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The Bookstore on the Beach
How do you start a new chapter of your life when you haven’t closed the book on the previous one?
Eighteen months ago, Autumn Divac’s husband went missing. Her desperate search has yielded no answers, and she can’t imagine moving forward without him. But for the sake of their two teenage children, she has to try.
Autumn takes her kids home for the summer to the charming beachside town where she was raised. She seeks comfort working alongside her mother and aunt at their bookshop, only to learn that her daughter is facing a huge life change and her mother has been hiding a terrible secret for years. And when she runs into the boy who stole her heart in high school, old feelings start to bubble up again. Is she free to love him, or should she hold out hope for her husband’s return? She can only trust her heart…and hope it won’t lead her astray.
Eighteen months ago, Autumn Divac’s husband went missing. Her desperate search has yielded no answers, and she can’t imagine moving forward without him. But for the sake of their two teenage children, she has to try.
Autumn takes her kids home for the summer to the charming beachside town where she was raised. She seeks comfort working alongside her mother and aunt at their bookshop, only to learn that her daughter is facing a huge life change and her mother has been hiding a terrible secret for years. And when she runs into the boy who stole her heart in high school, old feelings start to bubble up again. Is she free to love him, or should she hold out hope for her husband’s return? She can only trust her heart…and hope it won’t lead her astray.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2021
2002 people are currently reading
15186 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Novak
239 books6,995 followersIt was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career.
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,455 reviews
April 19, 2021
2.5 stars, rounded up
I picked this book up for two reasons: one, that the main character Autumn's husband had disappeared without a trace eighteen months previously and she was trying to find him and what had happened to him. Two, it featured a bookstore and books about books/bookstores/libraries are some of my favorites. This book turned out to be an overall decent read, but it definitely has some shortcomings.
The main thing wrong with this book is that it is so incredibly uneven and tries to introduce far too many "issues" and none of them are dealt with very well. In addition to the missing husband there are also threads of kidnapping/sexual abuse, sexual identity, teen pregnancy, attempted murder of a spouse, rekindling lost love, and quite a few other things. It ends up being more of a mess than an cohesive story.
A problem I have with general fiction that attempts to introduce a mystery storyline is that it is generally not paced well, and the missing husband plot point suffers from that. We never get to know the husband before he is missing, so the reader can't form a connection to him or to his relationship with Autumn and the kids. When there is eventually some resolution, we have nothing to root for other than the relationship that happens on the page between Autumn and Quinn, even though the relationship with her husband is longer and more complex. Then the ending of the book is totally abrupt and the book feels very unfinished.
Mary's past should have been revealed to the reader much earlier than it is, because all of her insistence on keeping things from Autumn over and over gets annoying. Again with the uneven pacing, if the reader was let in on it sooner I think I might have been more on Mary's side.
I did like Taylor's storyline and it seemed authentic, but there was just way too much going on in this book to give any of it the thoughtful consideration it needed for such heavy topics.
Lastly, there was very little mention of books and the bookstore. Just vaguely in passing and I was disappointed that it wasn't a bigger part of the story. Overall this is a decent book, if you can set aside the pacing and the over abundance of issues. The characters are interesting and there are some meaningful situations.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I picked this book up for two reasons: one, that the main character Autumn's husband had disappeared without a trace eighteen months previously and she was trying to find him and what had happened to him. Two, it featured a bookstore and books about books/bookstores/libraries are some of my favorites. This book turned out to be an overall decent read, but it definitely has some shortcomings.
The main thing wrong with this book is that it is so incredibly uneven and tries to introduce far too many "issues" and none of them are dealt with very well. In addition to the missing husband there are also threads of kidnapping/sexual abuse, sexual identity, teen pregnancy, attempted murder of a spouse, rekindling lost love, and quite a few other things. It ends up being more of a mess than an cohesive story.
A problem I have with general fiction that attempts to introduce a mystery storyline is that it is generally not paced well, and the missing husband plot point suffers from that. We never get to know the husband before he is missing, so the reader can't form a connection to him or to his relationship with Autumn and the kids. When there is eventually some resolution, we have nothing to root for other than the relationship that happens on the page between Autumn and Quinn, even though the relationship with her husband is longer and more complex. Then the ending of the book is totally abrupt and the book feels very unfinished.
Mary's past should have been revealed to the reader much earlier than it is, because all of her insistence on keeping things from Autumn over and over gets annoying. Again with the uneven pacing, if the reader was let in on it sooner I think I might have been more on Mary's side.
I did like Taylor's storyline and it seemed authentic, but there was just way too much going on in this book to give any of it the thoughtful consideration it needed for such heavy topics.
Lastly, there was very little mention of books and the bookstore. Just vaguely in passing and I was disappointed that it wasn't a bigger part of the story. Overall this is a decent book, if you can set aside the pacing and the over abundance of issues. The characters are interesting and there are some meaningful situations.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
April 25, 2021
"The Bookstore on the Beach" by Brenda Novak is Family Fiction loaded with multiple story lines.
Autumn Divac is heading to Sable Beach, VA for a much needed visit with her mother, Mary. Autumn's children, Caden, 16, and Taylor, 17, are excited to get away from Tampa for the summer. A visit with their Mimi Mary is always a welcome break.
Mimi Mary still lives in the same house Autumn grew up in. She's now part-owner of the bookstore on the beach where she has always worked. Familiar faces and familiar places is exactly what Autumn, Caden and Taylor need right now!
