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The Girl on the Beach: A Thriller
A missing child tears a family apart, and the nanny knows more than she says in this propulsive thriller, perfect for fans of Jennifer Hillier and Lisa Lutz.
On the surface, Sonia and Graham Starr were an unspeakably glamorous she, the sleek and intense entrepreneur; he, the boyishly handsome painter with an irrepressible joie de vivre. But when their four-year-old daughter, Roxie, disappears into the Pacific Ocean, their world crumbles around them.
Months later, twenty-one-year-old Colleen, who was the nanny for the Starr family, plagued by guilt and confusion, returns to the beach house where she once worked. On her first night back, she sees a child who bears a striking resemblance to Roxie, but when she calls out, the child runs away.
The loss of Roxie has changed everything. Graham and Sonia have since split up. But to Colleen, it never made sense that Roxie, who was afraid of the ocean, would run into the waves on her own. Now that Colleen has seen either Roxie or her doppelgänger, she is determined to get to the truth, even if it means facing her own complicity.
On the surface, Sonia and Graham Starr were an unspeakably glamorous she, the sleek and intense entrepreneur; he, the boyishly handsome painter with an irrepressible joie de vivre. But when their four-year-old daughter, Roxie, disappears into the Pacific Ocean, their world crumbles around them.
Months later, twenty-one-year-old Colleen, who was the nanny for the Starr family, plagued by guilt and confusion, returns to the beach house where she once worked. On her first night back, she sees a child who bears a striking resemblance to Roxie, but when she calls out, the child runs away.
The loss of Roxie has changed everything. Graham and Sonia have since split up. But to Colleen, it never made sense that Roxie, who was afraid of the ocean, would run into the waves on her own. Now that Colleen has seen either Roxie or her doppelgänger, she is determined to get to the truth, even if it means facing her own complicity.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2026
About the author
Carol Snow
14 books293 followersCarol Snow is an American author of contemporary fiction and young adult literature. After graduating from Brown University, she spent many years working as a freelance writer and editor. For a time, she wrote essays about motherhood for Salon magazine but wisely stopped before her children were old enough to read.
Eventually, Snow turned her attention to crafting heartfelt stories with wider appeal, and in 2006, Berkley/Penguin published her first novel, Been There, Done That, a Target Bookmarked Breakout selection that Publisher’s Weekly called “humorous, wise . . . romance with a bit of social commentary.” Since then, she has written five more books for adults, Getting Warmer (2007); Here Today, Gone to Maui (2009); Just Like Me, Only Better (2010); and What Came First (2011), which Amazon UK chose as a best book of the month. Her next title, The Girl on the Beach, a psychological thriller, is slated for June 2026 publication.
Snow has also written four young adult novels: Switch (2008), an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers; Snap (2009); Bubble World (2013); and The Last Place on Earth (2016). Both Switch and Bubble World were featured as Scholastic Book Club selections for middle grade and high school readers. Foreign rights to Snow's books have sold to publishers in Germany, Norway, Poland, Indonesia, and Hungary.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. As an adult, Carol Snow has lived all over the US as well as in London, England, and Strasbourg, France. She holds a BA in psychology from Brown University and a MAT in English from Boston College. Before getting her first book published, she had the typical (for a writer) assortment of odd jobs: tour guide, tutor, chambermaid, waitress. She worked for a T-shirt company, a child services agency, and a vanity press. She even had a short stint in local politics. Her campaign brochures were really pretty, with flawless punctuation.
Carol Snow currently splits her time between Cape Cod and Southern California. In her free time, she hangs out with her family, reads (of course), cooks, paints, travels, and talks to her cats. Despite Google's claims to the contrary, she is not and has never been a poet.
Eventually, Snow turned her attention to crafting heartfelt stories with wider appeal, and in 2006, Berkley/Penguin published her first novel, Been There, Done That, a Target Bookmarked Breakout selection that Publisher’s Weekly called “humorous, wise . . . romance with a bit of social commentary.” Since then, she has written five more books for adults, Getting Warmer (2007); Here Today, Gone to Maui (2009); Just Like Me, Only Better (2010); and What Came First (2011), which Amazon UK chose as a best book of the month. Her next title, The Girl on the Beach, a psychological thriller, is slated for June 2026 publication.
Snow has also written four young adult novels: Switch (2008), an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers; Snap (2009); Bubble World (2013); and The Last Place on Earth (2016). Both Switch and Bubble World were featured as Scholastic Book Club selections for middle grade and high school readers. Foreign rights to Snow's books have sold to publishers in Germany, Norway, Poland, Indonesia, and Hungary.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. As an adult, Carol Snow has lived all over the US as well as in London, England, and Strasbourg, France. She holds a BA in psychology from Brown University and a MAT in English from Boston College. Before getting her first book published, she had the typical (for a writer) assortment of odd jobs: tour guide, tutor, chambermaid, waitress. She worked for a T-shirt company, a child services agency, and a vanity press. She even had a short stint in local politics. Her campaign brochures were really pretty, with flawless punctuation.
