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Serendipity
This summer, will three weekends in a Fire Island share house be enough time for Maggie Monroe to fix her life, find love, and make sure she doesn’t lose her friends for good?
It’s been six years since Maggie followed her screenwriting dreams to Los Angeles and forgot to look back. But things in Hollywood didn’t go quite to plan. Now, twenty-five and suddenly home in New York, Maggie doesn’t know who she’s more anxious to her ex-boyfriend, Mac, or her ex–best friend, Liz.
For Liz, Maggie is the girl who abandoned her at the worst possible moment and an unwelcome surprise who could derail her perfect summer. Liz is recently engaged to her high school sweetheart, Cam, but Maggie’s arrival brings old wounds bubbling to the surface, exposing the cracks in Liz’s apparent happily ever after.
When Maggie accepts her former friends' unexpected invitation to join in their summer share house, a rental named Serendipity, she knows it’s the chance she needs to get her life back on track. For three weekends, Maggie, Liz, Cam, Mac, and their closest friends will take the ferry to Ocean Beach, Fire Island, for some sun-kissed bliss, if only they can avoid the drama of their past catching up to the present.
With the nostalgic flavor of a stack of sepia-toned Polaroids, and perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Jennifer Weiner, and Ann Brashares, this big-hearted, page-turning story delves deep into a complicated friend group as they navigate one messy yet magical midtwenties summer.
It’s been six years since Maggie followed her screenwriting dreams to Los Angeles and forgot to look back. But things in Hollywood didn’t go quite to plan. Now, twenty-five and suddenly home in New York, Maggie doesn’t know who she’s more anxious to her ex-boyfriend, Mac, or her ex–best friend, Liz.
For Liz, Maggie is the girl who abandoned her at the worst possible moment and an unwelcome surprise who could derail her perfect summer. Liz is recently engaged to her high school sweetheart, Cam, but Maggie’s arrival brings old wounds bubbling to the surface, exposing the cracks in Liz’s apparent happily ever after.
When Maggie accepts her former friends' unexpected invitation to join in their summer share house, a rental named Serendipity, she knows it’s the chance she needs to get her life back on track. For three weekends, Maggie, Liz, Cam, Mac, and their closest friends will take the ferry to Ocean Beach, Fire Island, for some sun-kissed bliss, if only they can avoid the drama of their past catching up to the present.
With the nostalgic flavor of a stack of sepia-toned Polaroids, and perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Jennifer Weiner, and Ann Brashares, this big-hearted, page-turning story delves deep into a complicated friend group as they navigate one messy yet magical midtwenties summer.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2024
27 people are currently reading
8538 people want to read
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April 29, 2024
Three Weekends + Four Friends
Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of Serendipity by Becky Chaldean {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 6.4.2024
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
I wasn’t sure what I would find in the pages of Serendipity - I just knew I was drawn toward the title and the beautifully illustrated cover. What I found inside was a nostalgia-filled story that reminded me of the friendships I still carry in my heart even though we’ve all gone our separate ways.
The setting of Fire Island provided the perfect setting and added an almost magical feel. Yes, the friends still went out drinking at night, but during the day, they became the sand castle-building kids of their youth.
While I didn’t love the ending, I tried not to let that shadow my overall enjoyment of the story. I think a lot of people will enjoy the ending, but it just wasn’t for me.
☀️The setting
🗣️ Multiple POV’s
🫶🏼 A love letter to friendship
👏🏼 Perfect summer reading
🤷🏽♀️ The ending was just okay
I recommend reading Serendipity if you’re looking for a light summer read to take to the pool, lake, or beach!
______
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Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of Serendipity by Becky Chaldean {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 6.4.2024
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
I wasn’t sure what I would find in the pages of Serendipity - I just knew I was drawn toward the title and the beautifully illustrated cover. What I found inside was a nostalgia-filled story that reminded me of the friendships I still carry in my heart even though we’ve all gone our separate ways.
The setting of Fire Island provided the perfect setting and added an almost magical feel. Yes, the friends still went out drinking at night, but during the day, they became the sand castle-building kids of their youth.
