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The Beach Shack Summer
An uplifting family saga about family, forgiveness, and finding where you belong.
When Tyler Walsh walks back into Laguna Beach with an unexpected companion, the rhythms of the Beach Shack are turned upside down. Meg is still learning how to balance her consulting career with her growing bond with Luke, but she can’t ignore the ripple effect Tyler’s return has on the family.
The Shack’s matriarch, Margo, knows that change is never simple—and that the summer festivals have a way of stirring up both joy and conflict. As the days unfold, old wounds resurface, new connections spark, and the Walsh family is forced to decide what kind of future they want to build together.
Set against the sunlit cliffs, vibrant festivals, and salt air of Laguna Beach, The Beach Shack Summer is an uplifting sisters fiction story of second chances, family bonds, and later-in-life love.
When Tyler Walsh walks back into Laguna Beach with an unexpected companion, the rhythms of the Beach Shack are turned upside down. Meg is still learning how to balance her consulting career with her growing bond with Luke, but she can’t ignore the ripple effect Tyler’s return has on the family.
The Shack’s matriarch, Margo, knows that change is never simple—and that the summer festivals have a way of stirring up both joy and conflict. As the days unfold, old wounds resurface, new connections spark, and the Walsh family is forced to decide what kind of future they want to build together.
Set against the sunlit cliffs, vibrant festivals, and salt air of Laguna Beach, The Beach Shack Summer is an uplifting sisters fiction story of second chances, family bonds, and later-in-life love.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2025
214 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Nichols
93 books108 followersCindy Nichols also writes as Cindy Caldwell
Cindy Nichols writes heartwarming stories interwoven with the bonds of friendship and family that combine what she loves most about women's fiction and romance.
She's lived most of her life near a beach...just the way she likes it. She hopes to share that feeling of peace and serenity with readers in her gently thought-provoking, feel-good stories.
Feel free to sign up for her mailing list to hear about new releases as soon as they are available. Just copy and paste into your browser:
https://www.subscribepage.com/goodreads
Cindy Nichols writes heartwarming stories interwoven with the bonds of friendship and family that combine what she loves most about women's fiction and romance.
She's lived most of her life near a beach...just the way she likes it. She hopes to share that feeling of peace and serenity with readers in her gently thought-provoking, feel-good stories.
Feel free to sign up for her mailing list to hear about new releases as soon as they are available. Just copy and paste into your browser:
https://www.subscribepage.com/goodreads
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 1, 2025
Very nice storyline. Beach setting, and family relationships.
October 10, 2025
Will Stella ever call Tyler, Dad?
Cindy Nichols Laguna Beach Series are great stories! In The Beach Shack Summer there are many changes at the Beach Shack, and at a small house filled with three big personalities who are just trying to get to know each other and get along. Tyler surprised his family and friends with a 16 year old daughter Stella that no one knew about. Everyone thought his photography took Tyler to Australia two or more times a year. We finally found out why he could not tell his family about Stella, and it was a very sad story. Tyler, Meg and Stella were really cramped in the little house Tyler owned. Especially with Meg taking up so much space putting her presentations together for work, while working remote from her San Francisco office. Meg and Tyler knew it wasn't sustainable but didn't want to have Stella feel like the family was breaking up. Stella was fitting in wonderfully. Grandma Margo had everything worked out, she held the family together just like she had held the Beach Shack together for fifty years serving a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches. The story gets more exciting as Luke and Meg become a real couple, declaring their love to one another. Anna, Tyler and Meg's sister who has been in Europe on an Artist Grant will be coming home soon with her teenage daughter Bea. This will bring a whole new dynamic to the family. It will be very interesting in the next book of the series. I can't wait to read it. Cindy Nichols is a terrific storyteller, you will enjoy anything she writes!
