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Little Pink Houses: A Novel
A Hollywood executive’s escape to Belize leads her to places she never imagined.
Cole Lavetsky is done. Done with Hollywood exploitation, done with her high-stress executive career, and done living in the shadow of her golden-boy twin brother, a former teen heartthrob. With her vintage guitar and the beginnings of a revenge novel, Cole retreats to a rent-free condo on Ambergris Caye, Belize to reinvent herself.
No surprise, island life comes with charms and complications. What Cole didn’t expect was to have her imagination hijacked by a fantastical pink painted resort—now in ruins—and a seven-year-old prodigy, Elías, who “camps” there. When she meets Thatcher Ames, the island’s infamous (and infuriatingly good-looking) philanthropist, Cole reluctantly accepts that she’ll have to team up with him to help the boy.
As meetings on the beach blur into sunset dinners, Cole tells herself she’s got things under control—with Elías, Thatcher, and her book. Until Elías’s grandma, an elderly Mayan mystic, reveals an uncanny insight and Cole begins to fear that in hiding her past, she’s put Elías’s future—and the hearts of everyone involved—in jeopardy.
Darkly funny, achingly candid, and vibrantly atmospheric, Little Pink Houses is a multilayered story about the messy grace we owe ourselves, and the astonishing things that happen when we find the courage to act in the face of fear.
Cole Lavetsky is done. Done with Hollywood exploitation, done with her high-stress executive career, and done living in the shadow of her golden-boy twin brother, a former teen heartthrob. With her vintage guitar and the beginnings of a revenge novel, Cole retreats to a rent-free condo on Ambergris Caye, Belize to reinvent herself.
No surprise, island life comes with charms and complications. What Cole didn’t expect was to have her imagination hijacked by a fantastical pink painted resort—now in ruins—and a seven-year-old prodigy, Elías, who “camps” there. When she meets Thatcher Ames, the island’s infamous (and infuriatingly good-looking) philanthropist, Cole reluctantly accepts that she’ll have to team up with him to help the boy.
As meetings on the beach blur into sunset dinners, Cole tells herself she’s got things under control—with Elías, Thatcher, and her book. Until Elías’s grandma, an elderly Mayan mystic, reveals an uncanny insight and Cole begins to fear that in hiding her past, she’s put Elías’s future—and the hearts of everyone involved—in jeopardy.
Darkly funny, achingly candid, and vibrantly atmospheric, Little Pink Houses is a multilayered story about the messy grace we owe ourselves, and the astonishing things that happen when we find the courage to act in the face of fear.
- GenresFiction
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2026
About the author
Lisa Binsfeld
1 book19 followersLisa Binsfeld writes witty, character-driven book club fiction about the struggles faced by contemporary women. Her novels explore family dynamics and complex relationships in plotlines that are both humorous and heartfelt.
A Hoosier by birth, Lisa graduated from Indiana University before moving to Phoenix where she and her husband raised three pretty remarkable kids. She has worked as a copywriter and layout artist, magazine editor, library assistant, substitute teacher, PTO president, and in too many school volunteer jobs to count.
When she isn’t writing, Lisa is probably catering to the whims of her obstinate Parti Yorkie, or reading while sipping an Arizona wine, or imagining her next trip to Belize.
A Hoosier by birth, Lisa graduated from Indiana University before moving to Phoenix where she and her husband raised three pretty remarkable kids. She has worked as a copywriter and layout artist, magazine editor, library assistant, substitute teacher, PTO president, and in too many school volunteer jobs to count.
When she isn’t writing, Lisa is probably catering to the whims of her obstinate Parti Yorkie, or reading while sipping an Arizona wine, or imagining her next trip to Belize.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 29, 2026
Lisa Binsfeld’s Little Pink Houses follows Cole Lavetsky, a forty-seven-year-old former corporate executive who flees Los Angeles for Ambergris Caye, Belize, hoping to reinvent herself, write a novel, and finally live outside the gravitational pull of family damage. What begins as a midlife reset in a condo by the sea deepens into something more layered: Cole finds herself drawn toward the ruined pink resort nearby, where old choices and long-buried beliefs continue to cast a shadow over the present. Told squarely through Cole’s experience, the novel unfolds as a personal reckoning shaped by grief, family fracture, inheritance, forgiveness, and the stubborn stories people tell themselves in order to survive.