While I didn’t love the ending, I tried not to let that shadow my overall enjoyment of the story. I think a lot of people will enjoy the ending, but it just wasn’t for me.
☀️The setting
🗣️ Multiple POV’s
🫶🏼 A love letter to friendship
👏🏼 Perfect summer reading
🤷🏽♀️ The ending was just okay
I recommend reading Serendipity if you’re looking for a light summer read to take to the pool, lake, or beach!
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on StoryGraph:https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
April 28, 2024
Maggie left her high school friends behind six years ago to follow her dreams in California. Now, she comes back to New York defeated only to have to confront everything she left behind, including her former best friend and the man whose heart she broke on her way out of town.
Just like she did with her previous novel, Chalsen crafts a beautiful story about love and friendship all wrapped up in the locale of Fire Island. Here's what I loved:
The setting: Of course. Fire Island works so well in this story, making me not only want to go there, but to easily see why the characters are so enamored with the island. It's beachy and filled with vacation vibes.
The structure: This story is told in sections, each showing the friend group for a weekend each summer month at Fire Island. This worked because it spaced out the story but also got right to the heart of it.
The characters: I really liked all of the characters in this book. Most of the story follows Maggie and Liz, but Chalsen also gives each side character a turn to shine with their own chapter. This added so much depth to the story.
All in all, this was a great book about friendship and love.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy.
Just like she did with her previous novel, Chalsen crafts a beautiful story about love and friendship all wrapped up in the locale of Fire Island. Here's what I loved:
The setting: Of course. Fire Island works so well in this story, making me not only want to go there, but to easily see why the characters are so enamored with the island. It's beachy and filled with vacation vibes.
The structure: This story is told in sections, each showing the friend group for a weekend each summer month at Fire Island. This worked because it spaced out the story but also got right to the heart of it.
The characters: I really liked all of the characters in this book. Most of the story follows Maggie and Liz, but Chalsen also gives each side character a turn to shine with their own chapter. This added so much depth to the story.
All in all, this was a great book about friendship and love.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy.
June 27, 2024
I'm so glad I picked this up. Though centered around the reunion of a group of friends on Fire Island, the story revolves primarily around estranged friends Maggie and Liz. Following three transformative weekends at Serendipity House, I loved the focus on forgiveness, nostalgia, and navigating life in your twenties.
Returning home after a job loss for undisclosed reasons, Maggie is faced with both comfort and confrontation when seeing ex-boyfriend Mac again. And Liz, in the thick of wedding planning, faces her own hardships when forced to address her underlying grief.
It's a really warm, heartfelt story, one that captures that feeling of growing up, trying to hang onto the past in the midst of big changes. In some ways, the ending wasn't what I expected ... but it's exactly what it needed to be. I'm happy with it!
(heat level: closed door)
Returning home after a job loss for undisclosed reasons, Maggie is faced with both comfort and confrontation when seeing ex-boyfriend Mac again. And Liz, in the thick of wedding planning, faces her own hardships when forced to address her underlying grief.
It's a really warm, heartfelt story, one that captures that feeling of growing up, trying to hang onto the past in the midst of big changes. In some ways, the ending wasn't what I expected ... but it's exactly what it needed to be. I'm happy with it!
(heat level: closed door)
July 30, 2024
Quick and fun read but felt like there were a lot of loose ends left unexplored. I’d like to see where this group ends up next.
February 4, 2024
hi! i wrote this book! thank you for being here! a note, and the novel's trigger warnings, below!
Serendipity is about a group of friends who rent a share house on Fire Island for three weekends, over the course of one fateful summer. it is my love letter to friend group trips, to squeezing as many bodies as possible into a rental house, to waking up to the sound of someone making scrambled eggs, falling asleep to the sound of your best friends' laughter. it is about following your dreams, falling in love, and figuring out who you are and who you want to be - all at that sweet-spot age of 25 - while celebrating those friendships that feel like home.
and while the novel takes place in the sun-soaked community of Ocean Beach, Fire Island, where the only thing stronger than the sun rays are the cocktails, it is not all summer fun and games. there are secrets, and heartbreaks, guilt and regret. so, i wanted to add a few trigger warnings below, embedded in this spoiler section here.
from the bottom of my heart, thank you for considering Serendipity, or taking the chance to read this story. my wildest dreams come true every time you turn the page. thank you, thank you, thank you!