For the past 18 months Autumn has been searching for her missing husband, Nick, who left on a business trip and never returned. While dedicated to the task of finding Nick, her kids lacked her attention. Autumn doesn't want to give up on Nick but it's time her children receive her full attention!
What Autumn didn't expect to find in Sable Beach was her old high school crush, Quinn. She didn't expect to feel that familiar rush when she saw him or expect to keep seeing him. How can she keep their relationship a secret from her family? What about Nick?
But, Autumn's not the only one with a secret. What is Mary not telling Autumn about her past? Why is Mary opposed to Autumn finding her father? What is Taylor keeping from Autumn that could change her future? Why is there a private investigator in Sable Beach asking about someone no one knows? And, there's more....
Sounds like a soap-opera, doesn't it? Yep, I thought so, too! I intentionally waited before writing my review because of it.
This story held socially relevant topics but there was a lot going on. The multiple story lines get tangled and the story begins to feel a bit superficial instead of substantial. First person narratives from each of the main characters would have also been perfect for this story, making it feel more personal.
This is the first time I have read this author and I did enjoy this story. Everything did come together in the end but it needed more depth. 440 pages was simply too long and the term 'narrow and deep' is exactly what this book needs. I do recommend it to those who read Coming-of-Age and/or Family Fiction and I know this author has quite a dedicated following.
3.5 stars rounded down...
Thank you to Goodreads, Harlequin Books and Brenda Novak for a free ARC of this book. It has been my pleasure to give my honest and voluntary review.
Autumn Divac is heading to Sable Beach, VA for a much needed visit with her mother, Mary. Autumn's children, Caden, 16, and Taylor, 17, are excited to get away from Tampa for the summer. A visit with their Mimi Mary is always a welcome break.
Mimi Mary still lives in the same house Autumn grew up in. She's now part-owner of the bookstore on the beach where she has always worked. Familiar faces and familiar places is exactly what Autumn, Caden and Taylor need right now!
For the past 18 months Autumn has been searching for her missing husband, Nick, who left on a business trip and never returned. While dedicated to the task of finding Nick, her kids lacked her attention. Autumn doesn't want to give up on Nick but it's time her children receive her full attention!
What Autumn didn't expect to find in Sable Beach was her old high school crush, Quinn. She didn't expect to feel that familiar rush when she saw him or expect to keep seeing him. How can she keep their relationship a secret from her family? What about Nick?
But, Autumn's not the only one with a secret. What is Mary not telling Autumn about her past? Why is Mary opposed to Autumn finding her father? What is Taylor keeping from Autumn that could change her future? Why is there a private investigator in Sable Beach asking about someone no one knows? And, there's more....
Sounds like a soap-opera, doesn't it? Yep, I thought so, too! I intentionally waited before writing my review because of it.
This story held socially relevant topics but there was a lot going on. The multiple story lines get tangled and the story begins to feel a bit superficial instead of substantial. First person narratives from each of the main characters would have also been perfect for this story, making it feel more personal.
This is the first time I have read this author and I did enjoy this story. Everything did come together in the end but it needed more depth. 440 pages was simply too long and the term 'narrow and deep' is exactly what this book needs. I do recommend it to those who read Coming-of-Age and/or Family Fiction and I know this author has quite a dedicated following.
3.5 stars rounded down...
Thank you to Goodreads, Harlequin Books and Brenda Novak for a free ARC of this book. It has been my pleasure to give my honest and voluntary review.
April 20, 2021
Eighteen months ago, Autumn Divac’s husband of twenty years disappeared after a trip to the Ukraine. She’s spent those months tirelessly searching for him in vain and decides to return to her hometown for the summer. Autumn and her two teenaged children stay with her mother, Mary Langford, who operates a bookstore on the beach along with her sister Laurie. She’s looking for a respite after the despair of husband Nick’s disappearance but runs into a bit of turmoil when her high school “first,” Quinn Vanderbilt, has also returned home to help care for his ailing mother.
Autumn’s return home is life changing, and not just for herself as she grapples with her developing feelings for Quinn. Her mother is also struggling with a major decision as Autumn continues to press for information about her father. It’s very obvious early on that she’s keeping some pretty big secrets. Autumn’s 17-year old daughter Taylor is facing some major issues that will affect the entire family.
Even though there’s a lot going on in the story, it all works rather seamlessly as three generations of women living in the same household are coming to terms with who they really are and what they want from life. I really liked Autumn’s relationship with Quinn who was a dream character. Mary’s explosive secret overshadows everything and I empathized with her choices. I listened to the story and Amy McFadden did a wonderful job of storytelling while providing character distinctions for the main and secondary roles. I enjoyed this multigenerational story about three women who manage self discovery in the midst of major life events. I do wish the ending had been more expansive but I’ll just use my own imagination.
Update: The author provided a free 12-page epilogue to newsletter subscribers so make sure you get that! It resolved all of my issues with the ending.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Autumn’s return home is life changing, and not just for herself as she grapples with her developing feelings for Quinn. Her mother is also struggling with a major decision as Autumn continues to press for information about her father. It’s very obvious early on that she’s keeping some pretty big secrets. Autumn’s 17-year old daughter Taylor is facing some major issues that will affect the entire family.
Even though there’s a lot going on in the story, it all works rather seamlessly as three generations of women living in the same household are coming to terms with who they really are and what they want from life. I really liked Autumn’s relationship with Quinn who was a dream character. Mary’s explosive secret overshadows everything and I empathized with her choices. I listened to the story and Amy McFadden did a wonderful job of storytelling while providing character distinctions for the main and secondary roles. I enjoyed this multigenerational story about three women who manage self discovery in the midst of major life events. I do wish the ending had been more expansive but I’ll just use my own imagination.
