Soul Beach

Mar 06, 2012 Tim Roast rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Soul Beach is the first part of a trilogy of books. Therefore there are some loose ends at the end although the book also works in isolation too. It's just you may want to read them all together just to find out what happens to all the characters because the book does draw you in.

The story follows central character 16-year-old Alice Forster. Her older sister, Meggie, was murdered and no-one knows who by. So after her death when Alice gets an email from Meggie she dismisses it as a prank. However...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Susan Mann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Soul Beach's concept is unlike any book I have read in the past. A suspense thriller with some social networking thrown in. Intriguing and addictive. So much so I did not want this book to end, ever. I become obsessed with the world in which is created and the characters within it.

The book is told from Alice's point of view, she is 16 and recently lost her older sister Megan. Megan was murdered and no-one has been brought to justice for this crime. It is hard going on her parents, a father who...more Soul Beach's concept is unlike any book I have read in the past. A suspense thriller with some social networking thrown in. Intriguing and addictive. So much so I did not want this book to end, ever. I become obsessed with the world in which is created and the characters within it.

The book is told from Alice's point of view, she is 16 and recently lost her older sister Megan. Megan was murdered and no-one has been brought to justice for this crime. It is hard going on her parents, a father who has buried himself in work and a mother who has turned to the help and became a little obsessed with support groups. Megan, however was no ordinary girl, she was an up and coming star, one whom had one a tv talent show for her singing. A bit like Britain's Got Talent. Megan was beautiful and sung like and angel, she had a huge following, but she kept her feet on the ground and was still attending university. She had a boyfriend, who is top suspect but with no proof the police are unable to hold him.

Alice has always lived in her sisters shadow, however she is not ready to taken advantage of her sisters death and shine in her own light. She misses her sister and when an email comes through from her sister inviting her to join her on Soul Beach, how could she refuse.

Alice is a fantastic main character, she is a bit geeky and brainy but still a down to earth girl, you would like to befriend. She has been through so much and has lost her way. Leaving her long term boyfriend, school and her friends on the back burner, while she explores the world of Soul Beach. She becomes obsessed with Soul Beach, it would be hard not to.

There are so many twists and turns along the way, including some chapters from the killers point of view, thrown in to keep you riveted. I don't want to spoil the world of Soul Beach, you have to learn all about it for yourself. Alice plays detective with a lot more than the mystery of her sisters killer to solve.

The ending wrapped it up a little, but I was left gasping for more. I want to know if the characters are ok, what will happen next? I cannot wait for book two.

What can I say, you should read this book. I LOVED it. Kate Harrison's has written a flow, fast passed and riveting novel, a real page turner. There is something in it for everyone, a teen suspense thriller which will leave you wondering about social networking and where it could all lead.(less)

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Aug 29, 2011 Pamela Todd rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, read-in-2011, romance, thriller, ya-mg

Soul Beach was a thrilling, heart-stopping and romantic read.

Our protagonist is sixteen year old Alice who is grieving for her big sister, Meggie. Four months ago, Meggie was strangled…and the killer hasn’t been caught. Just when Alice thinks her life is slowly starting to move forward again, it is thrown straight back into a loop by the arrival of an email. From her sister.

Alice receives an invite to the elusive social network site, Soul Beach, where she can talk once again with her sister. At...more Soul Beach was a thrilling, heart-stopping and romantic read.

Our protagonist is sixteen year old Alice who is grieving for her big sister, Meggie. Four months ago, Meggie was strangled…and the killer hasn’t been caught. Just when Alice thinks her life is slowly starting to move forward again, it is thrown straight back into a loop by the arrival of an email. From her sister.

Alice receives an invite to the elusive social network site, Soul Beach, where she can talk once again with her sister. At first she believes it is a sick joke and ignores it, but when she hears the plea of her sister, Alice cannot ignore it.

Soul Beach becomes a morbid fascination for Alice. Full to the brim of the young and beautiful, and dead, the Beach becomes more real to her than her own reality. It seduces her senses and while she is fully grounded in her room, earphones in and looking at the laptop screen, she can almost feel the warmth from the sun, feel the sand beneath her feet and hear the gentle slapping of the waves.

In her own reality, Alice’s friends are losing patience. Almost overnight Alice loses what progress she made over the death of Meggie and becomes a recluse – her own priority the Beach. But the people on the Beach are eager for Alice to return to her reality – to help them…and undercover the truth behind their deaths. Because no one who died of natural causes is on the Beach.

Soul Beach was exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. With random excerpts from the killer’s perspective, it gives the book a certain fearful reality to it, and how people we encounter everyday are capable of brutal acts. Most importantly it shows us how fragile life can be.

I adored Alice and sympathised with her as she battled to keep up a normal façade when she is feeling anything but. She is a motivated character and well driven, and I cannot wait to see where ends up in the second instalment of this new trilogy.

Soul Beach has something for everyone – sadness, piles of emotion, murder mystery and an impossible romance. We were left with a heck of a cliff-hanger that ensures the wait till the next book will be excruciating indeed.
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Sep 03, 2012 Iffath rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, uk-ya

Reread: 10th August 2012

I've never read anything by Kate Harrison, which is probably expected because she usually writes for adults, so I wasn't sure what to expect from SOUL BEACH. I had a feeling that I would enjoy it though, because that synopsis sounded killer.

Alice is still grieving over her dead sister, Megan, and then receives an email which is apparently from said sister. Who is dead. At first, she assumes the emails are somebody's sick idea of a joke. But then she discovers that this pl...more Reread: 10th August 2012

I've never read anything by Kate Harrison, which is probably expected because she usually writes for adults, so I wasn't sure what to expect from SOUL BEACH. I had a feeling that I would enjoy it though, because that synopsis sounded killer.

