City Overview

Vibe

Region

High-end, polished, sun-drenched

Coastal, affluent

Brighton Bay looks like a dream — pastel skylines, brunch spots with waitlists, and waterfront homes wrapped in manicured hedges. But not everything that glitters is gold. Under the gloss of this coastal city lies a labyrinth of complicated families, and love stories too fierce to forget.

Built on legacy and quiet power, Brighton Bay is where people don’t just fall in love — they negotiate it. Some come here to reinvent themselves, others to escape. The second oldest city in the Skye Moon universe, this is the city of slow-burn tension, accidental entanglements, and elegant betrayals.

Featured Books

Baby, It’s Cold Outside, Midnight, Just Lucky ‘N Love

Schools

College:

  • Jaketown State University (Ivy League, Lions)

High School:

  • Luxford High

Plum Palace

  • Vibe: Refined, minimalist Asian fusion with ocean views

  • Known for: Miso-glazed sea bass, dragonfruit martinis

  • Tidbit: A go-to for discreet power lunches and subtle first dates. No photos, no press.

Cocoa Amore

  • Vibe: Warm neutrals, velvet chairs, and vinyl jazz floating in the air

  • Known for: Caramel hazelnut cold brews and lavender espresso shots

  • Tidbit: Locals say every couple who meets here ends up in some kind of entanglement

Le Bouchon

  • Vibe: Candlelit, French elegance with old money energy

  • Known for: Duck confit, crème brûlée, and truffle escargot

  • Tidbit: It’s said that every Brighton Bay engagement has passed through Le Bouchon at least once

The Smoking Kitchen

  • Vibe: Sleek and smoky with a modern fire-grilled menu

  • Known for: Wagyu burgers, smoked oysters, bourbon-glazed ribs

  • Tidbit: Where finance bros and influencers accidentally fall in love over charred artichokes

The Art ‘Wich

  • Vibe: Playful, artsy sandwich shop that names every item after classic paintings

  • Known for: “The Mona Lisa” (caprese panini), “The Scream” (spicy turkey melt)

  • Tidbit: Bright walls, community art, and a secret sandwich you can only order if you know the owner’s dog’s name

Café La Crème

  • Vibe: Trendy and sun-drenched with pastel walls and perfect lighting

  • Known for: Latte art, raspberry cream scones, and gluten-free everything

  • Tidbit: If you're a writer, you’ll find at least two of your exes working on their “first book” here

Sugar & Spice

  • Vibe: Cozy cookie shop that smells like a warm holiday hug

  • Known for: Peach cobbler snickerdoodles, cinnamon chocolate chip, and velvet crinkle cookies

Dining, Cafés, & Bars

Bars & Nightlife

The Celtic Grail

  • Vibe: A moody coastal pub with a massive whiskey wall and lingering guitar notes

  • Known for: Honey-aged ale, blood orange negronis, and loaded Guinness fries

Key Places

Cuz ‘n Kutz

  • Vibe: Generational staple for trims, gossip, and hard truths

  • Known for: Dual ownership by cousins Rachel and Corey Regan

  • Tidbit: Where haircuts, shade, and family secrets are all part of the service

Moon Casino

  • Vibe: Flashy, seductive, and possibly haunted by bad decisions

  • Known for: Private poker lounges and gold-plated slot machines

  • Tidbit: Rumored to be a side-hustle investment for a character whose money don’t quite match his job title

Heavenly Hands

  • Vibe: A luxury massage spa where whispers travel faster than oils

  • Known for: Full-body sea salt glow sessions and the elusive “Bliss Package”

  • Tidbit: Several hookups in Brighton Bay started with a couples massage here... including a few that weren’t couples at the time

Staccato

  • Vibe: Cult-classic music store with vinyl bins, stage lighting, and a wall of polaroids

  • Known for: Rare finds, instrument rentals, and jam sessions in the back

  • Tidbit: If you play something good enough, you don’t have to pay for your vinyl

Hit Factory Trove

  • Vibe: Black box theater meets speakeasy concert hall

  • Known for: Underground music showcases, open mics, and secret album drops

  • Tidbit: Word is a certain Luck brother got discovered here… and didn’t tell anyone

Nickmans

  • Vibe: High-end grocery with imported goods and concierge-style shopping

  • Known for: Fresh-baked herb focaccia, microgreens, and cold-pressed juice flights

Sports Teams

Brighton Bay Marlins

Sport: Basketball
Colors: Deep teal, brushed silver, and white
Mascot: “Rip” the Marlin — sleek and sharp
Arena: The Tank (Mariner Court Pavilion)
Vibe: Stylish, strategic, and dangerously underestimated

The Marlins play with grace and precision — the kind of team that slices through the court without breaking a sweat. They’re loved by the elite, envied by the rest, and hated by the Heights. Behind the scenes, though, the shine sometimes cracks.

