This is a story about Emily Brynn who at 37 decides to give up her job working for her family real estate business and move to a North Carolina beach town that her family vacationed at when she was a child. Emily is tired of NYC and all the socialite parties and people. She’s ready to find her life partner and start a family. Emily is a very accomplished businesswoman who is full of self assurance. She is also very comfortable being a lesbian woman. Her ex is an artist who cheated on her and is trying to rekindle their relationship.

Sara Dylan is a traditional Southern Belle who is getting divorced and has two young daughters. Sara and Emily meet by chance and Emily is very attracted to her but holds off knowing that Sara is a straight woman. Sara is an interior designer and has developed a small business in the ocean front town.

I really liked the beginning of the book when Sara is drawn to Emily and begins to realize how much she likes her, she can’t stop thinking about her, wants to see her everyday. Then the grey moment strikes and Sara withdraws into herself and excludes Emily. I get it why she chose to pull back and I can understand her fear with the new relationship.

This was my first book by Hannah Safron. Her writing style was a bit different and took me some time to get into it. I thought Emily had a major character flaw and I didn’t like what she chose to do. And I wish the author would have gone into Emily’s feelings and mindset more in the second half of the book. It felt at time like she took advantage of Sara.

Thanks to Bella Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

She Met Her by the Sea by Hannah Safren was an enjoyable read. My first by this author. I saw mixed reviews, and I can see some of the other readers' points, such as a few odd word choices. I noticed a couple of times that I expected "showing" during a scene, but the author chose to skip to a "telling" perspective.
I liked the book title, and the cover underwhelmed me. The story was a bit deeper than I expected, with the exploration of overcoming internalized homophobia due to the conservative upbringing in a small southern town.
As a side note, the love interests have two of my favorite names: Sara and Emily.
Our two mains from different worlds meet in a small coastal North Carolina town when one decides she wants a change of pace and moves to the other's hometown. Both MCs were interesting and likable. The relationship was organic and believable, and their conflict was realistic. I liked that the author introduced therapy in a positive light to help Sara work through her issues.
I enjoyed the idea of the joint business venture they embarked on. It was a fun project. It was also nice that both women were career-minded and successful in their own right. One was also a parent of two young girls.
The ending wrapped up nicely but was somewhat abrupt. Because of that, I am giving this one a 4.5 rounded up.
#slowburn #oppositesattract #competencyissexy #interiordesign #commercialrealestate #divorce #singlemother #smalltown #coastaltown #NewYork #NorthCarolina #gaymalerep #internalizedhomophobia #therapyrep #toasterover #comingoutlaterinlife #HEA

A South Carolina beach town, a wealthy real estate heiress and a local interior designer. One a proud lesbian, the other on the brink of divorce with two kids to raise. A recipe for disaster or the secret ingredients to love?

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Emily Brynn lives a life of wealth and hard work. She has been working for her fathers business in commercial real estate for years. Now that her father died, she owns the very successful company with her brother. Emily has always worked hard and is very successful but the life of high society and flimsy relationships is missing heart. Her heart. Emily quits her job and moves to a small beach town in South Carolina. On her first night she meets the charming southern belle Sara. The two women become fast friends but Emily knows deep down that Sara might be the woman she has been looking for. Too bad Sara is straight.

Sara Dylan is almost divorced. Her husband Steve gave her two beautiful daughters but cheated on her after almost a decade of marriage. Now Sara finds herself in a place where she can reevaluate her life. When out for drink with her business partner and friend Jared, the most gorgeous woman sits down next to her at the bar. Emily Brynn is beautiful and intriguing. Sara is so glad she made a new friend. Why does every look and every touch from Emily send her body in a frenzy?

While Emily is living life out and proud, Sara is struggling with her southern upbringing and expectations of others. What will people say if they knew she caught feelings for another woman. These are the hurdles Sara has to jump and what brings the tension in this story.

What happens when you feel new feelings at 42? With a life behind her but also a good chunk of life left to live, it’s Sara’s time to discover what truly makes her happy. It takes her a long time to realize her feelings for Emily are not going away. All the while Emily tries to convince herself that it’s going nowhere. Although her heart is with Sarah, she tries to move on.

