Seven Hundred Beachfront

by Ligia de Wit

A fiercely independent woman. A disillusioned man. And a house that isn’t haunted—just opinionated.
Bev escapes to a quiet seaside town, content to keep the world at arm’s length. Saddled with her younger brother, she plans to stay invisible—just for the summer.
Jeff has returned to the village of his youth, weighed down by the two biggest failures of his life. All he wants is solitude.
But the sea has a way of softening what’s hard. And some houses? They notice things.
In a place where the walls remember and the air hums with memory, Bev and Jeff are drawn into a story of second chances, unexpected connection, and the quiet, stubborn magic of being seen.

Genres: Contemporary

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 22, 2025

About the author

I'm Ligia de Wit, author of the Bradaís Pledge series—a fantasy romance adventure with a unique twist on pirates and a touch of twisted Peter Pan vibes.

Writing in two languages has been both a challenge and a rewarding journey, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you love characters who are strong in more than just a physical sense—who face their fears, embrace their vulnerabilities, and carve out their place in the world—then you're in the right place. That’s my vibe: crafting powerful women who fight for themselves in the heart of fantasy.

Beyond writing, I love getting lost in a good book, watching movies, indulging in delicious meals, exploring new cities, hiking through forests, and—when the mood strikes—acting like a total goof at theme parks. I’m a kid at heart, and I own it!

Come join me in my world of adventure, romance, and just the right amount of magic.

Reviews

[Kryssi]

The thing about this book is that once you immerse yourself, you’re sucked in completely. This was the most magical book I’ve read in a minute in a way that is difficult to describe but I’ll try.

I wasn’t expecting anything like what I just read. And now the feeling after finishing it, is odd. Almost like saying goodbye to an old friend. It was beautiful storytelling of family, friendships, heartache, and life. The imagination of this story was like living as a child again, seeing everything vibrate with life before adulthood dimmed it.

Bev and Bobby were the cutest sibling duo. And their life so reminiscent of mine in a way that was striking and had me rooting for a happy ending for them. And the house, where your imagination and vulnerability could be explored was hauntingly beautiful.

This is the first book I’ve ever read from Ligia de Wit and from what I’ve seen, they normally writes fantasy books. If their fantasy books are anything like this one, I think I’ve found my new favorite author. This is a story that will follow me and be a re-read for a long time.

* I was given this book in an early release in exchange for my honest review*

@bookedbykryssi on IG

[Bre]

I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.

This type of book is not a typical pick for me, I would say this is the definition of a cozy read. This book was a cute small town romance and a nice break from the thrillers and fantasies i typically reach for.

the main character has a lot of internal struggles, fights a lot of her own demons and shows good character growth.

I would recommend to a friend that’s looking for a cozy romance with fade to black/closed door scenes, very minimal spice, that may want a summery book to read on the beach.

There are a few typing errors, in chapter 30 the word diner is referred to as dinner twice. And a few other small errors I failed to save.

Overall I would recommend.

[Jesse Sprague]

700 Beachfront is a quiet, powerful story about healing, connection, and the kind of love that doesn’t come easy—but is worth the work. Legia Dewit brings a subtle touch of magical realism to this emotionally resonant contemporary romance, where even the house has a soul.

Bev is a standout lead—sharp, guarded, and deeply human. Life hasn’t made it easy for her to trust, and watching her come to terms with her role as an older sister to Bobby, while also opening up to her neighbor Jeff, is both frustrating and rewarding in the best possible ways. The relationships in this book feel earned—messy, complicated, and real.

What stayed with me long after finishing was the house itself—Erin. It’s more than a setting; it’s a mirror to Bev’s emotional journey. As Bev begins to heal and accept love, the house begins to change with her. The symbolism is never heavy-handed, but it lands with quiet power.

This is a romance for readers who appreciate emotional depth, flawed characters, and the kind of subtle magic that reflects something truer than realism alone can show. Gritty, graceful, and ultimately hopeful.