Serendipity is about a group of friends who rent a share house on Fire Island for three weekends, over the course of one fateful summer. it is my love letter to friend group trips, to squeezing as many bodies as possible into a rental house, to waking up to the sound of someone making scrambled eggs, falling asleep to the sound of your best friends' laughter. it is about following your dreams, falling in love, and figuring out who you are and who you want to be - all at that sweet-spot age of 25 - while celebrating those friendships that feel like home.
and while the novel takes place in the sun-soaked community of Ocean Beach, Fire Island, where the only thing stronger than the sun rays are the cocktails, it is not all summer fun and games. there are secrets, and heartbreaks, guilt and regret. so, i wanted to add a few trigger warnings below, embedded in this spoiler section here.
from the bottom of my heart, thank you for considering Serendipity, or taking the chance to read this story. my wildest dreams come true every time you turn the page. thank you, thank you, thank you!
June 21, 2024
Now that summer is officially here, you’re probably looking for a good beach read, am I right? May I suggest Becky Chalsen’s latest rom-com, Serendipity? I absolutely adored her debut from last summer, Kismet, so requesting her sophomore release was a no-brainer for me. I’m happy to report that I enjoyed Serendipity just as much—maybe even more.
I absolutely love reading about friendship, and Becky truly delivers with a storyline involving a group of friends from high school, meeting up at their favorite spot on Fire Island as they approach their mid-twenties. A few of the relationships are a bit strained, so you just know that there’s going to be some juicy drama! They’re all dealing with their own life issues, problems, and struggles, which really took me back to that phase of my life. The age where you’re supposed to become a real adult—a solid career, getting married, finding a starter home, etc. You know, when you should finally settle down. Ha! Even though I’m about 20 years older than this crowd, I was still able to connect to their experiences. Becky did a fantastic job of creating an interesting group of relatable and realistic characters.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Friendship fiction
- Early adulthood
- East coast beach town setting
- High school sweethearts
- Reflections on loss, grief, and healing
- Wedding season
- Family drama
- Light romance
- Multiple perspectives
- Starting over and second chances
Overall, this is truly the perfect summer read. It’s fun, light, and breezy, yet has a good dose of serious topics throughout that will hold your attention from start to finish. 4/5 stars for Serendipity! It’s out now!
I absolutely love reading about friendship, and Becky truly delivers with a storyline involving a group of friends from high school, meeting up at their favorite spot on Fire Island as they approach their mid-twenties. A few of the relationships are a bit strained, so you just know that there’s going to be some juicy drama! They’re all dealing with their own life issues, problems, and struggles, which really took me back to that phase of my life. The age where you’re supposed to become a real adult—a solid career, getting married, finding a starter home, etc. You know, when you should finally settle down. Ha! Even though I’m about 20 years older than this crowd, I was still able to connect to their experiences. Becky did a fantastic job of creating an interesting group of relatable and realistic characters.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Friendship fiction
- Early adulthood
- East coast beach town setting
- High school sweethearts
- Reflections on loss, grief, and healing
- Wedding season
- Family drama
- Light romance
- Multiple perspectives
- Starting over and second chances
Overall, this is truly the perfect summer read. It’s fun, light, and breezy, yet has a good dose of serious topics throughout that will hold your attention from start to finish. 4/5 stars for Serendipity! It’s out now!
June 20, 2024
Thank you, Becky, for once again transporting me to Fire Island (even though I’ve never physically been there)! I was excited to read this sophomore novel and it did not disappoint. The multiple POVs allowed me to really get to know each character, and I felt like I was another member of the Serendipity share house, watching everything unfold. I especially appreciated the seamless transitions between chapters - they were so satisfying!