Alice is still grieving over her dead sister, Megan, and then receives an email which is apparently from said sister. Who is dead. At first, she assumes the emails are somebody's sick idea of a joke. But then she discovers that this place, this Soul Beach, is real. Alice can hear the sea and feel the sand between her fingers...and she can talk to her sister by visiting this world from her laptop.

The whole idea with the virtual world where you can meet with your loved ones was fascinating. At first I do admit it seemed quite hard to believe, but as I read on, it pulled me in. The catch kept things fresh and original. I've read a few YA books that are based around life after death, but they usually go towards the zombie/ghost route, none of them have ever been introduced to a paradise-like online world!

SOUL BEACH ended with a cliff-hanger and oh so many unanswered questions that I'm *still* raging about, almost a year after I've finished it. I really need to know what happens next, the mystery surrounding Megan's murder and why she was murdered in particular. Fortunately for me, the sequel, Soul Fire has been released now.

The romance in the story didn't really work for me, I think it felt a bit under-developed and cliched at times, and I thought the last third-ish of the book was a bit rushed, but apart from that, I really do recommend this. I found Alice's addiction to Soul Beach really interesting. I don't know for sure, but there seemed to be some kind of hidden message in that aspect, portraying the way teenagers today have an addiction to social networking sites and I liked how Harrison presented Alice's feelings of being more alive in a virtual world rather than the real world. That's like me and Twitter (lol). SOUL BEACH is a thought-provoking, dark YA debut from Kate Harrison.

“Lightning flashes outside my bedroom window, almost dazzling me I'm so close to the eyes of the storm now, and thunder follows immediately. No one on the Beach flinches, of course.”(less)

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Aug 28, 2011 Kayleigh rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-s

This was a book I had hear near to nothing about, yet it beat expectations and went beyond.

For me it is a proper British book, which follows simple yet effective storyline, has well done characters and a book due to it's English background I could feel as though I related to it much more.

Soul Beach, is about Alice who six months after the death of a reality TV star sister, Megan received an email from Megan. At first Alice ignores it and see's it as someone's version of a sick pratical joke, unt...more

This was a book I had hear near to nothing about, yet it beat expectations and went beyond.

For me it is a proper British book, which follows simple yet effective storyline, has well done characters and a book due to it's English background I could feel as though I related to it much more.

Soul Beach, is about Alice who six months after the death of a reality TV star sister, Megan received an email from Megan. At first Alice ignores it and see's it as someone's version of a sick pratical joke, until another email arrives, but this time from Soul Beach, an interactive website, leading straight to a waiting room for the young, beautiful and dead.

The book was original, fantastic and relate-able for today’s teenage generation, Kate Harrison doesn't just create the 'world' of Soul Beach, but instead creates it to be an interactive website, exclusive only to those invited. In a way it is more of the social-networking site for the dead and there loved one's. Also another thing which makes the book appeals to teenager's in the use of trends used, for example Facebook, which made me as a reader be able to go 'Hey I use that' or 'Oh yeah, I've heard of that', making it a perfect read for someone not overly obsessed with reading.

I managed to read the book in one afternoon, and was completely tangled within the enticing storyline, and was flipping through the pages until there was no pages left to turn. Yet the book itself lacked something, something which bought it from the outstanding five star rating, to the respectable and good 4 star. Despite my addiction to the book, and inability to put it down, there was nothing to keep me going, excluding the all round storyline, I didn't expect much to be on the next page, though maybe the page after that.

Someone which I really enjoyed was: every now and then there would be chapter's, not proper chapter's but more of thoughts of Megan's killer, I believe that this was the perfect choice which the author made to keep the reader interested and hopefully these small 'chapter's will follow through till the end of the series, leaving the reader's to make there own decisions on who is the murderer.

This book hosts one of the best collection of character's I have ever came across, and it's very rare to have all character's are so well developed, also there is a mixture of character's coming from all different backgrounds and stereotypes, something for everyone.
Take Alice for example, despite being the main character of the story you see her obvious thoughts of always being over-shadowed by her sister, before her death, yet any rivalry that went on she soon forgot about. Also we see a rather dramatic, yet expected development within her character. Towards the beginning of the story she is a very timid and shy person, though as the book goes on she becomes much stronger and inspirational, not just as a person but a character too.
Another character I liked was Danny, Danny is a friend of Megan's from the island, and one of my favourite character's due to his story of why he is the way he is. Danny during the book is quite friendly, sympathetic and wise, though as we find out in the book he was once quite a spoilt and self-centred brat, his death which is believed to be his fault was what changed him, realising he needed to be a better person.

This book can't be compared to know another books, because it's nothing like anything else I've read or came across. It really is in a league of it's own.(less)

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May 21, 2012 Annabelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The concept for Soul Beach was very intriguing and rather unique. Just the synopsis alone dragged me in, leaving me wanting more. The book doesn’t disappoint either, from the start you’re pulled into Alice's story and follow her on a rollercoaster of emotions. Soul Beach is book 1 in a new trilogy by Kate Harrison and I can't wait to read the next book when it's out later this year.

We join Alice on the day of her sister's funeral when she receives an email from the dead sister. Thinking it's a...more The concept for Soul Beach was very intriguing and rather unique. Just the synopsis alone dragged me in, leaving me wanting more. The book doesn’t disappoint either, from the start you’re pulled into Alice's story and follow her on a rollercoaster of emotions. Soul Beach is book 1 in a new trilogy by Kate Harrison and I can't wait to read the next book when it's out later this year.

We join Alice on the day of her sister's funeral when she receives an email from the dead sister. Thinking it's a sick joke she ignores it, but the sender is persistent inviting her to join the online world of Soul Beach. Alice tries to ignore them but if her sister is trying to contact what could possibly go wrong. Joining Soul Beach Alice finds that many you people who have died inhabit this place or limbo. She soon finds her sister who tells her that paradise isn't as brilliant as it seems. Alice is drawn to this new world and prefers it to her own where she's being swallowed by her grief. There's only one question on her mind though, and that is who killed her sister?