[Rebecca Morel]

What!? This book! Never would I have picked something like this to read, however, I received this book to read and review. I'm SO glad I did! It really made me realize I need to expand my reading horizons. In the beginning of the book, Beverly, the main character, irritated me beyond reason. She had an overall attitude I didn't care for. But after learning her backstory, she grew so much through new life experiences. It was sweet how she cared for her younger brother, and learned lessons about life from the house they rented. I found myself cheering her on each time she made an adult decision, and grew I'm her challenging relationships. I could literally not put this book down. You can feel every characters emotions, blended with a little paranormal. if you are looking for a "must read", this is it!

[Dayna]

4.5 stars! This was such a charming book! Bev is not a people person. In fact, I would call her an absolute grump who wishes to remain invisible. Unfortunately for her, she moves to a small seaside town for the summer with her little brother in tow, and there is one thing little towns won't let you do, and that is be invisible.
I loved the growth that Bev did in this book as she faced her own deep-seated mistrust and hurt. She wants to be better and stop being known as the runaway friend, but that takes work, and that is hard to do. The author does a wonderful job balancing the love Bev has for her brother and wanting to protect him while learning to love herself too. It had beautiful and poignant moments balances with humor, most of the latter had to do with the sentient house they rented for the summer. The house is its own character and lets her opinions known. I appreciated that the grumpier man next door slowly opens up, while not instalove, definitely a more grown-up version, while also dealing with his own hurt and healing.
What I wouldn't give to live in a sentient kind of house now. I mean, after reading this book, I can't imagine not wanting to.

"Things are never sunshine and magic, but it’s up to me to make them so."

[Sophie]

[full review to come] I haven’t read anything about houses with sentience since A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas, and it reminds me a little of Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca. There was intrigue through this, and I love the idea so much! 🏠

I had the honour of beta reading this, and the plot is wonderful! I couldn’t put it down and only reluctantly did because I had to go. It’s different from other rom-coms. Usually, it’s grumpy meets sunshine and meet-cutes, this here is two grumpy people trying to make each other happy. Jeff and Bev are so sweet! 🩵

There are some creative and lovely descriptions in here. Aesthetically, the little paragraph divider of the house with a heart is so cute!

[Teresa]

4.5 ⭐️

Seven Hundred Beachfront is a fun romp through Bev and Bobby’s adventures discovering healing at 700 Beachfront, a sentient rascal of a house.

With a touch of magic, humour, and a cast of lovable characters, this book draws you in through its front door and then closes it until you’re done. It’s unputdownable.

The romance moves at a natural pace that feels just right and didn’t make me impatient like slow burn sometimes can. And it didn’t overwhelm the underlying story of confronting past trauma and finding oneself.

The ending hits hard, so be ready (sorry, I can’t expand for fear of giving anything away.)

High notes: Bobby’s staircase song

[Leni Puccio]

This story, set in a charming beachside town, begins as a classic romance but it quickly veers into a surprisingly unexpected, and most delightful, paranormal adventure!
The author weaves a tale that quickly draws you in and captures your imagination leaving you wanting a yellow house in your own life.
If you’re a believer in everyday magic—whether it’s fairies, dragons, or even a grumpy house—you’ll find this book absolutely captivating. If that’s not your usual fare, give it a try anyway; you might just discover a newfound belief in the extraordinary.

[Jolene]

I didn't know what to expect going into this story. Although I have read most of Ligia's books, Seven Hundred Beachfront, had me in tears and giggles right throughout. Home, is something we all strive for in some way. I wish we could all have an Erin in our lives. With a bit of grumpy romance, lots of human issues, and learning how to let down our walls, there's something for everyone. Thank you for writing yet another wonderful story for us to enjoy!

[Bridget Thomas]

I absolutely love reading everything from Ligia de Wit! Another hit for me, with magic, family love, romance, and all different types of feelings are expressed so well, they make you feel all the feels through it all!
I loved the house along with the brother and sister relationship and how it evolved throughout the story. Ligia is one of my favourite authors! Keep them coming and thank you so much for this book!

