Pink Whales

by Sara Shukla

Falling in with the cool moms of her preppy New England town might upend one woman’s life, in a sparkling and sharp-witted novel about marriage, escape, and deceptively tidy little lives.

Charlie is already feeling adrift when she relocates to an exclusive town in coastal New England with her mysteriously distant husband, Dev, and their young twins in tow. She hopes the move will recharge her stalled marriage, and she wants her kids to feel like they belong, even if she’s clearly a fish out of water herself. In a strange new world where summer is a verb and both the harbor and the partygoers are awash in a dizzying constellation of pinks and pastels, she’s never felt so confounded or alone. She’ll need more than a preppy handbook to find her way.

Then a trio of power moms—imposing, beautiful, and monogrammed—comes to the rescue, and Charlie clings to their attention like a life raft. As Dev pulls further away, Charlie dives into her newfound friends’ circle of yacht clubs, rivalries, and bizarre theme parties, hoping to find her sea legs. She even dares to cozy up to a hot, barefoot, and aggressively flirty local. But if she’s running from her problems at home, where exactly is she escaping to? Charlie is beginning to wonder. This ridiculous new normal—and her desire to be part of it—might just eat her alive.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Summer Reads, Book Club, Audiobook, Romance

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Addy Murphree · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few thoughts…
1.) I was bored reading this.
2.) The issues Charlie was having with literally everyone in the book was purely because of her zero communication skills. And Dev’s. She thought her marriage was falling apart but yet couldn’t ever just ask him about it?
3.) This book addressed VERY serious topics, namely addiction, yet it was lighthearted? Felt like a beach read? Maybe that was the point.

[tawny•dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

let me begin with the good:
-it was a quick listen
-it takes place in coastal New England
-our MMC is a doctor with a slight British accent
-lots of relatable mom moments

the bad:
-preppy white-collar characters stereotypes
-FMC has no real agency, and very low self-esteem, which is a huge pet peeve of mine in characters
-it didn’t feel realistic that someone who grew up in the South was so unaware of preppy-ness. A lot of places in the South are extremely preppy, and old money runs deep. So, some of the FMC’s confusion or lack of knowledge felt more like she was just sheltered, or just not a realistic character device.
-overall the FMC is a frustrating character, and I struggled to empathize
-disjointed sub-plot/commentary on opioids which felt out of place, then became a major plot point, but I wasn’t invested

This setup really needed more development for me. I don’t mind “glimpse into a life” style books, but there is something missing here. A big twist or shift in expectations. It wasn’t it for me. 2 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, and Brilliance Audio for this advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review!

[Kate Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun and a little wacky. Great recommendation from Annie Hartnett who is one of my favorite authors.

[sal 🪩 · Rating 1 out of 5]

charlie is probably one of the most annoying narrators i’ve ever come across. she would experience a bunch of embarrassing moments that were supposed to be funny and relatable but they were literally just embarrassing. it got so bad to the point where she started hallucinating talking to her friend’s druggie husband in an effort to save her marriage, which doesn’t work for obvious reasons, but she also was refusing to have a serious talk with her husband up until one of their kids goes missing and then she finally chooses to have a serious talk with him instead of continuing to look for their kid. her husband def has some shit to work on but she was constantly accusing him of cheating so she almost cheats on her husband in return just to find out that her husband was actually in therapy and that’s why he was never around

there was nothing redeemable about charlie in the slightest and i can’t imagine that she was genuinely written to be a likable character

[Carly Goodwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

womp womp honk shoo

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. When Charlie, her husband Dev and their two children move to New England for Dev's work, its a new experience for all of them. Charlie tries to fit in with the "in" crowd - stay at home moms who go to the beach club every day, organize neighborhood parties and the like, Dev is working as a doctor at a medical clinic with an old college friend and Charlie can't help but be a bit suspicious and jelaous, since Dev's friend is a woman. Pink Whales makes a fun, frothy summer read. Its about fitting in, changes in marriage and in location. A solid beach read. ***3.5 stars***

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

PINK WHALES is a can’t-miss coastal romp where Charlie navigates the choppy waters of her new preppy town on a quest to save her marriage and bring her family together. I loved every page. Shukla has a gift for writing humor that hits deep while also exposing truth and the raw emotion that makes the story both relatable and unforgettable.

