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Miracle Beach

by Erin Celello (Goodreads Author)

3.47 of 5 stars 3.47 · rating details · 230 ratings · 51 reviews

In a stirring debut novel, the discovery of a husband's troubling secrets after his death shakes his wife's faith in their marriage and herself.

Macy Allen, an accomplished equestrienne, has relied on her horses and her husband, Nash, to pull her through. But after Nash dies in a tragic accident, Macy learns devastating secrets about his life that rock her belief in their...more

Paperback, 352 pages

Published August 2nd 2011 by NAL Trade

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Aug 11, 2011 Marysa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great book--a compelling story and stunning prose.

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May 22, 2011 Anita rated it 4 of 5 stars

A deeply moving story of heartache and survival. As a
lover of animals, I was sad about the outcome of the
animals, but it gives a courgeous look at how someone
can overcome pain and disappointment. I recommend it
as a good book to read.

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Dec 21, 2012 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Erin Celello's unabashedly honest debut about the nature of grief releases on August 2, 2011. After Nash dies in a tragic accident, his wife Macy faces life alone. She finds an odd comfort in the presence of Gounda, a foal who recently lost his mother. Riding and tack cleaning seem to be her only solace. Nash's father, Jack, moves to Vancouver to be with Macy and try to sort out his relationship with his lost son. Self-centered Magda, Nash's mother, blames Macy for her son's death and stays behi...more

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May 24, 2012 Lisa Christen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a GOOD one. It is a compelling story and definitely a page turner. I so wanted to find out what was going on where so much seemed hidden and just on the next page that it was hard for me to put down. I would recommend this book as being one of the better ones out there. It is a definite read.

What I liked most about this book was its location - Vancouver Island which I have been to and grew to love as a very peaceful, fresh-smelling, and out of the way place to be. Add to this horses and...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Sheri rated it 2 of 5 stars

This reminds me of a Jodi Picoult novel. It was decently paced, clearly written, and compassionate. As a character piece, the first 1/3 (before we meet Glory) is compelling. Once she gets into the meat of the plot, the story goes down hill a bit: the characters are almost “too human” in their low self-esteem and self-loathing.

Ultimately, I think it suffered from poor editing. I really wanted to like it (and enjoy it), but I was very frequently pulled out of the story with minor inconsistencies (...more This reminds me of a Jodi Picoult novel. It was decently paced, clearly written, and compassionate. As a character piece, the first 1/3 (before we meet Glory) is compelling. Once she gets into the meat of the plot, the story goes down hill a bit: the characters are almost “too human” in their low self-esteem and self-loathing.

Ultimately, I think it suffered from poor editing. I really wanted to like it (and enjoy it), but I was very frequently pulled out of the story with minor inconsistencies (much of which are enumerated below). I think if it was more tightly woven I would have given it a higher rating.

When Jack is on the plane, he notes that he had “finished more than half of the drink, but had sipped it so slowly that the melted ice kept the glass nearly full.” This is not a true statement. Ice displaces liquid equal to the water that composes the ice. So, as ice melts in a glass, the level of the drink would stay the same, not increase. Minor point, but it bothered me.

When Jack goes to his first show with Macy, after helping to prep the horse “it was nearly ten o’clock, the show grounds had filled to capacity, and Jack was exhausted.” So, he offers to go get food since he hadn’t eaten since lunch. Huh? How is this 10 pm and not 10 am? Is the horse show really going to START after 10 pm? If it is 10 am, how did they have lunch earlier in the day? Again, minor but just irritating.

On page 212 Macy talks about why she stopped going out to dinner (or even picking up take out) because she is fed up with the pointless, repetitive conversations she is forced to have with sympathetic near strangers about Nash’s death. Then on pg 214 (a mere 2 pages later), Celello describes Macy meeting up with 3 of Nash’s old friends and says “Most people chose not to say anything about Nash”… in direct contradiction with Macy’s previous thoughts.