City Tie-Ins:

  • Appear at upscale charity events like the “Ball & Bay” Gala

  • Often spotted in brunch hotspots and at coastal private schools

The Neighborhoods

Haverton Grove

Legacy, wealth, and carefully managed reputations

This gated neighborhood is home to old money and well-manicured secrets. Think black-tie garden parties, art gallery donors, and therapy paid for in silence. The homes are large, the hedges are taller, and the residents speak softly — until someone gives them a reason not to.

  • Likely residents: The Southard family, old social circles connected to Tierney and Liliana

  • Vibe: Prestige with a touch of emotional repression

Hunter’s Meadow

Equestrian charm and quiet ambition

Further inland and known for sprawling estates and private stables, Hunter’s Meadow has an understated type of wealth — the kind that doesn’t flaunt but still expects. Residents here are fiercely protective of their image and even more protective of their children.

  • Vibe: Subtle control, generational money, secrets behind country club smiles

Roslyn Trail

The “perfect” suburb with a dark side

Roslyn Trail is family-centered, picture-perfect, and...a little too polished. With HOA meetings that feel more like tribunals and neighborly smiles that don’t always reach the eyes, this neighborhood is all about maintaining appearances — no matter the cost.

  • Vibe: Middle to upper-middle class pressure cooker, masked dysfunction

Fox Crest

Trendy, coastal, and fast-rising

Once a sleepy beach town zone, Fox Crest has become a hotbed for upwardly mobile professionals. Think juice bars, pop-up yoga, and creatives making “soft luxury” a lifestyle. It's where reinvention lives — and mistakes follow close behind.

  • Vibe: Vibrant, modern, where reputation is curated for the ’gram

Fairview Court

Old families, changing tides

A quiet neighborhood caught between past and present. Fairview Court is where elders still sit on porches and know everyone’s business, but the next generation is itching for something different.

  • Vibe: Multigenerational warmth, quiet rebellion, long-held memory lanes

Hawk’s Ridge

Ocean views. Emotional cliffs.

The most isolated of Brighton Bay’s neighborhoods, Hawk’s Ridge offers stunning views, dangerous privacy, and a sense of distance that some residents crave. It’s perfect for artists, loners, or those trying to disappear — and sometimes succeed.

  • Vibe: Moody, introspective, heartbreak with a view

Characters by Book

Baby It’s Cold Outside

  • Niklaus Silva – Accountant; Tierney’s love interest; brother of Jax

  • Tierney Lovell – Single mother to Cameron

  • Cameron Lovell – Tierney’s son; close with cousin Illiana

  • Liliana Southard – Tierney’s mother

  • Amir Samuels – Financial associate of Niklaus; connected across social/business circles

Midnight

  • Jax Silva – Older brother of Niklaus; romantically linked to Rachel

  • Rachel Regan – Co-owner of Cuz ’n Kutz salon/barbershop; independent and protective

  • Corey Regan – Rachel’s cousin and business partner; father to Cian

  • Cian Regan – Corey’s young daughter

  • Amina Haygood – Cian’s mother; Corey's former love interest

  • Darien, Casimir, Nixon – Friends of Corey (Casimir & Nixon connect back to Brighton Heights)

Just Lucky ‘N Love

  • Nyx Love – Bartender at The Celtic Grail; fiercely independent

  • James “Jamie” Luck – Landscaper and part-time musician; Nyx’s love interest

  • Judah Luck – Jamie’s brother; drummer

  • Raelynn Moss – Nyx’s best friend

  • Lincoln Love – Nyx’s brother; strong protective streak

  • Ximena Gardner – Jamie’s best friend; works at The Celtic Grail

  • Kinsley McBryer – Jamie’s ex-girlfriend; part of his complicated past

  • Shane Walker – Nyx’s married ex

  • Nina Walker – Shane’s wife

  • Elizabeth Coleman – Jamie and Judah’s mother