The Beach House

by Nina Manning

It should have been the perfect weekend… Work colleagues Nicole, Margo, Paisley and Audrey all appear to be looking forward to a weekend away at Nicole’s luxurious beach house on the Dorset coast. It should be a chance for the women to kick back, relax and regroup after a stressful moment at work. But this is no normal girls’ getaway. And the beach house is no normal home. This place holds dark secrets for Nicole, which threaten to be revealed when its doors are opened. And unbeknownst to host Nicole, each of the three other guests all have secrets of their own…and some of them could be deadly.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2023

About the author

Nina Manning began her career in the catering industry. She has worked as a private chef cooking for royalty and TV personalities.

She has a degree in Psychology and has three books published with Boldwood: The Daughter In Law, The Guilty Wife and The House Mate.
Her fourth Psychological thriller is published in Spring 2021.

Nina is a voracious reader of many genres, is the founding member of a long standing book club and the founder and co-host of a book podcast called Sniffing The Pages.

She is a mother to three young children so when she is not writing or reading she can usually be found scaling a soft play tower or romping in the woods with the family and her chocolate Labrador.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Genre ~ mystery
Publication date ~ August 16, 2023
Page Count ~ 300
Audio length ~ 7 hours 37 minutes
Narrator ~ Lucy Scott
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ secrets, slow burn, past se*ual relationship between 15 year old & teacher, teen pregnancy, references to suicide, pregnancy, and there is essentially a r@pe (I can tell you more if want to pm me)

Nicole, Margo, Paisley & Audrey are on a work trip together at Nicole's Beach House for the weekend. They're supposed to be brainstorming ideas for The Studio, but they didn't discuss work once and all they did was eat and drink, which doesn't sound like a terrible work trip to me.

We have The Party chapters from 6 weeks earlier which slowly lead up to a big secret.

So normally I love multiple POV, but since each character has a secret it took an awfully long time for those secrets to be revealed as we went from chapter to chapter. It did get repetitive at times and was a slow burn with a lot of 'telling' for quite a few long chapters, and finally we get more 'showing' and the chapters shortened up and we were heading at a faster clip to the conclusion.

Overall, I liked the setting of the secluded beach house with its atmospheric views, which is clearly shown on the cover. There were some tense moments, but I did have every single secret/twist figured out, which was unfortunate because I was hoping for a big zinger. I, also, feel the end was rather abrupt and left me with unanswered questions.

Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the the info above for reference.

*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a roller coaster I wanted off…soon after the ride started.

Margo, Paisley, and Audrey head to Nicole’s beach house to use the time away from distractions so they can craft a plan to save ‘The Studio’. Unfortunately, it isn’t the getaway they’d planned.

Things I enjoyed:
✔️the beach house is a supporting character
✔️inclusion of neurodivergent character
✔️locked room mystery
✔️secrets
✔️multiple POV
✔️palpable tension

Things I struggled with:
✔️the language (right from the first page!)
✔️the twist (took a distasteful direction quickly)
✔️too many characters (some with just walk on/walk off roles)
✔️women behaving badly (vindictive)
✔️suspension of disbelief
✔️stock characters underdeveloped

I was gifted this copy by Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It should have been the perfect weekend. Works colleagues Nicole, Margo, Paisley and Audrey all appear to be looking forward to a weekend away at Nicole's luxurious beach house on the Dorset coast. It should be a chance for the women to kick back, relax, and regroup after a stressful moment at work. But this is no normal girls' getaway. And the beach house is no normal home. The place holds dark secrets for Nicole, which threaten to be revealed when its doors are opened. And unbeknownst to Nicole, each of the three other guests have secrets of their own.... and some of them could be deadly.

There are a few far-fetched plots and one-dimensional characters. The story has a dual timeline - the present day and the past when a party took place six weeks ago. Each character had their own story to tell, and it's told from multiple points of view. There are quite a few characters, some are only in it for a short space of time. You do need to suspend your beliefs whilst reading this book. It's also a bit of a slow burner. There are a few surprises along the way, but for me, there was no shock element.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #NinaManning for my ARC of #TheBeachHouse in exchange for an honest review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank goodness I've finished this one. It was so predictable from similar books I've read. I didn't like the characters and it certainly wasn't twisty. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[LostinaLibrary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was this supposed to be thrilling?

[kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm sorry, what happened the night of the party???? first time i've been shocked by a mystery thriller in a good while

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole Audrey Paisley and Margo are all coworkers doing a podcast at the studios owned by Nicole. The podcast is called Laid Bare and recently Nicole said something the public deemed inappropriate and now they’re trying to sway the publics opinion back to their favor. The women are all meeting at Nicole‘s Beachhouse and although she has some dark memories there she’s trying to make things better by making new ones but it seems right before their extended weekend something happened that has Nicole rattled and unlike herself. Paisley is the first one to show up at the beach house and let’s herself in and quickly starts nosing around she even goes into Nicole‘s room and steals her lipstick but before she can look in the wardrobes she hears a car outside and soon hears a knock at the door. She learns when opening up the door it’s Ali the good looking chef Nicole hired to cook for the girls weekend by the time all the women show up and dinner is ready Audrey is already well into a bottle of red and flirting with Ali but it seems he has eyes for Nicole as he keeps glancing her way whenever he thinks she isn’t looking. Margot is Bing her quiet self and just observes everyone and make sure Nicole is all right but she sees clearly that Nicole is not OK. Margo knows the business isn’t doing that well but she also knows something else that she fears may get her in trouble with Nicole because it’s devastating news that she hasn’t told her yet. Margo isn’t the only one keeping a secret however Audrey is an ex supermodel who has been married for years and has three children but she still looks extremely good and likes to flaunt it in her relationship with Gram, Nicole‘s partner almost seems a little too close for comfort and she too is hiding something. So we have Margo who has devastating secrets she’s hiding from Nicole Audrey also is hiding something from Nicole and Nicole has her own devastating secrets and memories that may ruin not only the weekend but her life and then there’s Paisley who will soon find out she is pregnant in a abruptly jumps off the deep end. This book is packed with secrets and I haven’t even mention the guess who show up on announced the unwelcome visitor Who keeps showing up outside of the Beach House and an inconvenient kidnapping. This book is packed full of punches full of secrets and when everything is laid bare there may just be good news on the horizon. I know lately I am writing very bad reviews but OMG if I haven’t been reading really good books and that includes the Beach House by Nina Manning they have few books that could be so involved and twisted with so many different points of view and still not be over the top and having to suspend believe but it is rare and this is definitely one of those books. I was a little leery because I didn’t like the waitress but I love this book the beach house it was so good the ending was awesome the twists were one after another and so OMG good I want to thank Boldwood books and net galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Jenn Webley · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a group of employees plan a weekend away to “brainstorm” ideas to save the business, something a little more sinister is afoot. A group of people, each with their own secrets, some wishing to reveal all whilst others desperately hoping to keep theirs to themselves.
Honestly, none of the characters were that likeable (which added the intense atmosphere), all are very selfish in their own ways, all in it for their own benefit, although there is one who you may be surprised with by the end, I genuinely didn’t have them down as doing something to help another. I couldn’t really see a genuine friendship connection between them, even for a group of employees – it read as them being awkward around each other, which added to the tense and uncomfortable feel of the book.
The story was told from multiple points of view, which I like and really brought the story to life as each character gave a different twist on what was playing out.
I found the story played out quite slowly, it took quite a while for anything to really happen but once it did everything started unravelling quite quickly, culminating in dramatic events.
I wasn’t overly surprised with the outcomes, the clues are there all the way through, but I did like how it was put together, how the setting enhanced the mood of each character.
An interesting, tense read.

[Courtney McGhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really felt like this was longer than necessary. I also hate when I’m reading a book and it’s like all the characters know a secret that you don’t know. That’s exactly what this one was like. Everyone knew what happened at The Party except the readers. Turns out paisley is a psycho that heard Gram (Nicole’s man) talking about wanting a kid and so when he was blackout drunk she raped him and then turkey basted herself to get pregnant. She did get pregnant but had a miscarriage. Then there’s Margo who you thought was going to be more odd than she was. Her brother just got out of prison and was hunting her down to make amends. She also had seen what paisley did and was holding that secret. Audrey is a spoiled rich ex model who they make you think is having an affair with Gram the whole time when in reality they were figuring out a way to save Nicole’s business. The Nicole was harboring the secret that at 15 she was involved in a grown man that got her pregnant. When he found out she was pregnant he killed himself and she gave the baby up for adoption without ever knowing anything about it and swore she wouldn’t have another kid. In the end she forgives herself, meets her 18 year old daughter, and her and gram discuss children. The end.