When Macy is going through the photo box (and finds the letters to Kat) there were two minor points that bothered me. First, she comments about having to sit on the cold basement floor, but this is the same basement in which Glory slept a few weeks ago on an old pull out couch. Presumably even with her arm in a sling Macy could drag the box over to the couch and sit down. Second, she refers to the UW sweatshirt as having been under her pillow since Nash’s death, but this is not true. She found the sweatshirt in the closet when she ransacked the bedroom the night Glory arrived. After that she slept with it under her pillow, but not since Nash died.

After a looong discussion early in the novel about Jack’s lack of knowledge on fishing (during his first of many fishing trips with Sophie), we get two contradictions. First, he tells Sophie and Glory that he can’t go on the boat because he gets seasick (even though he has been on a boat with Sophie many times and later buys a boat to LIVE on) and second, when Magda arrives unexpected in the evening she thinks Jack might be out fishing. Just more evidence of poor editing; the story idea is sound, but the details are too contradictory.

My last nitpicky complaint has to do with overall time. We know that Magda was drinking in a bar in 1958 (drinking age in WI at the time was 18, she has to be at least this old) and we know that Nash was 33 when he dies. The novel does not state the current year, but cell phones are mentioned and Nash loved to watch Goonies as a child (which came out in 1985, presumably he wasn’t more than 10-12 then) and Jack was in Vietnam (so sometime 1964-1968 probably?). Working backwards, it makes sense that Nash was born around 1973-75 and the novel is set in 2006-2008. But this means that Magda was at least 33 when Nash was born (quite old for a woman of her generation, and she does not mention that she was too old for more kids, but that she chose not to have them) and that she is currently 66-68 (which seemed too old given that Jack has not yet retired and nor have any of her friends..they can’t take time off work to travel with her). I was really distracted by these dates as it seemed less than likely that it would have taken Magda 15-17 years AFTER being ditched by Jimmy to find Jack and have Nash. But, I couldn’t rationalize Nash having been born much earlier than 1973 (with Jack away in the war and the whole Goonies thing).

I did not like that in the last 1/3 Celello felt compelled to throw a bunch of other stuff at the reader. Macy’s wavering over whether she wanted to mother Glory predicates her eventual decision to paint the spare room pink (how cliché and expected), and the fact that they both have experimented with self-mutilation just felt like Celello was reaching and trying too hard. There is already enough here with the death, divorce, adultery, and orphaned girl. We didn’t really need the added drama and it just felt cheap.

Overall it is rather short, compelling, and mostly well done (if poorly edited). Certainly worth the time as a casual read.
(less)

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Jul 06, 2012 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

One of the reasons I like this book so much is that much of the geographical setting is in Vancouver Island, Canada. That being said, I was very impressed that this is a debut novel by this author. She seems to know human nature very well, and certain idiosyncracies that define many of us. The family members in this book are well-meaning, but alas, totally dysfunctional (kind of mirrors many segments of the world's population:) Some of the characters have a very hard time trying to really figure...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Vicky rated it 4 of 5 stars

I stayed up way too late Saturday night finishing this book: I had to know how it turned out. A lot of the reviews for this book say it's about grief and coping with loss; clearly, that's one of the obvious threads running through it. But what struck me more was the more subtle undercurrent pulsing through the book, the idea that no one really knows each other. Jack & Magda, Macy & Nash, they're all basically strangers to each other despite their purported closeness. Macy's hurt & an...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Iona Turner rated it 2 of 5 stars

I found this book to be poorly written ("it slipped out of him like a teenager at midnight"? Come on!), and predictable. We know what the big secret is before we open the book, or we should if we're at all well-read. Yes, it deals with grief, but the subject has been dealt with much more competently by other authors. Celello spends an inordinate amount of time on the details of the heroine's horses (booo-ring) and doesn't even get to the point of the whole story until almost the mid-way point.
Fo...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is advertised as being about grief and loss and it is...to a point. The more overarching theme though appears to be how people don't know others as well as they think and that they hold their own thoughts closer to themselves than they realize. The characters in this book are all impacted by the loss of Nash, at once a son, husband, friend, and neighbor. All the characters in this book are entwined with one another. Yet, they all have secrets, personal longings and views, and very dist...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Most of the reviews for this book seem to focus on the aspect of grief - and this book does, in fact, tackle that issue in a honest and painful way that any other debut author would struggle to portray. But Celello write about the experience of loss - especially when it is the loss of a young soul and in a way that seem to make no logical sense (i.e. tragic accident), with a prose that will make your heart hurt.