Cindy Nichols Laguna Beach Series are great stories! In The Beach Shack Summer there are many changes at the Beach Shack, and at a small house filled with three big personalities who are just trying to get to know each other and get along. Tyler surprised his family and friends with a 16 year old daughter Stella that no one knew about. Everyone thought his photography took Tyler to Australia two or more times a year. We finally found out why he could not tell his family about Stella, and it was a very sad story. Tyler, Meg and Stella were really cramped in the little house Tyler owned. Especially with Meg taking up so much space putting her presentations together for work, while working remote from her San Francisco office. Meg and Tyler knew it wasn't sustainable but didn't want to have Stella feel like the family was breaking up. Stella was fitting in wonderfully. Grandma Margo had everything worked out, she held the family together just like she had held the Beach Shack together for fifty years serving a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches. The story gets more exciting as Luke and Meg become a real couple, declaring their love to one another. Anna, Tyler and Meg's sister who has been in Europe on an Artist Grant will be coming home soon with her teenage daughter Bea. This will bring a whole new dynamic to the family. It will be very interesting in the next book of the series. I can't wait to read it. Cindy Nichols is a terrific storyteller, you will enjoy anything she writes!
August 31, 2025
At the Beach Shack in Laguna Beach, it's all about the grilled cheese sandwich. It's the menu everyone comes to know and love. Margo is the owner, manager, friend and family member that has worked the Shack for fifty years. There's a new member of the family that found her way from Australia to the local beach as a surprise to everyone. Stella is sixteen years old with circumstances of birth that she now finds her home with Dad, Tyler Walsh, for the summer months. Everyone is shocked to know she exists as it has been a long-kept secret. The interaction with this teen was fun, hilarious and made me laugh out loud on several occasions. There are wonderful moments as she learned to drive, cook, work at the shack and interact with the family she didn't know she had. I loved this storyline and heartily recommend this series as it is one of the best. Thanks to the author for exceptional writing.
September 14, 2025
Summer
Family dynamics are not always about what you want or think they should be. This particular summer doesn’t seem to start out as a good one but through family it becomes one of the best. This book is filled with how a family pulls together after secrets are finally revealed. Just trying to find the best way to make sure that all the information is available. A great book about family love.
Family dynamics are not always about what you want or think they should be. This particular summer doesn’t seem to start out as a good one but through family it becomes one of the best. This book is filled with how a family pulls together after secrets are finally revealed. Just trying to find the best way to make sure that all the information is available. A great book about family love.
December 12, 2025
Pretty Read
Could not put it down!
Love the family drama, love and mystery!
Full of heart and written perfectly!
I did think it would be a baby but a teenager was so much fun!
Totally connect!
Can"t wait to keep on reading stories about this beautiful family and friends!
Could not put it down!
Love the family drama, love and mystery!
Full of heart and written perfectly!
I did think it would be a baby but a teenager was so much fun!
Totally connect!
Can"t wait to keep on reading stories about this beautiful family and friends!
September 22, 2025
Great series
This is a perfect blend of quirky but loveable characters in a comfortable story. Just what is needed in chaotic times.
This is a perfect blend of quirky but loveable characters in a comfortable story. Just what is needed in chaotic times.
October 28, 2025
clever dialogue and a marvelous story
One of the cleverest stories I think I’ve read in a long time. The dialogue between the characters is so smart. I would love to meet Stella. She has to have a 200 IQ and boy, could she handle herself around those surfer boys. To finally call Tyler, her father “dad” meant the world. The Beach Shack
- I’m convinced- is holy. Hey! I’ll do the napkins today! What a sense of humor Cindy Nichols has!!!
One of the cleverest stories I think I’ve read in a long time. The dialogue between the characters is so smart. I would love to meet Stella. She has to have a 200 IQ and boy, could she handle herself around those surfer boys. To finally call Tyler, her father “dad” meant the world. The Beach Shack
- I’m convinced- is holy. Hey! I’ll do the napkins today! What a sense of humor Cindy Nichols has!!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews