The perfect title for the perfect beach read from the New York Times bestselling Author
Jane Green is one of the preeminent au... read full description
Jane Green is one of the preeminent au... read full description
reviews
Aug 08, 2008
The more books Jane Green sells, the worse her writing seems to get.
The story in "The Beach House" was diverting enoug but the devil is in the details, and the details are where Green fails. She is a British author, and this is her first book set entirely in the US, and she makes absolutely no attempt to rid herself of certain "Britishisms" -- the dates are given as 30 July, instead of July 30; people "get on" instead of "get along." I found s More...
The story in "The Beach House" was diverting enoug but the devil is in the details, and the details are where Green fails. She is a British author, and this is her first book set entirely in the US, and she makes absolutely no attempt to rid herself of certain "Britishisms" -- the dates are given as 30 July, instead of July 30; people "get on" instead of "get along." I found s More...
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Aug 15, 2008
Norabee
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Jane Green’s depiction of Nantucket life and the surrounding history is a fine backdrop from which to tell the tale of Nan Powell. Nan is the 65 year old year-round resident of the famed island. Years ago, Nan was left a young widow after her husband, Everett, committed suicide and in his wake, left a load of gambling debts that rendered her and their young son, Michael, in dire financial straits. The solution came when Nan decided to sell off some of the prized property at Windermere and kee
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(4 people liked it)
Jul 21, 2008
Jeanne
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So, like Jennifer Weiner, Jane Green has changed her focus from chick lit to women's lit. I didn't know what to expect from The Beach House, but I was definitely not disappointed! It sort of felt like a juicier Maeve Binchy novel, but set in the United States.
Nan is 65 and the local eccentric in Nantucket. She owns a fabulous old house on the bluff (named Windermere) and has recently discovered that her finances are not so great. What's an old gal to do? How about taking in boarders More...
Nan is 65 and the local eccentric in Nantucket. She owns a fabulous old house on the bluff (named Windermere) and has recently discovered that her finances are not so great. What's an old gal to do? How about taking in boarders More...
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(5 people liked it)
Sep 20, 2008
Gabriella
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This was the perfect end of summer read- the characters and their stories were set up spectacularly- I have loved all of Jane Green's books.
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(3 people liked it)
Jul 28, 2008
Tracy
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Easy breezy summer read. Makes me miss Cambria!
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(2 people liked it)
Oct 16, 2008
Jeana
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It is rumored that Nan Powell is a witch, but the majority of the Nantucket residents agree that she is at the very least, eccentric. She lives in a rambling beach house, skinny dips in her neighbor’s swimming pool, chain-smokes as she bicycles around the island, and pretty much does as she pleases.
Despite seeming to have an ideal existence on the island, the 65-year-old widow finds herself in a financial predicament—thanks in part to her dead husbands gambling debts and a string More...
Despite seeming to have an ideal existence on the island, the 65-year-old widow finds herself in a financial predicament—thanks in part to her dead husbands gambling debts and a string More...
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Aug 05, 2008
Michele
rated it:
A Tidy Little Story
The setting is Nantucket in summer. The characters are well drawn and the set up of their individual stories takes up the first half of the book. In the second half they come together in unpredictable ways, with everything playing out full circle.
Nan, the widowed white-haired, bicycle-riding matriarch is the center of the story and her grand hilltop estate with ocean views (Windermere) is the "beach house" to which the title refers. It's a dramatic More...
The setting is Nantucket in summer. The characters are well drawn and the set up of their individual stories takes up the first half of the book. In the second half they come together in unpredictable ways, with everything playing out full circle.
Nan, the widowed white-haired, bicycle-riding matriarch is the center of the story and her grand hilltop estate with ocean views (Windermere) is the "beach house" to which the title refers. It's a dramatic More...
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Jul 22, 2008
JoAnn/QuAppelle
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Books like this are the reason for half-stars! I would give this 2.5 if possible. It wasn't AWFUL or I would not have finished it. But it was an audio and it was the only one I had for a long car ride.
The thing that attracted me to this book was that it was set on Nantucket. I love that place. But I wasn't far into the audio when I realized that was the best part of the book!
I have never commented on the production of an audio book - I guess because most are well done. But t More...
The thing that attracted me to this book was that it was set on Nantucket. I love that place. But I wasn't far into the audio when I realized that was the best part of the book!
I have never commented on the production of an audio book - I guess because most are well done. But t More...
Sep 15, 2008
Caeasso
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 09, 2008
Danielle
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I would have given this one more star had there been more careful editing and attention to language. Green is British, but her story and characters this time around are American. Too many British phrases snuck past the editors, who should have known better. Some of the dialogue is awfully wooden, too. Interesting story, but I couldn't get past the easily fixable mistakes to enjoy it fully.
