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The Beach at Painter's Cove

Shelley Noble

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Jun 24, 2017 Stephanie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-book, reviewed, womens-fiction

Meet Leo, Jillian, Issy, and Stephanie: four generations of Whitaker women ranging in age from preteen to elderly. The Muses By the Sea is their family mansion on the beaches of Connecticut, a haven for artists who would come stay and create. The family has long since disbanded and drama has ensued with much estrangement, secrets, and hard feelings. When matriarch Leo, ends up in the hospital, and sister Vivienne seemingly abandons her kids at the mansion, the family must come together to work t Meet Leo, Jillian, Issy, and Stephanie: four generations of Whitaker women ranging in age from preteen to elderly. The Muses By the Sea is their family mansion on the beaches of Connecticut, a haven for artists who would come stay and create. The family has long since disbanded and drama has ensued with much estrangement, secrets, and hard feelings. When matriarch Leo, ends up in the hospital, and sister Vivienne seemingly abandons her kids at the mansion, the family must come together to work through crisis.

What an interesting tale full of interesting women! The setting was unique and idyllic and I loved imagining this beautiful mansion on the water where artists used to move in and out and create. Doesn’t that sound like fun? Doesn’t it even sound dreamy? I’ll take a mansion on the water any day of the week!

But not so fast. This family is messed up in a bad way. People don’t talk, money (lots and lots of it) goes missing, there is resentment and anger and total lack of communication all around. You start to wonder what family means to these people, if anything at all.

Then these bad things happen: grandma in the hospital, Issy’s sister disappearing and abandoning her kids, all the money gone from the bank… and this is when the family has to come together and reunite. Issy drops everything in her life to be there for her family and try to sort these messes out. Secrets are revealed, and there are even elements of mystery: where did her sister go? What happened to the money? What is crazy old great-aunt Fae hiding?

I will say that the beginning of the book was a little overwhelming with an abundance of characters and just strange situations. I didn’t quite vibe with it at the start, but I certainly found myself getting more and more involved as I turned the pages. I became invested in the lives of this family and wanted answers. I grew continually more interested as the story wove on, with all of its intricacies.

With its beachy setting and family fueled drama, this would make a good choice for your summer reading! ...more

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