Changing Tides by Linny Mack (May 6, 2025) – I’m so glad this debut came across my radar! I grabbed the audio and a digital copy on KU.
Sophie Bennett has an unexpected second chance after her marriage falls apart when she finds her husband in bed with his TA on her birthday. And then then the TA turns up pregnant. When she thinks about resetting her life, she thinks about her childhood happy memories in Cape May, New Jersey. So she retreats to the coastal small town. While there, she encounters her new neighbor Liam Harper, a closed off carpenter who has been thrust into parenthood when his sister dies and he takes responsibility for her daughter. Both Sophie and Liam have a lot of trauma and baggage that makes them feel like they may not be worthy of love, but they end up slowly and cautiously discovering love, friendship, joy, and self-worth.
This is not a rom-com – it’s a deeply emotional, beautifully written story about second chances, healing from trauma, and learning that you are worthy of love. Linny Mack’s writing is compassionate and layered, and I loved the slow-burn bond that formed between Sophie and Liam. Their growth felt real. The found family vibes in Cape May are warm and life-affirming, and the theme of rediscovering joy hit me right in the heart. I’m definitely in for book two when it arrives in September!
🎧 Audiobook Notes 🎧 Narrated by the phenomenal CJ Bloom and Tim Paige, this dual narration added so much emotional depth. They captured the grief, hope, and slow-blooming romance perfectly. I listened straight through in one sitting. (9h)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Audio Performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 