What I liked most was the book’s emotional grain. Cole is not polished into a heroine you are meant to admire from a tasteful distance; she is brittle, funny, vain, wounded, perceptive, and often more frightened than she wants anyone to know. I found that messiness convincing. Binsfeld gives her a voice with bite in it, a voice capable of self-mockery one moment and genuine ache the next, and that made the novel feel lived-in rather than engineered. Belize is not used as a decorative backdrop, either. The island atmosphere, the practical dislocations of daily life, the history of the little pink houses, and the Mayan-inflected spiritual undercurrent all give the story a humid, slightly uncanny shimmer. I kept feeling that the novel understood a hard truth: reinvention is never clean; you drag your old ghosts into paradise with you.
The novel moves between women’s fiction, family drama, and romance without becoming baggy. The central questions are not merely who did what, or what happened in the past, but what care actually requires when love, guilt, and projection get tangled together. The book club questions at the end make clear how much the novel is invested in forgiveness, assumptions, attachment, and the future Cole imagines for Eli, and I felt those tensions while reading; the story kept asking me to revise my sympathies rather than park them in one easy place. The novel occasionally carries a lot at once. Romantic momentum, hidden histories, family scars, and social observations. But even that abundance felt more generous than cluttered. It has the slightly overripe, storm-before-dusk quality of a story that knows life is rarely tidy and declines to fake tidiness.
I’d hand this to readers who like women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, romantic suspense, and book club fiction with a strong sense of place. It should especially appeal to people who enjoy novels about midlife upheaval, buried family history, and the dangerous seduction of starting over somewhere beautiful. It reminded me a bit of Liane Moriarty, but warmer in climate, more bruised in temperament, and more interested in exile, inheritance, and second chances than in pure social satire. Little Pink Houses is a novel for readers who like their escapism sunlit on the surface and knotted underneath.
What I liked most was the book’s emotional grain. Cole is not polished into a heroine you are meant to admire from a tasteful distance; she is brittle, funny, vain, wounded, perceptive, and often more frightened than she wants anyone to know. I found that messiness convincing. Binsfeld gives her a voice with bite in it, a voice capable of self-mockery one moment and genuine ache the next, and that made the novel feel lived-in rather than engineered. Belize is not used as a decorative backdrop, either. The island atmosphere, the practical dislocations of daily life, the history of the little pink houses, and the Mayan-inflected spiritual undercurrent all give the story a humid, slightly uncanny shimmer. I kept feeling that the novel understood a hard truth: reinvention is never clean; you drag your old ghosts into paradise with you.
The novel moves between women’s fiction, family drama, and romance without becoming baggy. The central questions are not merely who did what, or what happened in the past, but what care actually requires when love, guilt, and projection get tangled together. The book club questions at the end make clear how much the novel is invested in forgiveness, assumptions, attachment, and the future Cole imagines for Eli, and I felt those tensions while reading; the story kept asking me to revise my sympathies rather than park them in one easy place. The novel occasionally carries a lot at once. Romantic momentum, hidden histories, family scars, and social observations. But even that abundance felt more generous than cluttered. It has the slightly overripe, storm-before-dusk quality of a story that knows life is rarely tidy and declines to fake tidiness.