Alice was a character who was struggling to cope with her own grief. She tries to put on a brave face but there's only so much happiness you can fake. My heart went out to her throughout the whole book especially when her grief began taking its toll on her life, pulling her away from her friends and family. She began to shrink into herself and alienate herself from the world, but the grief told her this was an ok thing to do. All her free time she spent talking to her sister, Meggie on Soul Beach which becomes a second home to her. Paradise on Soul Beach is Alice's only escape, it allows her to speak to her lost sister and become closer to her than ever before. Alice's character was well written you followed her journey as if you were in the passenger seat. When she went to soul beach it felt like you were there too. The story telling and writing was top notch in this book.

The secondary characters were good. Meggie and Alice's relationship was believable there were the good parts and the bad parts just like a normal relationship. Meggie was a well-rounded character she was the shooting star, if she had lived she would have been famous but her time was cut short. Now she sees that paradise, isn't as great as it looks, there are always consequences. Danny was awesome from the beginning, star-crossed lovers is all I can say so I don't ruin things. Lewis was a nerd who helped Alice out when looking for clues; he was a great character who showed that nerds do in fact rule the earth.

Despite the uniqueness of this book and awesome characters a few things bugged me. The first is the whole social network site for contacting the dead thing. Alas I do believe there's life after death but through a social network, no way. It's just totally unbelievable. Oh and the whole Soul Beach thing Alice experienced through her laptop so how did she feel the heat and sand in her toes. One moment it seemed like she was there in the beach talking to her sister the next she's wearing headphones and whispering though the speakers. Hmm, something doesn't quite add up there, surely her parents would have noticed her talking to herself. Oh and time flies by without her noticing when she's at soul beach even though she's sitting at her laptop. And how she can always hear the waves from the beach even when she's at school? Another thing was the plot seemed to shift near the end of the book. It began as trying to find Meggies murderer then shifted to solving a whole secondary characters death. It just changed too drastically for me.

Nevertheless I enjoyed Soul Beach. It was a nice easy read. The writing is great and the characters are very emotionally strong. I will only give this 4 stars because of the above paragraph. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series to see what happens next.
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Oct 14, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted on my collaborative book blog http://hangingoneverywordblog.blogspo...

Soul Beach is the first in a trilogy of books by acclaimed chick-lit writer, Kate Harrison - probably best known for her Secret Shopper series, a series I loved wholeheartedly! I won the first two books in the trilogy a while ago now (the third is a work in progress) from another blogger, Susan K Mann, but it was only recently that I managed to get round to reading them.

The synopsis reads: When Alice Forster...more Originally posted on my collaborative book blog http://hangingoneverywordblog.blogspo...

Soul Beach is the first in a trilogy of books by acclaimed chick-lit writer, Kate Harrison - probably best known for her Secret Shopper series, a series I loved wholeheartedly! I won the first two books in the trilogy a while ago now (the third is a work in progress) from another blogger, Susan K Mann, but it was only recently that I managed to get round to reading them.

The synopsis reads: When Alice Forster receives an email from her dead sister she assumes it must be a sick practical joke. Then an invitation arrives to the virtual world of Soul Beach, an idyllic online paradise of sun, sea and sand where Alice can finally talk to her sister again - and discover a new world of friendships, secrets and maybe even love . . . . But why is Soul Beach only inhabited by the young, the beautiful and the dead? Who really murdered Megan Forster? And could Alice be next? The first book in an intriguing and compelling trilogy centred around the mystery of Megan Forster's death.

A virtual world where you can see your deceased loved ones again? I'll readily admit that I was sceptical. Following the story of 16-year-old Alice Forster as she struggles to cope with life after her older sister Meggie's death, I found this book gripping from start to finish, despite my reservations. Soul Beach is essentially purgatory, limbo, whatever name you have for it. When Alice first receives the emails from Soul Beach, she assumes the obvious - that someone is playing a trick on her and a sick trick at that! When she receives another email, with information only Meggie would know, she begins to take notice and soon finds herself drawn into the online presence of the beach itself.

There are plenty of characters in this novel to love and loathe: both 'on' the beach and in the real world. I loved Alice as a character, although I did feel that she was a little harsh to those around her sometimes, even given the circumstances. The police are investigating Meggie's murder throughout the novel and there are plenty of people to suspect. Both Alice's mum and the press believe her murderer to be her boyfriend Tim but I found him to be a little weak and too obvious. I can never begin to understand what the parents of murdered children must go through but I found Alice's mum irritating from start to finish. Her staunch belief that Tim is guilty, the way she treats Alice and her father...it's all a little odd.

Alice soon finds herself falling in love...there is just one little problem. The boy she loves is dead. I loved the way the romance was built up throughout the novel, slowly emerging in the background but never overtaking the main focus of the story; finding out who Meggie's murderer truly is.

As this is a trilogy, you can imagine there were some loose ends at the end of this book but it leads the way perfectly into the sequel.

This is definitely worth a read if you're a fan of this genre of novel. The second book in the series, Soul Fire, is also out now - but beware, there will be a wait for the third in the series - I'm anxiously awaiting the release date!
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Jul 10, 2012 Janita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-want, death, fiction, nederlands, paranormal, read-in-2012, young-adult, ebook, magic-tales

Soul Beach verteld het verhaal van twee zussen, Meggie en Alice. Het grote verschil tussen deze zussen is dat Meggie vermoord is en Alice leeft. Alice krijgt vlak voor de begrafenis van haar zus een mail van Meggie. Alice denkt dat ze in de maling genomen wordt, maar na lang twijfelen mailt ze terug. Ze krijgt een uitnodiging voor Soul Beach, een virtuele strandclub voor dode mensen. Hier kan Alice met haar zus praten en maakt ze kennis met de nieuwe, dode, vrienden van Meggie. Alice probeert ui...more

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Oct 07, 2011 ~+-+Vanora+-+~ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 stars to be accurate.