Update: The author provided a free 12-page epilogue to newsletter subscribers so make sure you get that! It resolved all of my issues with the ending.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
July 4, 2021
Secrets at Sable Beach would've been a good title for this one. The bookstore on the beach, isn't a significant part of the story. The main focus of the story is actually the myriad of secrets held by the characters. This is a story about the summer everyone's secrets got revealed and entangled.
There were lots of characters and too many story lines going on throughout the book. I wish the story would've focused on the plot mentioned in the book description. Had the story stayed focused on Autumn, it would've been great.
There were lots of characters and too many story lines going on throughout the book. I wish the story would've focused on the plot mentioned in the book description. Had the story stayed focused on Autumn, it would've been great.
April 4, 2021
That ending... not cool. I needed more there. ☹️
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is filled with scenarios that just really tug at your emotions. Who can even comprehend how they would feel let alone emotionally handle someone who was just missing.
There are a lot of different layers in this story and totally not just about a bookstore and the lives involved there. It is a much deeper story with it’s complexity. It’s about heartbreak and learning how to move past and try to live your life.
It’s also about secrets and hiding a huge part of your life from other people that will be greatly impacted by the truth. Plus, to add an additional layer that tugs on your heartstrings, we also are pulled into how the kids deal with this tragedy.
But it’s not all heartbreak and sadness. The beach brings light and starts to heal the broken hearts and that always makes for a beautiful story.
But Novak gets us one more time with her ending that is just so emotional, I think I kind of hated it. LOL! I don’t want to give anything away but let’s just say you've got to read it and be ready for it all. The highs and lows. The smiles and tears. The strength and weakness.
With sweeping scenes of the beachfront which bring beautiful memories to the full feeling of happy hearts and happy lives, Novak tells a story that moves your heart and gives you a roller coaster of emotion. This is one book you will remember and want to read over and over again.
* Copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-bookstor...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is filled with scenarios that just really tug at your emotions. Who can even comprehend how they would feel let alone emotionally handle someone who was just missing.
There are a lot of different layers in this story and totally not just about a bookstore and the lives involved there. It is a much deeper story with it’s complexity. It’s about heartbreak and learning how to move past and try to live your life.
It’s also about secrets and hiding a huge part of your life from other people that will be greatly impacted by the truth. Plus, to add an additional layer that tugs on your heartstrings, we also are pulled into how the kids deal with this tragedy.
But it’s not all heartbreak and sadness. The beach brings light and starts to heal the broken hearts and that always makes for a beautiful story.
But Novak gets us one more time with her ending that is just so emotional, I think I kind of hated it. LOL! I don’t want to give anything away but let’s just say you've got to read it and be ready for it all. The highs and lows. The smiles and tears. The strength and weakness.
With sweeping scenes of the beachfront which bring beautiful memories to the full feeling of happy hearts and happy lives, Novak tells a story that moves your heart and gives you a roller coaster of emotion. This is one book you will remember and want to read over and over again.
* Copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-bookstor...
May 23, 2021
The Bookstore on the Beach by Brenda Novak is a contemporary romance with a bit of mystery on the side. This one is a standalone from the author who has several long running series. Having read several books by Brenda Novak in the past I was quite excited to get to read this one and knew I’d be in for an exciting ride.
Autumn Divac had been happily married for a number of years to a loving husband and a mother to two wonderful children. That happy family life came to a crashing halt when Autumn’s husband had left for business to never return. Now eighteen months later Autumn is exhausted from following leads to only find a dead end in learning the whereabouts of her missing husband with every sign pointing to him not having survived.
Autumn knows that not only for the sake of her two teenage children but for her own mental health she needs to begin to move on and let go of the past. Autumn decides her best bet would be to pack up her children and head to her childhood home for the summer to visit family and clear her head. When Autumn comes across her old high school crush she remembers those old feelings and wonders if she could move on.
One thing I know will come with a novel from this author is solid writing that will pull a reader into the story and that was just what I found with The Bookstore on the Beach. I couldn’t help but feel for Autumn and her whole family as I learned of their past and where they were in their lives. I also love a good second chance story and that is what you found with this one too. I wasn’t quite sure if I would’ve included the twist at the end myself so this one wasn’t quite five stars this time but I still enjoyed it all the same.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Autumn Divac had been happily married for a number of years to a loving husband and a mother to two wonderful children. That happy family life came to a crashing halt when Autumn’s husband had left for business to never return. Now eighteen months later Autumn is exhausted from following leads to only find a dead end in learning the whereabouts of her missing husband with every sign pointing to him not having survived.
Autumn knows that not only for the sake of her two teenage children but for her own mental health she needs to begin to move on and let go of the past. Autumn decides her best bet would be to pack up her children and head to her childhood home for the summer to visit family and clear her head. When Autumn comes across her old high school crush she remembers those old feelings and wonders if she could move on.
One thing I know will come with a novel from this author is solid writing that will pull a reader into the story and that was just what I found with The Bookstore on the Beach. I couldn’t help but feel for Autumn and her whole family as I learned of their past and where they were in their lives. I also love a good second chance story and that is what you found with this one too. I wasn’t quite sure if I would’ve included the twist at the end myself so this one wasn’t quite five stars this time but I still enjoyed it all the same.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 14, 2021
I’m kind of stuck on how I feel about this book hence the 3 stars. I wasn’t completely in love with all parts of the story. When I started the story I wasn’t pulled in. I kept reading but it took a bit of time to get me to the point that I didn’t want to put it down. Usually it takes me about 5-7 days to read a good book. This one was double that.
