In a Nutshell Reviews

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Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore
Published by William Morrow on May 27, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction

Goodreads

From national bestselling author Meg Mitchell Moore comes a sparkling new novel following a young woman entwined in the opulent lives of her neighbors on Block Island, set against a backdrop of scandal, secrets, and a not-so-subtle love triangle, perfect for readers of Pineapple Street and Sex and Vanity.

“An unputdownable modern-day take on The Great Gatsby. I gobbled it up.” —J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times bestselling author

It’s the beginning of the summer, and Nicola Carr has just arrived on Block Island, RI, eager for a fresh start and some R&R. But her plans for a tranquil summer are derailed as the extravagant parties from the grand home next door pique her curiosity. She soon discovers the home belongs to Juliana George, an enigmatic entrepreneur with a past shrouded in mystery.

Juliana George, CEO and founder of a hot fashion-tech company, is at the top of her game. She’s spending the summer on Block Island preparing for a major IPO. But she’s chasing her dreams in more ways than one. This summer she hopes to rekindle a flame with a man from her past—a man who has a surprising connection to her neighbor Nicola.

Taylor Buchanan, the wife of Nicola’s cousin, is second-in-command of a real estate empire. Her life is exactly the way she planned it: she has the wealth, the family, the prestige, and the power. And there’s nothing she’ll let get in her way of Having It All. But when everything suddenly verges on the edge of collapse, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands.

As Nicola, Juliana, and Taylor’s summers unfold, the three women are set on a collision course that leads to inevitable self-discovery, unforgivable betrayal, an unavoidable love triangle—and, most unexpectedly, a dead body.

A sophisticated escapist novel filled with light humor and surprising observations, Mansion Beach explores the depth of human relationships, our cruelly classist society, and the price of secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Unhappy with her life, Nicola quit her job and took an internship on Block Island. She instantly realized that things did not work the same way on Block Island as they did in Minnesota. She rapidly fell for the trappings of the its wealthy residents, and just as quickly, it all lost its shine.

Because this is a Meg Mitchell Moore book, I did NOT read the synopsis. I went in blind and was just excited to be back on Block Island. As soon as they mentioned that "green light", I realized this story was some sort of take on The Great Gatsby.

There was a lot of gender swaps, but it was easy to see who was who and what was what. I commend Moore for the way she embraced the themes of the original work but that also could have been what kept this from being a huge hit for me. I found Gatsby to be a rather sad story, and this story seemed to have a grey cloud over it. But, I was very drawn to the Gatsby character, Juliana. Reading about her past made me even more sympathetic to her even if her plan to be reunited with David was not totally on the up and up.

I am big on how I feel about the characters in a story, and I mostly felt sad for these people which lines up perfectly with how I felt about those in The Great Gatsby. I was left with some hope for them though in the end, as Moore made some choices for these character, setting them on paths towards better things.

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Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald
Published by Dutton on May 27, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction

Goodreads

A charming story about romance, friendship, and a love of books, in which two women—a lonely remote worker and a widowed single mom—and a handsome local bookstore clerk find themselves in an unusual love triangle when an anonymous note left in a book finds the wrong recipient.

April, a smart and lonely tech worker, worries work from home has gotten out of hand: She’s left an anonymous note in a book for Westley, the clerk at her Seattle neighborhood bookstore who has a gentle smile and looks great in flannel. But thanks to fate, Laura—a busy single mom who had given up on love—buys the book, finds the note, and thinks Westley has left it for her. A handsome man who loves books seems like just the plot twist she has been looking for.

Meanwhile, Westley—not the most perceptive—is too distracted by the movie filming at the store and the ambition it’s unlocked in him to notice either of the two women. But as April and Laura’s anonymous correspondence continues back and forth, their mundane routines are challenged, sparking a glimmer of hope. Is a happy ending in the cards for them?

A hilarious and intricate web of mistaken identities and serendipitous encounters, Storybook Ending is a playful tribute to romance, friendship, and bookstores, and to the objects—from a forgotten slip of paper to someone’s heart—left between the pages of books we loved.

Feeling a little disconnected, April seizes the moment and decides to reach out to her crush...via an anonymous note....left in a used book. When the note is inadvertently discovered by another bookshop patron, April, Laura, and Westley unknowingly enter into a love triangle with some wonderful results.

For a book that was not necessarily a romance, this had a great rom-com feel. It was fun and sweet with quirky characters who delighted me. At its core, this was a story of community and connection. Read the Room book store was such a lovely place. I cannot ever resist a bookshop setting, but there was something about this group of booksellers and readers that set itself apart for me.

This was written with the reader being aware of the whole situation from the beginning. The case of mistaken identity resulted in many humorous moments, but also pushed April and Laura out of their comfort zones. It had them taking steps towards expanding their circles and trying new things, and I had a great time waiting for them to finally figure it all out.

The whole "You've Got Mail" feel worked well, and the story oozed with a love of books which was an obvious hook for me. I also could not argue with the results in seeing so many new connections and friendships born. I can still feel the smile on my face that formed as I read that final chapter. These characters got a storybook ending that left me warm and fuzzy and breathing a sigh of contentment.

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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