Carol Snow currently splits her time between Cape Cod and Southern California. In her free time, she hangs out with her family, reads (of course), cooks, paints, travels, and talks to her cats. Despite Google's claims to the contrary, she is not and has never been a poet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 18, 2026
I originally picked this one up because that cover immediately caught my attention, and I am so glad I did. This was a gripping mystery that kept me invested from beginning to end.
The disappearance of Roxie created an emotional mystery, and I enjoyed following Colleen as she tried to uncover what really happened. The story kept me guessing, and I was eager to see how all the pieces would fit together. While the final reveal was not my favorite, the journey getting there made it well worth the read. This is a solid mystery that I think thriller lovers will really enjoy!
The disappearance of Roxie created an emotional mystery, and I enjoyed following Colleen as she tried to uncover what really happened. The story kept me guessing, and I was eager to see how all the pieces would fit together. While the final reveal was not my favorite, the journey getting there made it well worth the read. This is a solid mystery that I think thriller lovers will really enjoy!
July 5, 2026
I think I’ve read every book that Carol Snow has written, and I’ve enjoyed all of them. Kind of makes sense since I keep reading her books. ;)
Anyway, this one did not disappoint. I approached this one a bit tentatively as I’m not much of a ‘thriller’ reader. Thankfully it didn’t come across as a creepy thriller as expected, but rather more of a mysterious thriller, which is more up my alley.
If you like this book, try some of her other ones, too! Most are ‘brighter’, or at least lighter.
Anyway, this one did not disappoint. I approached this one a bit tentatively as I’m not much of a ‘thriller’ reader. Thankfully it didn’t come across as a creepy thriller as expected, but rather more of a mysterious thriller, which is more up my alley.
If you like this book, try some of her other ones, too! Most are ‘brighter’, or at least lighter.
June 25, 2026
Sue Grafton meets Jane Austen.
Fast-paced and witty, this thriller is more than a beach read. It is filled with plot and suspense, and cleverly divided into before and after chapters.
Characters are deftly sketched and let loose to describe the collision of students and the ultra-wealthy in sun-drenched Santa Barbara county.
I loved the way the author used Fleabag-ish asides to scratch at the fourth wall and ponder the themes of love, loss, family, identity, and art. She skewers ostentatious wealth and the nonsensical pseudophilosophical word salad of the modern art world while simultaneously appreciating the comfort and beauty of both.
Fast-paced and witty, this thriller is more than a beach read. It is filled with plot and suspense, and cleverly divided into before and after chapters.
Characters are deftly sketched and let loose to describe the collision of students and the ultra-wealthy in sun-drenched Santa Barbara county.
I loved the way the author used Fleabag-ish asides to scratch at the fourth wall and ponder the themes of love, loss, family, identity, and art. She skewers ostentatious wealth and the nonsensical pseudophilosophical word salad of the modern art world while simultaneously appreciating the comfort and beauty of both.
July 9, 2026
Couldn’t put this book down, and the twist at the end makes me want to go back and reread it for clues I missed earlier on in the story line.
July 16, 2026
It was a great book. Took off a star because i wouldnt say this is a thriller book. More of like a mystery book. But otherwise a good read.
July 13, 2026
In The Girl on the Beach by Carol Snow readers are introduced to the Starr family, Sonia and Graham and their young daughter Roxie. You are also introduced to their babysitter Colleen. Colleen is more than their babysitter as she is with them a lot as well as all summer when the Starr's go to their house on the beach. They have a house right on the beach and there is even a smaller house for Colleen to live in.
Everything is going great until one day when Roxie goes missing. This was actually Colleen's day off but she still hung out with them and drank too much. She is sleeping in her place when she is woken up by Sonia and Graham yelling. It is ruled an unfortunate accident of Roxie going into the ocean and drowning.
But Collen cannot move on like Sonia and Graham do. She is haunted by the incident and convinces Sonia to let her go back to the beach and spend some time there. On her first day there when she looks out the window, she sees a little girl, but when she gets to the beach, she is gone. This leads her down a crazy road looking for answers .....
One thing that readers will love when reading The Girl on the Beach is that you will read a chapter dedicated to Before the incident then the next one will be After the incident. This allows you to see how the family was with Roxie and then how their lives changed after.
The Girl on the Beach is definitely a story that grabs your attention and you cannot help wanting to get to the end to see if the girl on the beach was Roxie or even real ...... And when you get to the last few chapters, you will be blown away !! ( I cannot say more without giving away some earthshattering twists.)
Everything is going great until one day when Roxie goes missing. This was actually Colleen's day off but she still hung out with them and drank too much. She is sleeping in her place when she is woken up by Sonia and Graham yelling. It is ruled an unfortunate accident of Roxie going into the ocean and drowning.
But Collen cannot move on like Sonia and Graham do. She is haunted by the incident and convinces Sonia to let her go back to the beach and spend some time there. On her first day there when she looks out the window, she sees a little girl, but when she gets to the beach, she is gone. This leads her down a crazy road looking for answers .....