At a point a little over half way through, I lost that connection and started skipping paragraphs, then pages. There was just so much drama for one small family and no action. Nothing seemed to be happening. A missing husband/father, a family ordeal from the past, a second chance romance, a criminal ex-wife, cancer, an unexpected teen pregnancy, sexuality questioning. This book covers it all and at some point was hard to imagine it was possible.
Even with all of the drama and the characters to go with it, the storylines were easy to follow. Once I got through to the last quarter of the book I started being interested in reading all the pages and paragraphs once again.
The ending brought the decision that I hoped would happen but I was really disappointed there wasn’t an epilogue. I would’ve liked to have read how all the many dramas had been resolved, not just the few.
Thanks to HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
Ps...
I rarely make comment on quotes from the books I read but there is one in this story that I have to... “I might die, Quinn, but my love for you never will.” My heart took a hit as I read this quote. I went back and read this sentence a few times. And even as I wrote this review I was remembering it and had to go back and get the exact quote. There is so much in these few words said from a mother to a son. It is sticking with me. ♥️
At a point a little over half way through, I lost that connection and started skipping paragraphs, then pages. There was just so much drama for one small family and no action. Nothing seemed to be happening. A missing husband/father, a family ordeal from the past, a second chance romance, a criminal ex-wife, cancer, an unexpected teen pregnancy, sexuality questioning. This book covers it all and at some point was hard to imagine it was possible.
Even with all of the drama and the characters to go with it, the storylines were easy to follow. Once I got through to the last quarter of the book I started being interested in reading all the pages and paragraphs once again.
The ending brought the decision that I hoped would happen but I was really disappointed there wasn’t an epilogue. I would’ve liked to have read how all the many dramas had been resolved, not just the few.
Thanks to HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
Ps...
I rarely make comment on quotes from the books I read but there is one in this story that I have to... “I might die, Quinn, but my love for you never will.” My heart took a hit as I read this quote. I went back and read this sentence a few times. And even as I wrote this review I was remembering it and had to go back and get the exact quote. There is so much in these few words said from a mother to a son. It is sticking with me. ♥️
April 8, 2021
4.5/5
Don’t let the beachy cover fool you, this one had way more depth than I was expecting based on that alone. This was an emotional, multigenerational story that explores some very timely and relevant issues in a beautiful manner.
You hear from Autumn, her daughter Taylor and her mother Mary and I loved the various perspectives from all different age brackets. I can’t even imagine how Autumn is dealing with a missing husband and her kids as well, someone in my own circle going missing is my biggest nightmare. Each woman had their own issues they’re struggling with besides the disappearance of Nick and this brought so much substance to the story. It was definitely a multilayered story with some light moments, but overall it’s emotional. I think it could appeal to all types of readers, there’s romance, a mystery and family drama which is such a perfect combination for me.
Don’t let the beachy cover fool you, this one had way more depth than I was expecting based on that alone. This was an emotional, multigenerational story that explores some very timely and relevant issues in a beautiful manner.
You hear from Autumn, her daughter Taylor and her mother Mary and I loved the various perspectives from all different age brackets. I can’t even imagine how Autumn is dealing with a missing husband and her kids as well, someone in my own circle going missing is my biggest nightmare. Each woman had their own issues they’re struggling with besides the disappearance of Nick and this brought so much substance to the story. It was definitely a multilayered story with some light moments, but overall it’s emotional. I think it could appeal to all types of readers, there’s romance, a mystery and family drama which is such a perfect combination for me.
February 26, 2024
The Bookstore on the Beach by Brenda Novak was a good entertaining read. It had strong female characters with a side of mystery soap opera and gentle romance. Plot was pretty good as well. The ending SUCKEDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!! I knew it was coming. I knew it would happen but I was so disappointed in the predictability of it.
February 23, 2021
Full disclosure...I requested The Bookstore on the Beach from NetGalley based entirely on the title. I was not familiar with the author and I did not read the description. I just love books, bookstores, and beaches, so figured why not! Well, the "why not" is that this is just not my type of book. It's melodramatic to the extreme, with so many dramatic plot threads that it becomes unbelievable. However, I think this would likely appeal to some women - yes, I think this is absolutely "chick lit."
The story revolves around three generations of women and one summer they spend together at the beach in Virginia. That's a nice premise. However, each woman is dealing with issues that are so extreme it stretches credibility. We have all of the following: abduction, rape, teenage pregnancy from the rape, imprisonment and an escape, espionage, a missing person (this is NOT the person who was abducted but a totally different storyline), another imprisonment, another teenage pregnancy this time due to poor decisions, sexual identity questions, depression, a resurrected high school love, a parent dying of cancer, a stabbing and attempted murder by a jealous spouse, a possible case of child abuse, and a gossipmonger spreading rumors. All coming to a head in one summer. I'm exhausted just writing all of that!
It's not a "beach read" the way I think of them, despite the title, as there are no picturesque descriptions of the town, the beach, summer days. I think of other writers who have written family sagas set at the beach with success - Colony and Up Island by Anne Rivers Siddons come to mind - but the drama in those books is more balanced, plus there are glorious descriptions of beach communities, beach views, beach life in general that make the location part of the story as much as any character.. The Bookstore at the Beach has none of that. I can't even remember the name of the beach town.