[Meredith Moomaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good even if it took me way too long to read it.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lured in by a publisher description of "sparkling and sharp-witted", a front cover blurb from a favorite author (Annie Hartnett), the coastal summer setting, and a Kindle deal, I gave this fish-out-of-water story of a young mom moving to an exclusive New England town a try... and sadly it was not for me. If you like a snarky look at a rich person/yacht club life, or mommy/rich lady satire type stuff, you might enjoy it as a breezy beach read; for me, these things can come off as slapstick plot and caricature characters, which is what happened here - felt way unrealistic and like I didn't actually get to know any fully fleshed-out characters. And the mix of for-comedic-effect shenanigans as the main character tried to fit in to the rich and preppy life of her new town (taking someone's weed gummies and getting locked in their wine cellar, her kids puking into the hosts' fancy Yeti coolers and cleaning it up with their cashmere sweaters on a yacht outing, etc.) in the same book alongside the serious bits about her husband's medical practice serving people affected by the opioid crisis made for too much of a yo-yo effect, unfortunately.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always drawn to a good story set in New England! The plot of this book was very interesting, and not predictable in my opinion. I enjoyed seeing the character development of the main character as she figured out how to adjust to a new home and lifestyle. Though technically, I would say there was a miscommunication trope, I really appreciated that it was subtly done and it wasn’t clear quite how it would turn out. Ultimately, I really enjoyed this read and I found it to be deeply engaging.

[Blythe Josovitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that the plot of this book was too slow and not much happened throughout it. I did however, like the overall theme of trying to fit in somewhere completely different and the challenges with that. I also liked that the book took place in New England (as I'm from there), but I thought that the characters in the book felt like stereotypes instead of real people.

[Lauren | Wordsbetweenlines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay guys, we all know this. I LOVE rich people that behave poorly. I cannot get enough. And this town has so many little Richies that are wild brats. Loved it.

Also, it’s about a family that is not that. Living in this town that is full or country club types and their webs of lies.

I enjoyed it entirely.

Read if you enjoyed: Pineapple Street, Friends in Nappa or The Fake

Thank you firefly distribution services for this copy. It was such a joy to read.

[Rachel Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance of "Pink Whales."
When Charlie, her husband Dev, and their children start anew in a wealthy, seaside town in New England, Charlie navigates fitting in with the country clubbing, designer wearing upper-crust residents. Amidst beach club gatherings and neighborhood parties, Charlie grapples with her identity in her marriage and social circle, making "Pink Whales" a delightful beach read.

[Carly Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beach read. Nothing crazy.

[Torrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 we almost got to a four stars but the last 1/3 to a 1/4 let me down w the plot 🥲 cute fever dream beach town read w housewife drama about growing into yourself

[Mariah Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute read. Went fast, enjoyed the New England summer setting

[Bri Fournier · Rating 3 out of 5]

❌DNF😓
I REALLY wanted to finish this book. I saw it during a lunch walk at a bookstore and it the story sounded like it would take me somewhere but it just didn't do that. I hate the idea of leaving something undone/not seeing it through to the end but I really just couldn't get into it.

[alyssa pino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Random kindle unlimited find. Loved the Cape Cod setting ofc and enjoyed that it went a little bit deeper than the real housewives vibe I expected. Not the best read but still not bad!

[Neha · Rating 1 out of 5]

maybe this is what kicks off my next year of being ok with DNFing and not putting myself through the absolute dumpster fire of a book that this is. this would have put me in a reading slump so i’m just gonna get ahead of it while i can

[Abby Salois · Rating 5 out of 5]

School was cancelled today because of the snow, but I'm at the yacht club with Sara Shukla's delightful novel, PINK WHALES. It is the story of Charlie, who has moved to a ritzy coastal town in New England with her doctor husband and young twins and finds herself utterly lost. Her efforts to fit in with the club moms of Rumford result in hilarity again and again. The setting is so well-rendered, the reader could sit down at the bar and order a mudslide or plan the characters' outfits from seersucker to Sperrys.   

There were so many scenes that made me laugh out loud. The garage gym; the book club, then the gummies and the wine cellar dungeon, and these are only a few. Just ridiculously funny stuff and such a blast to read. I loved the unlikely friendship and the thoughtfully drawn characters throughout, like the youtuber grandparents with their travel vlog. The protagonist, Charlie, is certainly flawed like all of us are and her flaws only make her more lovable.

But it's not all fun and games. There are weighty themes woven throughout the plot: Access to healthcare in low income communities; massive  income disparities when it comes to the availability and quality of substance abuse treatment; the ways in which millennial men address their mental health (or don't); burnout among physicians; the self-doubt and identify crises that so many mothers experience. Yes, it's a funny book, but it's true to life in that there are many sought-after towns on the New England coast that might as well be on different planet when compared to their under-resourced, post-industrial neighbors. All relevant issues that warrant our reading time. PINK WHALES is a total triumph. I want to read it again!