One thing that readers will love when reading The Girl on the Beach is that you will read a chapter dedicated to Before the incident then the next one will be After the incident. This allows you to see how the family was with Roxie and then how their lives changed after.
The Girl on the Beach is definitely a story that grabs your attention and you cannot help wanting to get to the end to see if the girl on the beach was Roxie or even real ...... And when you get to the last few chapters, you will be blown away !! ( I cannot say more without giving away some earthshattering twists.)
July 7, 2026
I spent this entire book convinced I had everything figured out, only for the last few chapters to completely pull the rug out from under me. And honestly? I love when a book can still surprise me.
This story follows the devastating aftermath of four-year-old Roxie's disappearance from a California beach. Months later, her former nanny, Colleen, returns to the family's beach house, still haunted by guilt and unanswered questions. When she spots a little girl who looks eerily similar to Roxie, the mystery takes on a whole new life.
The dual timelines and multiple POVs kept me fully invested from beginning to end. Every character seemed to be hiding something, and just when I thought I knew who to trust, the story shifted again. It's a slow-burning mystery layered with obsession, grief, betrayal, guilt, and the complicated ways love can push people to do unimaginable things.
What resonated with me most wasn't just the mystery—it was the reminder that family isn't always defined by DNA. One of my favorite themes throughout the book was that a child doesn't have to be biologically yours to be deeply loved, fiercely protected, and endlessly missed. Blood doesn't make a family. Love does. That message hit me right in the heart.
If you enjoy character-driven mysteries with emotional depth, unreliable assumptions, and twists that actually earn their payoff, I definitely recommend picking this one up. Just don't get too confident in your theories... this book is one step ahead of you almost the entire time.
This story follows the devastating aftermath of four-year-old Roxie's disappearance from a California beach. Months later, her former nanny, Colleen, returns to the family's beach house, still haunted by guilt and unanswered questions. When she spots a little girl who looks eerily similar to Roxie, the mystery takes on a whole new life.
The dual timelines and multiple POVs kept me fully invested from beginning to end. Every character seemed to be hiding something, and just when I thought I knew who to trust, the story shifted again. It's a slow-burning mystery layered with obsession, grief, betrayal, guilt, and the complicated ways love can push people to do unimaginable things.
What resonated with me most wasn't just the mystery—it was the reminder that family isn't always defined by DNA. One of my favorite themes throughout the book was that a child doesn't have to be biologically yours to be deeply loved, fiercely protected, and endlessly missed. Blood doesn't make a family. Love does. That message hit me right in the heart.
If you enjoy character-driven mysteries with emotional depth, unreliable assumptions, and twists that actually earn their payoff, I definitely recommend picking this one up. Just don't get too confident in your theories... this book is one step ahead of you almost the entire time.
July 20, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. The story grabbed me early on, and every time I had to put it down, I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. Carol Snow did a great job making the characters feel real, and I got invested in what happened to them instead of just trying to solve the mystery. I also liked how the family dynamics and long-buried secrets unfolded throughout the book. It kept giving you just enough information to make you think you had it figured out... and I definitely didn't. My only complaint is the pacing at the very end. The ending itself was good, and I honestly didn't see it coming, but it just felt a little... off. Not rushed exactly, but after everything that built up throughout the story, the resolution didn't quite flow the way I expected it to. It's hard to explain without giving anything away.
Even with that, I still think this was a really solid read and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy character-driven mysteries with family drama, secrets, and a twist that isn't obvious from a mile away.
Even with that, I still think this was a really solid read and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy character-driven mysteries with family drama, secrets, and a twist that isn't obvious from a mile away.
July 12, 2026
This mysterious book alternates chapters between before and after as it follows a nanny as she deals with the disappearance/drowning of the child in her care. Readers see into the life of neglected kids both wealthy and lower class. The book explores makes a family.
July 23, 2026
Well-crafted with good pace. The best chapter is when Colleen remembers her childhood. I thought there might’ve been more of that.
There is humor in it too, despite the “thriller” label. I highlighted most of them.
There is humor in it too, despite the “thriller” label. I highlighted most of them.
July 3, 2026
This book was just okay. Not super shocking at the “who did it?” aspect.
July 26, 2026
I listened as an audio book on Spotify premium. I rated the story 4stars because I think the story would have been better if I read the book.
The audiobook was ok and if I were to rate that, I would probably out it at 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
The problem was the narrator did not have enough fluctuation in her voice so it basically sounded like any random person reading it to you. Normally not a big deal, but without adding spoilers, it makes a big difference trying to follow the ending of the book.
Also, there was a lot of distracting “noises” through the book. Like maybe the manuscript falling down, weird recording noises, basically just not a very polished audio version.
There is a good twist that makes it a good read.
Some of the characters could have been developed more, but again I think a lot was lost through this narration.
If this pops up as a suggested free read on Spotify, it’s worth the time.
If you are reading a hard copy I suspect this book will read better than my review.
