this book was just what i needed and everything in between. id go so far as to say that it was more than that. i loved this book.i was a little unsure at first as im not a fan of sci fi esque magic stuff. but i should never have been worried. this was so much better than i couldve hoped for and i new there was something that drew me to the book. like magic or something...
it was cozy. it was warming and so very emotional. the story of friendship in this book was beautiful. i felt it with my whole soul and wanted to sit with it for every page i read.
it also made me really want to visit this community please. can i live here and rest of a while please? Erin brings this location to full life. you are looking around you almost seeing the scenes. smelling the scenes. feeling the feels. and the coming together of this community around Grace when she needs it just warms the soul. its a place we all want to be living,
Grace and Isla friendship shine throughout this book. its loyal, its strong and its heart to entwined heart. theyve know each other since childhood and it shows. this book does so good at giving us a deep and gorgeous friendship that we all yearn for but are just happy to read about it for second hand feel good. and boy does Grace need this friendship right now. shes struggling against a far few things in her life. but even through all that i loved how Erin shows that unwavering and powerful love of a mother. and Grace was all that and more. her tower of strength and love for her daughter was written to perfection.
the romance adds to the book and never takes over it. again the perfect balancing act is written throughout these pages.
this isnt a book of fluff or perfection ridden lives though. it handles hard stuff. tough stuff. emotionally charged stuff. Erin does so with the knowledge of someone who truly cares about her characters and what she doing witht the handling of these plot points. its difficult to wish and talk about this lovely book when Grace does NOT have it easy. but again, Erin handles it all so absolute perfection. she is one talented author and i cant wait to hear from her more. i feel so lucky to come across books like this and authors like this, i know being a writer isnt an easy life, especially right now. so i hope it makes it a tiny bit better to know what glimmers it gives over so many of us to be able to read their work.

This fictional story with a whiff of mermaid magic was a joy to relax with. Grace is coming home with her daughter, the right time to escape, take over the family restaurant. Isla her childhood best friend is coming back, to escape, to her summer haunt and her best friend. A summer of looking back and forward, hard work, love, memories, hurt and healing, and maybe mermaids are real, certainly Grace’s daughter thinks so. Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Oh my gosh I love this book. Grace inherits her late father's restaurant in her enchanting childhood hometown of Maiden's Cove. Is it really magical and are mermaids for real? That is the question and this book has so much more. A story of fantasies, myths, lovely seaside setting, friendships. It is a magical read and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I do like a book that takes me on a journey to places I have never been.

Grace and Isla made the perfect characters for this book and were well developed. The writing is flawless making this such an easy book to read. It is delightful and I just wanted to keep reading and didn't want it to end. Loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for this quaint and magical tale of friendship and life. An enjoyable read- I love a mermaid book! Thank you

A tremendously great read about friends, family, myths & legends and a smorgasbord of delicious sounding food. This book was beautifully written and you could really sense the surroundings of Chesapeake Bay which sounded wonderful. The story of Grace and Isla was a wonderful story of a great and long lasting friendship. This was a delightful read with a number of twists and turns.

I was so pumped to get to read this ARC. After having visited the Chesapeake region growing up, this book made me even more nostalgic for the East Coast. Palmisano has you hooked (some pun intended) from the beginning with wondering if the myth of local mermaid(s) are true, do the main characters finally get a chance at happily ever afters? But more than that it will make you grateful for your best friend, especially if they’ve been in your life since adolescence like Isla and Grace. If you’re wanting to get lost in the magic of what ifs, second chances, and summer on the water pick this book up.

This is the most glorious novel I have read in a long time, friends, family, love and loss -it has it all and I couldn't put it down. A book where you can't stop reading but don't want it to end. Gracenisla come as a summer package and the soul sisters meet up in Mermaids Cove where they were young friends.- the mystery is Isla an actual mermaid - read on and find out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this ARC.

Fleeing her controlling husband, Grace Cleary has returned to her hometown of Maiden's Cove with her 8 year old daughter Bayla, to take over the failing family restaurant she has inherited from her father.

Soon she is immersed in the small seaside town's community, reconnecting with her brother Ben, old crush Luke and BFF Isla who is rumoured to be a mermaid. Because Maiden's Cove seems to have magic and mermaids and green shimmering lights coming from the sea, enchanting the community and tourists alike.

In an unforgettable summer of mouth-watering fresh seafood, cheerful fishing festivals and childhood memories to better times, old friends find their way back to each other but old dangers also resurface. This is a compelling story of love, friendship, self-discovery and second chances that will make you hopeful that everything is possible.

"One from the land and one from the sea. Summer soul sisters forever shall we be.

3.75 stars

The novel is an emotional journey of forgiveness, love, and second chances, with a touch of the magic and mystery that defines Maiden’s Cove. With its themes of healing relationships, rediscovered love, and the power of food to bring people together, The Secrets of Maiden’s Cove offers both escapism and an exploration of what it means to truly return home. The lore of mermaids, charming fishing festivals, and a life renewed make this the perfect summer read for anyone looking to lose themselves in a town full of heart, hope, and a bit of magic.