Publication Date: May 5, 2026
After the worst day in her professional life, burnt—out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight—knit town of Cape Carolina.
Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long—buried family secrets and her own fresh start.
But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go—to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.
Coastal Carolina comes alive as the backdrop of a breathtaking beach read.
Author Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers heartfelt characters in Summer State of Mind. An abandoned baby serves as the catalyst for a story that will leave readers cheering.
Daisy, a burned-out NICU nurse, heads back home for a fresh start and encounters Mason, whose baseball career now consists of him coaching a high school team. The two characters bond over the discovery of the newborn baby.
The small town flavor mixes with the messy comfort of family as Daisy becomes enmeshed in Mason’s extended family. Aunt Tilley may seem odd, but underneath her absent-mindedness hides a family secret.
The story’s appeal lies in the effortless way the plot unfolds, complete with humorous dialogue. It is perfect as a poolside read as the characters learn that happiness is often right where they are.
Summer State of Mind kicks off beach season with the perfect mix of romance and new possibilities.
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of thirteen novels, including Beach House Rules and the Peachtree Bluff series. A Happier Life is in development for film with MGM/Amazon, The Summer of Songbirds is in development for television with Hulu, and many of her other projects are in various stages of option or development for film and television. Her work has received numerous accolades, including Good Morning America’s Buzz Pick, Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Reads, Katie Couric’s Featured Books, and JoAnna Garcia Swisher’s The Happy Place Reads. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Southern Living, Parade, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, and many more. Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the hit weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction with fellow New York Times bestselling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, and Patti Callahan Henry. She is also the cofounder of the award—winning interiors site Design Chic, with her mom, Beth Woodson. She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband, son, and dog, Salt, where she is (always!) working on her next novel.