The story is told in dual POV and that assures that you learn about both women’s inner turmoil. Of course you want to grab Sara’s shoulders and yank her head out of the sand, but her journey is well written and it is obvious why she needs the time to figure out who she is now. As for Emily, it is heartbreaking to see her losing her heart in a big way, only to be turned away again and again.

I thought the writing style stuttered a little in the beginning, but once you let the story take hold of you the reading gets easier. I was very eager to see how and when Sara would let Emily in. And, when she does, it’s as sweet as you want it to be!

She Met Her By The See is a toaster oven romance with a lot of southern charm!

Last year I read and loved Hannah Safren's novel, Mabel and Everything After. In my
review I wrote "Highly recommend if you like your stories with a heavy dose of realism". I could absolutely say the same thing for her newest, She Met Her by the Sea.

The story follows Emily Brynn, a wealthy and driven 37-year-old who decides to take a year off from her hectic life in NYC and move to the coast of North Carolina. Inspired by a meaningful letter, Emily seeks a change of pace and a deeper sense of fulfillment. There, she meets Sara Dylan, a successful interior designer in the final stages of a divorce and raising two daughters.

Sara is easygoing and warmly welcomes her new neighbour by inviting her to coffee, beach walks, yoga, and more. Their relationship develops organically as they spend time together, slowly revealing an attraction that both women feel. Emily is confident in her queer identity, while Sara navigates her newfound feelings and the complexities of coming out in a small, heteronormative town. The story delves into their personal growth, with Sara's concerns about same-sex attraction and its impact on her personal and professional life being particularly poignant.

Hannah Safran's writing style is easy to engage with, making this a compelling read. Both women are portrayed with depth and layers, which really allowed me to connect with their journeys. Despite some questionable, but realistic, choices by Emily, the narrative keeps you rooting for a happy ending for these women. It's a great tale about realising what is truly important in life and being true to oneself. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romance novel that offers both emotional depth and a heavy dose of realism.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

Emily Brynn has had enough.... she wants a change and decides to leave her job and strike out alone.... her family though a bit shocked are happy for her to find her way, so off she goes to the beach town of her childhood

Sara Dylan a recent divorcee with two children is a has a brilliant job as an interior designer and owns her own company

emily and sara start work on a project and its not long before things start to spark between them... but sara is from the south and is mindful of how it all looks especially as emily is an out and out lesbian.... sara it seems finds she is intimidated with how others see her

interesting times ahead for emily and sara

the ending was a bit quick but on the whole not a bad read

Heteronormative small town by the sea. This is a read about realizing what is important in a person's life and being true to self. Working for the family business, Emily Brynn, 37, driven, talented and realizes she is not happy. Emily decides to step away and return to a place she enjoyed as a child.

Sara Dylan, 41, runs a successful interior design business, has two wonderful daughters, Sophie and Joanna and is in the process of seeking a divorce. Sara is easy going and is happy to welcomes her new neighbor by inviting her to coffee, walks on the beach, yoga and more. As Sara and Emily spend more time together, there is an attraction both feel. I can appreciate Sara's concern about same sex attraction as related to her personal and professional life, especially in a small town. Both Emily and Sara have depth of character as we learn through self-talk/reflection and dialogue with friends and family. Nice read with not much angst.

This is a rare gem of a book and I'm so glad I requested it. All of the characters were authentic and believable, the leads strong. What appealed to me the most was that it's a book for more mature readers. The characters are late 30s to 40s and they act their age.

It was a very enjoyable read throughout but the second half had me flipping through pages, unable to put it down until the end. One criticism is that I wished for a bit more to the ending. This would have been a great point to delve into the relationship as it stood at that point. I felt that the reunion happened a little too quickly and would have loved to see it played out a bit more.