The audiobook was ok and if I were to rate that, I would probably out it at 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
The problem was the narrator did not have enough fluctuation in her voice so it basically sounded like any random person reading it to you. Normally not a big deal, but without adding spoilers, it makes a big difference trying to follow the ending of the book.
Also, there was a lot of distracting “noises” through the book. Like maybe the manuscript falling down, weird recording noises, basically just not a very polished audio version.
There is a good twist that makes it a good read.
Some of the characters could have been developed more, but again I think a lot was lost through this narration.
If this pops up as a suggested free read on Spotify, it’s worth the time.
If you are reading a hard copy I suspect this book will read better than my review.
Review of advance copy
One moment everything seems simple - napping, getting some work emails finished up. Then the next you hear sirens and screaming on the beach for a little girl who was swallowed by the sea.
If you're heading to the beach this summer and are looking for something that can send a little chill down your spine, you might give this one a shot. This was a solid read; however, the start of it was so-so. I honestly had a hard time placing a timeline for the first few chapters. If you stick with it, you're given a really strong twist that I think you'll really enjoy. I always try to race the story with the "who dunnit?", happy to report I got the right answer this time! However, I certainly didn't plan on the big surprise that this story tossed at us. When one of the reveals happened, there was a healthy amount of time spent with me flipping through pages to find the clues I missed - and that's all the hints I'll give!
Admittedly, this story had an uphill climb since we bounce back-and-forth between present time to the past (which isn't my favorite style of storytelling). There was definitely drifting from the story happening for me when we were tossed into the past. And the Past of Past chapters - completely lost me. And while I wasn't a fan, the choice to write it this way really did work though and I will be the first to admit it is needed for this story. Another strong part was the way Snow used 'show, not tell' techniques were easily in my top favorite take-aways from the entire thing. Best one was, "It is just a few steps from the living room to the bedroom. We leave the window open. A night bird signs." Such a simple moment but I loved this one so much! Even out of context, you can see so much of what was happening. There were a number of others, but it was such a brilliant way of letting us do the work of setting the scenes. This isn't saying description wasn't a great part of the story either. Snow's way of describing everything was very well done. Scenery, interactions, events, all very good! There is a moment when there is ice cream melting on Roxie's hands - I cannot stand that feeling or even seeing it happening - Snow writes, "It flowed ... like lava." ICK! That whole scene was showing the slow moving but dangerous liquid creeping along her hands. Thumbs up for the writing!
Our characters, now that's were is gets a bit tricky. I felt like the conversations were good. No uncomfortable pauses or phrases. Pretty smooth interactions happening between everyone. It just felt like we were kept at an arms length for a majority of what was happening. We gain some depth for a few of them as the story progresses, so I can see where backgrounds were being shown and empathy was being created. But I think I was focused more on trying to place the When things were happening and Who the people where at the different times, that I lost some of the connection moments that were being built. This was far more on me than what was probably in the story. I also never really connected with any particular character. Maybe through the "Before" chapters, there was a building investment there. I just never got a chance to really sink into those moments. I was invested in figuring out the case though!
Definitely a fun read for you guys to give a shot! Especially if you are thriller readers. While this one won't keep you up at night with newly discovered fears. This one will have you casting a cautious gaze around while you're out and about places. Try and see if you can figure out Roxie's cold case. I know I got really into figuring out everything that lead up to Roxie's final moments with the Starr's family. Snow's writing is truly beautiful, I'm just biased toward the story-telling method. Fair warning, when you get finished reading, you're going to want to flip through and find the clues like I did!
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review
If you're heading to the beach this summer and are looking for something that can send a little chill down your spine, you might give this one a shot. This was a solid read; however, the start of it was so-so. I honestly had a hard time placing a timeline for the first few chapters. If you stick with it, you're given a really strong twist that I think you'll really enjoy. I always try to race the story with the "who dunnit?", happy to report I got the right answer this time! However, I certainly didn't plan on the big surprise that this story tossed at us. When one of the reveals happened, there was a healthy amount of time spent with me flipping through pages to find the clues I missed - and that's all the hints I'll give!
Admittedly, this story had an uphill climb since we bounce back-and-forth between present time to the past (which isn't my favorite style of storytelling). There was definitely drifting from the story happening for me when we were tossed into the past. And the Past of Past chapters - completely lost me. And while I wasn't a fan, the choice to write it this way really did work though and I will be the first to admit it is needed for this story. Another strong part was the way Snow used 'show, not tell' techniques were easily in my top favorite take-aways from the entire thing. Best one was, "It is just a few steps from the living room to the bedroom. We leave the window open. A night bird signs." Such a simple moment but I loved this one so much! Even out of context, you can see so much of what was happening. There were a number of others, but it was such a brilliant way of letting us do the work of setting the scenes. This isn't saying description wasn't a great part of the story either. Snow's way of describing everything was very well done. Scenery, interactions, events, all very good! There is a moment when there is ice cream melting on Roxie's hands - I cannot stand that feeling or even seeing it happening - Snow writes, "It flowed ... like lava." ICK! That whole scene was showing the slow moving but dangerous liquid creeping along her hands. Thumbs up for the writing!