June 14, 2024
This was a refreshing summer read. I enjoyed the multiple povs from getting to know the friendships and the overall setting of fire Island made me want to experience it for myself. Thank you Dutton for the arc!
June 3, 2024
A perfect summer read!
July 1, 2024
Lots of local references. Very good summer read! Takes place on Fire Island and most of the characters are from East Meadow.
April 22, 2024
This book is the perfect summer read about family, friendships, & love. Set on Fire Island in New York where a group of best friends spend one weekend a month at the Serendipity House, they navigate their life in their now early twenties. While the friends may have changed, their love for one another clearly hasn’t. This read will make your heart soar & make you want to catch the next ferry to Ocean Beach in Fire Island.
Thanks to Dutton Books & NetGalley for the ARC :)
Thanks to Dutton Books & NetGalley for the ARC :)
June 26, 2024
2.5⭐️⭐️ooofff this one missed the mark for me - I hated the different perspectives without a name at the top of each chapter. Felt SO whiney and I feel like there wasn’t time for M&M to really see if there spark was still there. Great gab and go book for the beach though…
May 30, 2024
This fun summery novel is about a group of high school friends, who, 7 years after graduation, take a summer share in a house on Fire Island. It’s told primarily from the two perspectives of Liz, who is newly engaged but still grieving the death of her mom, and Maggie, who is just back from LA after sort of ghosting the rest of the group including former best friend Liz, and smarting from her film career failure. There are also occasional chapters from other members of the group.
I liked Becky Chalsen’s first book Kismet, but I enjoyed this one even more. I’m almost twice the age of the main characters in this book, and I didn’t have a cohesive long lasting co-ed high school friend group like the one in this book, but yet I still really enjoyed spending time with these characters. And of course the summer setting makes this a great one to read by the beach or pool!
In some ways, this book really made me think of the early books of authors like Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner when we called such books “chick lit” (and in a positive way.). That is, it is light in tone, but less focused on romance than most of today’s lighter books which are more commonly described as romance or rom com. There is a little bit of romance in the book, but really it’s more about Liz and Maggie figuring out who they are and what they want, and if they can rekindle their past friendship. Indeed, it’s less second chance romance about Maggie’s high school boyfriend Mac and more “second chance friendship” if that’s a thing, and I loved that. I’d also recommend this to fans of authors like Elyssa Friedland and Jane L Rosen (who has also set her last two books on Fire Island!)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out 6/4/24); all opinions are my own.
I liked Becky Chalsen’s first book Kismet, but I enjoyed this one even more. I’m almost twice the age of the main characters in this book, and I didn’t have a cohesive long lasting co-ed high school friend group like the one in this book, but yet I still really enjoyed spending time with these characters. And of course the summer setting makes this a great one to read by the beach or pool!
In some ways, this book really made me think of the early books of authors like Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner when we called such books “chick lit” (and in a positive way.). That is, it is light in tone, but less focused on romance than most of today’s lighter books which are more commonly described as romance or rom com. There is a little bit of romance in the book, but really it’s more about Liz and Maggie figuring out who they are and what they want, and if they can rekindle their past friendship. Indeed, it’s less second chance romance about Maggie’s high school boyfriend Mac and more “second chance friendship” if that’s a thing, and I loved that. I’d also recommend this to fans of authors like Elyssa Friedland and Jane L Rosen (who has also set her last two books on Fire Island!)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out 6/4/24); all opinions are my own.
June 2, 2024
I enjoyed Becky’s debut Kismet, but I absolutely loved Serendipity! This will be a perfect summer read or the book to pick up when you want to be transported to the beach.
I liked having a number of characters perspectives throughout the book with chapters dedicated solely to them. I listened to the audio version and Brittany Presley did an excellent job giving each character their own voice. Maggie and Liz are the main focus throughout the book and they both have their own struggles to overcome and solid growth during the story. They’ve also been estranged since college and I it was great to watch them have difficult conversations with each other about why they needed to go their separate ways.
As someone who lives on Long Island, I loved all of the mentions of places I know and have been to!
