Summer Reads And Witchy Picture Books

This sizzling hot July, the beach is on everyone’s minds — even authors.

 For those who love novels set on Cape Cod and for those who love novels set in restaurants, “Palms on the Cape” (Black Rose Writing, 2026) by award-winning author Jenn Bouchard, is just the ticket.

 When she was 18, Bouchard worked as a hostess at a Chili’s Grill & Bar. “I actually learned a lot about restaurant operations,” she said in an email interview last week. A resident of Bedford, she has been teaching for 26 years — since 2013, at Needham High School. She, her husband and two teenage children are longtime Dennis summer visitors.

 “Palms on the Cape” opens during the August rush when the Cape is at full summer capacity. Rachel Sinclair, on the cusp of turning 40, owns the titular Dennis restaurant and lives in an apartment above it. It seems, on this Monday evening, that she has everything under control.

 Then a group of five walks in. Is swagger a better way for how the group moves? “They looked like they had money to burn,” Rachel notes. The youngest of the group, a man, is “undeniably hot.” His name is Tripper. And his friends are known as the A-List, a study group at Vermont Business Collaborative.

 They order nachos. Rachel falls for Tripper. Hard.

 But Tripper is the scion of something called the Chambers Restaurant Group. And that night at the Palms, one block from the beach, Tripper has “a vision.” Let’s just say his vision is not going to turn out well for Rachel.

 “Palms on the Beach” is Bouchard’s third novel after “First Course” and “Considering.” Her fourth novel, “Way Outta Left Field,” is due out next July.

 “I write beach reads,” Bouchard says about her novels and short stories. “I think of them as romantic comedy/women’s fiction hybrids, perfect for reading at the beach or by the pool. The love story is always a big focus, and I enjoy writing humorous dialogue.”

 As we see in “Palms on the Beach,” Bouchard also loves cooking, dining out and Ina Garten, author of the “Barefoot Contessa,” cookbooks. Bouchard is a graduate of Bates College and Tufts University.

 Bouchard will sign copies of her novels along with Cape Cod authors Judy Lannon and Janis Robinson Daly at A Different Drummer Craft Fair in Drummer Boy Park, Brewster, on July 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 She will also speak about “Palms on the Cape” at the Eldredge Public Library in Chatham, on Monday, July 27 at 3 p.m. Registration is required through www.eldredgelibrary.org. A book signing will follow the talk.

Witches On the Water, Inc. (WOW), a non-profit that raises money for other non-profits that support Cape Cod residents and/or the environment, is the subject of a charming new children’s book, “Witches On the Water: Little Witches, Big Hearts.” The book was written by Kim Roderiques of Chatham, using her beautiful photographs of beaches and local waterways. Graphic art illustrations were created by Liam Campbell, also of Chatham.

 “It’s adorable,” says Jo-Ellen Erickson who co-founded WOW with Susan Price and is its current president. The book is a “vehicle to spread who we are and what we’re doing.”

 Since it was created, WOW has donated over $140,000 to local nonprofits. This year WOW will donate the proceeds of its 2026 fundraising activities to Family Table Collaborative of South Yarmouth. The collaborative’s mission is to end hunger and advance “nutritional security” on Cape Cod.

 Roderiques’s book follows the adventures of Nikki, age 10, and her loveable puppy Nauset as Nikki learns to paddleboard. Nikki soon sets a goal of entering the annual WOW paddleboard race, and so devotes the summer to mastering competitive paddleboarding. When the October day comes, both Nikki and Nauset dress as witches. Although they don’t win the race, they learn a lesson: “Winning the race was not the most important thing. The best part of today was helping people in need. Helping others is truly magical.”

 The moral of the book is “being a part of something bigger than yourself,” Roderiques says. Roderiques is well known for her portraits of animals and people. She is also the author of several illustrated books and has produced five documentary films.

 This book was underwritten by Maureen Finnerty, owner of Bon Matin in Chatham; 100 percent of the proceeds go to Family Table Collaborative.

 The book will be available for a $20 donation during 2026 Port Summer Nights featuring live music in Harwich Port. Each Wednesday evening through Aug. 26, from 5 to 8 p.m., WOW will be on the lawn outside Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, on the corner of Bank Street and Route 28. A paddleboard and “witchy attire” will be available to allow children to pose for photographs just like Nikki in the book. Pet dogs are welcome to join the photo. Tickets for the annual paddleboard raffle will be sold.

 The book is also available at the Trading Company at 614 Main St. in Chatham and Stage Stop Candy at 411 Main St. in Dennis Port. Stage Stop Candy will ship the book through its website.