Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: June 23. 2026
Format: Hardcover - 320 pages
Audiobook - 9 Hours 46 Minutes
Kindle - 320 pages
Nook - 320 pages
ISBN (Hardcover): 978-1668092514
ASIN (Audiobook): B0GWJJJJ68
ASIN (Kindle): B0FX5SCMHH
BNID (Nook): 978-1668092521
Genre: Romance
Buy The Book:
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I also purchased a hardcover copy of the book from my monthly Book Of The Month (BOTM) subscription.
Book Description:
A debut novel for fans of Jane Austen, Elin Hilderbrand, and Gilmore Girls, Worse Than Strangers is a Nantucket-set retelling of Austen’s Persuasion about finding romance, second chances, and a new path in life.
Rose and Lily are best friends first, mother-daughter second, which is good because right now, Lily could really use a friend. Recently fired from her NYC magazine job and heartbroken, Lily has fled to the family cottage in Siasconset. She is shocked when she stumbles across her first love at the grocery store holding hands with his new fiancé—a fiancé he never mentioned on their many, many late-night phone calls.
Rose has secrets, too. A therapist about to start her own private practice, Rose’s world is rocked by the handsome renter staying in their guest cottage, Thomas Wentworth: the one person she thought she would never see again and the man who has always (unfortunately) held her heart.
A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion set against a backdrop of blue and purple hydrangeas, swollen brick sidewalks, tall sea grass, and uniform, shingled houses, Lily and Rose Gardner’s summer journey of second chances, healing, and hope begs the question: Can you repeat the past, and is it ever too late to try again?
My Book Review:
In her debut novel, Worse Than Strangers, author Kyleigh Leddy weaves a wonderful story of a mother and daughter who spend a summer in Nantucket getting a second chance at discovering themselves and finding a new path in life.
Set in Nantucket, the reader is easily drawn into this story as they follow the summer journey of self-discovery that brings dramatic changes in the lives of mother and daughter, Rose and Lily Gardner.
Set in Nantucket, the reader is easily drawn into this story as they follow the summer journey of self-discovery that brings dramatic changes in the lives of mother and daughter, Rose and Lily Gardner.
It is the first Memorial Day weekend since Rose and Lily's Great Aunt Lottie passed away. Both are still grieving and trying to find their way forward in the healing process.
Rose has been living in the cottage that Lottie has left them. She is a therapist in a clinical group and wants to open up a private practice. She has rented out the attached guest cottage but is shocked when the renter is her ex-boyfriend Thomas Wentworth who she hasn't seen in thirty years, how is she going to deal with the trauma of their past?
Lily had chased her dream to work at a fashion magazine and become an art director. After three traumatic years working as an assistant to a brutal art director, she was fired via email and on top of that she has also had her heartbroken when her first love broke up with her, only to find someone new and become recently engaged. Lily leaves NYC to spend the summer with her mom in Nantucket, only to feel even more humiliated and shocked when she runs into her ex-boyfriend Henry, how is she going to get over him and find a new job?
And if that isn't enough drama to deal with during the summer, Rose and Lily have visitors: Rose's older sister and dad, who also bring along Rose's ex-fiancé / Lily's dad James! For Rose and Lily, dealing with their past and family is worse than strangers!
Worse Than Strangers is such a wonderful tale that easily keeps the reader engaged as they follow Rose and Lily's story. The reader follows along as their summer in Nantucket brings unexpected challenges, life changes, and second chances. There was a great mixture of emotion, drama, angst, banter, and humor mixed in this story. The author does a great job of describing Rose and Lily's lives and how they learn to deal with their pasts and move forward. I loved how the author wrote a debut novel based on a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, and I know that fans of Jane Austen will certainly enjoy this story!
Rating: 5 STARS
About The Author
Kyleigh Leddy’s writing has appeared in the New York Times, New York Magazine, and Parents, among others. In 2023, she was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Media list. She holds a BA from Boston College, an MSW from Columbia University, and an MFA in fiction from Bennington Writing Seminars. She is a licensed therapist and teaches in Boston College’s M.A. in Writing and the Human Condition program. Worse Than Strangers is her debut novel.
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