Oh and Oli the chef was the man’s son that took his life and he wanted revenge on Nicole. It didn’t go as he had planned.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beach House by Nina Manning

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

It should have been the perfect weekend… Work colleagues Nicole, Margo, Paisley and Audrey all appear to be looking forward to a weekend away at Nicole’s luxurious beach house on the Dorset coast. It should be a chance for the women to kick back, relax and regroup after a stressful moment at work. But this is no normal girls’ getaway. And the beach house is no normal home. This place holds dark secrets for Nicole, which threaten to be revealed when its doors are opened. And unbeknownst to host Nicole, each of the three other guests all have secrets of their own…and some of them could be deadly.

My Opinion

With a mixed bag of characters this is an entertaining read. I finished this in just two short sittings as I really enjoyed the concept. The story is told from multiple viewpoints but they are all very easy to follow. This is the first book I have read by Nina Manning so I wasn't sure what to expect from the style going in, but for me this worked well.

Rating: 4/5

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book I have read by Nina Manning has been one that had me racing through the pages until I got to the last page. She writes psychological thrillers with multi layered and complex characters at the heart of the story. The Beach House was a book I was so looking forward to!

A trip to a beach house turns out to be a little more than just that, when a group of employees go on a weekend away. The atmosphere changes to something sinister when they arrive. This is no normal beach house it holds many secrets, but so do the women. And those very secrets are in danger of being revealed.

I just love Nina Mannings writing. She has the skill of storytelling that holds me captive every time. The characters are all unique, as always. They aren't perfect, and some are quite unlikeable, but this makes the tension so taut as the story develops.

The story is told from multiple perspectives. So  I had a more rounder view of what all the women are up to and what they were like. I always enjoy this type of story as I feel like I know the characters so well.

This is a gripping and such an entertaining read! I read it so fast it was done in a day, now for the wait until Nina Manning writes her next book. I am looking forward to that day!
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three ladies who work on a podcast together travel to the beach house of the boss for a weekend away shortly after the one year anniversary of the podcast and after a recent faux pas by the woman in charge. All of the women are struggling with issues, and are keeping secrets, which are unknown to the rest of the group.

This book took forever to get going. I felt like the first half was very repetitious with nothing that interesting going on. It was a lot of stage setting and mostly through the thoughts of the characters rather than actions. Things did pickup about halfway through and I started becoming mildly interested in what each person was hiding. The ending was pretty far fetched but I would have liked it if the build up to it was quicker and more interesting. In summary, it was ok.

[Adele Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of this book was a bit hit and miss for me but then it started to flow better towards the middle.

There was a few interesting twists during the book that makes me recommend this to other readers.

3.5 stars

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting characters and several twists along the way. A very good read!

Thank you to Nina Manning, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc of this book.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I’m sorry but the ending??? I don’t know how to feel.

[Lauren Flanigan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine nothing special

[Cheryl Lowing · Rating 1 out of 5]

waste of time

I don’t usually leave bad reviews, but this book was awful. For starters four pages were missing in the middle of the book. There were so many grammatical errors. And the story itself, the plot, was so boring and amateurish. There were spelling errors, factual errors, too many to count. I don’t think I’ll be looking for books by this author in the future

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unveiling Hidden Secrets

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Nina Manning's "The Beach House" weaves a familiar yet captivating tale, uniting a diverse group of characters, each guarding their own secrets. While not groundbreaking, Manning crafts a well-rounded story with compelling characters that maintain the reader's interest throughout.