[Jxn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sara Shukla's "Pink Whales," Charlie embarks on a journey of self-discovery and resilience as she navigates her new life in an exclusive coastal town. Uprooted from her familiar surroundings, she yearns to revitalize her marriage and provide a sense of belonging for her young twins. As she grapples with feelings of isolation and displacement, a trio of seemingly perfect power moms offers a glimmer of hope. However, as Charlie delves deeper into their world of social events and rivalries, she begins to question if this newfound acceptance is worth the cost of neglecting her true self and the issues within her family. Shukla's writing is sharp and observant, capturing the complexities of relationships, the nuances of social dynamics, and the longing for a place to belong. Through Charlie's eyes, readers are immersed in a world of wealth and privilege, where appearances and social status hold sway. The story deftly explores the themes of identity, belonging, and the sacrifices we make in pursuit of acceptance. Charlie's character is both relatable and compelling. Her struggles to connect with her husband, her desire to be a good mother, and her search for her own identity will resonate with readers. Shukla also skillfully portrays the power dynamics at play within the community of wealthy families, highlighting the often-hidden tensions and rivalries that lie beneath the surface of perfection. "Pink Whales" is a thought-provoking and entertaining read that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the search for fulfillment. Shukla's writing is insightful and engaging, weaving a tale that will stay with readers long after they finish the final page.

[Mindee Bacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel about rich people behaving badly is what I thought this book was going to be about, but it was so much more! A very enjoyable read with lessons in morals taught throughout.

Charlie and her husband, Dev, move to an affluent seaside New England town, where the very well-to-do “summer”. Dev is a doctor and has joined a practice with his ex-girlfriend and it leaves Charlie with anxiety and worry that there is more going on than work. As Charlie is struggling with never seeing Dev and raising her twins by herself, she is befriended by the rich mom group of the neighborhood. As secrets are revealed and this luxury lifestyle is shared with Charlie, she begins to find out who are her true friends and who are not.

I was surprised that there was so much depth in this novel and I really enjoyed listening to it in an audiobook. The narrator was Whitney Dykhouse and she did a fantastic job. I also thoroughly enjoyed Charlie’s parents, who were YouTube travel influencers, and there were little check-ins with them throughout the book. I found that very humorous because I watch those types of travel vlogs.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for allowing me to read this Advanced Readers Copy. It has my full recommendation when it is published on June 4, 2024. #NetGalley #PinkWhales

[Amy Linton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Busy mother of oopsie twins, Charlie has just moved to New England from North Carolina with her sweet physician husband, Dev. The child of nomadic parents, Charlie longs for a sense of home. But the level of privilege, arcane preppy traditions, and the importance of a pristine pair of white jeans when going to the yacht club --!

And frankly, things aren't going great with Dev. He's working late at the drug-treatment clinic (alongside his attractive former flame) and he's growing less emotionally available as each summery day passes, so when the glamorous set around town picks her up and plunks her into their snooty midst, Charlie is (mostly) enthusiastic.

Still, it's not in her nature to fall into this casual flirtation with a charming stranger, and even when bartending, she NEVER drank like this...

Appealing and cute as a madras skirt, this breezy beach read offers plenty of heart and humor. Extra credit for not ignoring the social ills on the other side of the social scale! The novel calls to mind early Susan Isaacs for giving us a smart, flawed hero who finds her way while being -– ultimately––superior to her zip code in all the important ways.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little A for the eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

[Susie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

{thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this audiobook!}

Pink Whales is an enjoyable summer read and I liked listening to it for the most part. It's not the kind of book that totally blew my mind or that's going to be super memorable to me, but sometimes you just want a light-hearted book that's enjoyable enough and this fits the bill.

I'm a sucker for books that take place in coastal New England towns and in Pink Whales, Charlie and her husband Dev and their kids move from the South to New England. Charlie immediately feels like she's going to have a little trouble fitting in with the other moms in town seeing that she's a bit younger than them and they all seem to have a lot of money and extremely preppy lifestyles. Dev is working a ton and rarely around and Charlie is also very insecure about his female co-worker.

I loved Charlie's unhinged social awkwardness and the things she blurted out for absolutely no reason. But for the most part, the book is a little bit slow and not overly exciting. Things do happen to move the plot around, but they didn't feel totally realistic. I should also mention the book talks a lot about addiction, but in a more lighthearted way.

Overall, Pink Whales makes a good beach read, but it isn't going to stick with me for the long-term!

[Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pink Whales is a debut novel about a frazzled mother of twins (Charlie) who relocates with her doctor husband (Dev) to a preppy, affluent seaside town in the Northeast. A chance meeting with the "cool moms" of her new town launches her into the stratosphere of this Vineyard Vines yacht club set. I was drawn to this book because I love a good beach read set in New England! The story also featured one of my favorite tropes, an outsider, or in this case, a fish out of water.

