“The Gossips Queens” live in a cozy town in the Sunshine Coast, where every summer tourists flock for rest and relaxation and the chaos does not end until Labor Day. The Gossip Queens have earned their name – it is their nature to know everyone’s business in their small town. This summer, the three Gossip Queens are each battling problems of their own during the summer from hell.

Rose is happily married to Sam; together they own a restaurant called the Way-Inn where Rose serves tables and Sam cooks. Rose and Sam do not have children together, although Rose gave birth to a baby boy she gave up for adoption when she was fifteen. So much time has passed, but Rose is troubled and wants to know her son’s whereabouts and how he is doing. Sam has no objection to Rose’s wishes, but he does not know how to help her other than being supportive.

Doris, the oldest of the trio, also has problems. Her daughter, Tonika, is recovering from a severe leg injury, and Doris is nursing her back to health. It falls to Doris to take care of her granddaughter, Emily, too, while she takes care of Tonika. Doris loves her daughter and her granddaughter, but playing full-time nurse and mother is wearing on her. She constantly worries about Tonika, and she wants to be a grandmother to Emily (not a mother) - and spend more of her time as a Gossip Queen.

Mercedes owns the Sand Dollar hotel, and her summer is busy. The single Mercedes’ daughter, Julie, is happily engaged to be married. Mercedes longs for male companionship of her own, but there are few eligible bachelors in the Sunshine Coast. In fact, Mercedes believes that there are none, and she hates to admit that she is jealous of her own daughter.

The Gossip Queens is about the unusual friendship that Rose, Doris and Mercedes share. The unusual friendship these three women share is very close; they intuit each others’ wants and needs without a spoken word. While each Gossip Queen is fighting her own inner battle this fateful summer, the three friends come together to provide each other with the love and support that they need. This book about friendship and love has a cozy feel. The author uses a lot of metaphors, and her writing seems mystical in nature at times. While I personally am not a fan of this writing style and felt that the ending wrapped up too neatly, I rate this book with three stars, keeping in mind that readers’ tastes differ.