Books Set on Cape Cod & the Islands

"A story of summer, secrets, love and lies: in the course of a singular day on Cape Cod, one woman must make a life-changing decision that has been brewing for decades. Set against the summer backwoods and beaches of Cape Cod, The Paper Palace unfolds over 24 hours and across 50 years, as decades of family legacy, love, lies, secrets, and one unspeakable childhood tragedy lead wife and mother Elle Bishop to the precipice of a life-changing decision"-

With its rich history and outdoorsy traditions, the Cape Cod region is awash in lively, year-round festivals celebrating everything from agriculture to the arts. This entertaining insider's look at more than three dozen rousing festivals takes readers on a year-round tour of the area's food, culture, and cuisine. Over 150 color photographs and accompanying text provide an intimate view of fun events focused on film, food and wine, daffodils and hydrangeas, road and sailing races, and more.

A novel of family and place and belonging. --Rebecca Makkai, Pulitzer Prize finalist

Tender and suspenseful. --Chloe Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author

Some places never leave you...

Set during the splendid summer days of 1960s Martha's Vineyard, this page-turning debut novel pulls back the curtain on one mysterious and wealthy family as seen through the eyes of their nanny--a college student who, while falling in love on the elegant island, is also forced to reckon with the dark underbelly of privilege. 

From the author of The Salt House and This Is Home comes a profound novel about the power of community and a small town's long-buried secrets as a group of New England islanders come together for a recently orphaned girl. 

On Ichabod Island, a jagged strip of land thirteen miles off the coast of Massachusetts, ten-year-old Sky becomes an orphan for the second time after a tragic accident claims the lives of her adoptive parents. 

"Sexy and satisfying, Big Summer is the perfect quarantine read." --USA TODAY

"The beach read to end all beach reads." --Entertainment Weekly

"Big fun, and then some. It's empowering and surprising--a reminder to put down the phone and enjoy each moment for what it is." --The Washington Post

Deaf author and librarian Ann Clare LeZotte weaves a riveting Own Voices story inspired by the true history of a thriving deaf community on Martha's Vineyard in the early 19th century.

A must-read. -- iKirkus Review, starred review

A triumph. -- Brian Selznick, creator of Wonderstruck and the Caldecott Honor Book, iThe Invention of Hugo Cabret

When a baby is left on the doorstep of a Cape Cod beach house, an unlikely group of women risks all they hold dear to harbor and protect her in this "touching, nuanced summer yarn" (Publisher's Weekly).

A stunning portrait of community, identity, and sexuality by the critically acclaimed author of The Narrow Door

“A richly embroidered cast of characters, a thoughtful exploration of how real friends treat one another, and the true meaning of family all combine to make this a thoroughly satisfying coming-of-age tale. Cape Cod is nicely depicted—not the Cape of tourists but the one of year-round residents—as is the sometimes-sharp contrast between residents and summer people. Hunt has crafted another gentle, moving tale of love and loss: the value of the one and the importance of getting over the other.”—Kirkus Reviews