It's no surprise that the book features many fun elements of rich people behaving badly. That being said, I also appreciated how the author focused on Charlie's desperation to reconnect with her overworked husband, forge close female friendships, and rediscover her sense of self after the haze of new motherhood.

My least favorite trope (miscommunication) was featured, which I wasn't thrilled about, but it was done in a more realistic and nuanced way than many other novels. I would wholeheartedly recommend this if you are seeking a witty and fresh take on marriage, motherhood, friendship, and fitting in.

I look forward to reading the future works of Shukla! Thank you to Little A and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie is looking forward to a change, and the move to a new New England coastal town, is just what she's hoping will allow for her family to become closer yet again. Its a new start, and an opportunity to finally break into her husband, Dev's, new found quietness and secretiveness. However, the new town is not exactly as they imagined...there are so many MONOGRAMS... and so MUCH money! So when Charlie is accepted into a group of preppy moms that "Summer" in her new town, she clings to what she hopes will become new friendships, but there are certainly some dynamics she has to navigate first!

This is a great summer read for anyone looking for an interesting novel of working through difficulties with your spouse, and children. Then go ahead and add some comedic scenes at the rich new Englander's expense, and you have this novel. I found it to be enjoyable for what it was, and would recommend to those looking for a fun beach read.

The audio quality was good, and enjoyable to listen.

[Megan Bolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emojis: ⛵️🍸🧢👟🩺🫣

First, thank you @sarashukla for the copy of this book that I thoroughly loved! I’m grateful you found me through @ncrochiere and look forward to more of your work. This is a book I hope to gift to friends in the future!

Mean Girls meets Real Housewives in #pinkwhales by #sarashukla - a contemporary fiction narrated by busy mom of whoopsie twins and wife of the town doctor, Charlie. Charlie spends the book navigating a move to a new town and trying to make the best of a burnt out situation in her personal life, but one slippery slope of committees and cocktails makes her question if she bit off more than she could chew. When the country club kids have monogrammed everything and you’re just trying to survive in a baggy tee, where do you start to fit in?

I really empathized with Charlie in this book. Trying to find your grove and fit in, on top of being a mom and a wife and YOURSELF can feel like an endless cycle of circus acts. Especially when you feel like your life has landed this way because of situations rather than conscious decisions of what YOU wanted. I felt like Charlie was deeply insecure because of this snowball dynamic her life has taken on that led her to feel trapped rather than steady and stable.

I LOVED the depictions of country club life. There’s always gossip at the cabanas and everyone has their own secrets, and nobody’s life really is as perfect as it seems. I wish we had a little bit more emotional attachment to the opioid epidemic storyline because I felt it was valuable but needed depth. Also, Charlie was just funny. Her internal monologue was relatable and made you understand her insecurities. I’m hoping for Simons story soon🤭

#boldsbooks #bookreview #bookrecommendations

[BookBlanketFort · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, breezy read that I just flew through. The main character is a stay at home mom who moves to a tony New England beach town following her doctor husband’s career. Over the course of the summer, she gets embroiled in the local mom gossip and intrigue. But are there more sinister forces under the vapid mom drama?

This main character is the self deprecating type usually gets under my skin. You know the klutzy, self-doubting mom with out of control kids? When there’s nuance I find this relatable, But done wrong, it simply grates on me. That’s this main character. And yet, I could not stop turning the pages.

This has everything for a breezy beach read. Armchair travel, check. Marriage problems that are troubling but not insurmountable, check. A dash of fish out of water, check. Fast-paced story, check.

Life changing, no, but an enjoyable read.

Thanks Netgalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun with this light read about a family that moves to a beach town where many rich folks summer and while the mom, Charlie, gets to know all the wealthy women and their secrets and gossip, her husband who works at a local medical center is struggling and they are talking to each other less and less.

There are a lot of funny moments in this book, and a lot of not-so-funny moments too. It is told with humor and doesn't take itself too seriously but there are some serious topics tackled in this book. Some of the characters are over the top and not as three-dimensional as they could have been.

But I still found this book to be very enjoyable and read it all in one sitting. I think it will be a lovely and fun beach read!

with gratitude to netgalley and Little A for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars A satiric, character-driven beach read novel that dives into sense discovery and resilience. Charlie is a stay-at-home mother of twins who tries to “fit in”in her new preppy, affluent New England town. She hardly sees her doctor husband, Dev and harbors jealousy towards his female clinic partner. Secrets are revealed about the town, its residents and even her personal life as she befriends the social elites. The writing style was full of amazing one-liners such as “I felt like a mismatched accessory in a marble kitchen”. The female narrator did a great job portraying the different characters and their emotions, making the experience of listening an enjoyable one.
My graphic design trained heart really appreciates the simplistic, emotive cover design!
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for a copy of this audiobook.