*POTENTIAL MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD

YOU ARE WARNED!*

The concept is interesting.

At first I thought it was a prank with some creepy stalker that might harm Alice and was pretending to be Alice's sister. The idea was quickly diminished though as the story soon revealed the Guests (Ghosts?!) Alice met on Soul Beach are real. Though all of them had died. But they had indeed once existed in the very same world Alice is in.

There's still a question of who actually killed Alice's sist...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the first novel I've read by Kate Harrison, and it won't be the last. Even though I'm way older than the target market it's aimed at, I really enjoyed Soul Beach, thanks partly to a very accessible writing style and short, punchy chapters.

In Alice, Kate Harrison has created an immediately likeable, vibrant heroine, which, coupled with a great premise (the book opens with Alice receiving an email from her dead sister and being transported to an online virtual reality to meet her) hooked m...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Natalie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall, this book disappointed me.
This may be because it's been sitting on my shelf for a long time, and I had let so much time pass that I had somehow managed to convinced myself that it would be amazing. This was not the case. It was good, sure, and the plot was pretty unique, but I wouldn't read it again. Nor will I be purchasing the sequel.
For a start, I could never get my head around the fact that Alice was walking on a beach, but sitting at her computer. I had problems with the visual, bu...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Book Angel Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sheeesh I need the next book NOW

This is one of those books that gripped me from the very first page. The prologue is tension filled yet beautifully descriptive in a chilling way, so much so that I compulsively turned the pages into the night not daring put it down afraid I would miss something of importance. Yes I know I could go back to the same page but when you have the movie version playing in your head you don't want to leave it for a single second.

Written in 1st person narrative from Alice...more Sheeesh I need the next book NOW

This is one of those books that gripped me from the very first page. The prologue is tension filled yet beautifully descriptive in a chilling way, so much so that I compulsively turned the pages into the night not daring put it down afraid I would miss something of importance. Yes I know I could go back to the same page but when you have the movie version playing in your head you don't want to leave it for a single second.

Written in 1st person narrative from Alice's perspective; at 16, she is a well rounded character. Easy to imagine and develop in the story. Especially with the online presence and how it feels so 'normal', I would go so far as to say it provides an escape from some of the unpleasantness of 'real life' that I can certainly relate to. Alice has a fantastic narrative voice, the use of italics to emphasis certain words added to the effect of Alice's voice in my imagination. Her loyalty to her sister, Megan, is amazing to behold yet at the back of my mind I was constantly worrying about the effect the Beach was having on Alice in real life. Very British in the references used, including the portrayal of underage drinking (which we all know goes on) added to the realism of the story.

The portrayal of grief and how everyone copes differently with it was poignantly within the narrative.

I am not going to go into details about the plot in my review as it really would spoil it, I will say that it is a murder, mystery, supernatural thriller. Utterly amazing to say the least.

Alice's 'job' it appears is to find resolution for some of the souls trapped in the beach enabling them to move on. Even paradise can become a prison of sorts if it is repetitive especially for eternity. It would appear that the Beach is a kind of Purgatory for unresolved deaths of young adults.

All the characters have wonderfully hidden depths; I am literally aching to get answers out of them. I want to sit them in a chair and interrogate them individually (lol). Unfortunately, this isn't an option for Alice who has to tip-toe around the Beach's rules that are ambiguous to say the least.

I adored the snarky geek portrayal of Lewis and Danny brought to mind images of the Kennedy's. I can't really say why just that the way in which his 'life' was portrayed - privileged yet restricted due to the restraints that privilege brings. Whoever, at the back of my mind I was always questioning every single character for motive and opportunity with regard to Megan's murder. It was difficult to trust any of the characters at face value, unless they were souls on the beach (lol) but even they had secrets to be uncovered.

There is a major open ending that left me absolutely desperate for the next book in the trilogy. Silver lining at least I know there is going to be a second book. Torture having to wait an entire year for it. Seriously this book is fantastic and unique. I cannot wait for the next one *starts countdown*
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Oct 12, 2011 Jessica (Jess Hearts Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As soon as I heard about Soul Beach I just knew it would be a book that I was going to love. This year I’ve quickly become a big fan of the young adult thriller trend and Soul Beach is up there as one of my favourites from this genre.

The book is told from sixteen year old Alice’s point of view but every so often between chapters there are a few paragraphs told from the killer’s perspective. The book actually starts off with the murderer narrating which I thought was fantastic as it jumps straigh...more As soon as I heard about Soul Beach I just knew it would be a book that I was going to love. This year I’ve quickly become a big fan of the young adult thriller trend and Soul Beach is up there as one of my favourites from this genre.

The book is told from sixteen year old Alice’s point of view but every so often between chapters there are a few paragraphs told from the killer’s perspective. The book actually starts off with the murderer narrating which I thought was fantastic as it jumps straight into the mystery. Right from the very first chapter you’re spooked and I was sucked into this book right away.

Soul Beach has several mysteries to it. What is Soul Beach? Who created it? Is Megan really dead? And if so who killed her and why? Will Alice be next? The book is chock full of suspense and I had no idea where this book was going or what was really going on. Soul Beach has an addictive, unique plot and I was so caught up in the story that I could hardly put it down. I couldn’t even bare to go online whilst I was reading this I was that creeped out by the seemingly perfect “paradise” of the dead online beach that at times seemed to have Alice strangely addicted.

This is the kind of book where I don’t want to go into anything too much as its important with books like this not to give too much away but I will say that I loved the end of this book. I felt that Kate Harrison gives you just enough to feel like the book has a proper ending but in a way that still leaves things open for the next two books in the trilogy. It’s also one of those clever endings that resolves some of your original questions but also opens up lots of new possibilities and leaves you with new ones in their place.

