable home for her boys, but living with her husband becomes harder each year. She enjoys the freedom of being on the island and contemplates her future. Cherie is filled with guilt over her affair with a married man, which makes her defensive in many of her conversations, even if they have nothing to do with her personal life. I liked seeing the three women become friends as they shared views on books and life both in general and specifically when it comes to their own situations.
The other part of the book was devoted to Kayana’s developing relationship with Graeme. He has come to the island during the summer for a couple of years and was drawn to Kayana from the beginning, though she didn’t take any particular notice of him. However, this summer something changes, and Kayana does take note of him. She’s not too happy about it as she was burned by her cheating husband and has no intention of getting involved with another man. His betrayal of her trust made her wary of letting another man close. Graeme is a widower of several years who was burned by a spoiled wife. He carries a load of guilt because of the argument he had with her shortly before her death. Besides being a math teacher, he is also a bestselling author, though that part of his life is a well-guarded secret. There are sparks between Kayana and Graeme though Kayana is initially reluctant to acknowledge them. Graeme is more interested but is also patient enough to give Kayana time to get used to the idea. I liked seeing their friendship grow. I loved their cooking lessons, which were fun and relaxing. I enjoyed seeing them grow closer, and the attraction between them becomes stronger. Kayana doesn’t look forward to the end of the summer when Graeme will go back to his teaching job. But he hasn’t been forthcoming about his plans, and when she finds out about them, she feels betrayed. I liked that both Kayana and Graeme are mature enough not to make too big a drama out of the issue. Graeme gives Kayana the space she needs to process what she learned, and Kayana doesn’t write off their relationship. I liked the ending and seeing them come back together.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and learning more about Leah and Cherie.
The first book in a new series looks to be a good one. Smooth reading fast paced with a great story line. Three women are brought together at a cafe on Coates islands near North Carolina they start up a reading group and get involved in each other’s lives helping each other to move past problems in their lives nice to pass the time with
The Seaside Cafe by Rochelle Alers was what I term a “chick lit” book. Ms. Alers did an excellent job of describing Coates Island and I could actually feel like I was there while reading. I was intrigued by the description of the book about three women who form a summer book club.
I confess that I felt like all Kayana, Leah and Cherie seemed to do was bicker each time they got together to discuss the book rather than discuss the book. Their friendship seemed to be forced rather than casual. They even got into some very personal discussions which I thought was odd for casual acquaintances. Kayana’s romance was sweet and I thought her and Graeme’s relationship developed realistically. All in all it’s not a bad read but it’s not one that I loved.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Dafina via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
This book is filled with compelling characters in an idyllic setting. Rochelle Alers has a style of writing that some may find difficult (as evidenced by other reviews I’ve read of this book), but her characters are realistic, complex, and often people I wish I could meet. I enjoyed the growing relationship between Kayana and Graeme, the interesting discussions within the book club, and the dynamics of Kayana with all of her friends and her brother. I look forward to the next book in the series.