Thank you to Dutton for a finished copy and PRH Audio for an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked having a number of characters perspectives throughout the book with chapters dedicated solely to them. I listened to the audio version and Brittany Presley did an excellent job giving each character their own voice. Maggie and Liz are the main focus throughout the book and they both have their own struggles to overcome and solid growth during the story. They’ve also been estranged since college and I it was great to watch them have difficult conversations with each other about why they needed to go their separate ways.
As someone who lives on Long Island, I loved all of the mentions of places I know and have been to!
Thank you to Dutton for a finished copy and PRH Audio for an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2024
This book!!!!
A story about friendship and loss and reconnection. It’s for those who are in their mid twenties and going through life when everyone is on their own track and different timelines. Becky transports you to Fire Island and makes it the dreamiest of times.
There were so many relatable moments. I teared up many times. Told from mostly Maggie and Liz’s POV, but with other characters spread throughout. You truly root for all of them. (Other than Kurt)
I cannot wait for more books from Becky and I cannot wait to visit Fire Island!!
A story about friendship and loss and reconnection. It’s for those who are in their mid twenties and going through life when everyone is on their own track and different timelines. Becky transports you to Fire Island and makes it the dreamiest of times.
There were so many relatable moments. I teared up many times. Told from mostly Maggie and Liz’s POV, but with other characters spread throughout. You truly root for all of them. (Other than Kurt)
I cannot wait for more books from Becky and I cannot wait to visit Fire Island!!
June 24, 2024
3.5 rounded up
A heartfelt, fun, summer romance about starting over, reconnecting with old friends and second chance love. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry's Happy Places, this new book from Becky Chalsen is set on Fire Island, NY over 3 summer weekends that sees old friends reunited when one returns home from their screen writing career in LA and two others getting ready for their wedding. This was a sweet, feel-good, light-hearted read and also excellent on audio narrated by my fav, Brittany Pressley. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley romance for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
A heartfelt, fun, summer romance about starting over, reconnecting with old friends and second chance love. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry's Happy Places, this new book from Becky Chalsen is set on Fire Island, NY over 3 summer weekends that sees old friends reunited when one returns home from their screen writing career in LA and two others getting ready for their wedding. This was a sweet, feel-good, light-hearted read and also excellent on audio narrated by my fav, Brittany Pressley. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley romance for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
August 8, 2024
Easy, quick read. Also a bit of appreciation for how easily this story progressed. I’ve read a lot of books lately that drag out the plot for no reason and the way this story was told in basically 3 weekends really made it flow nicely.
July 11, 2024
Oh wow this book gave me all the feels! It was a story about friendship and grief and forgiveness and second chances. I definitely got Happy Place vibes but almost better? (Blasphemous I know). Liz and Maggie were messy and flawed and had deep issues that they had to work through but man was it worth it. Also the little nod to Marco & Luca’s dumplings at UVA gave me all the feels but that’s irrelevant to most LOL. Such a sweet read!
December 28, 2023
Serendipity by Becky Chalsen is a captivating and relatable story about love, friendship, and second chances. Maggie, a screenwriter, returns home to New York after six years in Los Angeles, unsure about who she's more anxious to see: her ex-boyfriend, Mac, or her ex-best friend, Liz.
Liz, who is engaged to her high school sweetheart, Cam, sees Maggie's arrival as an unwelcome surprise that could derail her perfect summer. However, Maggie's acceptance of the unexpected invitation to join their summer share house, a rental named Serendipity, opens up a chance for her to get her life back on track.
The story is well-written and engaging, and the characters are well-developed. The author has done an excellent job of capturing the complexities of relationships and the dynamics between friends and exes. The book explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the importance of communication in relationships.
The setting of Serendipity, a rental house on Fire Island, adds a magical and romantic element to the story, and the author has done an excellent job of bringing the location to life. The drama of the past catching up to the present adds an element of suspense to the story, making it hard to put the book down.