In this book it's just all drama all the time. It's not a style of book I like but I am sure will appeal to its target audience.
The story revolves around three generations of women and one summer they spend together at the beach in Virginia. That's a nice premise. However, each woman is dealing with issues that are so extreme it stretches credibility. We have all of the following: abduction, rape, teenage pregnancy from the rape, imprisonment and an escape, espionage, a missing person (this is NOT the person who was abducted but a totally different storyline), another imprisonment, another teenage pregnancy this time due to poor decisions, sexual identity questions, depression, a resurrected high school love, a parent dying of cancer, a stabbing and attempted murder by a jealous spouse, a possible case of child abuse, and a gossipmonger spreading rumors. All coming to a head in one summer. I'm exhausted just writing all of that!
It's not a "beach read" the way I think of them, despite the title, as there are no picturesque descriptions of the town, the beach, summer days. I think of other writers who have written family sagas set at the beach with success - Colony and Up Island by Anne Rivers Siddons come to mind - but the drama in those books is more balanced, plus there are glorious descriptions of beach communities, beach views, beach life in general that make the location part of the story as much as any character.. The Bookstore at the Beach has none of that. I can't even remember the name of the beach town.
In this book it's just all drama all the time. It's not a style of book I like but I am sure will appeal to its target audience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2021
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE BOOKSTORE ON THE BEACH by Brenda Novak is a women’s fiction story featuring three generations of women in one family. Each woman is facing emotional secrets and decisions which can break apart a family as well as heal it with understanding and forgiveness. This is a standalone read.
I am very torn about how I feel about this book. I love the setting and I love any book centered around a bookstore. The three women all have stories that would individually be emotionally devastating to themselves and their family and all the stories pull you in, but that is also what I did not like. It was too much drama for one family. The individual plotlines of the three women would have been enough to carry the story on their own. Also, it takes a while to get forward momentum on the problems and I was getting frustrated waiting for some sort of action.
The ending is bittersweet and I am not sure how I feel about it. I usually do not need an epilogue, but in this book, I do wish that there was one added.
This book is a lot of drama and for me a little too much in one story. It will appeal to those that like a lot of drama in their women’s fiction. I enjoy this author’s work, but this one is not my favorite.
THE BOOKSTORE ON THE BEACH by Brenda Novak is a women’s fiction story featuring three generations of women in one family. Each woman is facing emotional secrets and decisions which can break apart a family as well as heal it with understanding and forgiveness. This is a standalone read.
I am very torn about how I feel about this book. I love the setting and I love any book centered around a bookstore. The three women all have stories that would individually be emotionally devastating to themselves and their family and all the stories pull you in, but that is also what I did not like. It was too much drama for one family. The individual plotlines of the three women would have been enough to carry the story on their own. Also, it takes a while to get forward momentum on the problems and I was getting frustrated waiting for some sort of action.
The ending is bittersweet and I am not sure how I feel about it. I usually do not need an epilogue, but in this book, I do wish that there was one added.
This book is a lot of drama and for me a little too much in one story. It will appeal to those that like a lot of drama in their women’s fiction. I enjoy this author’s work, but this one is not my favorite.
January 30, 2021
This book has a lot going on and a lot of characters to keep track of. I enjoyed this book and would love to own a book store on the beach. What could be better than that? It was fast paced and it made me feel like i really was on the beach living this story. This author never disappoints. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
April 6, 2021
I love books set in bookstores or libraries, so that was one point for choosing this book to read. I also love beach stories and family dramas. THE BOOKSTORE ON THE BEACH features three generations of women in one family. Each woman has a story, a secret, a secret that will have ramifications on others in the family. Mary still lives in Sable Beach where she owns a bookstore with her best friend Laurie. Her daughter, Autumn is reeling from the disappearance of her husband. He has been missing for eighteen months and she is still searching for him, but is beginning to believe that he is dead and won't be coming back. Taylor is Quinn's daughter who has a big secret and is dealing with changes in her life. Taylor and her son Caden convince Autumn to spend the summer with their Mimi, like they do every year, so she agrees and they head to Autumn's childhood home. What she does not expect is to run into Quinn Vanderbilt, her first love. He is home, divorced and dealing with his own issues.
Wow, I am glad I am not part of this family. Each of the women's circumstances could be a story, but put them all together in one family and I can't believe their relationships haven't imploded. These are three very strong women. I liked each of them, and my heart broke many times as I read about their lives. This is a story about resilience and moving forward in your life. It is about secrets and the harm they can do to yourself and others. When you look at how the various children were affected in the story, it pulls at your heartstrings. I don't want to make it sound like this book is a depressing one, because there are many lighter moments in the story. Time at the beach, making new friends, spending time with family, rekindling old friendships, and finally facing your issues and making choices for the rest of your life are all part of this story as well. I enjoyed reading this one and seeing what each of the characters decides and how it affects their lives. My one issue is that I think this story needs an epilogue. I was left wanting more, tying up some of the loose ends. Overall, I enjoyed this story and recommend this one to those who enjoy women's fiction, and family dramas. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
Wow, I am glad I am not part of this family. Each of the women's circumstances could be a story, but put them all together in one family and I can't believe their relationships haven't imploded. These are three very strong women. I liked each of them, and my heart broke many times as I read about their lives. This is a story about resilience and moving forward in your life. It is about secrets and the harm they can do to yourself and others. When you look at how the various children were affected in the story, it pulls at your heartstrings. I don't want to make it sound like this book is a depressing one, because there are many lighter moments in the story. Time at the beach, making new friends, spending time with family, rekindling old friendships, and finally facing your issues and making choices for the rest of your life are all part of this story as well. I enjoyed reading this one and seeing what each of the characters decides and how it affects their lives. My one issue is that I think this story needs an epilogue. I was left wanting more, tying up some of the loose ends. Overall, I enjoyed this story and recommend this one to those who enjoy women's fiction, and family dramas. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
August 22, 2021
Не мога да си събера мислите за тази книга, средна хубост ми е – имаше си добри моменти, интересни, а в други не приемах решенията и поведението на героите.