Coming from a wealthy family didn’t mean Emily Byrnn’s didn’t work, she did but now at the ripe old age she feels the need to do something different with the rest of her life. Being single she would like to meet someone but right now she just didn’t have the time.
Sara Dylan has her work cut out for her, with a Interior Design Company to run and two daughters didn’t leave her any space in which to find that special someone. Though she’d married, there was always something missing. Going through the divorce was hard but she never imagined meeting Emily.
Along comes Emily, a transplant from NYC moving to a small community in North Carolina and with her comes a whole set of feelings and emotions she’d never dealt with before.
Ms Safren has given us a book you can barely put down. The two leads are believable while the supporting cast makes this book a very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella Books

In the bustling city that never sleeps, Emily Brynn seems to have it all—wealth, success, and a glamorous social life. But at thirty-seven, she has come to a pivotal crossroad. Does she want this power? Or does she want something more meaningful? It’s time to find out. She is leaving New York City. She is quitting the family business and she is off to the coast of North Carolina.

As Emily settles into her serene new beach town, she crosses paths with the impressive Sara Dylan. Sara is juggling a thriving interior design company, a move, and two daughters, while navigating the turbulent waters of divorce. Sara has never been with a woman before, but there is something undeniable about Emily Brynn. Through Sara’s exploration of her heart and Emily’s newfound freedom, the two rediscover the simple joys of an easy morning, a boisterous laugh, and the magic of falling in love.

I really enjoyed this story of self-discovery. It's always fun for me to read about women finding themselves later in life. (Okay, 30s is still young, but perfect for stories like these!) It was a delight to witness Emily and Sara's friendship and burgeoning relationship. The beginning was a bit slow, but I didn't find it boring. Overall, this was a lovely read for me!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

This story has been more of an intermediate level for me. The title, of course, does not contribute anything to the content, since the marine environment does not influence much the development of the story.

The two protagonists are Sara, a recently divorced interior designer with considerable recognition in her workplace, and the other protagonist, Emily, is a real estate developer from New York, very much of the elite, who has inherited the family development company together with her brother.

Sara, after the divorce and upon meeting Emily, realizes that perhaps her sexuality has been dormant until now. Her marriage has been happy, up until the moment when her husband cheated on her, but she also has not felt the final breakup that much.

Then there's Emily, who needs a break in her life, even though she's had it all and still does, she's never had any issues with living openly out of the closet, with a family that adores her, but she feels the need to leave New York and go to the coastal town where she and her family used to spend their vacations when she was a child.

So the story is about the encounter between the two of them, with instant attraction, which takes a back seat when they start a professional project together and which develops throughout the story with the usual: ex-partners who appear and disappear, doubts on the part of Sara, also on the part of Emily, misunderstandings, ...

In summary, nothing not seen before and not particularly linked in an original way.

This is the 1st book by Helen Safran I have read. I really enjoyed it there is a lot to deal with in book between a recent divorce discovering ones sexuality and moving to a new town and meeting new people. A lovely book. Thank you for advanced copy.

This my first Hannah Safran book and I enjoyed it. She Met Her By the Sea is about the sea change of a high flying New York City business woman, Emily and southern designer Sara, who meet and become friends. Sara is still finding her way after her divorce and finds herself attracted to Emily is ways she never thought possible.

I liked both Emily and Sara and their developing feelings. At times however the story jumped too quickly and I was somewhat taken aback by how Emily returned to her past a tad too quickly for me, especially if she felt like Sara was her “one”. I feel like the story lost its way at times but thankfully we got a HEA…... it’s a a three and a half story for me.

I struggled a bit to remember which name went with which back story. However I was interested in the story going forward. There isn't really much barrier, except only one is gay. We see a friendship develop and I think that is what stops the lack of barrier affect pacing. However, it's not gripping, not boring. It just is!
I wasn't quite sure what felt odd about this book and I think it is that it is a toaster oven romance, not my first, but one where the previously straight main is really struggling with what everyone from family outwards will think. Now in many toaster romances, naturally there is concern, but this seems 1980's level of concern. Having said all that I realise the whole world, country, state or town or village is not like some of the books out now; Where everyone is accepting and actually gay people are very much the majority. It is relatively unusual, in my reading over the last good few years, for the concerns to be so deep rooted in a character.
I enjoyed the book. As I said, bits felt unusual, which is good because there are so many novels out there. Thank goodness.

In *She Met Her By the Sea*, Hannah Safren crafts a touching tale of self-discovery and unexpected romance. Emily Brynn, a successful New Yorker with a seemingly perfect life, reaches a critical juncture at thirty-seven. Torn between the allure of power and the yearning for something more meaningful, she makes the bold decision to leave the hustle of the city behind. Relocating to the tranquil coast of North Carolina, Emily embarks on a journey to redefine her life and priorities.

