REVIEW: The Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela M. Kelley

The Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela M. Kelley: Mandy, Emma and Jill grew up in Nantucket but adult life has taken them in different directions. They aren’t really surprised when their beloved grandmother passes away quietly right before her 99th birthday. What shocks them is she left them not only her cherised house, but Mimi’s Restaurant. They have fond memories of dining there in their younger years, but had no idea she was a silent partner.

Now, the three sisters must run the restaurant for a year before they can decide its fate. With Chef Paul—Mimi’s devoted executive chef of 15 years—by their side, the sisters juggle family tensions, the challenges of running a business, and the ups and downs of their own complicated personal lives. From renovating the restaurant to reconnecting with old friends and the tight-knit island community, they’ll rediscover sisterhood, heal old wounds, and uncover what truly matters most.

Looking for the perfect beach read? THE NANTUCKET RESTAURANT has everything you want this summer—family drama, second chances, and a splash of romance, all set against the idyllic backdrop of Nantucket. This Story brings together a mix of beloved tropes and themes, making it the perfect beach read.

With a sprinkle of romance and a lot of heart—this book serves up family in all its messy, complicated glory. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good, heartwarming and uplifting beach read, THE NANTUCKET RESTAURANT will be perfect for you.

Book Info:

Publication: June 5, 2025 | Piping Plover Press |

For fans of Elin Hilderbrand, USA Today bestselling author Pamela Kelley invites readers to step onto the shores of Nantucket, the perfect backdrop for your summer beach read.

Three sisters, each at her own crossroads in life, inherit a Nantucket restaurant and embrace working together.

Mandy, Emma and Jill O’Toole are as close as three sisters who live hundreds of miles apart can be. They grew up together on Nantucket, but have scattered around the country. When their beloved grandmother passes peacefully in her sleep a week before her ninety-ninth birthday she leaves them quite a surprise. In addition to her Nantucket home, they learn that they’ve inherited Mimi’s Place, one of Nantucket’s most popular year-round restaurants. They had no idea that she was the silent owner of a restaurant, and no idea how they’re going to handle this kind of inheritance.

There is of course, a catch―she left the restaurant equally to Mandy, Emma, and Jill―and also to Paul, the executive chef for the past fifteen years.

And before they can sell, all three women need to work at the restaurant for a period of one year. Now they have to examine their priorities and figure out a way to make it work, all while discovering that Mimi’s Place is in serious need of a facelift. The restaurant hasn’t changed in years, and its finances are declining. Meanwhile, Nantucket is a special place, a tight-knit and insular upscale beach community, both supportive and challenging.

Three sisters, each at a crossroads in her own life, facing the challenges of a surprise inheritance in the close-knit community of Nantucket.

Praise for Pamela

“Who doesn’t love a great beach read? Grab your beach chair, umbrella and a cooler full of snacks and enjoy!” ―Susan Wilson, New York Times bestselling author, for The Bookshop by the Bay

“A delightful story about family, friends, and finding our own happiness.” ―Jenny Hale, USA Today bestselling author, for The Bookshop by the Bay

***Note this is an expanded edition of a previously published novel titled The Restaurant. This new edition features a new character and subplot and additional new scenes throughout which add up to one third all-new content.