Три жени – баба, дъщеря и внучка – са на кръстопът. Издразних се, че авторката им стовари много проблеми накуп, не ги остави на мира цяло лято. Трите героини бяха поставени пред доста сериозни проблеми за решаване. Историята на изчезналия Ник не ми допадна, беше ми като изсмукана и скалъпена. Бабата е преживяла кошмар, с който още се бори след 38 години. Есен, дъщерята, преживява тежко изчезването на съпруга си преди 2 години, но среща случайно своя стара тръпка и любовта пламва между тях. Куин е добър и предан мъж, който може да я дари с щастие. Тейлър, внучката, се оказва в немислима ситуация и трябва да реши какво да прави с живота си оттук нататък. Решенията, които жените трябва да вземат, са тежки и касаят щастието на цялото семейство. С някои бях съгласна, но с други – не. Книгата разглежда и тематиката за вегетарианското хранене, за гейските връзки, взаимоотношенията в семейството, между брат и сестра, затрудненията, с които се сблъскват жертвите на насилие, трудностите да се освободиш от миналото и да бъдеш щастлив в настоящето. Много тежки решения преживяха героините и не бих искала да съм на тяхно място.
Единствено между Куин и Есен почувствах романтиката и любовта, хареса ми тяхната история донякъде, но и тук трябваше да се вземат сложни решения.
Като цяло не бих я препоръчала, стилът на писане не ми допадна много, но сигурно ще хареса на любителите на драматични истории.
Три жени – баба, дъщеря и внучка – са на кръстопът. Издразних се, че авторката им стовари много проблеми накуп, не ги остави на мира цяло лято. Трите героини бяха поставени пред доста сериозни проблеми за решаване. Историята на изчезналия Ник не ми допадна, беше ми като изсмукана и скалъпена. Бабата е преживяла кошмар, с който още се бори след 38 години. Есен, дъщерята, преживява тежко изчезването на съпруга си преди 2 години, но среща случайно своя стара тръпка и любовта пламва между тях. Куин е добър и предан мъж, който може да я дари с щастие. Тейлър, внучката, се оказва в немислима ситуация и трябва да реши какво да прави с живота си оттук нататък. Решенията, които жените трябва да вземат, са тежки и касаят щастието на цялото семейство. С някои бях съгласна, но с други – не. Книгата разглежда и тематиката за вегетарианското хранене, за гейските връзки, взаимоотношенията в семейството, между брат и сестра, затрудненията, с които се сблъскват жертвите на насилие, трудностите да се освободиш от миналото и да бъдеш щастлив в настоящето. Много тежки решения преживяха героините и не бих искала да съм на тяхно място.
Единствено между Куин и Есен почувствах романтиката и любовта, хареса ми тяхната история донякъде, но и тук трябваше да се вземат сложни решения.
Като цяло не бих я препоръчала, стилът на писане не ми допадна много, но сигурно ще хареса на любителите на драматични истории.
June 3, 2022
I randomly picked this up at my local library, and I am sooooo glad I did!
I loved everything about this book.
It has drama, giggles, some tears and a little bit of mystery.
I loved everything about this book.
It has drama, giggles, some tears and a little bit of mystery.
April 30, 2021
I loved this book so much!
Brenda Novak certainly pulled my heartstrings like no one can.
The strong female characters were amazing that got me hooked in this book, but also the mystery and the drama kept my fingers turning.
I was so mesmerized by this read and just felt so much for the women in this story. This book had everything I loved in a fiction novel; complex family dynamics, secrets, and of course a romance that made my heart swoon.
This was simply an enjoyable read I highly recommend!
Brenda Novak certainly pulled my heartstrings like no one can.
The strong female characters were amazing that got me hooked in this book, but also the mystery and the drama kept my fingers turning.
I was so mesmerized by this read and just felt so much for the women in this story. This book had everything I loved in a fiction novel; complex family dynamics, secrets, and of course a romance that made my heart swoon.
This was simply an enjoyable read I highly recommend!
January 8, 2021
How much drama can you pack into one story? A missing husband, a past family scandal, a second chance romance, cancer, an unexpected pregnancy, etc. This book has it all. Easy to follow even with three main narratives. Autumn's husband has been missing for 18 months when she travels to her hometown with her 2 kids for a summer visit with her mother. She runs into a past love and reconnects. Mary, her mother, has hidden scandal that comes to head that summer.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. It's a well crafted story, just too much for my taste.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. It's a well crafted story, just too much for my taste.
March 21, 2021
I read for so many different reasons, but lately, I am reading books that will let me escape the horror that life has become. This book sounded like it would be right up my alley ---until I actually started reading. This is NOT a light beach read. Yes, the bookshop is set near the beach-yes the characters make use of the beach and that is where the 'beach read' ends.
All of this anguish just left me depressed.
SPOILER-ISH:
Grandmother (Mary)- when a child was kidnapped and held for years being abused. She had a child by the abuser. Now the abusers' wife is out of jail and the daughter of the abuser wants to get in touch with Mary about money.