[Sheri Fields]

What an absolutely deliciously delightful book!!! I don't know when I've enjoyed a book so much as I did this one!!! It was just the book maybe that I needed, something different, a little twist of fun, the characters were fun, and best of all you get to fall in love with a house, seafish, a little boy named Bobby and a list of others...all I can say is read the book, enjoy the book, well done Ligia de Wit I loved it

[Chapter.whispers.reads]

The beginning of this book gave the impression that the protagonist was a stranger beginning a new life and needed a place to start with a younger brother. While the story goes, I feel the words and gained hold of the book. how the old house is being repaired and why no other tenants have been there previously. The house and the character will gradually win your heart.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton]

A fantastic and unexpected treasure of a read. This was a colorful and quirky book including it's grumpy characters. I was expecting a more traditional romance but this story was so much more. With depth, emotion, healing and romance you are drawn into this well written story and it was a delight. I enjoyed every page of it. This is a must read for your summer reading list.

[Karen]

* Grumpy x Grumpy romance
* Sentient/haunted house
* Home repair and a sexy handyman neighbor
* Adorable younger brother
* Small beach town vibes

700 Beachfront is a fun magical realism romance. There's a bit of a mystery, but it’s mostly about letting go of the past. I love stories with sentient houses, so this was a great pick for me.
Bev is very prickly and unpleasant at the beginning and, while it’s pretty understandable, it was still a bit off putting. I did love her relationship with her young brother and the love interest.
While I found the beginning a bit hard to get into, once there was a bit of a thaw between the main characters, I was very invested and raced through the rest. I absolutely loved the ending!

[TheShaylanEdit - Shaylan Miller]

A quirky beach read for the summer?! Sign me up. Not the typical romance read either. Each one of these characters had depth and their own story and relatable issues. It was a joy to see how this book unfolded. I wasn’t expecting the ending but loved the way it all came together.

[CORINNE]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily this was a delightful read

So many emotions so much family history

Bev had a difficult upbringing but what a heart Bobby too was headed the same way until Erin and Jeff

How lovely a concept was Erin throughly enjoyed that part

Hurts and regrets make us closed off but love breaks through and helps us heal

A lovely outcome to some heart wrenching history

A great read

[Jaafar Charafeddine]

A poignant, quietly devastating tale of climate collapse and human resilience. Seven Hundred Beachfront is both a warning and an elegy, told with compassion and clarity.

[Leslie Garcia]

Book Review
ARC Review
Coming Soon July 22, 2025
5⭐️ Star Read

This amazing novel is about a feisty and fiercely independent FMC that is always running away. Her cynicism and distrust is truly apparent right as you start reading this book. She is tired of cleaning up her mother’s messes and being the adult in their one sided mother daughter relationship. However, that didn’t stop her mother from sending her way younger brother for the summer to her while she is off to Europe.

Based on things happening in her life the FMC decides to rent a house by the beach for her and her brother. Little did she know that this is where a path to healing starts. With the help of a very cranky and expressive house, she finds her path forward.

Tropes:
✨ Grumpy vs Grumpier
✨ Found Family
✨ Second Chances
✨ Magical Realism
✨ Slow-burn Romance
✨ Sibling Bonding
✨ Reluctant FMC

For me, reading 700 Hundred Beachfront is like a hug you didn’t know you needed. A warm cozy blanket on a cold and raining day. Basically, It’s a story that I didn’t even know I needed to read. A truly wonderful and compelling storytelling.

[Sarah Rife]

Thanks to NetGalley & Three Amigas Press for the chance to read this book

This is just one of those cute cozy little stories that you can't help but love the characters. Not my normal mystery type book but It was a decent pace read none the less, and it's good to step out of your comfort zone every now and then. Glad i got a chance to read little duckling, bev & Erin's story!

One thing i can say, is the Author did a great job with the emotional parts of the story, In the end I felt compassion for the house and was actually almost shedding tears for a fictional character, as strange as Erin was!

[Aliesha]

This was beautiful, and emotional. Three people with past trauma and current hurt thrown together by a sentient house! It was charming, and sometimes messy. I enjoyed it so much, and Bobby was my favorite of the book. Such a sweet little boy! Amazing story! Some spicy scenes.

[Kelly]

Well written magical book about Bev learning about and healing herself as well as her neighbor. Bev learned a lot about what she is passionate about and what she is willing to fight for.

