There’s no better way to idle away a beautiful summer afternoon than by reading a good book. And even better a book that is written by a local writer and takes place on Cape Cod. Here are some of our favorite books for those days on vacation when you need to relax, unwind, and curl up with a great book on Cape Cod.
- The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
Elin Hilderbrand is the “Queen of Beach Reads” and author of 28 novels, including her newest book, The Hotel Nantucket. The novel tells the story of Lizbet Keaton. Fresh off a bad breakup with a longtime boyfriend, Nantucket’s sweetheart Lizbet Keaton is desperately seeking a second act. When she’s named the new general manager of the Hotel Nantucket, a decaying relic of the Gilded Age. A billionaire owner from London and an Instagram influencer seem to be on track to put the hotel back on the map. But what of the young chambermaid, Grace, who died in a fire in the hotel in 1922? Grace seems as interested as ever in haunting the hotel and ruining everyone’s plans.
- A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery
Montgomery has set her new book during a Cape Cod summer and sprinkled in some old Hollywood nostalgia. Thirty-year-old Frankie Simon sells movie memorabilia on Hollywood Boulevard until a mysterious package arrives containing an old photograph of her late mother and famous movie star at a coastal film festival. Frankie’s life begins to unravel as she explores buried family secrets.
- Murder Is No Picnic, Amy Pershing
Pershing grew up summering on the Cape. Her series debuted in 2021 with A Side of Murder, when chef Samantha Barnes returned to her home in a place, not unlike Chatham. What would the Fourth of July be without a picnic complete with a clambake and a blueberry buckle? Restauranteur Clara Foster is about to share her baking secrets with Samantha when she dies in a house fire. An accident? Samantha sure doesn’t believe it.
- Wash Ashore: A Tale of Cape Cod, Mary Petiet
When Olive Adams comes to Cape Cod to live in her aunt’s old house, she finds her fortune shifting like the sands. Can she navigate a new life in a welcoming but mysterious house? As a dangerous hurricane barrels up the coast, Olive struggles to save the land next door from destruction as she waits for her new love to return.
- Remember Me, Mary Higgins Clark
Menley Nichols and her husband, Adam, a criminal attorney, rent a house on Cape Cod, in the hope of restoring their faltering marriage. The birth of their daughter, Hannah, has revitalized their relationship, but Menley has never stopped blaming herself for the accidental death of her two-year-old son. The serenity of the Cape promises a new start. But when they visit Remember House, an eighteenth-century landmark with a sinister past, strange incidents force Menley to relive the accident that killed her son, and she begins to fear for Hannah’s safety. Then Adam takes on a client suspected of murder when his wealthy young bride of only three months drowns in a storm—and the family is drawn into a rising tide of terror. A confrontation on a dark, rain-swept beach leads to a harrowing climax that only Mary Higgins Clark could have created. But what it doesn’t tell you is the Cape Cod location is Chatham, MA! The story was well written and weaves all sorts of locations in and around Chatham. So much so that you can picture all the places you may have visited while in Chatham and surrounding areas. It’s a fast read and a perfect summertime diversion.
While in Chatham, check out our outstanding book stores. The Yellow Umbrella has been in business since 1980 and continues to feature new books, used books, kid’s books, vintage, rare, and literature about Cape Cod. Where the Sidewalk Ends has been in Chatham since 2005 and is a mother/daughter-owned business. Its two-story “antique barn” is welcoming and cozy. Perfect for browsing for that perfect summer read. Both of these book stores are a short walk from the Inn and will be the perfect place to find YOUR summer read.
The Old Harbor Inn is a cozy Cape Cod Inn tucked away in the lovely town of Chatham, Massachusetts, perfect for enjoying a weekend of total comfort and relaxation. We offer beautiful rooms, each equipped with the finest amenities, in a peaceful environment. Perfect to catch up on some reading. You’re bound to love your time with us, so check our availability online right now to book your favorite room!