Overall I thought that Soul Beach was a unique and welcome addition to the young adult thriller genre. I didn’t want this book to end and when it did I started immediately pining for book two. If you’re looking for an original, modern day, teen thriller that will make you see social networking in a whole new light then Soul Beach is a must read!(less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Caroline Victoria Murphy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-borrowed

Also on my blog Music Minded Book Freak

I had mixed feelings about this book.

The Good
I liked the idea of Soul Beach, a place some people go to when they died and their loved ones can see them, and even visit the beach virtually. It was like a paranormal social website.

Lewis - He was a geeky ex-friend of Meggie and Alice's new companion. He was a well developed character and I would love to be his friend in real life. I also wish he was the love interest.

The Bad
The romance - Alice and Daniel (hi...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Lyndsey Rushby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I first heard about this book, I really didn’t want to read it. I can’t even remember what it was that I didn’t like the sound of but it just didn’t sound like me. After hearing so many bloggers rave about it though, I figured I should give it a chance.

It didn’t take me long to have changed my mind! As soon as Soul Beach started, I realised that I had been far too quick to judge. As the cyber world of Soul Beach begins to be revealed, I saw something new, edgy and unique from Kate Harrison...more When I first heard about this book, I really didn’t want to read it. I can’t even remember what it was that I didn’t like the sound of but it just didn’t sound like me. After hearing so many bloggers rave about it though, I figured I should give it a chance.

It didn’t take me long to have changed my mind! As soon as Soul Beach started, I realised that I had been far too quick to judge. As the cyber world of Soul Beach begins to be revealed, I saw something new, edgy and unique from Kate Harrison. Of all of the young adult books I have read, I have never seen anything remotely close to being like this. Due to Alice’s loss of her sister, I could see her need for this mythical place very much. Who wouldn’t give anything to be able to speak to a loved one again after they had died, especially someone as close to you as your sister?

Although much of Alice’s story is about the grief for her sister, her personality still manages to shine through. It is easy to feel for her because of the kind of girl she is: caring, sweet and will do anything for the people she loves. I really liked the way that her character seemed to have two sides, one when she was with her sister and another when she was in the real world. Alice (and her friends) were also so real. The culture of British teenagers is brought in well and shows what they can really get up to instead of masking it like other books have in the past.

Secondary characters were fantastic to read about. With a mix of people in the real world and those on Soul Beach, I could find something I liked about each and every one of them. Alice’s friends obviously care a lot about her but I could understand their frustrations with losing a bit of their best friend. Then there was the new people Alice meets on Soul Beach. Each one of them is there for a reason but that isn’t explained much at all so there was a lot of intrigue for me about these characters.

A large amount of Soul Beach is a murder mystery though and I don’t think I was expecting it to be quite as prominent. Megan is buried and still, no one knows who her murderer is so this makes up a large amount of the plot but I liked these parts. Soul Beach is told from a dual narrative from both Alice and the murderer’s perspective. As the story continues, you get to realise that the murderer is someone that Alice knows but like the reader, she has no idea who they really are. I had so many ideas going through my head about who it could be but then something else would happen and I would completely change my mind.

As Soul Beach is set to be a trilogy, there was so much left unanswered. The murderer has not been identified and there are smaller parts that I am still dying to know about! Instead of disliking this book like I imagined I would, I really liked it and now cannot wait for the next book!
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Jun 27, 2012 Rachel "Rai29" rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ISBN: 9781780620060
Publisher: Orion
Pages: 256

People are dying to get here . . .

When Alice Forster receives an email from her dead sister she assumes it must be a sick practical joke. Then an invitation arrives to the virtual world of Soul Beach, an idyllic online paradise of sun, sea and sand where Alice can finally talk to her sister again - and discover a new world of friendships, secrets and maybe even love . . . . But why is Soul Beach only inhabited by the young, the beautiful and the dead?...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Anoeska rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, suspense

Lees de volledige recensie op http://boekenzee.blogspot.nl

Beoordeling:
1. Cover 4/5
De cover past goed bij de inhoud van het boek. Zon, zee strand en jonge mensen en een vleugje mysterie. De cover is opvallend en kleurrijk, waardoor hij goed opvalt.
2. Verhaal 3/5
Het idee achter het boek is erg goed en zal veel mensen aanspreken. Een virtuele wereld, waar jonge mensen heen gaan als ze dood zijn. Ook wordt de dood realistisch behandeld, wat het verhaal geloofwaardig maakt. Ik vond het jammer dat o...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Mehsi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the beginning of the book, it started of nice. But later on it got quite boring and I skipped some parts of the book just because I couldn't find it holding my interest.
A shame that if I want to know how it continues with her sister (will she be saved/her case be solved?) I need to read book 2 and maybe even 3. And I don't feel like that. I might just wait until they are all released and read some reviews or check the last pages of the books.

(view spoiler)...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have had my eye on Soul Beach for a while so was very excited to receive it, along with Soul Fire, in the post and I jumped in straight away. The synopsis says it all so I am just going to jump straigh in with my review.

When Soul Beach begins we are introduced to Alice and her family and we get to see how they are coping with the death of Megan, Alice's older sister who is also famous. As the story progresses we are drawn into the mystery of who actually murdered Megan and also theexcitementof...more I have had my eye on Soul Beach for a while so was very excited to receive it, along with Soul Fire, in the post and I jumped in straight away. The synopsis says it all so I am just going to jump straigh in with my review.