Bev, in the past, has dealt with her troubles by running from them. She knows this is unhealthy but it's what she does. Bev used to live with her friend Jesse but when Jesse falls in love with Bev's other friend, Bev did not want to be the third wheel. So Bev finds herself in this beach town following a lead on a house with super cheap rent, like something no one wants to pass up on. Only catch is, the older lady that owns the house wants Bev to fix up the house in exchange for super low rent. Everyone in town thinks the house at 700 Beachfront is haunted. No renter ever lasts longer than a month or two. When Bev first sees the house, she can kind of understand why no one stays. The house needs a lot of work. Bev also has her little brother in tow. Bev is in her early 20s I believe and her brother, Bobby, is 5. Bobby and Bev's mother would never win the best Mom award. Their mother cares more about how society sees her than she cares for her own children and Bev has sustained some damage psychologically because of that and she grows attached to Bobby and wants to hang on to Bobby for as long as possible and give him a better summer/childhood.

The house almost scares Bev off too if it hadn't been for Bobby. The house better known as Erin, loves Bobby. Bobby listens to Erin and knows what she likes and doesn't like and advises Bev on what she should and should not do to the house. Once the house is happy, things around the house begin to repair themselves. Have you ever seen a house paint itself? Well, Erin paints herself canary yellow. I will leave you to discover the magic yourself.

I love this book. I love the quirky characters and I love how much Bev changes in just a few short months. I love watching her relationship with the jogger on the beach who then becomes the guy who helps teach Bobby how to swim and then he helps repair the house. Bev can't help but be attracted to him and learns later that he was mad at himself for being attracted to her. He has a lot of hurt in his past too. I love watching Bev and Jeff's story unfold.

Just a sweet, happy book that I think anyone will enjoy.

I received this ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Daniela]

The plot of this well written warmhearted story about a heroine, who has to overcome the neglects she suffered during her childhood, is situated in a cozy seaside town.

She also has decided to bring her young brother Bobby to the seaside town, where she is going t rent a beach house.. Bobby is (as her also) neglected by Carole, their mother. Even if Bev has no experiences with young children, she is determined to take good care of him while Carole is away.

Bobby is the first who experiences the house and declares the house, they are going to live in for the next few months spoke to him. Phantasy of a child, Bev thinks at first.
As we learn during reading, the history of the beach house indeed is a special one. There are strong bonds to the past and with the ongoing story we slowly learn more about the history of the house but also about some other rather strange things that happen, when the house seems to articulate its own thoughts and opinions through inexplicable phenomenons, like the sounds of floorboards, while nobody is walking on them or the dripping water taps, which can’t be repaired, even if they are changed out for new ones. A lot of things that might be harmless or happen by chance…

There are a lot of different characters in this story, but they are rather nicely and slowly introduced to the reader, so its easy to stay tuned. Each main character has to develop courage that finally leads to change and learning something new: Bev has to learn to stop running, when thinking that things won’t work out. Jeff has to learn that trust is possible. Mrs. C has to learn to trust less. Her nephew Howard has to learn leaving the past and his jealousy behind (and about that the jury is still undecided).
This story develops like a woven carpet with an intricate pattern through several strands, the past is influencing the present, and the future and new developments will change the pattern. I suppose, the main message of this novel is: there is still hope, even if the future sometimes does not appear so promising.

I received a free ARC of this novel, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily here.

„Seven Hundred Beachfront“ is emotional, poetic and at the same time also funny. And even with no real suspense it’s simply an amazing read! Highly recommended for romance readers who like their books with some sprinkles of mystery.

[M Lowe]

This book was phenomenal. No exclamation marks needed. It absolutely sold itself within the first few pages and then beguiled, laid it's characters bare and pulled all my emotions from me over the course of it's 370-odd pages.

Magical realism is a wonderful genre, where ordinary lives are elevated by something otherworldly - in this case an opinionated house. I loved the small town setting and the 'everybody knows everybody else's business' vibe that is often joked about but which the author spun to show the care that - almost all the time - goes hand in hand with it. Bev, the FMC, was jaded, walled off and cynical when she moved in, with an attitude of "This small-town vibe didn’t fit my city-girl style.". If that wasn't a clue of impending growth, I don't know what is!