The plot follows four women – Nicole, Audrey, Margo, and Paisley – as they escape for a weekend at Nicole's beach house. The tranquil setting becomes the backdrop for relaxation, bonding, and business brainstorming. The narrative alternates between perspectives, allowing Manning to delve into the inner struggles of each character, slowly revealing their hidden emotions and unresolved issues.

The structure, switching between the weekend trip and memories of a party six weeks earlier, adds suspense. However, the heavy foreshadowing around the party sometimes overshadows its importance, losing subtlety. While the twists are enjoyable, they can be a bit predictable due to the heavy hints.

Manning excels in character development, portraying each woman distinctly with their flaws and complexities. As the story progresses, tension mounts, aided by shorter chapters leading to the climax. The final twist brings satisfying closure, highlighting Manning's storytelling skill.

Yet, the pacing stumbles in the middle, with moments of stagnation, potentially prompting readers to skip ahead. The ending, though satisfying in some aspects, feels sudden, leaving loose ends for Audrey, Margo, and Paisley. A more thorough conclusion for these characters would provide a more gratifying sense of closure.

In conclusion, "The Beach House" by Nina Manning captures the hidden layers beneath seemingly ordinary lives. With engaging character-driven storytelling and a skilful blend of past and present, the book maintains readers' attention, despite some areas for improvement. While not groundbreaking, it offers an enjoyable and worthwhile read.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy. I'd rate "The Beach House" around 3.5 to 4 out of 5 stars, acknowledging its strengths while noting areas for enhancement.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Beach House
Author: Nina Manning
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: August 16, 2023
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up
Pages: 300

Story is told from the POV of each of the four characters in two timelines Present Day and The Party which was six weeks ago.
Work related fun vacation at the Beach gone wrong!
Nicole has invited work colleagues Margo, Paisley and Audrey. Nicole for work related get away weekend at her family’s luxurious beach house. She has hired a private chef and ordered plenty of alcohol. Everyone is anticipating a fun weekend, however everyone has secrets and when the alcohol starts flowing so do the secrets.

Not sure if this makes sense to you but I found this story slow yet a fast read.
I read a lot of thrillers so know to expect twists and turns. However when the twist came it sure wasn’t what anything I expected.

I also enjoyed the back of the book with both the ‘Acknowledgements’ and ‘Book Club Questions’.
In the ‘Acknowledgements’ Nina Manning tells us that while editing this story, she and husband, as well as their children and dog Missy moved to the Highlands.
She tells us that she already feels ideas brewing for her next psychological thriller.

I also enjoy the ‘Book Club discussion questions ~ I sometimes I want to take a quick look at them ahead of time but am fearful there will be spoiler.


About the author:
Nina Manning began her career in the catering industry. She has worked as a private chef cooking for royalty and TV personalities.
She has a degree in Psychology and is a voracious reader of many genres.
This is her eighth novel.
She is a mother to three young children so when she is not writing or reading she can usually be found romping in the woods with the family and her chocolate Labrador.

Want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books granted me this early e-Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 16,, 2023.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)

From the get-go, I could feel the suspenseful undertones to The Beach House. Each woman carries a secret with them when they all meet up for a weekend getaway, and as the story progresses, it’s told from each one’s perspective, chapter by chapter, with a few chapters sprinkled in that focus on an ill-fated party they’d all attended in the past.

The present-time reflection vs. the past really helped to clarify so much, particularly when explaining the various secrets that have been kept hidden. And for good reason. Each one could damage not only the characters who hold them, but the others who are at the beach house. I could feel the uncomfortable vibes that can only come from being work colleagues who are sprung into such a unique, bizarre situation. I also think the author did a great job showcasing the various emotional vibes they’re all dealing with. Nicole seeks comfort from the beach house, yet for so many reasons, it’s hard for her to do. Margo has seen too much, while Paisley is struggling to work through an incident that was out of her control, with proof of those repercussions. Audrey seems to be in the wrong place at the right time, or maybe it’s the right place at the wrong time? There is in-depth character development that fits each person quite well.

My only wish would be for better pacing within The Beach House. It seemed the suspense could be dragged out too slowly at times, when I really wanted it to be sped up a little more, particularly when many chapters would end with a precursor to what was to come. But the characters within it really made up for the slow pacing, because the reader can easily become invested in what is happening, and where the plot is headed.