When Soul Beach begins we are introduced to Alice and her family and we get to see how they are coping with the death of Megan, Alice's older sister who is also famous. As the story progresses we are drawn into the mystery of who actually murdered Megan and also the excitement of entering Soul Beach.
One of the main things I liked about Soul Beach was how even though Alice was in her room she actually felt like she was on the beach, and the way the author describes it, you can imagine it all and feel like you are there too. While I did enjoy the visits to Soul Beach, I did feel sorry for both Megan and Alice. Apart from the reason Megan is at the beach, the time on the beach isn't forever and could stop at any time making the time that they do spend together even more precious.
I loved the different characters on the beach. I was never quite sure of Triti but after her heart to heart with Alice I did feel sorry for her. Javier was someone who I changed my mind about a lot, and it mostly depended on what mood he was on whenever Alice visited. As we get to learn more about the guests at the beach and what life was like for them I did feel sorry for them all. Soul Beach may seem like an idilac place to be, but the lack of everyday things we take for granted, birds, seasons, made it repetitive for them.

Cara was a hard one for me to understand. I know the she and Alice have been friends for a while, but they are so completely opposite, not only in personality but their whole attitude that I found it hard to actually picture them as friends if they weren't characters in a book. I didn't like how she involved Lewis via Robbie, but I did like how he was quick to help Alice for no reason than just to be a friend.

Alice was one character that I was not only drawn to, but was one I could relate to. The life she has after Megan's death is not easy, and having a famous sister does nothing to help her grieve. But the way her grief is portrayed and how, not only herself but also her parents deal with it, is described in a realistic but sensitive way. She puts a brave front on for others while she is still trying to deal with it herself, and I think her visits to Soul Beach and having a goal to aim for helps her adapt to life without Megan

I found myself really enjoying Soul Beach and I did not want to put it down. The whole idea behind Soul Beach really made me think about what I would want if it was me. When it wasn't revealed I didn't find myself disappointed, I think this was due to the fact that there was so many other things going on in the pages, it just made me want to read Soul Fire even more.
Kate Harrison has wrote a page turning book that does not disappoint and this is one series that I will definitely recommend to others.(less)

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Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-ya, young-adult

Reviewed by Rebecca for www.BookChickCity.com - 4.5 Stars on the blog.

SOUL BEACH by Kate Harrison is a murder mystery novel with a twist – the twist being that the victim can still communicate with the world via Soul Beach.

The book begins with Alice Forster preparing for the funeral of her older sister, Megan, five months after her murder. Her sister was a reality TV star, known as the Songbird, and loved by millions for her beauty and girl-next-door personality. She was found suffocated, with h...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-chick-city-reviews-2012

Reviewed for Book Chick City
http://www.bookchickcity.com/2012/08/...

SOUL BEACH by Kate Harrison is a murder mystery novel with a twist – the twist being that the victim can still communicate with the world via Soul Beach.

The book begins with Alice Forster preparing for the funeral of her older sister, Megan, five months after her murder. Her sister was a reality TV star, known as the Songbird, and loved by millions for her beauty and girl-next-door personality. She was found suffocated, with he...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Derek rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the very beginning, I began to realise that I had been far too quick to judge. As the cyber world of Soul Beach begins to be revealed, I saw something new, edgy and unique from Kate Harrison. Of all of the young adult books I'd read previously, I have never seen anything remotely close to being like this. Due to Alice's loss of her sister, I could see her need for this mythical place very much. Who wouldn't give anything to be able to speak to a loved one again after they had died, especial...more From the very beginning, I began to realise that I had been far too quick to judge. As the cyber world of Soul Beach begins to be revealed, I saw something new, edgy and unique from Kate Harrison. Of all of the young adult books I'd read previously, I have never seen anything remotely close to being like this. Due to Alice's loss of her sister, I could see her need for this mythical place very much. Who wouldn't give anything to be able to speak to a loved one again after they had died, especially someone as close to you as your sibling?

Although much of Alice's story is about the grief for her sister, her personality still manages to shine through. It is easy to feel for her because of the kind of girl she is: caring, sweet and will do anything for the people she loves. I really liked the way that her character seemed to have two sides, one when she was with her sister and another when she was in the real world. Alice (and her friends) were also so real. The culture of British teenagers is brought in well and shows what they can really get up to instead of masking it like other books have in the past.

A large amount of Soul Beach is a murder mystery though and I don't think I was expecting it to be quite as prominent. Megan is buried and still, no one knows who her murderer is so this makes up a large amount of the plot but I liked these parts. Soul Beach is told from a dual narrative from both Alice and the murderer's perspective. As the story continues, you get to realise that the murderer is someone that Alice knows but like the reader, she has no idea who they really are. I had so many ideas going through my head about who it could be but then a twist in the storyline, would completely change my mind.

As Soul Beach is set to be a trilogy, there was so much left unanswered. The murderer has not been identified and there are smaller parts that I am still dying to know about! Instead of disliking this book like I imagined I would, I really liked it and now look forward to enjoying Soul Fire too! (Already started)!(less)

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Feb 05, 2012 Maryam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, book-tour, received-for-review, reviewed

Also reviewed on the blog: http://gloriousbooks.blogspot.com/201...

This book absolutely fascinated me. It was just so unexpected I was sucked right into it and loved ever second.

Alice was a great character who had recently lost her big sister. At first she thought the emails sent inviting her to Soul Beach was a sick joke until she found it was a place she could talk to her sister again. Weird right? It gets better. This Soul Beach is supposed to be this virtual world where only some dead people...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Gary rated it 3 of 5 stars

An interesting concept......executed poorly.

This was one of those books that made me frustrated and disappointed halfway through, when I had high expectations of it.

Alice Forster's sister, Meggie, is murdered. 4 months later on the day of her funeral, Alice receives an email.

From Meggie herself.

However unreal that might be, Alice decides to join the social networking/virtual reality website that Meggie invites her to join, which is known as Soul Beach. It is there that Alice realises that Meggie...more An interesting concept......executed poorly.

This was one of those books that made me frustrated and disappointed halfway through, when I had high expectations of it.