I loved how Ms de Wit wrote parallel journeys of change for several characters. Multiple grumpy MC's could easily be offputting but the author has an exceptional gift for writing emotions in a way that explains causes and long term effects so that the characters are sympathetic and their mutual healing becomes a thing of heartwarming beauty. Her imagery and phrasing really are superb and ensured many paragraphs and scenes resonated and found a home in my heart - "Seagull cries invited me to leave my bed, and the soft light of dawn eased a sigh from my lips."

I really enjoyed spending time with all the core characters but I think Bobby might have been my favourite for the ripple effect his presence brought. His age belied the affect he had on those around him, helping them open their hearts up to life; plus he was just a lovely, lively boy.

There is so much to delight in within this story and I could keep listing all the quotes that had me returning to them for rereads, the personal damage that was exposed then delicately eased, the hopefulness of the ending....but I'll just highly recommend it to fans of stories of careful journeys towards optimistic futures with unexpected love as the reward.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“We’ll figure that out too. Together.”

[Tracy Nakatani]

This book encapsulates the feeling of getting a bit warm hug on a really crappy day. But it's not just the warm hug feeling, it's that feeling in-between, when you're first falling into that hug after a bad day. A feeling of warmth and relief.

Bev is a broken woman trying to scrape together pieces of her life. Pieces she kind of let fall all over the place in her attempt to run from life in general. She ends up renting a shabby seaside house that all the locals believe is haunted. Bev's deal is to fix up the house in exchange for low rent. Begrudgingly, she's saddled with her with her baby brother (20 year age gap or so). So Bev has to babysit while fixing the house and starting up her new business. But poor Bev has never really taken care of anyone but herself and has to navigate the challenges of caring for her little brother who's never really had proper care.

Little does Bev know the house observes all. And the house, well, it has a mind of its own. When Bev tries to fix it up as per her rental agreement, things don't go according to plan. The house seems to reject everything Bev tries to do for it. But her little brother seems to have a deep connection to the house, advising Bev on what it does and doesn't like. At first, she dismisses her brother's insistence the house is alive. That's crazy talk. But slowly, reluctantly, she begins to listen to her brother. And she starts to understand.
It's not until Bev works on herself that the house begins to fix itself too.

There's just so much about this book that I love. Bev is so relatable. She's jaded, skeptical, hurt, and very protective not only over herself and her feelings, but of her little brother too. The love interest is just as flawed and hurt. It's so satisfying to watch this story unfold and watch everyone heal.

Like I said, this whole book is like receiving a big warm hug on a really bad day, and this is a story I could (and have) read over and over and over again.

Having a bad day? Go visit 700 Beachfront. Go heal.

[Alyssia Cooke]

Seven Hundred Beachfront is a cute and cozy novel with very light fantasy edges and magical realism, but a focus on relationships, families and coming to terms from past trauma and childhood hurts as an adult. It's a gentle read, with a small town romance at the heart of it, but also a lovely depiction of family bonds and finding yourself.

Bev is perhaps not the easiest person to get along with. She's been hurt in the past and that's left her sharp, jaded, quick to move on and loathe to let anyone in. She's been stuck with her little brother Bobby after her mother has swanned off on a summer vacation and finds herself reminded at every turn of her own childhood traumas even as she's determined to be nothing like her mother. When she finds an amazing deal on rent at a beachfront properly, Bev thinks she's won the lottery. Only this house is a house like none other as she will soon find out.

This is a sweet novel and portrays Bev's growth and healing throughout the novel well. I loved the relationship that grew between Bev and Bobby as well. But the star of the show is absolutely the house. The way Bev and the house mirror each other and the author depicts the trauma and pain in both is wonderful and there's a real feel-good factor to watching the two of them start to deal with their own issues.

I will admit that I wasn't particularly enamoured with the romance angle and found myself speed reading through the sections that were dedicated to it, but those who are actually interested in the grumpy character romance will probably find more to interest them there. My main niggle is that out of everything I felt the ending was rushed which was a shame. Having spent it's time getting there, it seemed to be wham, bam and gone for no real reason.