Overall, Serendipity is a heartwarming and relatable story about love, friendship, and second chances. The book will leave you rooting for Maggie, Liz, and their friends as they navigate the complexities of their relationships and try to find happiness and closure.
Liz, who is engaged to her high school sweetheart, Cam, sees Maggie's arrival as an unwelcome surprise that could derail her perfect summer. However, Maggie's acceptance of the unexpected invitation to join their summer share house, a rental named Serendipity, opens up a chance for her to get her life back on track.
The story is well-written and engaging, and the characters are well-developed. The author has done an excellent job of capturing the complexities of relationships and the dynamics between friends and exes. The book explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the importance of communication in relationships.
The setting of Serendipity, a rental house on Fire Island, adds a magical and romantic element to the story, and the author has done an excellent job of bringing the location to life. The drama of the past catching up to the present adds an element of suspense to the story, making it hard to put the book down.
Overall, Serendipity is a heartwarming and relatable story about love, friendship, and second chances. The book will leave you rooting for Maggie, Liz, and their friends as they navigate the complexities of their relationships and try to find happiness and closure.
September 5, 2024
Maggie has returned to New York after a 6 year stay in Los Angeles where she was working as a screenwriter. She left her very close friends in New York without ever looking back which resulted in a broken relationship with her best friend, Liz.
I enjoyed the way in which much of the story was told through Liz and Maggie’s points of view. It gave insight into all that they had gone through while they were apart.
The characters are very relatable and I loved the theme of forgiveness. It’s a fun and easy read, primarily set on Fire Island. A terrific beach read!
I enjoyed the way in which much of the story was told through Liz and Maggie’s points of view. It gave insight into all that they had gone through while they were apart.
The characters are very relatable and I loved the theme of forgiveness. It’s a fun and easy read, primarily set on Fire Island. A terrific beach read!
June 15, 2024
I feel like this should have been marketed as a new adult novel. The characters all were so immature and juvenile. As someone else said, nearly all of their problems could have been solved by talking and listening instead of running away from anything the slightest bit difficult. There were also too many points of view. The minor characters didn’t need their own chapters in their voices. On the plus side, I liked the Fire Island setting and it made me nostalgic for getaways with friends.
April 11, 2024
Thank you Dutton Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I was truly so excited to read Chalsen’s new book. I read her first book in one sitting last year and it brought such Summer comfort in the middle of Winter. Sadly, this book missed the mark for me. While it still took place (mainly) on Fire Island, it lacked the personal charm of Kismet. It had all the ingredients for a book I’d love but I felt like I couldn’t get to know the characters in the way I expected, based on her first book.
Synopsis:
“It’s been six years since Maggie followed her screenwriting dreams to Los Angeles and forgot to look back. But things in Hollywood didn’t go quite to plan. Now, twenty-five and suddenly home in New York, Maggie doesn’t know who she’s more anxious to see: her ex-boyfriend, Mac, or her ex–best friend, Liz.For Liz, Maggie is the girl who abandoned her at the worst possible moment and an unwelcome surprise who could derail her perfect summer. Liz is recently engaged to her high school sweetheart, Cam, but Maggie’s arrival brings old wounds bubbling to the surface, exposing the cracks in Liz’s apparent happily ever after.When Maggie accepts her former friends' unexpected invitation to join in their summer share house, a rental named Serendipity, she knows it’s the chance she needs to get her life back on track. For three weekends, Maggie, Liz, Cam, Mac, and their closest friends will take the ferry to Ocean Beach, Fire Island, for some sun-kissed bliss, if only they can avoid the drama of their past catching up to the present.With the nostalgic flavor of a stack of sepia-toned Polaroids, and perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Jennifer Weiner, and Ann Brashares, this big-hearted, page-turning story delves deep into a complicated friend group as they navigate one messy yet magical midtwenties summer.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—I loved the author’s debut novel set on Fire Island and while I liked the idea of this book, I just think it kind of missed for me. There was too much going on.
The Group of Friends—I loved the group of friends and the image of them gathering together for multiple weekends in the Summer at a beach house. The dream!