Grandmother's daughter (Autumn)- husband goes on a mission and has been missing for nearly 2 years. She is now contemplating having a sex life with an old 'friend.
Daughters'friend' Quinn - his mother is dying from cancer and is very nearly stalking Autumn (the daughter!) He was stabbed several times by his ex-wife!
Daughter (Taylor)-17 years old is now pregnant and is now questioning her sexuality.
Son (Caden)- at the 50% mark he seems to have no issues.
I just couldn't do it. I could not make myself care enough about the people in this book to keep going. Maybe someday my curiosity will kick in and will finish this book. Maybe the ending will be worth it. Maybe.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
All of this anguish just left me depressed.
SPOILER-ISH:
Grandmother (Mary)- when a child was kidnapped and held for years being abused. She had a child by the abuser. Now the abusers' wife is out of jail and the daughter of the abuser wants to get in touch with Mary about money.
Grandmother's daughter (Autumn)- husband goes on a mission and has been missing for nearly 2 years. She is now contemplating having a sex life with an old 'friend.
Daughters'friend' Quinn - his mother is dying from cancer and is very nearly stalking Autumn (the daughter!) He was stabbed several times by his ex-wife!
Daughter (Taylor)-17 years old is now pregnant and is now questioning her sexuality.
Son (Caden)- at the 50% mark he seems to have no issues.
I just couldn't do it. I could not make myself care enough about the people in this book to keep going. Maybe someday my curiosity will kick in and will finish this book. Maybe the ending will be worth it. Maybe.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
May 4, 2021
I really wanted to love this one but most of it just fell flat to me. First off I was hoping for a fun bookstore on the beach story and that's not at all what this was. There was SO much going on in this one. Missing father/husband, teenage preg, questionable sexuality, cancer, a kidnapping and abuse in the past storyline, rekindled love. Just so much. I think maybe TOO much at times because most of those issues seemed to be resolved in a very anticlimactic way. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either so it's just a 3 star rating from me on this one.
July 13, 2022
Review to come ☺️
April 26, 2021
4.5 Stars
While I really loved this book and didn't want to put it down, I did feel like there was quite a bit of stuff thrown in to the story. And not small stuff. ONE family went through all that?? The grandma was kidnapped and raped, the father goes missing, the daughter is pregnant and trying to figure out her sexuality, the mom rekindles an old romance. It was A LOT. The book ended a little abruptly too. I hope I get more!
While I really loved this book and didn't want to put it down, I did feel like there was quite a bit of stuff thrown in to the story. And not small stuff. ONE family went through all that?? The grandma was kidnapped and raped, the father goes missing, the daughter is pregnant and trying to figure out her sexuality, the mom rekindles an old romance. It was A LOT. The book ended a little abruptly too. I hope I get more!
March 10, 2021
[I received a digital copy for an honest review]
The Bookstore on the Beach is my first time reading Brenda Novak's work. I didn't really go into it with any expectations, but I'm still left feeling a bit let down.
I really enjoy multi generation stories. This one follows Autumn, her mother Mary, and her daughter Taylor. We even get the point of view of Autumn's love interest Quinn. That didn't bother me because it was well written and I genuinely liked all the characters. My problem lies with the plot or should I say plots. Each of the three women have layers of drama, even Quinn has his only closet filled with it. On their own each was interesting but all together it was a bit of a cluster. For almost the entire book I was motivated to keep turning pages because with so much drama it keep it from being predictable. Then I started to get nervous towards the end, and I was praying a certain "plot twist" wasn't going to happen but alas it did and it completely ruined the story for me. I would love to go into more detail and vent but I don't want to spoil the book. However, that ending brought my rating from a 3 down to a 2 star.
While I enjoyed the some of The Bookstore on the Beach, I'm not sure if I would be quick to recommend it. Since I enjoyed the actual writing, I would be willing to check out more of Brenda Novak's books in the future.
The Bookstore on the Beach is my first time reading Brenda Novak's work. I didn't really go into it with any expectations, but I'm still left feeling a bit let down.
I really enjoy multi generation stories. This one follows Autumn, her mother Mary, and her daughter Taylor. We even get the point of view of Autumn's love interest Quinn. That didn't bother me because it was well written and I genuinely liked all the characters. My problem lies with the plot or should I say plots. Each of the three women have layers of drama, even Quinn has his only closet filled with it. On their own each was interesting but all together it was a bit of a cluster. For almost the entire book I was motivated to keep turning pages because with so much drama it keep it from being predictable. Then I started to get nervous towards the end, and I was praying a certain "plot twist" wasn't going to happen but alas it did and it completely ruined the story for me. I would love to go into more detail and vent but I don't want to spoil the book. However, that ending brought my rating from a 3 down to a 2 star.
While I enjoyed the some of The Bookstore on the Beach, I'm not sure if I would be quick to recommend it. Since I enjoyed the actual writing, I would be willing to check out more of Brenda Novak's books in the future.
July 21, 2022
Una historia dura, pero cargada de emociones.
No he logrado conectar con los personajes, aunque sí he podido ponerme en su lugar. Sobre todo, en el de Quinn.
La historia está narrada en tercera persona, y quizás por eso me ha costado calentarme el corazón.
Aun así, un bonito final. Aunque crudo.
No he logrado conectar con los personajes, aunque sí he podido ponerme en su lugar. Sobre todo, en el de Quinn.
La historia está narrada en tercera persona, y quizás por eso me ha costado calentarme el corazón.
Aun así, un bonito final. Aunque crudo.
