Book Review: Down with the Shipmans

Down With the Shipmans

by Meg Mitchell Moore

Every summer, without fail, I want to read a book set at the beach about a family who is going through something. Bonus points if the novel is set in a cute little beach town I have never been to, so I can vacation vicariously without paying for a hotel! Down with the Shipmans was perfect for my “requirements” and if you have ever enjoyed reading summer beach reads by Elin Hilderbrand, then you will love Meg Mitchell Moore’s books, too.

Summoned by their father, the Shipman sisters are reuniting on the coast of New Hampshire, for the first time without their mother, who passed away. The sisters get the surprise of their lives when they find out their mom’s younger caregiver, recently married to their dad, will be there as well, AND their dad is selling the family’s beach house. They are trying to enjoy their last summer days there together, but all of the sisters have problems of their own. They’ve become a bit isolated from each other, they are keeping secrets, and they have to navigate their grief about their mom and their new relationship with their dad and his new wife.

Mae is training a rescue dog and running from debt. Natalie is realizing that her days as a farmer’s wife and trad-wife influencer might not be authentic to who she really is. Jordan is married to her job, but a meeting at the beach with her ex might get her thinking about leaning more into love than just professional success. Meanwhile, the realtor keeps popping up at inopportune moments and getting on everyone’s nerves. There were moments of sadness and humor throughout the book.

My Thoughts

The sisters will learn something new about themselves and each other and how to depend on each other again. Overall, I found the book to be wholesome, interesting, with all the beach vibes I needed, and enough dynamic character growth to make the novel satisfying and heartfelt without being corny. If you want a summery beach read about sisters with character development, depth, and a pitch-perfect beach town setting, then pick up Down with the Shipmans!

 I have read almost all of Meg Mitchell Moore’s novels, and The Islanders was one of my favorite summer reads, so I was genuinely ecstatic to be approved for the Down with the Shipmans ARC.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.