What Didn’t Work:
The Writing—I felt like there was a very distinct shift from the author’s first novel to the second. I didn’t click with the style in this one!
The Switching 3rd POVs—There were so many characters and I felt like I never got to know the ones I wanted to spend time with, as the POVs getting changing. It was also written in 3rd POV making it very impersonal for personal stories.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 2.75/5
I was truly so excited to read Chalsen’s new book. I read her first book in one sitting last year and it brought such Summer comfort in the middle of Winter. Sadly, this book missed the mark for me. While it still took place (mainly) on Fire Island, it lacked the personal charm of Kismet. It had all the ingredients for a book I’d love but I felt like I couldn’t get to know the characters in the way I expected, based on her first book.
Synopsis:
“It’s been six years since Maggie followed her screenwriting dreams to Los Angeles and forgot to look back. But things in Hollywood didn’t go quite to plan. Now, twenty-five and suddenly home in New York, Maggie doesn’t know who she’s more anxious to see: her ex-boyfriend, Mac, or her ex–best friend, Liz.For Liz, Maggie is the girl who abandoned her at the worst possible moment and an unwelcome surprise who could derail her perfect summer. Liz is recently engaged to her high school sweetheart, Cam, but Maggie’s arrival brings old wounds bubbling to the surface, exposing the cracks in Liz’s apparent happily ever after.When Maggie accepts her former friends' unexpected invitation to join in their summer share house, a rental named Serendipity, she knows it’s the chance she needs to get her life back on track. For three weekends, Maggie, Liz, Cam, Mac, and their closest friends will take the ferry to Ocean Beach, Fire Island, for some sun-kissed bliss, if only they can avoid the drama of their past catching up to the present.With the nostalgic flavor of a stack of sepia-toned Polaroids, and perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Jennifer Weiner, and Ann Brashares, this big-hearted, page-turning story delves deep into a complicated friend group as they navigate one messy yet magical midtwenties summer.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—I loved the author’s debut novel set on Fire Island and while I liked the idea of this book, I just think it kind of missed for me. There was too much going on.
The Group of Friends—I loved the group of friends and the image of them gathering together for multiple weekends in the Summer at a beach house. The dream!
What Didn’t Work:
The Writing—I felt like there was a very distinct shift from the author’s first novel to the second. I didn’t click with the style in this one!
The Switching 3rd POVs—There were so many characters and I felt like I never got to know the ones I wanted to spend time with, as the POVs getting changing. It was also written in 3rd POV making it very impersonal for personal stories.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 2.75/5
May 28, 2024
Six years ago Maggie followed her screenwriting dreams to LA, leaving behind her group of high school friends. Now she returns to New York after her career didn't go quite to plan, and tries to rekindle her friendships over three summer weekend trips to Fire Island.
This one was okay for me. I enjoyed the Fire Island setting and nostalgia of weekend trips with friends since it reminds me of my own friend group. Unfortunately the story moved a bit slowly for me — I wasn't sure if we were aiming for a romance or growing friendships but both were lacking a bit. It's full of secrets, heartbreaks, and regrets, but I didn't really connect with any of the characters and just wanted them to talk to one another.
If you want a light beach read give this one a try when it's out June 4.
Thanks PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook copy.
This one was okay for me. I enjoyed the Fire Island setting and nostalgia of weekend trips with friends since it reminds me of my own friend group. Unfortunately the story moved a bit slowly for me — I wasn't sure if we were aiming for a romance or growing friendships but both were lacking a bit. It's full of secrets, heartbreaks, and regrets, but I didn't really connect with any of the characters and just wanted them to talk to one another.
If you want a light beach read give this one a try when it's out June 4.
Thanks PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook copy.
June 3, 2024
I enjoyed this one. It’s mostly about friendship. With some hints of romance.
I liked seeing Maggie return home to New York and reconnect with her high school friends. She has to figure out how to repair her broken relationship with her best friend, Liz. She is also holding onto a secret about why her career in Los Angeles ended and what prompted her to leave.