I’d hand this to readers who like women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, romantic suspense, and book club fiction with a strong sense of place. It should especially appeal to people who enjoy novels about midlife upheaval, buried family history, and the dangerous seduction of starting over somewhere beautiful. It reminded me a bit of Liane Moriarty, but warmer in climate, more bruised in temperament, and more interested in exile, inheritance, and second chances than in pure social satire. Little Pink Houses is a novel for readers who like their escapism sunlit on the surface and knotted underneath.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC provided by author, Lisa Binsfeld
After a painful divorce and a moment of clarity that leads her to walk away from her demanding Hollywood career, Cole Lavetsky makes a bold and life-altering decision. Leaving behind the glamorous yet exhausting lifestyle she once chased—and even her beloved cat with her cheating ex—Cole escapes to the tropical shores of Ambergris Caye, Belize. Her plan is simple: stay for a few quiet months, clear her mind, and finally write the novel she has always dreamed of creating.
What begins as a temporary escape quickly becomes something far more meaningful. As Cole settles into island life, the slower pace and vibrant community begin to change her in ways she never expected. Along the way, she discovers unexpected employment, forms deep and meaningful friendships, and develops a tender bond with a young boy who touches her heart. She also finds herself drawn to a charming philanthropist whose presence makes her question whether love might still have a place in her future.
Through Cole’s journey, the author beautifully captures the colorful atmosphere of Ambergris Caye, painting a vivid picture of the island’s scenery, culture, and the fascinating mix of people who call it home. The setting feels alive, transporting readers directly into the warmth, humor, and unpredictability of island life.
At the heart of the story is Cole’s deeply honest and relatable inner dialogue. Her reflections are at times painful, often hilarious, and always genuine as she begins to confront long-held misconceptions about her past, her family, and ultimately herself. Watching her grow, heal, and rediscover her purpose is both moving and inspiring.
Lisa Binsfeld’s charming debut novel is an engaging and heartfelt story of reinvention, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to start over. With its vibrant setting, memorable characters, and emotional depth, it leaves readers with a warm sense of hope—and joyful anticipation for whatever stories the author writes next.
Thank you to Lisa Binsfeld for providing an ARC.
After a painful divorce and a moment of clarity that leads her to walk away from her demanding Hollywood career, Cole Lavetsky makes a bold and life-altering decision. Leaving behind the glamorous yet exhausting lifestyle she once chased—and even her beloved cat with her cheating ex—Cole escapes to the tropical shores of Ambergris Caye, Belize. Her plan is simple: stay for a few quiet months, clear her mind, and finally write the novel she has always dreamed of creating.
What begins as a temporary escape quickly becomes something far more meaningful. As Cole settles into island life, the slower pace and vibrant community begin to change her in ways she never expected. Along the way, she discovers unexpected employment, forms deep and meaningful friendships, and develops a tender bond with a young boy who touches her heart. She also finds herself drawn to a charming philanthropist whose presence makes her question whether love might still have a place in her future.
Through Cole’s journey, the author beautifully captures the colorful atmosphere of Ambergris Caye, painting a vivid picture of the island’s scenery, culture, and the fascinating mix of people who call it home. The setting feels alive, transporting readers directly into the warmth, humor, and unpredictability of island life.
At the heart of the story is Cole’s deeply honest and relatable inner dialogue. Her reflections are at times painful, often hilarious, and always genuine as she begins to confront long-held misconceptions about her past, her family, and ultimately herself. Watching her grow, heal, and rediscover her purpose is both moving and inspiring.
Lisa Binsfeld’s charming debut novel is an engaging and heartfelt story of reinvention, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to start over. With its vibrant setting, memorable characters, and emotional depth, it leaves readers with a warm sense of hope—and joyful anticipation for whatever stories the author writes next.
Thank you to Lisa Binsfeld for providing an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Little Pink Houses is a warm, engaging “beach-read” that blends a vivid sense of place with a thoughtful story about reinvention. After a painful divorce and the sudden decision to walk away from her demanding career (in Hollywood, but unglamorously behind the scenes), Cole Lavetsky retreats to tropical Ambergris Caye, an island in Belize. Her intention is simple: spend a few quiet months writing the novel she’s always dreamed of and figure out what comes next. Instead, the island begins to reshape her plans and her perspective.