All in all, this is a very human book and spends a lot of time on the relationships and dynamics between the characters and the house itself. It's a slow novel with a meandering pace that refuses to go anywhere in a hurry, taking time to build up the characters and get a real sense of their past and their present. It was a quiet and cozy read and I'm definitely all for more books with sentient properties.

[Jen Bair]

I went into this book expecting a decent read. It started off decent (as expected), but snowballed into a marvelously poignant ending that had me fighting tears in the best way. This story has a crusty exterior with a gooey heart center leading to an emotional, tumultuous conclusion that rolls through you like thunder through storm clouds.

Ligia's characters are diverse and unique, but the true star in this book is the setting. When the main character, Bev, moves in at Seven Hundred Beachfront with her little brother, the house speaks to her in a way that delights her brother, but gets under Bev's skin. The house needs some work, but Bev's frequent trips to the store have her questioning the house's history.

What she doesn't know is in her cozy new town, a monster lurks, an enemy hiding in plain sight with a grudge that spans a lifetime. Bev has her hands full acclimating to her new digs, but she'll need her feet on firm ground to fend off the circling predators...who don't like city girls in small towns. Is staying in the house her brother loves really worth the hassle? Read and find out!

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian)]

SEVEN HUNDRED BEACHFRONT is a story about a house, if the title didn't clue you in. This is not the usual genre I go for, but the blurb had me intrigued.

It is a cosy read that takes place over a couple of months during the summer, when Bec rents the house while she looks after her five-year-old brother, Bobby. Their summer stay becomes more interesting when the house starts making her opinions known, and both Bobby and Bev are able to understand her.

With a small town cast of supporting characters, there is a love interest in Jeff, the next door neighbour, plus some angst in the most un-mother I've ever had the displeasure of reading about.

Told from Bev's perspective throughout, this was a sweet read that I enjoyed. The intimate scenes are either very low spice or fade-to-black. If you want a story with a beach setting while you're sat at the beach, then I can definitely recommend this one.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 25, 2025

[Sarcastically Yours Jen]

Seven Hundred Beachfront was a cute, dilapidated house in a prime location right near the beach. Tenants came & went because this little gem of a house had some quirky tendencies to act up when the house didn't like what the tenants were doing in it. Bev & her brother Bobby came to the area looking for a fresh start. As Bev was a runner, she constantly ran away from her problems. Her mother dumped her brother on her, going off chasing a new man. Knowing she didn't want her little brother to go through the pain of constant abandonment from his parents. She took on the challenge of raising him. Seven Hundred Beachfront was just what Bev needed to find herself, stop running, and deal with her past. I liked this book a lot. Read it; it's a very cute beach book. . *I received this as an ARC reader and am leaving my unbiased review.

[Suzy Olear]

Seven Hundred beachfront is that rare find of everything I enjoyed in a book. Mystery, love, loss, family and a mysterious house that holds its own secrets.
When Bev and her little brother move into a shabby Beach side house, they find it for a bargain to a mysterious old lady. But this isn't any normal house. It's... Alive. And it has a history and a story it tells throughout the book. Bev isn't sure who to trust and finds herself, despite herself, falling for the mysterious man next door who holds his own secrets.
This book is fantastic and kept me up at night reading page after page. I love Ligia and her writing and this mystery thriller was exciting to the very end. I hope Ligia continues on with this little series. It was an adventure I'm sure you will want to enjoy.

[Terry]

What can I say. I should have read this sooner. So many emotions. You root for Bev. She’s been hurt and left behind and neglected so many times that she doesn’t want to try anymore. She doesn’t want to feel hurt or broken. She put up a strong wall.
Then comes Bobby. The little brother, 20 years younger than her. She knows how he feels and she doesn’t want him to end up like her…broken and neglected.
Next comes Erin, the house. Bobby believed in her first. Crazy as it sounded, Erin talked to him and he understood.
Bobby comes out of his shell and gives life. Life and meaning to Erin, Bev, and Jeff.
The ending was so sad and then so overwhelmingly happy. My heart dropped so low only to be overcome with joy on the last page.
Well done!