Our characters, now that's were is gets a bit tricky. I felt like the conversations were good. No uncomfortable pauses or phrases. Pretty smooth interactions happening between everyone. It just felt like we were kept at an arms length for a majority of what was happening. We gain some depth for a few of them as the story progresses, so I can see where backgrounds were being shown and empathy was being created. But I think I was focused more on trying to place the When things were happening and Who the people where at the different times, that I lost some of the connection moments that were being built. This was far more on me than what was probably in the story. I also never really connected with any particular character. Maybe through the "Before" chapters, there was a building investment there. I just never got a chance to really sink into those moments. I was invested in figuring out the case though!
Definitely a fun read for you guys to give a shot! Especially if you are thriller readers. While this one won't keep you up at night with newly discovered fears. This one will have you casting a cautious gaze around while you're out and about places. Try and see if you can figure out Roxie's cold case. I know I got really into figuring out everything that lead up to Roxie's final moments with the Starr's family. Snow's writing is truly beautiful, I'm just biased toward the story-telling method. Fair warning, when you get finished reading, you're going to want to flip through and find the clues like I did!
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review
Review of advance copy
The Girl on the Beach by Carol Snow is so far the best book I read for 2026. We meet Sonia and Graham Starr. They have an adorable four-year-old daughter Roxie. As both parents have busy careers, Roxie has a baby sitter. One day, while the parents are upstairs in their bedroom thinking the alarm is on, Roxie is alone in the beach house downstairs main room. Her baby sitter Colleen is asleep. She is off duty.
Colleen awakes to screaming parents. They cannot find Roxie. Could Roxie have opened the sliding door to the deck, walked onto the beach, and wandered off into the water? Her new floating device is found further on the beach. Witnesses said they saw a dark head bob in the water until it disappeared.
What follows is how everyone deals with the loss of Roxie. Colleen’s carefree college life before Roxie’s disappearance and her mentally spiraling periods of self-blame and anxiety afterwards, will leave your chest tight and eyes laser-focused on the book. Colleen even goes so far to return to the beach house to find answers, clues, anything. She even tries to swim in the ocean part where Roxie would have drowned if that is what happened.
Carol Snow wrote a psychological thriller that will keep your brain busy long after you turned the last page.
Note: I received an Advance Reader Copy from Fauzia Burke, Founder of FSB Associates, in exchange for an honest review.
Colleen awakes to screaming parents. They cannot find Roxie. Could Roxie have opened the sliding door to the deck, walked onto the beach, and wandered off into the water? Her new floating device is found further on the beach. Witnesses said they saw a dark head bob in the water until it disappeared.
What follows is how everyone deals with the loss of Roxie. Colleen’s carefree college life before Roxie’s disappearance and her mentally spiraling periods of self-blame and anxiety afterwards, will leave your chest tight and eyes laser-focused on the book. Colleen even goes so far to return to the beach house to find answers, clues, anything. She even tries to swim in the ocean part where Roxie would have drowned if that is what happened.
Carol Snow wrote a psychological thriller that will keep your brain busy long after you turned the last page.
Note: I received an Advance Reader Copy from Fauzia Burke, Founder of FSB Associates, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The story in a few words:
A missing child tears a family apart
Sonia and Graham Starr have everything going for them, a glamorous couple, her an entrepreneur and he a handsome painter with a zest for life. They had everything till the day Roxie, their precious little girl, disappears into the Pacific Ocean one August afternoon…..Months later when Roxie’s nanny plagued by guilt returns to the Starr’s beach house the family drama turns into a roller coaster ride…
My thoughts in a few words:
This psychological thriller had my brain spinning in circle trying to keep up with it. It is definitely originally said switching back and forth at each chapter telling what happened” Before” and then “After” the incident slowly unraveling the Starr secrets and it went on and on this way till the very end. My head is still spinning….No doubts the presentation is original and it is well said although this format didn’t appeal to me and failed to hold my full attention. I thought abandoning it many times but no I stayed with it till the conclusion which I still have trouble figuring what happened. Too many characters, too many back and forth, too many what not and voilà I still wonder what I read.
Ok don’t take my words many have giving this story high praise so as always, I urge you to judge for yourself, you may love it or as I, not so much.
My thanks to Fauzia Burke, Founder of FSB Associates for this ARC in exchange for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.
A missing child tears a family apart
Sonia and Graham Starr have everything going for them, a glamorous couple, her an entrepreneur and he a handsome painter with a zest for life. They had everything till the day Roxie, their precious little girl, disappears into the Pacific Ocean one August afternoon…..Months later when Roxie’s nanny plagued by guilt returns to the Starr’s beach house the family drama turns into a roller coaster ride…
My thoughts in a few words:
This psychological thriller had my brain spinning in circle trying to keep up with it. It is definitely originally said switching back and forth at each chapter telling what happened” Before” and then “After” the incident slowly unraveling the Starr secrets and it went on and on this way till the very end. My head is still spinning….No doubts the presentation is original and it is well said although this format didn’t appeal to me and failed to hold my full attention. I thought abandoning it many times but no I stayed with it till the conclusion which I still have trouble figuring what happened. Too many characters, too many back and forth, too many what not and voilà I still wonder what I read.
Ok don’t take my words many have giving this story high praise so as always, I urge you to judge for yourself, you may love it or as I, not so much.
My thanks to Fauzia Burke, Founder of FSB Associates for this ARC in exchange for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.
June 25, 2026
Solid Enough Psychological Suspense Can Be Confusing At Times. This is one of those psychological suspense thrillers where you truly begin to question even your own sanity as a reader... yet the choice to alternate "before" and "after" the way this book does can be quite jarring and even outright confusing at times. It does ultimately resolve itself, but it takes a fair amount of concentration to get there - if you're a "second screen" type of movie watcher, know that this book is going to be far more demanding than to allow you to do that here.
For what it is though, it really is quite compelling, with a solid mystery behind it and a *lot* of drama. Spicier than the "clean"/ "sweet" crowd will want without going into erotica territory, and with at least hints of things that some will find titillating and others will want nothing whatsoever to do with - *maybe* to the point of defenestration desires, but I suspect that someone who would defenestrate this book over those aspects would have long before defenestrated it over the spicy scenes alone. Still, there are at least other aspects that people of differing ideologies won't like... which actually makes this book so much better for the rest of us. ;)
Overall a solid book in its field that fans of this genre will likely enjoy, though those new to the genre may find a touch difficult.
Very much recommended.
For what it is though, it really is quite compelling, with a solid mystery behind it and a *lot* of drama. Spicier than the "clean"/ "sweet" crowd will want without going into erotica territory, and with at least hints of things that some will find titillating and others will want nothing whatsoever to do with - *maybe* to the point of defenestration desires, but I suspect that someone who would defenestrate this book over those aspects would have long before defenestrated it over the spicy scenes alone. Still, there are at least other aspects that people of differing ideologies won't like... which actually makes this book so much better for the rest of us. ;)
Overall a solid book in its field that fans of this genre will likely enjoy, though those new to the genre may find a touch difficult.
Very much recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3/5 ⭐️ - unfortunately I feel like this thriller was just a bit too long and the twist or reveal wasn’t really that much of a surprise.
(Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the ARC, all thoughts are my own)
I was actually flying through this book The first about 40%, I found the writing really easy to read and the story interesting. A nanny is working for a rich family, their child goes missing and is presumed drowned in the ocean until one day the nanny goes back to the house and feels like she sees the young girl alive on the beach. And then in a split timeline before the girl went missing and after.
I feel like there was a lot of unnecessary scenes, added with the nanny and the husband and their relationship, it really didn’t add much to the story in my opinion. Also, I’m not sure if the author tried to write our female main character this way to make her a little bit unlikable or if it’s the thoughts of the author herself, but often our FMC would describe women she didn’t like as looking “mannish” and had absolutely no problem calling people fat as a negative attribute. It was just kind of weird and not my style of description.
Overall, this book is just OK. It’s nothing spectacular and will probably leave my mind quickly.
(Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the ARC, all thoughts are my own)
I was actually flying through this book The first about 40%, I found the writing really easy to read and the story interesting. A nanny is working for a rich family, their child goes missing and is presumed drowned in the ocean until one day the nanny goes back to the house and feels like she sees the young girl alive on the beach. And then in a split timeline before the girl went missing and after.
I feel like there was a lot of unnecessary scenes, added with the nanny and the husband and their relationship, it really didn’t add much to the story in my opinion. Also, I’m not sure if the author tried to write our female main character this way to make her a little bit unlikable or if it’s the thoughts of the author herself, but often our FMC would describe women she didn’t like as looking “mannish” and had absolutely no problem calling people fat as a negative attribute. It was just kind of weird and not my style of description.
Overall, this book is just OK. It’s nothing spectacular and will probably leave my mind quickly.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a gripping psychological thriller 😭 I was hooked from the start and genuinely struggled to put it down.
The dual timeline structure (Before/After) worked really well for building tension and slowly revealing what really happened with the Starr family during that summer. It kept me constantly guessing and second-guessing everything I thought I knew.
I also really liked how layered the characters felt. The themes around class, privilege, success, and guilt added a lot of depth to the mystery, especially through Colleen’s perspective as she tries to uncover the truth while carrying so much emotional weight.
The Santa Barbara setting added such a vivid, almost unsettling contrast—beautiful on the surface, but hiding something much darker underneath 🌊
And the twist?? I genuinely didn’t see it coming.
✨ what to expect ✨
🖤 Psychological thriller
🌊 Beach setting with dark undertones
⏳ Dual timeline (Before/After)
🔍 Mystery + secrets
💔 Guilt & emotional tension
⚡ Fast-paced suspense
😱 Jaw-dropping twist
This one kept me guessing the entire time and is exactly the kind of thriller that makes you question everything (and everyone) around you 🫣
The dual timeline structure (Before/After) worked really well for building tension and slowly revealing what really happened with the Starr family during that summer. It kept me constantly guessing and second-guessing everything I thought I knew.