In her new seaside town, Emily encounters Sara Dylan, an impressive and resilient woman balancing a thriving interior design business, a move, and the challenges of divorce. Despite never having been with a woman before, Sara finds herself irresistibly drawn to Emily. Their connection blossoms into a beautiful romance, marked by rediscovered joys and shared laughter. Safren's evocative writing captures the serene beauty of the coastal setting and the profound emotional journeys of her characters, making *She Met Her By the Sea* a heartwarming and inspiring read about the magic of love and the courage to pursue true happiness.

Emily Brynn is a highly successful thirty-seven year old New York billionaire who is interested in more than nightlife and unfulfilling liaisons with women in the city. So Emily decides to leave her company and move to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. This was the last place that she remembers being truly happy as a child on a family trip with her late father. On her first day in town she meets designer Sara Dylan at a beach bar. They immediately hit it off. Sara is fort-two and recovering from a divorce and navigating life with two young daughters. Emily and Sara begin spending a lot of time together as friends. Then Emily hires Sara for a pirate themed bar / play ground design job.

The chemistry between Sara and Emily is immediate and palpable. But Sara is stuck in the southern stereotypes and way way of thinking. She doesn’t believe that family, business clientele, and friends will accept her if they find out about her desire to have a relationship with Emily.

I thoroughly enjoyed both of the lead characters, their individual struggles, and their chemistry. I wish there had been a few more sexy scenes, especially following their reunion. 4.25 stars

I received an ARC from Bella Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I feel mixed about this book and if I liked the main characters. Some of it was slow or challenging to push through. The book seems to need a bit more editing.

I really enjoyed this story and once I started I stayed up late to finish it instead of setting it down. Emily Brynn is wealthy, smart and driven. At the age of 37 she decides to take a year off and move from her life in NYC to the coast of North Carolina. And I love the letter that inspires her to make the change. She meets Sara Dylan who runs a successful interior design company. Sara is easy going and welcomes her new neighbor by inviting her to coffee, a walk on the beach, yoga and more. Sara is in the final steps of a divorce and has two daughters. The relationship is so organic and develops more as they work together. But Sara has never thought of herself as anything but straight. And coming out of her small town, heteronormative world, is complex personally and professionally. Both women have depth and layers. Emily is very confident in her identity, and although I wasn’t thrilled with all of her choices, I wanted a HEA for both of these strong women. A very engaging, thoughtful story and easy to recommend.

I have mixed feelings about this one, the first 60% was a bit of a slog. I found it pretty slow and didn't really feel much chemistry between our main characters. The way Sara and Emily first became friends and their early interactions all felt kind of off for a 37 and 45-year-old.

However, the book's latter half picked up quite a bit and I ended up enjoying the end. My favourite part of this book is hands-down the representation of a late-in-life lesbian realising she's queer and navigating that. It's tricky and hard but it's a perspective we don't see much in queer media and I really enjoyed it. I do really wish we got a scene of Sara explaining it to her daughters though, cause it kinda seemed like they maybe suspected something was going on but It would have been a nice scene.

Honestly, the most annoying thing in this book was the use of 'Sar' as a nickname for Sara, since when is that a thing? It sounds so unnatural and It actually did kinda break immersion for me a bit bc every time my brain was just like 'huh?'.

Also ooft, cover redesign is needed asap because that font is painful.

Thank you to NetGally and Bella Books

Received an ARC from NetGalley and practically devoured this book in a day. I was instantly drawn both of the characters and their chemistry was immediate upon meeting. It was intoxicating to follow their story of falling in love. This book felt deeper than the average WLW love story as it dealt with a lot of deeper complexities of coming out later in life and how internalized homophobia, culture, heteronormativity, etc affect our process in coming out, even to ourselves. I definitely shed tears and felt a lot of pride for Sara on her journey. Emily’s character remained unwaveringly strong and compelling. Really enjoyed this book! It made me feel a lot of emotions and I am obviously a fan of the happy ending! Recommended for anyone who wants to read a love story with more substance.