Ultimately, I had a pretty good idea about the twists that were ahead, but I still wanted to see what would happen next, and how the women would handle what was thrown at them. The Beach House was an enjoyable, suspenseful experience.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole organises a retreat for her work colleagues at her beach house in Dorset. The group arrive with a whole heap of secrets they are keeping from each other...
The Beach House is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
Nicole and Audrey host a podcast but it may be on the brink of failing. Nicole invites her team to stay with her in order to work together on ideas to salvage the show. But all of the women have something to hide and the secrets may have devastating consequences.
The beach house is almost an extra character, and certainly creates a claustrophobic tension. This is set up in the opening chapter and straightaway suggests a sinister undertone. There is a past dimension to the book as it features a party which occurred six weeks earlier. We are drip-fed little clues slowly about the women's secrets. My mind was grasping at trying to figure out the connections and I did manage to work out some but not all of the twists!
I enjoyed the style of writing and the way that the chapters focus on one of the characters or the party. The author stacks up the layers of clues for the reader to guess at the secrets before they are finally revealed. All of the main characters have vulnerabilities and flaws to make them more realistic and rounded while the lack of a first person narrator makes their perspectives equal.
The Beach House is a tense and enjoyable psychological thriller.

[Kimberlee - books_kids_and_chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

It should have been the perfect weekend…
Work colleagues Nicole, Margo, Paisley and Audrey all appear to be looking forward to a weekend away at Nicole’s luxurious beach house on the Dorset coast. It should be a chance for the women to kick back, relax and regroup after a stressful moment at work.
But this is no normal girls’ getaway. And the beach house is no normal home. This place holds dark secrets for Nicole, which threaten to be revealed when its doors are opened.
And unbeknownst to host Nicole, each of the three other guests all have secrets of their own…and some of them could be deadly.

This multiple POV and dual timeline was a bit slow to start but I enjoyed it overall. There were some twists and turns that I could not predict and others that I saw coming. Some of the dialogue was a bit far fetched especially towards the Pete character. Just didn’t seem believable after he left the beach house. The ending seemed rushed and there were a lot of character stories to follow so it got a bit confusing while reading. There was a slow build up of everyone secrets and then after everything was revealed it ended quickly.
Once I was 3/4 through the book I was entertained enough to keep reading to find out all the secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nina Manning for the ARC.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of four female coworkers travel to a beach house for a long quasi work weekend.

Nicole is the one whose family owns this big, ostentatious beach house. She, along with her work partner Audrey who was a model during her 20's and 30's (now in her late 40's), started a podcast that had done very well. Nicole tends to be the interviewer while Audrey is the one whose life experiences give enough material for the podcast.

Margo manages their social media and tends to be somewhat of a personal assistant to Nicole. Paisley, the youngest of the 4, is a bit of an office admin, support person.

They all have secrets, of course(!), and you just know that these secrets are bursting to be revealed.

18 years ago a teacher committed suicide off a cliff nearby and you are given enough information to know that Nicole has some relationship to this event, including being stalked by the widow of the man.

For the other three, it seems their secrets stem from a work anniversary party 6 weeks ago, including a new pregnancy for Paisley.

While there were some times that I felt frustrated all the hints and foreshadowing given by the author rather than letting each of them "speak their truth", the author kept me engaged enough with her storytelling that those frustrations soon diminished.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it, and will look for others by this author.

[E Dod · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so this sounded something that I would love, and having read many of Nina Manning's previous novels I was super excited to read it, but unfortunately I did not finish it.

The story is set around four women, all who work together doing a pod-cast, receptionist etc. All very different, some complex and all have a secret. They go to the beach house for a few nights for a work trip and things do not go as they should.

I straight away found the characters to be really confusing, and each chapter is told from a different character's perspectives. For some reason, I could not resonate with any of these characters, all quite dislikeable and annoying.

I hate giving up on a novel as I can only think what hard work goes into making a book but I was just not enjoying this novel.

Thanks to Netgalley, Nina Manning and the publisher for allowing a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[Selena Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick enjoyable thriller about a group of women spending a weekend at a beach house for a "work retreat". All of them have their own secrets...and they may also share in one big one together (unknowingly).

