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Pearl Beach
A life-affirming coming-of-age novel about friendship, family and the bittersweet beauty of growing up!
For Billie, summer has already meant Pearl Beach - foaming white waves and lazy mornings, old Aunt Edith and above all, her best friend Andy. But this year, Andy is determined to grow up. Billie wants to change too, but why does growing up feel like losing their friendship forever?
Then Aunt Edith gives Billie the diary she kept as a teenager. Inside is a tale of extraordinary survival - of feeling persecution and crossing oceans, of agonizing betrayal and breathtaking first love. Guided by Edith's past, can Billie find the courage to face her own future?
Praise for Pearl Beach
'This poetic novel flows with lyrical ease' Jamila Gavin, author of My Soul, A Shining Tree
'A delightful coming-of-age verse novel' Tia Fisher, author of Crossing the Line
'A stunning book that perfectly interweaves poetry and history' Gráinne O'Brien, author of Solo
For Billie, summer has already meant Pearl Beach - foaming white waves and lazy mornings, old Aunt Edith and above all, her best friend Andy. But this year, Andy is determined to grow up. Billie wants to change too, but why does growing up feel like losing their friendship forever?
Then Aunt Edith gives Billie the diary she kept as a teenager. Inside is a tale of extraordinary survival - of feeling persecution and crossing oceans, of agonizing betrayal and breathtaking first love. Guided by Edith's past, can Billie find the courage to face her own future?
Praise for Pearl Beach
'This poetic novel flows with lyrical ease' Jamila Gavin, author of My Soul, A Shining Tree
'A delightful coming-of-age verse novel' Tia Fisher, author of Crossing the Line
'A stunning book that perfectly interweaves poetry and history' Gráinne O'Brien, author of Solo
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
lovely coming of age story.
May 28, 2026
Absolutely stunning.
June 2, 2026
A beautiful verse novel that perfectly captures being 13, combined with the stories of Holocaust survivor.
Billie and Andy spend every summer together at Pearl Beach, but this summer, Andy is different... Billie isn't ready to grow up yet, and feels like Andy has left her behind. We get to live through Billie's friendship struggles (which felt viscerally like being 13 again, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not!!), but I loved that Billie never tried to change herself to 'fit in'.
Pearl Beach also features Edith, Billie's Great Aunt. Edith came over to Australia after WW2, and is a Holocaust survivor, and Billie always feels uncomfortable around her - what do you say to someone who has gone through so much? We also get to follow Billie as she starts to get to know Edith, and realise that she was just 13 once too...
The writing was beautiful, while still fitting our 13 year old main character, and the two themes flowed together very naturally. An excellent book for middle grade readers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
Billie and Andy spend every summer together at Pearl Beach, but this summer, Andy is different... Billie isn't ready to grow up yet, and feels like Andy has left her behind. We get to live through Billie's friendship struggles (which felt viscerally like being 13 again, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not!!), but I loved that Billie never tried to change herself to 'fit in'.
Pearl Beach also features Edith, Billie's Great Aunt. Edith came over to Australia after WW2, and is a Holocaust survivor, and Billie always feels uncomfortable around her - what do you say to someone who has gone through so much? We also get to follow Billie as she starts to get to know Edith, and realise that she was just 13 once too...
The writing was beautiful, while still fitting our 13 year old main character, and the two themes flowed together very naturally. An excellent book for middle grade readers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
July 6, 2026
This is a stunning debut novel.
Told in verse, PEARL BEACH nails that feeling of being thirteen, going on fourteen, and both wanting to cling to your childhood and still be treated like a grown up. Of friendships that have felt so safe and comforting suddenly changing and not knowing how to navigate them. It captures the feeling of a summer vacation with your family and loved ones and how it feels to be on the precipice of everything changing and just how scary and exciting that can be.
Seeing Andy's journey parallel with Aunty Edith's though her journal entires and her stories hits you square in the chest, and I was so absorbed in this family, I finished the book in one sitting.
A beautiful novel about family, never losing your ability to hope for something better, and growing up all told through the eyes of a well loved beach house. Such a gorgeous read.
Told in verse, PEARL BEACH nails that feeling of being thirteen, going on fourteen, and both wanting to cling to your childhood and still be treated like a grown up. Of friendships that have felt so safe and comforting suddenly changing and not knowing how to navigate them. It captures the feeling of a summer vacation with your family and loved ones and how it feels to be on the precipice of everything changing and just how scary and exciting that can be.
Seeing Andy's journey parallel with Aunty Edith's though her journal entires and her stories hits you square in the chest, and I was so absorbed in this family, I finished the book in one sitting.
A beautiful novel about family, never losing your ability to hope for something better, and growing up all told through the eyes of a well loved beach house. Such a gorgeous read.
Review of advance copy
I went into this skeptical of the verse format, but I’ve been completely won over. This is a beautiful, heartwarming story about the complexities of growing up. The protagonist is written with such kindness and purity that you can’t help but root for her. Seeing her navigate the 'tween' years while uncovering Edith’s past was a total joy. I can't recommend it enough.
Received an advanced copy from Pansing @definitelybookskids in exchange for an honest review :)
Received an advanced copy from Pansing @definitelybookskids in exchange for an honest review :)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews