Welcome to Fairhaven

by Tiff Neros, Sof Dubois (Illustrator)

A character-driven story of a young man finding belonging and connection in a place his upbringing never could have allowed him to imagine.

In 1985, unfortunate circumstances send sixteen-year-old Wade Duncan across the country to live in Fairhaven, a small Norwegian fishing town on the coast of Maine. Awaiting him are a little-known guardian and her partner in a place he's never been. A chance meeting with a new a friend traveling to the same destination makes for a fun trip, though he remains guarded against expectation.

Wade has never known the true meaning of family or home. In Fairhaven, he starts to see an opportunity for a bright future for the first time in his life. But not everyone welcomes his arrival. Can Wade overcome his past and a new challenge to allow himself to love and be loved? Follow Wade's journey of healing and discovery, as people and place redefine his notion of family and friendship.

In Welcome to Fairhaven, Book 1 of The Fairhaven Novels, Tiff Neros delivers a heartwarming story that shows us the hope-inspiring power of community in the town of Fairhaven, where you'll want to stay.

302 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2026

About the author

Christopher "Tiff" Neros is an American author of Norwegian, Scottish, and Irish descent. He grew up in a small town in Southeast Alaska surrounded by close family and lifelong friends. The youngest of four siblings, with three sisters, he managed to navigate being heavily outnumbered and make it to adulthood.

Tiff's love of family, friends, history, and the places people call home inspires his writing. Welcome to Fairhaven, his debut novel, became the first book in The Fairhaven Novels, a series centered on characters whose lives unfold against the backdrop of a fictional community shaped by the people and places he has known.

Tiff lives in Northwest Washington with his wife, daughter, and their three beloved dogs (all girls). His daughter, a talented artist and photographer, draws the covers for The Fairhaven Novels.

Reviews

[Chris]

Full disclosure, Tiff is a childhood friend. That said, I truly enjoyed going along on Wade’s journey to finding himself at home and loved in a small town in Maine. The characters felt real and had lives of their own, although most of what we see of them is in their interactions and relationships with Wade. I would have liked to learn more about some of them, and perhaps I will in later books in the series. This book takes place in the 1980s and there are lots of little details that took me back to that time period, when I was about the same age as Wade. That made the story feel authentic. Sometimes Wade seemed too good to be true, but he was a bit flawed and had the opportunity to grow throughout the book. Overall, the story was grounded, sweet, and lighthearted, but was not afraid to take on difficult issues. Wade was dealing with a lot at a very young age, and I was happy to see him find a place and people who loved him and allowed him to be himself. I look forward to visiting this town and these characters again - it felt like a warm hug.

[Rosie Amber]

Welcome to Fairhaven is a coming-of-age tale set in the 1980s. The story takes place over the summer months as sixteen-year-old Wade moves from Alaska and settles into his new home in Maine.

Wade is welcomed into the small town of Fairhaven by almost all the residents. He’s given opportunities and close friendship that he has missed in his previous years. Here people take the time to teach him skills and allow him the freedom to explore new relationships.

Apart from Wade’s previous upbringing and one character who takes against Wade for a handful of small incidents, this is a very idyllic coastal town. Wade’s introduction and experiences are filled with positive outcomes, and he is surrounded by hardworking people with family values.

This is a nostalgic tale from the 1980s era, with life-lessons a plenty. The notes at the back of the book are also worth reading as they explain the interesting creative spark which was the source for the book. While I enjoyed the setting and the characters, I found the quantity of teachings and perfect sweetness a little too heavy to be a realistic representation of the time even in a fictional tale.

[Lisa Hefter]

Wonderful first novel!

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The characters are engaging and I found myself caring a lot about their happiness. I highly recommend this heart warming story!

[Phyllis]

What a uplifting, feel good story! This was written by my nephew and I didn't know he could write! The characters are well-developed and memorable. The story grabbed me and I couldn't stop reading. I highly recommend this book!