But moreso, this book seems to be about the complexity of personality, life, and rel...more Most of the reviews for this book seem to focus on the aspect of grief - and this book does, in fact, tackle that issue in a honest and painful way that any other debut author would struggle to portray. But Celello write about the experience of loss - especially when it is the loss of a young soul and in a way that seem to make no logical sense (i.e. tragic accident), with a prose that will make your heart hurt.

But moreso, this book seems to be about the complexity of personality, life, and reltiosnhips - about what we chose to reveal to others, in contrast to how others perceive us, our intentions, our thoughts, and our emotions. The story is written from the perspectives of the three main characters - setting it up so that the reader can see both the view the world through that indivudal's eyes as well as how they are perceived by others. In doing such, you can see how Nash's death has impacted all three, rather than just how it may have impacted Macy herself. However, the other pro to doing this is that, while allowing a deeper insight into each individual, it really stands in stark contrast to how the charaters view each other. We are given the opportunity to see beyond what they see themselves - and this is most evident in relationship between Macy and her mother-in-law.

That said, I finished this book wondering about the relationships in my own life - those that I deem so close and personal, but perhaps not as close as I believe them to be. If something were to happen - tomorrow, the next day - would I really have known the true meaning of that person?

The only criticism that I had of this book (if it could be considered a criticism) is that it wasn't long enough. I wanted to hold onto the characters a bit longer, know them better, understand them more. But I think that is a tribute to how well Celello writes them, as well as a parallel process to the characters themselves - that their stories are far deeper then even they know, and no matter how many pages they have to tell their story, it may never be enough to fully know them. (less)

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May 22, 2011 Brandi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Good, not great. If you have to read it for a book club, then go ahead, because you probably won’t hate it; but if you’re picking out something that you really want to read, I doubt this book is it.

I rarely have such noncommittal reactions to books, but I chalk it up to this: really good writing, decent characters, and a plot that goes nowhere. Of course, this book strikes me as one that aims more for character introspection than a thrilling plot, but at the same time, enough has to happen to m...more

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Nov 13, 2011 Pat rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: all

Recommended to Pat by: Goodreads

I read this book in one day! I guess that says something of how I felt about this book. It's the story of a normal, if not idyllic marriage between two very different people who are very much in love. Tragedy strikes, and Macy has to find a way to go on alone. Her mother-in-law totally blames her for what has happened. Macy tries to go on with her life, which consists of caring for her beloved horses, and continuing her training with a coach for her equestrien goals. Nash's father, Jack, who lov...more

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Aug 10, 2011 MaryBeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

A fabulous debut novel from Erin Celello. Her writing style is honest and pure. She has an ability to portray character's thoughts and emotions on the page with unique details in a style that makes the reader feel the depth of emotion and voice of the characters. Her story is told through the point of view from many of the characters giving you insight and development to each of the individuals and how they weave together throughout the story. This is a must read. A powerful story about grief, l...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected to! It was sad, but there were times I found myself laughing out loud. The emotional journey these people took after losing Nash seemed so very real to me. At times I found myself getting annoyed at one or the other of them, but then realizing how true-to-life that reaction/attitude was, and that I may feel and react the same way myself in that circumstance.