As Cole settles into the rhythms of island life, she forms unexpected connections that challenge her carefully guarded independence. A gifted but vulnerable young boy living in the ruins of a faded pink resort, a charismatic philanthropist she meets at a local beach bar, and the wider community around her all begin to draw her out of the isolation she thought she needed. At the same time, Cole wrestles with the weight of her past and the complicated truths she’s not quite ready to share.
What makes the novel especially appealing is the way it balances light, sun-drenched escapism with genuine emotional reflection. The Belizean setting feels vibrant and immersive, while Cole’s inner journey – sometimes funny, sometimes frustrating, trying to be honest (at least with herself) – keeps the story grounded. The result is a thoughtful and quietly hopeful novel about starting over, letting go of old narratives, and discovering that change often arrives in unexpected places.
Thanks to author Lisa Binsfeld for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
As Cole settles into the rhythms of island life, she forms unexpected connections that challenge her carefully guarded independence. A gifted but vulnerable young boy living in the ruins of a faded pink resort, a charismatic philanthropist she meets at a local beach bar, and the wider community around her all begin to draw her out of the isolation she thought she needed. At the same time, Cole wrestles with the weight of her past and the complicated truths she’s not quite ready to share.
What makes the novel especially appealing is the way it balances light, sun-drenched escapism with genuine emotional reflection. The Belizean setting feels vibrant and immersive, while Cole’s inner journey – sometimes funny, sometimes frustrating, trying to be honest (at least with herself) – keeps the story grounded. The result is a thoughtful and quietly hopeful novel about starting over, letting go of old narratives, and discovering that change often arrives in unexpected places.
Thanks to author Lisa Binsfeld for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Little Pink Houses is a charming, sun‑soaked debut that blends escapism with emotional honesty in a way that feels both breezy and unexpectedly tender. Cole Lavetsky’s dramatic exit from Hollywood sets the stage for a reinvention story that’s equal parts funny, prickly, and heartfelt. Her retreat to Ambergris Caye—armed with a vintage guitar and the beginnings of a revenge novel—has all the makings of a classic “find yourself” arc, but the book quickly becomes something richer.
The ruined pink resort, with its faded whimsy and quiet ghosts, becomes a perfect backdrop for Cole’s own unraveling and rebuilding. Her connection with Elias, the brilliant and vulnerable child living among the ruins, adds emotional weight without tipping into sentimentality. And Thatcher Ames, the island’s maddeningly charismatic philanthropist, brings just the right amount of friction and warmth to keep Cole—and the reader—on their toes.
What elevates the story is its blend of lighthearted island charm with moments of real introspection. The Mayan grandmother’s prophecy, the shadows Cole carries from her past, and the fragile hope of a different kind of future all weave together into a narrative that feels both playful and sincere. It’s a novel about second chances, imperfect people, and the courage it takes to let yourself be seen.
A delightful, quietly affecting read that reminds us how reinvention often begins in the most unexpected places.
With thanks to Lisa Binsfeld, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The ruined pink resort, with its faded whimsy and quiet ghosts, becomes a perfect backdrop for Cole’s own unraveling and rebuilding. Her connection with Elias, the brilliant and vulnerable child living among the ruins, adds emotional weight without tipping into sentimentality. And Thatcher Ames, the island’s maddeningly charismatic philanthropist, brings just the right amount of friction and warmth to keep Cole—and the reader—on their toes.
What elevates the story is its blend of lighthearted island charm with moments of real introspection. The Mayan grandmother’s prophecy, the shadows Cole carries from her past, and the fragile hope of a different kind of future all weave together into a narrative that feels both playful and sincere. It’s a novel about second chances, imperfect people, and the courage it takes to let yourself be seen.
A delightful, quietly affecting read that reminds us how reinvention often begins in the most unexpected places.
With thanks to Lisa Binsfeld, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After dramatically quitting her Hollywood job, Cole escapes to the condo her grandfather left her in Belize. Her plan is to sequester herself and write a novel, returning to LA (and her cat, who has been left in the care of her ex husband) by the end of the summer. Early in her stay, she discovers two things that change her plans: an abandoned pink resort and a beach bar. The pink resort is the home of an energetic, highly intelligent young boy who is blissfully ignorant of his impoverished life. The bar is where she meets a wealthy philanthropist who shares her love of music. Though the males have very little in common, they both pull at Cole's heart and make her question things in her life.