January 9, 2021
This book has a little something for everyone. There’s a little mystery, a little romance, contemporary issues and great character development. This book was hard to put down for long.
January 10, 2021
This book might look like a cute beach book but there’s a lot of extra drama too. I’ve never read this author before and wouldn’t have known what to expect.
Three generations of women spend the summer together at the beach.
Mary is happy that her daughter Autumn and her great children Taylor and Caden are going to come spend the summer again. Autumn hasn’t brought the family out recently because her husband disappeared and she’s been trying so hard to find him.
Each of the three women has been through a lot.
Mary hides a secret from her past, it’s an enormous secret from her past, something I never would have guessed in a million years. It’s a real shock.
Autumn is at a crossroads, after her husband has been missing for 18 months she’s wondering whether to keep the private detective looking for her husband. She knows her search for her husband has meant that she’s not as available for her children as she would have been otherwise.
When she comes to visit her mom, she runs into the great love of her youth named Quinn. He’s a pretty fantastic guy and he makes it clear that he wants a chance with Autumn when she’s ready but that he’ll never rush her.
Taylor is 17, she made a decision without thinking while she was especially upset about her dad. She is just trying to come to terms with things when she meets someone new and might be falling in love with them.
This book was well written and the characters are very strong. The character Caden isn’t given much of a storyline. This story is basically about three women and Quinn. Quinn has been through some serious drama himself.
This wasn’t quite what I expected, a case of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. This isn’t light and fluffy, there’s some serious drama here. So, just know that going in :)
I read an early ebook edition from NetGalley, thank you!
Three generations of women spend the summer together at the beach.
Mary is happy that her daughter Autumn and her great children Taylor and Caden are going to come spend the summer again. Autumn hasn’t brought the family out recently because her husband disappeared and she’s been trying so hard to find him.
Each of the three women has been through a lot.
Mary hides a secret from her past, it’s an enormous secret from her past, something I never would have guessed in a million years. It’s a real shock.
Autumn is at a crossroads, after her husband has been missing for 18 months she’s wondering whether to keep the private detective looking for her husband. She knows her search for her husband has meant that she’s not as available for her children as she would have been otherwise.
When she comes to visit her mom, she runs into the great love of her youth named Quinn. He’s a pretty fantastic guy and he makes it clear that he wants a chance with Autumn when she’s ready but that he’ll never rush her.
Taylor is 17, she made a decision without thinking while she was especially upset about her dad. She is just trying to come to terms with things when she meets someone new and might be falling in love with them.
This book was well written and the characters are very strong. The character Caden isn’t given much of a storyline. This story is basically about three women and Quinn. Quinn has been through some serious drama himself.
This wasn’t quite what I expected, a case of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. This isn’t light and fluffy, there’s some serious drama here. So, just know that going in :)
I read an early ebook edition from NetGalley, thank you!
March 6, 2021
The Bookstore on the Beach follows the story of three women, all related, from three generations. It also includes the people who love and support them - or not.
Mary or Mimi to Taylor and Caden, has had a very bad experience in her past that she has kept secret. Now there are factors that are threatening to have this become more known than she wants.
Autumn her daughter and mother of Caden and Taylor, has been searching for her husband Nick, who has mysteriously gone missing. Now she has fallen for someone else.
Taylor at seventeen, broken hearted from the loss of her Dad does something that has repercussions for herself and those who love her.
Each of these women are at a crisis point in their lives, they have big issues to face and work through. Are they able to? Can they follow their hearts and live true to themselves?
The story is set at a beach side place with a bookstore that doesn't play a huge part but is there, providing a steady backdrop to the lives of the characters.
I enjoyed the book and it makes for a good heart warming, bittersweet read.
Mary or Mimi to Taylor and Caden, has had a very bad experience in her past that she has kept secret. Now there are factors that are threatening to have this become more known than she wants.
Autumn her daughter and mother of Caden and Taylor, has been searching for her husband Nick, who has mysteriously gone missing. Now she has fallen for someone else.
Taylor at seventeen, broken hearted from the loss of her Dad does something that has repercussions for herself and those who love her.
Each of these women are at a crisis point in their lives, they have big issues to face and work through. Are they able to? Can they follow their hearts and live true to themselves?
The story is set at a beach side place with a bookstore that doesn't play a huge part but is there, providing a steady backdrop to the lives of the characters.
I enjoyed the book and it makes for a good heart warming, bittersweet read.
April 26, 2021
Loved this one. Definitely not a super light-hearted beach read (despite the cover). And you know what, that is totally okay with me! I listened to the audio version, which was great! Love all the family dynamics and all the elements of mystery, secrets, and intrigue along the way. Really enjoyed it!
May 6, 2021
I love the cover. It makes me want to go to the beach.
A very well written story with amazing cha that draw you into the story. It will make you laugh and cry. I really hated to see it end and I was hoping there was more. I loved every minute of the story.
A very well written story with amazing cha that draw you into the story. It will make you laugh and cry. I really hated to see it end and I was hoping there was more. I loved every minute of the story.
July 13, 2022
12 hours: 39 minutes
I listened to the unabridged Harlequin audio of The Bookstore on the Beach by Brenda Novak and read by Amy McFadden. There may be some trigger words. It is an okay "beach read".
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to the unabridged Harlequin audio of The Bookstore on the Beach by Brenda Novak and read by Amy McFadden. There may be some trigger words. It is an okay "beach read".
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 24, 2021
Lost people, reunions, shocking storylines...hard to put it down!
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