A wonderful book. Not so sad that you need a box of tissues (ala Nicholas Sparks), very touc...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Holly Weiss rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 2011-release, to-review, new-authors-you-may-not-have-heard

Erin Celello’s unabashedly honest debut about the nature of grief releases on August 2, 2011. After Nash dies in a tragic accident, his wife, Macy, faces life alone. She finds an odd comfort in the presence of Gounda, a foal who recently lost his mother. Riding and tack cleaning seem to be her only solace. Nash’s father, Jack, moves to Vancouver to be with Macy and try to sort out his relationship with his lost son. Self-centered Magda, Nash’s mother, blames Macy for her son’s death and stays be...more

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Sep 08, 2011 C5toland added it

This book was a slow read. It follows Macy, a devoted wife and devoted mother to many horses. When her husband, Nash, is accidentally killed by one of their horses, the world as she knows it falls apart. On the opposite end of the country, Nash's mother and father are doing mourning of their own in different ways. His father decides to come out to visit Macy and the ranch to bring closure to his sons death, and what happens is unremarkable.

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Aug 18, 2011 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a page turner for me… I think I finished it in only 2 sittings!! I was tied up in the lives of the characters and wanting more which made a 352 page book whiz by.

The one word I can use to describe this book is emotion. The authors writing can’t help but pull you into the story and I myself questioned how well I really know the people in my own life. I went through a rainbow of emotions while reading this book.

I also really enjoyed reading and catching all the familiar sights and sounds...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Anissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Macy Jack and Magda face a terrible tragedy in the death of Nash. Each of them deals with it differently. The appearance of Nash's illegitimate daughter Gracy eventually pulls them all together and sets them free to be who they really need to be.

the story was a little overdone, but still very touching with a wonderful message to be yourself!

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Aug 27, 2011 ♥ Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads, reviewed-books, won-books

I won Miracle Beach as an ARC first reads giveaway on goodreads. It's about a woman, Macy, that loses her husband, Nash, in a horrible accident at their horse ranch. She starts finding out things he has kept from her during their 10 yr marriage, and she's having a hard time coming to terms with these events, more because he's dead and she can't get any answers from him. I really liked this book, more than I thought I would, because I'm not too into horses, and there's a lot of horse talk in here...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Darth rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 04, 2013 Kristine rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this one as the author hails from my state (Wisconsin) but the plot was too flat. I couldn't get more than a third of the way through the book. It's too bad it wasn't more engaging as the landscape/setting is gorgeous and the book starts on a strong note (a family tragedy).

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Aug 22, 2011 Jennyprice rated it 5 of 5 stars

Grief is a complex process. This book captures grief in all of its layers in the form of a page-turning story that gives us three characters all mourning the loss of one person, but each in their very unique way. The story shows how loss can sometimes spark new beginnings and how we don't always know the people we love the way we thought we did. That said, this is not a depressing book. The characters are fighting to live their lives in the now and struggling with how to keep a piece of the happ...more

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May 27, 2011 Rene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

A great story about a family and the truth and consequences that surface after a tragic accident. The author has a beautiful writing style that will keep you hooked from start to finish. I look forward to reading more by they author!

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Jul 05, 2011 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was given this book to read by a my friend. Found it to be just ok. The story was pretty much predictable and found it to "drag" in places.

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Aug 30, 2011 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Brilliantly moving story - I couldn't put it down until I had read it in its entirety.

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Aug 14, 2011 Kari rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book, quick read and I did not want to put it down.

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Aug 19, 2011 Annette Santoni added it

I liked this book. It was well written. Enjoyable read.

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Aug 13, 2012 Kimberley Macintyre- added it

emotions laid bare, insightfull

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Oct 01, 2011 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great story. Really enjoyed it.

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Sep 13, 2011 Tara rated it 2 of 5 stars

While many gave this book great reviews, I found it lame. I did not like any of the characters and had no one to cheer for. There were so many details about insignificant things and yet no details on everything I wanted to know. I thought it ended abruptly too. Maybe this was a sign to stop reading and start watching football again!!!

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About Erin Celello

Erin Celello was born and raised in Michigan's gorgeous Upper Peninsula where she spearheaded a neighborhood effort to sell Trilliums in beer bottles (because lemonade stand revenues just weren't cutting it), ski raced, spent a lot of time trying to get out of track workouts, and made many dubious fashion and hair choices (rendering her forever thankful that Facebook was created after that era)......more

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