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Dec 03, 2008
Carol
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Takes place on Nantucket. Nan owns a huge house on the ocean and learns that she can hardly afford to live there. She decided to rent out rooms in the house for the summer. Daff, a recent divorced mom, takes one of the rooms. Nan's son, Michael, takes another. Daniel, a recently divorced dad of two girls takes the other room. Everyone gets to know each other and falls in love with the island. Lasting relationships are made. A fun read - I enjoyed it.
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Dec 17, 2008
Beth
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Really enjoyed reading this author for the first time, I like how she has different plots and they are twisted into each other. It's a quick read, light and summery. Perfect if you are having seasonal depression and you will definately want to visit Nantucket after reading this!
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(3 people liked it)
Dec 03, 2008
Linda
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 30, 2008
Sue
rated it:
Another chick lite, Jen, but entertaining, as I recall. I think what happened was I picked up a magazine in July down at Branson that had some book reviews in it. This and "All I Ever Wanted" were in it, so I think they were recommended as summer reads. :) I put them on my library list and they just became available in the last month or so. Enjoy!
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Nov 25, 2008
Karen
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This was a good romp. The 2nd book I've read lately that had to do with Nantucket. Writing was good, easy to read (but not total fluff), dealing with people in the middle of their adult lives and looking for happiness. Touches on gay lifestyles (nothing graphic at all), divorces due to infidelity, a hint of suicide, unexpected reuinions, and a difficult teenager. Like I said - a romp!
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Sep 11, 2011
Emily
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Nan has rattled around in her house on her own for the better part of the past twenty year. But, the money is about to run out and something is going to have to change. This leads Nan to opening up her Nantucket beach house up to boarders. This brings together a new group, that become a family on their own. There is Daniel and his family who are all finally facing the secrets that they have hidden for years. In facing these secrets no one's life is going to be the same. Daff, a recent divorcee,
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Aug 19, 2011
Marion
rated it: 
When I hear the phrase "easy read" or "beach read" I usually hesitate to pick up the book so described. But the premise of an eccentric, free-spirit older woman who turns her home on Nantucket into a bed and breakfast called to me. I should have let that call go unanswered.
I agree with another reviewer that each of the sub-plots had plenty of potential and I wanted to learn more about how Dee dealt with the death of her marriage and her father's death happening i More...
I agree with another reviewer that each of the sub-plots had plenty of potential and I wanted to learn more about how Dee dealt with the death of her marriage and her father's death happening i More...
Aug 07, 2011
Raiveran
rated it:
Beware the beginning of this book. All it is is a cavalcade of human shortcomings and miseries, sicknesses of the modern era. As you no doubt can guess if you've read more than 2 of these types of books, everyone sorts out in the end. There isn't enough focus on one character that you can more or less use as a guide through the trainwrecks of the others' lives, since the focus keeps bouncing around. It's dizzying and schozophrenic, and not much is presented to make you feel that these characters
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Jun 25, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
New Jane Green!!! I found this book on the shelf of my building and grabbed it and read it quickly as it was hardcover (import from the UK, as they don't really sell hardcovers here) and I didn't want to carry it around with me for long. So I read it in like 2 days.
This book took a while to get going. Seriously, it wasn't until like half way through that all the characters finally got together at The Beach House. It was mainly about three main characters who were going through hard tim More...
This book took a while to get going. Seriously, it wasn't until like half way through that all the characters finally got together at The Beach House. It was mainly about three main characters who were going through hard tim More...
Jun 02, 2011
Amy
rated it:
I did really, really enjoy it. I had to read it for book club and was running low on time so I finished the last half in one day! I wouldn't have been able to do that if I didn't like it. Jane Green has been one of my favorite authors since Jemima J and even though her style has changed a little, I still love her a lot.
I liked that at the beginning of the book, the reader is kind of wondering why there are so many story lines, and how they weave together. It isn't until halfway throu More...
I liked that at the beginning of the book, the reader is kind of wondering why there are so many story lines, and how they weave together. It isn't until halfway throu More...
May 30, 2011
Rea
rated it:
As a fan of Jane Green books I am over half way through her collection now. For my holiday I wanted a beach read and that is exactly what I got with The Beach House. A chic-lit beach read actually on set on the beach.
** The Plot **
The book begins with the lovely eccentric 65 year old Nan Powell who lives in a beautiful crumbling house set on 9 acres in Nantucket. She has lived on her own for a long time due to her husband committing suicide after racking up a lot of gam More...
** The Plot **
The book begins with the lovely eccentric 65 year old Nan Powell who lives in a beautiful crumbling house set on 9 acres in Nantucket. She has lived on her own for a long time due to her husband committing suicide after racking up a lot of gam More...
Jan 22, 2011
Joy H.
rated it:
Below are my comments about this book. The comments were written at my GR group:
I found a good book when I randomly plucked the following book off the shelf at our library: _The Beach House_ by Jane Green. I'd say it would come under the heading of "chick lit". I felt compelled to keep reading it because the plot swept me along. This doesn't happen to me too often. So I was pleasantly surprised.
