REVIEW: The Nantucket Inn by Pamela Kelley

The Nantucket Inn by Pamela Kelley: Lisa Hodges never planned to start over like this. After her husband’s death, she discovers hidden gambling debts that threaten to take everything—including the Nantucket home she loves. Determined to stay close to her family, she makes a bold decision: turn her waterfront house into a small inn. As Lisa rebuilds her life, her four adult children are facing struggles of their own.

Kate returns home after losing her job and dealing with betrayal, unsure of what comes next. Kristen is caught in a relationship that isn’t giving her the future she wants. Abby is quietly navigating the heartbreak of trying to start a family. And around them all, life on Nantucket continues—slow, beautiful, and full of second chances. When Lisa’s first guest arrives, an unexpected connection begins to form, reminding her that starting over doesn’t have to mean starting alone.

THE NANTUCKET INN is the kind of story that feels like settling into a cozy corner of a seaside home and watching life unfold around you. Lisa’s journey begins with unexpected loss and difficult decisions, but her choice to turn her home into an inn creates a foundation for something new—not just for her, but for everyone around her.

The story weaves together multiple perspectives, giving you a look into the lives of Lisa’s children as they navigate their own challenges. From career setbacks to complicated relationships and hopes for the future, each storyline adds another layer to the overall picture of family, growth, and change. The slower pace, the sense of community, and the focus on everyday moments make this one feel warm, familiar, and easy to sink into.

Tropes & Themes

• Small-town coastal setting
• Family saga
• Later-in-life romance
• Fresh start
• Starting over
• Family relationships
• Love later in life
• Healing and new beginnings
• Finding your place again

THE NANTUCKET INN by Pamela M. Kelley is a warm, comforting story about starting over, leaning on the people who matter most, and finding new possibilities in unexpected places. Recommended for readers who love cozy, character-driven stories, coastal settings, and family-centered narratives with multiple perspectives.

Book Info:

Publication: February 3, 2026 | Sourcebooks Landmark |

When widow Lisa Hodges realizes that her husband’s hidden gambling debts could cost her the family home, she turns their Nantucket waterfront house into a small inn. She wants to stay on the island, near her four adult children, who have issues of their own.

Kate, newly laid off from a Boston magazine and blindsided by betrayal, returns to Nantucket to start over.

Kristen, a gifted local artist, can’t seem to quit the charming real-estate developer who won’t finalize his divorce.

Chase, a contractor who helps Lisa turn her home into an inn, avoids serious relationships.

Abby and her husband are trying for a baby—and losing hope.

The last thing on Lisa’s mind is romance—even after her first guest arrives. Rhett is a kind, handsome man her age, in town to open a new restaurant.

Come visit Nantucket and see how Lisa’s new bed and breakfast has an impact on almost everyone in her family. It’s the first book in a new series that will follow the Hodges family, friends, and visitors to Nantucket’s Beach Plum Cove Inn.

Please also consider preordering my upcoming June 2026 release, Nantucket Second Chances, a standalone novel.