There were times I felt frustrated with Liz and Maggie’s fight. It felt like Liz was holding onto anger that was built on a lot do them not talking about things. And perhaps some of the hurt was because things happened when then were young. Idk, their argument felt silly.
I enjoyed how the story was told mostly between Liz and Maggie’s perspectives, but you got a chapter here and there from the other characters.
This felt so summery. And it made me want to book a beach weekend with friends. Would definitely recommend for the season.
Thanks PRH Audio for the advanced listening copy.
I liked seeing Maggie return home to New York and reconnect with her high school friends. She has to figure out how to repair her broken relationship with her best friend, Liz. She is also holding onto a secret about why her career in Los Angeles ended and what prompted her to leave.
There were times I felt frustrated with Liz and Maggie’s fight. It felt like Liz was holding onto anger that was built on a lot do them not talking about things. And perhaps some of the hurt was because things happened when then were young. Idk, their argument felt silly.
I enjoyed how the story was told mostly between Liz and Maggie’s perspectives, but you got a chapter here and there from the other characters.
This felt so summery. And it made me want to book a beach weekend with friends. Would definitely recommend for the season.
Thanks PRH Audio for the advanced listening copy.
June 10, 2024
BEST SUMMER READS
Becky Chalsen has done it again with her second beach read novel! Serendipity is an emotional roller coaster I couldn’t put down. The multiple points of view kept me in check and constantly reminded me that you don’t know what someone else is going through. Just when you want to hate someone or get a character out of the way you’re reminded that they have their own stories and feelings too and find yourself then rooting for them. The author has done an amazing job telling a love story not just between high school sweethearts but between best friends as well.
I love this book and if you haven’t already read Kismet while you’re at it!
Becky Chalsen has done it again with her second beach read novel! Serendipity is an emotional roller coaster I couldn’t put down. The multiple points of view kept me in check and constantly reminded me that you don’t know what someone else is going through. Just when you want to hate someone or get a character out of the way you’re reminded that they have their own stories and feelings too and find yourself then rooting for them. The author has done an amazing job telling a love story not just between high school sweethearts but between best friends as well.
I love this book and if you haven’t already read Kismet while you’re at it!
September 18, 2024
Cute summer read! Perfect beach read about friendship, grief, and those magical times in our mid to late 20’s when life is carefree and the days and years seem endless with possibility and joy. That ephemeral period in life before marriage, children, mortgages - ie life takes over and relationships grow distant. I am about 30 years too old for this book, but it gave me wonderful nostalgia about those halcyon days. These are the friends who knew you before you matured and became the grown up version of yourself - and they still love you.
June 29, 2024
I absolutely loved reading this book! I loved meeting all the characters and finding out a little bit more about each of their stories.
And as a LI native I love that Serendipity talks about places I know and go to now!
This was a heartwarming story about friendship, love, grief and just life in general. It made me smile from cheek to cheek and also cry at certain points, but over all it really warmed my heart. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.
Can’t wait for Becky’s next book!
And as a LI native I love that Serendipity talks about places I know and go to now!
This was a heartwarming story about friendship, love, grief and just life in general. It made me smile from cheek to cheek and also cry at certain points, but over all it really warmed my heart. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.
Can’t wait for Becky’s next book!
June 18, 2024
I loved this book! A positive Summer but with depth that actually held my interest and had me invested in the characters. An excellent portrait of friendship and relationships and how they change as we age and our lives change.
June 25, 2024
I devoured this book in a day, even with two toddlers home all day! I already miss these characters that Becky expertly brings to life brilliantly throughout the story. Such a heart filling story about growing up, friendship, love, family, all within the fun setting of fire island. Finishing the book my heart is so full, my eyes are not dry, and I wish there was a hundred more pages in the future to keep me with these characters! Absolutely recommend, especially in these summer months!!!!
July 2, 2024
I picked this up thinking it was a summer romance and it is not. It is about a group of friends from high school who rent a share house on Fire Island. It is about that time in your twenties when your friends are like your family. It is about starting over and difficult choices. While this book has romance in it, it is really a love letter to friendship. I loved it. 4.5 stars.
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