The writing style isn't fancy; it's straight forward. However, what More...
I found a good book when I randomly plucked the following book off the shelf at our library: _The Beach House_ by Jane Green. I'd say it would come under the heading of "chick lit". I felt compelled to keep reading it because the plot swept me along. This doesn't happen to me too often. So I was pleasantly surprised.
The writing style isn't fancy; it's straight forward. However, what More...
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Jan 10, 2011
Shelleyrae
rated it:
Some books just make you sigh happily and I am a sucker for a happy ending. Nan is a feisty sixty five who skinny dips in the neighbours pool and rides her bicycle back and forth into town. She pulls you into this sweet story before we are introduced to Nan's commitmentphobe son, Michael and a cast of unhappy individuals who take a room in Nan's beautiful Nantucket house for the summer.
The Beach House is a light, quick read despite superficially tackling some difficult subjects like adulter More...
The Beach House is a light, quick read despite superficially tackling some difficult subjects like adulter More...
Jan 03, 2011
Bronwyn
rated it:
Nan Powell, lives in a house on a bluff overlooking the ocean on Nantucket, she has been a widow for over 20 years, her son Michael left home a long time ago and around town she is known as the crazy lady. At sixty five she has just found out that she is running out of money and the only asset she has is her home, inherited from her husband.
Nan decides to do it up a bit and let out the rooms for the summer to bring in some income and to bring the house back to life. The story is about More...
Nan decides to do it up a bit and let out the rooms for the summer to bring in some income and to bring the house back to life. The story is about More...
Aug 02, 2010
Suzanne
rated it:
Where has the Jane Green who wrote Bookends, Mr. Maybe, Babyville and The Other Woman gone? After reading all of the less than favorable reviews about Dune Road, I was hesitant to pick up any of her latest titles. Seeing that The Beach House got fairly good reviews, I decided to give it a try, but was sorely disappointed. I gave this three stars because it isn't totally awful, but parts of it are just not good. Case in point, the vapid relationship between Michael and Jordana...The relationships
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Jul 07, 2010
hadashi
rated it: 
another freebie from a book swap -- i'm not passing any judgement here when i say i don't read "chick lit"; it just happens to not generally be my taste. but i took this title because it's set in Nantucket -- and my extended family has had a beach house there since before i was born. i thought it might be fun to read something where i could actually picture the places the author writes about.
well, i could envision those locales, and it was fun to be able to mentally see exactly More...
well, i could envision those locales, and it was fun to be able to mentally see exactly More...
Jun 22, 2010
Matthew
rated it:
I've read quite a bit of chicklit, though this is the first book of Jane Green's I've read, and I wasn't impressed. In fact, I was a little disappointed. I found a hardcover copy of this book on a bargain table, and I loved it at first sight. Loved the cover, loved the way it felt in my hands. But the book was disappointing.
First off, I'm not a fan of Green's style. She has a tendency to write sentences with long, compound predicates, with no conjunctions or transitions. "Jane k More...
First off, I'm not a fan of Green's style. She has a tendency to write sentences with long, compound predicates, with no conjunctions or transitions. "Jane k More...
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May 28, 2010
Jaime
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When we first meet Nan Powell, she is wandering naked around her neighbor’s back yard and sampling their kitchen garden after a quick skinny dip in their pool. They’re not home, of course. So, needless to say, Nan is a little eccentric, and she is also well-practiced in the art of denial. She’s been ignoring the fact that she’s running out of money for as long as she can, and now she has to do something about it. So she decides to rent out rooms in her much-desired house on Nantucket. What fo
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Nov 10, 2009
S
rated it:
A book I borrowed and enjoyed as a light weekend read. Okay so I admit to ignoring my kids & husband a bit to get through 300 pgs in 2 days but it was one of those good escape novels.
The story centers around Nan, a widow who lost her husband very young and is left his family house on the island of Nantucket where she raises her son alone and learns to love the island and the house. When she realizes she has lost most of her money in the stock market, she decides to open up her spacious, ma More...
The story centers around Nan, a widow who lost her husband very young and is left his family house on the island of Nantucket where she raises her son alone and learns to love the island and the house. When she realizes she has lost most of her money in the stock market, she decides to open up her spacious, ma More...
Aug 08, 2009
Gena
rated it:
Jane Green creates flawed characters that I cared about from page 1. Intertwining the fractured lives of the characters as they all make their way to spend the summer at financially troubled Nan's house in Nantucket. Once there, through her eccentric compassion and warmth, Nan helps them sort out their problems while they help her retain the life and house that she's known for the past 40 years.
Everyone has times where they just need to get away and regroup. This book made me yearn t More...
Everyone has times where they just need to get away and regroup. This book made me yearn t More...