Alice Forster's sister, Meggie, is murdered. 4 months later on the day of her funeral, Alice receives an email.

From Meggie herself.

However unreal that might be, Alice decides to join the social networking/virtual reality website that Meggie invites her to join, which is known as Soul Beach. It is there that Alice realises that Meggie's soul still resides, and Soul Beach is sort of a paradise limbo for lost souls whose deaths remain unresolved. There, she makes a few new friends, and one boy whom she gradually develops feelings for. The thing is, he's dead. As Alice spends time with her sister at Soul Beach while trying to get over her death in the real world, she tries to unmask Meggie's murderer and at the same time, learn the truth about Soul Beach itself.

Isn't this the most interesting idea? I really liked it, and it's kind of a variation from the usual Grim Reaper story. Sadly, it fell short because it dragged too much to the point that it became a little dull, and also the sub-plot diverted the reader's attention from the main storyline itself -- which is to find out who's Meggie's killer as well as the truth of Soul Beach. Even when the story ended, there wasn't any clear resolution. I know this book is supposed to be the first in a new series, but I thought it wasn't solid enough for me.

The part of the book which totally didn't work out was how "real" Soul Beach seemed to Alice and the readers. In the book, we know Alice accesses Soul Beach through her laptop, and the website employs audio. BUT, the author actually described Alice smelling things (??) and feeling someone's warmth (??!!!), which is just incredulous!!! I mean, if she mentioned that Alice was using some sort of high-tech virtual 4D gear, I would have believed everything. And even if it's a virtual world, it doesn't seem likely to actually see a person's face as real as it is, right?

Not all is doom and gloom though, because something good about the book was the characterization of Alice Forster. I felt her grieving, going through difficult phases coping with her beloved sister's death, and I could relate to it very well. It was raw, and genuine. The author portrayed her as the vulnerable 16-year-old that she is, and not some unreal, so-called brave girl who could weather everything without breaking one bit.

So, you can now see how a book with such great potential went downhill. A pity, honestly, because it could definitely have been something brilliant if executed properly.(less)

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Aug 20, 2011 Beth Kemp rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-books, ya-fantasy-sci-fi

I haven't as yet read widely in the YA paranormal genre, but I found the premise of this book highly original. Combining social media, a murder mystery and the paranormal is inspired!

The characterisation of Alice is strong and she fully had my sympathy. Harrison has drawn her well at a few months after such a shocking loss, and deals effectively with the alienation she experiences from her friends, and her parents' grief-stricken behaviour. Her growing obsession with Soul Beach is also entirely...more I haven't as yet read widely in the YA paranormal genre, but I found the premise of this book highly original. Combining social media, a murder mystery and the paranormal is inspired!

The characterisation of Alice is strong and she fully had my sympathy. Harrison has drawn her well at a few months after such a shocking loss, and deals effectively with the alienation she experiences from her friends, and her parents' grief-stricken behaviour. Her growing obsession with Soul Beach is also entirely believable, as are her initial reactions to it. I found this a fairly quick read, as it drew me in and I struggled to put it down. As well as Alice's character, her feelings for her sister and the relationship they have through Soul Beach are also convincing and formed part of the book's apppeal.

The intriguing premise of a paradise acting as a kind of limbo (but only for the young and attractive dead) creates enough interest to sustain the reader, with many associated mysteries (why can't other guests see Alice? what are the rules? who decides these things?) but Harrison doesn't rely only on this. Her voice is effective at keeping us reading on its own, and there are other mysteries to ponder also, such as the unsolved murder. Occasional passages in the murderer's voice heighten the mystery and encourage us to ponder who might be guilty.

My one complaint is that there is no overall wrap-up to this book. It's very definitely instalment one of a series. Now that I have finished it and thought about it a bit more, I suppose that the book does present Alice, the main character, with a problem which she does solve to bring about the book's finale. It's just that this particular problem has been a subplot rather than the main narrative thrust. It's hard to talk about clearly without being spoilery, which I don't want to do. But trust me, after my initial reaction (but I want to KNOW...), I can see that there is some resolution which brings about progress from the start of the novel. I suppose I just usually expect each book in a series to conclude more strongly and definitively than this one does. Leaving questions unanswered is fine, but this book does that far more than any others I've read. That said, I would still recommend it as it is a good read - I just wish that the second and third books were available now!(less)

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Dec 08, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own-print, signed, for-review-read, read-in-2011

I love the concept of Soul Beach, the idea of some kind of virtual world where your soul goes after you die isn't one I haven't come across before and although it's creepy it is also fascinating. The beach is portrayed as perfect but for the "Guests" they soon start to get bored of doing the same thing day in and day out, I have to say I don't think I'd want to spend much time there!

Alice is struggling to deal with the aftermath of her sister's murder. The police haven't found Megan's killer and...more I love the concept of Soul Beach, the idea of some kind of virtual world where your soul goes after you die isn't one I haven't come across before and although it's creepy it is also fascinating. The beach is portrayed as perfect but for the "Guests" they soon start to get bored of doing the same thing day in and day out, I have to say I don't think I'd want to spend much time there!

Alice is struggling to deal with the aftermath of her sister's murder. The police haven't found Megan's killer and her family is falling apart around her so when she realises she can keep in contact with Megan through Soul Beach she jumps at the chance of spending time with her. The more time Alice spends with Megan and her friends the more real the virtual world becomes, soon Alice is obsessed with spending time there and starts to push away her school friends. It is easy for the reader to see that Alice is spending an unhealthy amount of time with her sister and it makes you think about how hard it would be to let someone go if you were still able to contact them.

I enjoyed the mystery side to the story, Alice is trying to work out who killed her sister but she is also investigating the cause of Megan's friend Triti's death. I did find myself frustrated at the end of the book when I was left with so many unanswered questions, I hadn't realised until then that this is the first book in a trilogy though so at least I know there are more books to come. I have had my suspicions about so many different characters when it comes to who killed Megan that I really have no idea who it will turn out to be!

