When world traveling photographer Hannah Reyes returns to the small harbor town of her childhood, she expects nothing more than a few weeks of sunlight and shutter clicks. Instead, she nearly stumbles into the arms of Caleb Morgan, the once carefree boy she remembers, now the storm eyed man secretly fighting to save his late father’s struggling marina.

Drawn into Caleb’s world of creaking docks and white sails, Hannah finds herself teaching kids to reef sails, restoring a weatherworn dinghy, and stringing fairy lights for a fundraiser that could save the community’s heart. The days are filled with salt spray and laughter, but the nights bring quieter tides, starlit conversations on the pier, almost kisses under lanterns, and the growing pull of something she thought she left behind.

But New York keeps calling, dangling a dream assignment. And when Caleb’s secret, his sole ownership of the debt ridden marina, is revealed, the fragile trust between them fractures. Torn between her restless ambition and the anchor she never expected to find, Hannah must choose: return to the life she built, or risk everything for a love as steady and unpredictable as the sea.

As storms gather and a reckless boy is swept into danger, Hannah and Caleb are forced back into each other’s arms, not for romance, but for rescue. Their fight through the wind and water binds them tighter than words ever could. And when the regatta dawns, sails snapping against a bright sky, the entire town rallies to prove what love and loyalty can hold afloat.

From the cinnamon scented comfort of Mrs. Patel’s café to the laughter of children learning to trust the wind, from a glossy developer’s promises to the raw truth of a storm rescue, The Summer of Sailboats weaves a tale of second chances, community, and the courage to stay when running seems easier. If you’ve ever dreamed of sunlit harbors, slow burn romance, and the joy of finding home in unexpected places, this story is for you.