I also really liked how layered the characters felt. The themes around class, privilege, success, and guilt added a lot of depth to the mystery, especially through Colleen’s perspective as she tries to uncover the truth while carrying so much emotional weight.
The Santa Barbara setting added such a vivid, almost unsettling contrast—beautiful on the surface, but hiding something much darker underneath 🌊
And the twist?? I genuinely didn’t see it coming.
✨ what to expect ✨
🖤 Psychological thriller
🌊 Beach setting with dark undertones
⏳ Dual timeline (Before/After)
🔍 Mystery + secrets
💔 Guilt & emotional tension
⚡ Fast-paced suspense
😱 Jaw-dropping twist
This one kept me guessing the entire time and is exactly the kind of thriller that makes you question everything (and everyone) around you 🫣
July 16, 2026
Book Review - Fiction - Psychological Thriller
Title: The Girl on the Beach by Carol Snow
⭐ Star Rating: 4 ⭐
🎯 Vibe Check: PASS (the ocean is terrifying enough already.)
This book felt like... every parent's worst nightmare wrapped inside a psychological thriller.
This story immediately grabbed me with its heartbreaking premise, and the mystery kept me flipping pages long into the night. Every revelation had me questioning what was real and who could actually be trusted.
Tropes included: missing child, unreliable memories, psychological suspense, family secrets, domestic thriller, beach setting.
Did they deliver? Absolutely. Emotional, suspenseful, and packed with twists.
This book made me feel: emotionally invested from the very first chapter.
Perfect for readers who love... emotional thrillers, family mysteries, psychological suspense, and stories with shocking reveals.
😈 Petty Complaint... Beaches are supposed to be relaxing... books keep proving otherwise. 😂
Overall, The Girl on the Beach was gripping, emotional, and full of surprises. Definitely worth adding to your thriller TBR.
Thank you to @netgalley for my gifted copy.
Title: The Girl on the Beach by Carol Snow
⭐ Star Rating: 4 ⭐
🎯 Vibe Check: PASS (the ocean is terrifying enough already.)
This book felt like... every parent's worst nightmare wrapped inside a psychological thriller.
This story immediately grabbed me with its heartbreaking premise, and the mystery kept me flipping pages long into the night. Every revelation had me questioning what was real and who could actually be trusted.
Tropes included: missing child, unreliable memories, psychological suspense, family secrets, domestic thriller, beach setting.
Did they deliver? Absolutely. Emotional, suspenseful, and packed with twists.
This book made me feel: emotionally invested from the very first chapter.
Perfect for readers who love... emotional thrillers, family mysteries, psychological suspense, and stories with shocking reveals.
😈 Petty Complaint... Beaches are supposed to be relaxing... books keep proving otherwise. 😂
Overall, The Girl on the Beach was gripping, emotional, and full of surprises. Definitely worth adding to your thriller TBR.
Thank you to @netgalley for my gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found this to be a gripping psychological thriller that kept me second guessing everyone from start to finish. What I loved most was how morally complex the characters were. There were no clear heroes or villains, which made the story feel unsettlingly real.
The author builds a strong atmosphere of tension against the beautiful yet eerie backdrop of Santa Barbara, while themes of anxiety, grief and hidden secrets add genuine emotional depth. Although the dual timelines and large cast occasionally made the story feel a bit fragmented, the gradual unraveling of the mystery kept me hooked.
The ending was shocking, cleverly executed and not something I saw coming. If you enjoy character driven psychological suspense filled with dark secrets, unreliable perspectives and twists that linger in your mind long after you finish reading, this one is well worth picking up.
Rating:- 4.5/5
#TheGirlontheBeach #NetGalley
The author builds a strong atmosphere of tension against the beautiful yet eerie backdrop of Santa Barbara, while themes of anxiety, grief and hidden secrets add genuine emotional depth. Although the dual timelines and large cast occasionally made the story feel a bit fragmented, the gradual unraveling of the mystery kept me hooked.
The ending was shocking, cleverly executed and not something I saw coming. If you enjoy character driven psychological suspense filled with dark secrets, unreliable perspectives and twists that linger in your mind long after you finish reading, this one is well worth picking up.
Rating:- 4.5/5
#TheGirlontheBeach #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Graham and Sonia Starr are a power couple who seem to have everything, including and adorable little girl named Roxie. Until she disappears - lost to the water near their beach town home.
But something about the story doesn't quite add up. Especially since Roxie's nanny Colleen, haunted by guilt, still wonders how a child who was afraid of the breakers would go into that water willingly.
A year later, when she spots a little girl who looks remarkably like Roxie nearby the Starrs' lavish Santa Barbara home one moonlit night, she realised that intuition may not have been entirely wrong...
But what is the real story here?