Although Cole is in her forties, this feels like a coming of age novel. Cole holds on to a lot of resentments in her past and had set very high standards for herself. During her time on the island, she omits things from her past when telling her story because she wants to be herself and not an offshoot of her famous father and brother. She claims; however, that she doesn't want to lie and knows she needs to come clean. The first time she does this, I didn't particularly care for the way the truth came out, especially as she continued to keep things close to the chest and didn't learn her lesson. What I did really like was the truthfulness of the novel. It didn't try to force happy endings or make it so that we always understood Cole's choices - sometimes she clearly didn't understand her own choices. While I don't normally like ambiguous endings, I felt that this one was perfect.
Thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Tree Publications, and Lisa Binsfeld for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Although Cole is in her forties, this feels like a coming of age novel. Cole holds on to a lot of resentments in her past and had set very high standards for herself. During her time on the island, she omits things from her past when telling her story because she wants to be herself and not an offshoot of her famous father and brother. She claims; however, that she doesn't want to lie and knows she needs to come clean. The first time she does this, I didn't particularly care for the way the truth came out, especially as she continued to keep things close to the chest and didn't learn her lesson. What I did really like was the truthfulness of the novel. It didn't try to force happy endings or make it so that we always understood Cole's choices - sometimes she clearly didn't understand her own choices. While I don't normally like ambiguous endings, I felt that this one was perfect.
Thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Tree Publications, and Lisa Binsfeld for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Little Pink Houses is a lovely debut. I’ve never been to Belize, but the author’s descriptions provided me with a real felt sense of place. Smart and thoughtful, Little Pink Houses is the emotional journey of a woman in mid-life coming to terms with her past and rewriting her future. This was the book I had with me for a long train ride, and I was not disappointed. The writing is beautiful, and there were so many facets of the story to hold my interest—Cole’s past, the Mayan grandmother, the potential love interest, the pink houses themselves—and they were woven together so well. Not to mention the cover is gorgeous!
Thank you to the Lisa Binsfeld for the ARC.
Thank you to the Lisa Binsfeld for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lisa Binsfeld's debut novel follows Cole, who, after a difficult divorce, leaves her career behind to retreat to a condo in Belize left to her by her grandfather. While she initially intended the trip to be a short getaway to work on her novel, it eventually turns into a much deeper journey.
It is a thoughtful novel that explores Cole's efforts to understand her life while navigating new challenges within her small community. The author’s writing style makes it very easy to connect with the characters. If you're looking for a heartfelt and emotionally satisfying story, Little Pink Houses might be just the book you need
Thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It is a thoughtful novel that explores Cole's efforts to understand her life while navigating new challenges within her small community. The author’s writing style makes it very easy to connect with the characters. If you're looking for a heartfelt and emotionally satisfying story, Little Pink Houses might be just the book you need
Thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 1, 2026
This story truly highlights the dream of successful single women in the workforce or for that matter women in general who want to get away from it all. I found the writing to be clean, poignant and really great fun. The story of Cole takes some surprising twists that are well executed and believable. That is what kept me fully engaged in the story. Cole just didn't leave the workforce, she actually evolved into roles she never imagined. The romance with Thatcher is electric. The more she resisted, the more she fell for him. I can't wait for the next book from Lisa. Love reading her writing!
May 22, 2026
This story is a beautiful journey alongside Cole, struggling to let go of the bitterness of being put in second place by everyone, from ex husband to her twin brother and her mother. When she retreats to a family property in Belize to try to carve out a future of her own, she discovers how to love not only herself and her family, but a brilliant orphan child. Tender and authentic.
April 27, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I am looking forward to future novels by Binsfeld so that I can watch her grow as an author.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews