Don’t know what to read in between seagull attacks at the beach this summer? Here are eight unputdownable books that you won’t find at the Sawyer Free Library or The Bookstore of Gloucester.
Fiesta of Shadows: A Greasy Pole Gothic By Ravenna Trawler
Each year, the pole is greased. Each year, they walk. But this year, someone walks who shouldn’t have — and the tide has its own secrets. Now, whispers echo from the cut bridge, and no one dares to chant “che siamu tutti mutti” after dark.
Pride and Pier Pressure By Lizzie Codwell
A reimagining of the classic novel set on a wharf, where a stubborn woman learns to love a surly lobsterman with a heart of gold and a literal boatload of red flags. Together, they must navigate stormy seas, local zoning laws, and an extremely judgmental chowder cook-off.
Annisquam Confidential By Windsor K. Buoy
Nothing ever happens in Annisquam… until it does. A cozy mystery full of Nantucket Red pants, suspicious wine club meetings, and a golden retriever that may or may not be the villain. Beneath the quaint surface lies a conspiracy involving heirloom tomatoes and artisanal biscotti.
The Rockport Triangle By H.P. Gorton
A cryptic horror novel investigating why cell service, sense of time, and common courtesy all disappear simultaneously within a three-block radius of Five Corners. Only one man holds the key — and he’s been trapped in The Pewter Shop since 1998.
Meet Me at the Dump By Reggie Tote
A tender romance blossoms between two people who keep showing up at the Rockport Transfer Station on the wrong day. Will love bloom, or will the sorting bins tear them apart? Bonus chapter includes the harrowing plastic mix-up that nearly ended it all.
The Essex Clam Heist By Pearl N. Grit
A ragtag crew of disgraced Essex shellfishermen plots the perfect crime: stealing a truckload of Ipswich clams and disguising them as oysters to fund their new speakeasy on Conomo Point. It’s Ocean’s Eleven meets Yankee Homecoming, with fewer lasers and more mud.
Misty at the Cupboard By Shirley Beachglass
A heartwarming tale of love, loss, and twist cones set during the final summer before The Cupboard closed forever. Includes 17 full pages of wistful silence. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll crave a cherry dip you can never have again.
Zoning Out: A Romance By Kendall Plotline
A steamy slow-burn between a Gloucester Planning Board member and a mysterious consultant from “Boston.” Includes multiple graphic variances. Will they ever approve each other’s plans, or are they doomed to remain nonconforming uses?
The Dogtown Reader 