This is an absorbing and emotional mystery, and will be enjoyed by most readers.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
But something about the story doesn't quite add up. Especially since Roxie's nanny Colleen, haunted by guilt, still wonders how a child who was afraid of the breakers would go into that water willingly.
A year later, when she spots a little girl who looks remarkably like Roxie nearby the Starrs' lavish Santa Barbara home one moonlit night, she realised that intuition may not have been entirely wrong...
But what is the real story here?
This is an absorbing and emotional mystery, and will be enjoyed by most readers.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 24, 2026
Colleen takes a nanny job for a couple and their young daughter, Roxie. When Roxie drowns in the ocean, both her parents and Colleen are devastated. Struggling with her grief, Colleen returns to the beach house and believes she sees Roxie on the shore. Convinced that Roxie may somehow still be alive, she begins a search for answers. I really liked the premise of this one, and I enjoyed the author's writing style. However, it took a long time to reach the resolution, and I felt there was quite a bit of unnecessary filler in the middle of the story. While the mystery kept me interested enough to keep reading, the pacing dragged at times. Overall, it was an intriguing concept, but I wish the plot had moved along a little faster. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.
June 8, 2026
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀? 𝗢𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼! 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵…
I loved the dual timeline of “Before” and “After”, it was such a clever choice to add to the paranoia and suspense that you feel through our main character, the nanny Colleen as she tries to figure out what happened to her young charge Roxie. This is a slow build that makes you start questioning every character in the book, and challenging who can be trusted..which makes for a perfect psychological thriller experience! And a good twist..that’s every reader’s chefs kiss!
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I loved the dual timeline of “Before” and “After”, it was such a clever choice to add to the paranoia and suspense that you feel through our main character, the nanny Colleen as she tries to figure out what happened to her young charge Roxie. This is a slow build that makes you start questioning every character in the book, and challenging who can be trusted..which makes for a perfect psychological thriller experience! And a good twist..that’s every reader’s chefs kiss!
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Review of advance copy
Looking for your next exciting summer read? 🌊👀
The Girl on the Beach by Carol Snow is filled with psychological suspense. With a non-linear, dual-timeline plot and an atmosphere dripping with paranoia, it builds to a final, jaw-dropping twist.
It is officially my pick for this year's top summer beach read! ☀️📖
My Review
**Thank you to Fauzia Burke of FSB Associates for the gifted ARC for review consideration.
The Girl on the Beach by Carol Snow is filled with psychological suspense. With a non-linear, dual-timeline plot and an atmosphere dripping with paranoia, it builds to a final, jaw-dropping twist.
It is officially my pick for this year's top summer beach read! ☀️📖
My Review
**Thank you to Fauzia Burke of FSB Associates for the gifted ARC for review consideration.
July 12, 2026
Perfect Beach Read!!!!
I did both the audio and print versions (this is normal for me) and both were fabulous. Especially with audio dual timelines can be confusing but that is not the case with this book. The BEFORE and AFTER chapters made this very easy to follow. The descriptions were perfect - not overly done but I could feel myself in the locale. Carol Snow’s witty sense of humor shows up in a big way in this contemporary book. The book held my interest, and I did not guess the ending.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
I did both the audio and print versions (this is normal for me) and both were fabulous. Especially with audio dual timelines can be confusing but that is not the case with this book. The BEFORE and AFTER chapters made this very easy to follow. The descriptions were perfect - not overly done but I could feel myself in the locale. Carol Snow’s witty sense of humor shows up in a big way in this contemporary book. The book held my interest, and I did not guess the ending.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This novel is a propulsive, gripping psychological suspense novel that hooked me from the start. I loved how the story alternates between "Before" and "After" chapters, slowly unraveling the secrets of the Starr family during that fateful summer and Colleen's desperate search for the truth in the present. It's a fast-paced mystery set in the gorgeous Santa Barbara that builds to a truly jaw-dropping twist. It's very well written, and you won't guess the ending.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed the psychological thrills from this book. All of the characters were so good and well developed and the overall plot of class/success with a tragedy and a nanny who feels guilty was top tier. I could barely put this book down. This book makes you think twice about who you trust. Definitely will read this one again and again. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 7, 2026
This was a thriller??? The only thing thrilling about this was the fact that the little girl wasn’t dead. The before and after reads as if it’s one character before and after a traumatic event but it’s actually 2 and you don’t REALLY figure that out until the last few chapters. Also, that whole premise of the story hinges on the fact that Graham preyed on, fucked his babysitter, and got her pregnant. Which is sooo un-thrilling it’s stereotypical.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is the perfect summer thriller beach read. This book had me turning pages from page one. If you enjoy a domestic thriller or suspense, I would be sure to give this a try when it is published on June 23rd. The characters were well developed and the atmosphere was perfect. I sure did not see the twist coming. Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy.
4.5 stars!
4.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I liked the plot, setting, and enjoyed the story overall. The low score is because I didn't realize the book was told from multiple points of view until the end. Each chapter was simply titled Before and After. It would have been helpful for characters names to be included beneath the chapter titles.
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