I did have a problem believing how real Soul Beach became to Alice, she mentioned feeling the breeze and the spray from the ocean on her face but really she was sitting in her room in front of her laptop. I was also frustrated with the romance, why do the main characters always have to fall for the one person the can't have? I'd have preferred no romance to the one we got, or I'd have been happy to see a romance start to develop between Alice and Lewis. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how things progress in the next book.

If you're looking for something completely different then I'd definitely recommend giving Soul Beach a try. The story is fairly fast paced and despite being a long book it was a quick and enjoyable read.(less)

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Sep 17, 2011 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, for-review, young-adult

Having previously read and enjoyed Kate Harrison's Secret Shopper series, I was incredibly excited to find out that she had written her debut YA novel, being published under new publishing umbrella Indigo. Kate Harrison seems to have a real talent for weaving mesmerising and enjoyable stories with wonderfully written characters and 'Soul Beach' was no exception. When I'm reading thrillers, the one thing I expect is to be sucked into the story and to have to read just one more chapter and then on...more Having previously read and enjoyed Kate Harrison's Secret Shopper series, I was incredibly excited to find out that she had written her debut YA novel, being published under new publishing umbrella Indigo. Kate Harrison seems to have a real talent for weaving mesmerising and enjoyable stories with wonderfully written characters and 'Soul Beach' was no exception. When I'm reading thrillers, the one thing I expect is to be sucked into the story and to have to read just one more chapter and then one more because it's so good that I can't put it down. I wasn't disappointed because 'Soul Beach' delivered exactly that.

The story is centered around teenager Alice, whose sister Megan was murdered. The police haven't yet been able to track down her killer. Alice's whole life has been turned upside down since her sister's death. Her parents are each coping with the event in their own way and Alice is still grieving for the big sister that she admired and looked up to. When she receives an invitation to Soul Beach from her dead sister she discovers a virtual world unlike any other and her own life begins to pale in comparison.

I loved the whole concept of a cyber or virtual world full of the souls of the dead. Soul Beach is like the limbo between heaven and hell and the souls there are unable to move on because their deaths are either unresolved or something in their previous lives has been left incomplete. There's irony in the fact that this is depicted as being somewhat of a paradise island or an idyllic place where the sun always shines and the sea is always blue and yet underneath the surface it's far from this. Alice starts to become more and more obsessed with spending time there with her sister and with the other people she meets, including cute and kind Danny, who she begins to develop romantic feelings for and Triti, another teenage girl who sets Alice on the path to discovering a secret about Soul Beach itself.

The story is well plotted and interspersed throughout are small fragments of the thoughts of the person that killed Megan. I have my suspicions about who it might be but at the end of the book we're still left guessing, which is incredibly frustrating as I'm dying to know! However, the secret of a good murder mystery is to always leave the reader in suspense throughout and that's definitely the case here.

Kate Harrison has bridged the gap between the adult and YA genres perfectly with a fascinating exploration of life after death. There's romance, mystery and plenty of thrills along the way in this brilliant book which will draw you in and then leave you wanting more!

(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, signed, uk-author

Soul beach is an interesting read and a book that I whizzed through in a matter of hours because it is fast paced, engaging and easy to read.

On the day of her sister's funeral Alice receives an email from her sister. Convinced it is some kind of sick joke she ignores it. Later on it is followed up by an invite to The Soul Beach where it is claimed she will be able to interact with her sister again. This grabs the attention of a grieving Alice so she joins up not knowing quite what to expect.

Once...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I was aware of Kate Harrison's romantic comedies and I was intrigued by this new venture into the Young Adult market with a suspense thriller, but I will admit to being slightly dubious. Fortunately, as soon as I began reading through the first chapter, I was hooked! I struggled to put the book down and found myself staying up until the early hours of the morning on a school night, desperate to find out how it would all end. With each short, sh...more I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I was aware of Kate Harrison's romantic comedies and I was intrigued by this new venture into the Young Adult market with a suspense thriller, but I will admit to being slightly dubious. Fortunately, as soon as I began reading through the first chapter, I was hooked! I struggled to put the book down and found myself staying up until the early hours of the morning on a school night, desperate to find out how it would all end. With each short, sharp chapter, full of expertly written prose, I found the author reeling me in. The way Kate writes is both mesmerising and intoxicating and I am convinced that secretly she is a siren, ensnaring her readers into the shallow waters of Soul Beach, with no possibility of future escape.

I found myself desperate to see Soul Beach for myself. To experience the soft sands, the clear waters and the beauty of the dead - to see whether it was a dream or reality.

You sympathise with Alice right from the start. You are right by her side, as she experiences the loss of her sister. You cannot blame her need for Soul Beach, which becomes her obsession and you are fearful for the fall she will inevitably take when she loses her sister for a second time. Alice struggles with her feelings for Danny too and you cannot help but wonder how this relationship will develop.

This book should be described as a paranormal suspense thriller - a cross between Truly, Madly, Deeply and Nancy Drew, only much more sinister.

As you approach the half way mark of the book, you realise that Alice actually knows the killer. Yet, just like her, you cannot work out who it is and you become even more fearful for her safety as the killer appears to take an unhealthy interest in her.

The characters living on Soul Beach were troubled yet beautiful. You realise that Megan has changed from her former character as she comes to terms with her death. Danny just sounded gorgeous and for some reason had me visualizing him to look like John F. Kennedy Jr. I think it was a similar demise that created the link.

The ending of this book had me screaming at the top of my voice. The murder was left unresolved! It was a beautiful ending with some unexpected joyful turns, but I now have to wait until the next book to find out who committed the crime. I do hope Kate Harrison is writing furiously as I am desperate to find out what happens next. (less)

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May 21, 2013 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

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