This is told from each of the women's perspectives in alternating chapters, and between 2 different timelines. There were some elements of the story that seemed a bit unnecessary to include (most of Margo's plot). The constant use of vague terms to hide who the man was for one character was a bit annoying, and kind of obvious.

There were a few twists in the book, some pretty obvious, but nonetheless, enjoyable. I didn't really like how one very major plotline didn't get a proper resolution. There was not confrontation or consequences for the character's actions, which was extremely frustrating.

I still enjoyed the book and read it pretty quickly. If you need something with a bit of mystery and is quick to get through, this is a good read for that.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina Manning never disappoints!

Owning a beach house on the Dorset coast gives Nicole the ideal location for a working weekend along with Margo, Audrey and Paisley as they strive to come up with ideas to give the company the boost it needs to stay afloat. Nicole inherited the beach house, and as such it is full of memories - and not all of them happy ones. The remaining guests each have their own reasons to look forward to this weekend away - will it turn out as planned?

I often think this author would have made an excellent magician; she is extremely accomplished at sleight of hand and misdirection. This is a slow burner; every time I thought I had all my ducks in a row there would be more revelations which would quickly make it a very uneven line. Did I work out who did what to whom before it was laid out on the page in front of me? Not a chance! In fact, it took me completely by surprise. A thrilling read and one which will keep me reading Nina Manning's books. 4.5*, and one I'm very happy to recommend.

[Peyton Maloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay sooo this one took me a minute to settle into 😅 It started off a little slow and I honestly wasn’t totally sure where it was going… and there were definitely more typos than I was expecting (which kind of pulled me out of the story at first).

BUT—I’m so glad I stuck with it because once the plot picked up in the middle, I got HOOKED. That slow burn tension and mystery really started creeping in and I found myself flipping (well, tapping lol 📱) through chapters faster and faster just to see what would happen next.

I loved the setting—a beach house filled with secrets always gets me—and once things started unraveling, I couldn’t stop reading. It gave me that “what is she hiding?!” feeling the whole second half, and I was definitely trying to guess the twists 👀

Would I call it a favorite? Not quite. But for a moody, slow-burn mystery with a great atmosphere, it definitely scratched the itch.

[AndiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Studio is a podcast and recording business and business owner Nicole has called a work weekend to save it from iniment failure. , Margo, Paisley and Audrey will all stay in her family's beach house to brainstorm solutions. Nicole has hired a private chef and ordered plenty of alcohol. But all of these women have secrets and whether they like it or not they will come our over the weekend. Can Nicole's professional and personal life survive?

Super fun vacation-gone-wrong. I enjoyed getting away with Nicole's colleagues and trying to guess the secrets. There were plenty of twists and mysteries and the story moved right along. If you like a locked room style story, a twisty mystery or just want to get away for the weekend, The Beach House is for you! #TheBeachHouse #Boldwood #Ninamanning

[Allison Valentine · Rating 3 out of 5]

What should have been a fantastic thriller from reading the blurb, turned out to be a slow burning, uninspiring read.
It's very rare for me to point out negatives in an authors work, because I know how hard they spend on a novel.
But this just didn't gel right for me.
The characters seemed false from the start the storyline was full of holes as though it hadn't been edited.
On a positive note:
Nicole, Audrey, Paisley and Margo are all podcasters at the studio that Nicole owns and they all decide to take a break away together at Nicole's beach house in Dorset.
Unfortunately the beach house as secrets that Nicole wants to stay buried and after what occurred several weeks ago at party things get a little bit heated.
I did enjoy the time switch to the party from six weeks before to the present day but far to many author hints in the book takes away the twists that should be there.

[Nicole Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Between the Wines book review #110/115 for 2023:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Beach House
Author: Nina Manning
Available Now!!

Sipping thoughts: This was a very slow crawl. All the real action happened in the last 15-20% of the story. Because of the ending I gave it a third star. I enjoyed it enough to be glad I finished it.

Cheers and thank you to @BoldwoodBooks and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheBeachHouse.

#TheBeachHouse #NinaManning #BoldwoodBooks #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult