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The Beach Wedding
Will your past always catch up with you?Tessa Dannall is excited and happy when her daughter, Nia, arrives at their family’s tropical beach resort to get married. Tessa is also trying to forget the last time she went to a wedding on this beach and how that day changed her life for ever. But as the big day draws near, Tessa realises she must face the deadly ghosts from her past – or they may ruin her daughter’s future...Praise for Dorothy ‘Terrifically addictive’ Good Housekeeping‘Beautifully written’ Closer‘Koomson just gets better and better’ Woman and Home
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2018
29 people are currently reading
536 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Koomson
50 books3,251 followersHello, my name's Dorothy Koomson and I'll try to make this bit that's all about me as interesting as possible.
I wrote my first novel called There's A Thin Line Between Love And Hate when I was 13. I used to write a chapter every night then pass it around to my fellow convent school pupils every morning, and they seemed to love it.
I grew up in London and then grew up again in Leeds when I went to university. I eventually returned to London to study for my masters degree and stayed put for the following years. I took up various temping jobs and eventually got my big break writing, editing and subbing for various women's magazines and national papers.
Fiction and storytelling were still a HUGE passion of mine and I continued to write short stories and novels every spare moment that I got. In 2001 I had the idea for The Cupid Effect and my career as a published novelist began. And it's been fantastic. In 2006, third novel, My Best Friend's Girl was published. It was incredibly successful - selling nearly 90,000 copies within its first few weeks on sale. Six weeks later, it was selected for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads Book Club and the book went on to sell over 500,000 copies. Oh, there I go again, this is meant to be about me, not my novels.
Okay, back to me. I recently spent two years living in Sydney Australia, and now I'm back in England. But I can't say for how long I'll be in the UK for because I've been well and truly bitten by the travel bug
I wrote my first novel called There's A Thin Line Between Love And Hate when I was 13. I used to write a chapter every night then pass it around to my fellow convent school pupils every morning, and they seemed to love it.
I grew up in London and then grew up again in Leeds when I went to university. I eventually returned to London to study for my masters degree and stayed put for the following years. I took up various temping jobs and eventually got my big break writing, editing and subbing for various women's magazines and national papers.
Fiction and storytelling were still a HUGE passion of mine and I continued to write short stories and novels every spare moment that I got. In 2001 I had the idea for The Cupid Effect and my career as a published novelist began. And it's been fantastic. In 2006, third novel, My Best Friend's Girl was published. It was incredibly successful - selling nearly 90,000 copies within its first few weeks on sale. Six weeks later, it was selected for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads Book Club and the book went on to sell over 500,000 copies. Oh, there I go again, this is meant to be about me, not my novels.
Okay, back to me. I recently spent two years living in Sydney Australia, and now I'm back in England. But I can't say for how long I'll be in the UK for because I've been well and truly bitten by the travel bug
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
August 7, 2018
“I think our destiny was shaped by the stars.”
- Drew
- Drew
March 7, 2020
Loved it, it's a perfectly relaxing easy read. Longer review soon :) https://sisterdelightbookcaffe.blogsp...
February 18, 2018
My first read of Dorothy Koomson and at ninety-eight print pages The Beach Wedding is a perfect example of a well-written and involving short story. For women’s fiction fans this story has more than a little element of intrigue, characters with hints of depth, emotional resonance and a colourful setting and on the strength of this glimpse into the writing of Koomson, I will undoubtedly be reading some of her full length novels. Even more impressive is that what transpires is illustrated over a split timeline narrative, one strand of which gradually moves towards the present day and plays catch-up to current events.
As manager of the family’s Bussu Bay beach resort in Ghana, Tessa Dannall, has mixed emotions about her daughters forthcoming arrival for her wedding day celebrations given the events of her own intended marriage twenty-four-years ago on that same beach when her fiancé, Drew, lost his life attempting to save a drowning toddler. Already pregnant at the time with daughter Nia, Drew’s best friend Jake supported and cared for Tessa back home in Brighton and for Nia, Jake is the only father that she has ever known. As Nia’s fiancé, Marvin, prepares to welcome his parents for the big day, mother of the bride, Tessa, wonders how she will face down and confront her own tragic past..
The characters, particularly Tessa and her partner, Jake are well fleshed out and their actions feel believable, and Koomson excels in analysing how the complications of an unresolved past have affected Tessa through the years and left a shadow over her happiness with Jake and explain her dogged refusal to marry him.
The Beach Wedding is a surprisingly compelling short story which proves absorbing, contains enough twists to feel satisfying and is undoubtedly well-executed.
As manager of the family’s Bussu Bay beach resort in Ghana, Tessa Dannall, has mixed emotions about her daughters forthcoming arrival for her wedding day celebrations given the events of her own intended marriage twenty-four-years ago on that same beach when her fiancé, Drew, lost his life attempting to save a drowning toddler. Already pregnant at the time with daughter Nia, Drew’s best friend Jake supported and cared for Tessa back home in Brighton and for Nia, Jake is the only father that she has ever known. As Nia’s fiancé, Marvin, prepares to welcome his parents for the big day, mother of the bride, Tessa, wonders how she will face down and confront her own tragic past..
The characters, particularly Tessa and her partner, Jake are well fleshed out and their actions feel believable, and Koomson excels in analysing how the complications of an unresolved past have affected Tessa through the years and left a shadow over her happiness with Jake and explain her dogged refusal to marry him.
The Beach Wedding is a surprisingly compelling short story which proves absorbing, contains enough twists to feel satisfying and is undoubtedly well-executed.
March 4, 2018
A great quick read great when you want to read something quickly and perfect to think of summer on a dull day. Tessa is so pleased when her daughter Nia says she's going over to her mothers island to get married at the beech by their hotel but will it bring back memories for her mother and the past will always catch up with you and in this case it sure does and she's worried it will effect everything but does it or can Nia still get married. A really great read and has you hooked straight away.
February 23, 2019
Super quick read. Interesting story, and it keeps you reading. I’ve enjoyed Dorothy’s books in the past and this one was no different. It’s a good read!
June 17, 2020
Nia and Marvin are due to be getting married at Nia's family home in Ghana, this was the same place that her mother was meant to marry her father, but something happened on that fateful day that she doesn't like to speak about. Nia's mother is not so sure it is a good idea that her daughter is to marry in the same place, surely it is bad luck? Things look like they are going ahead anyway and when Marvin's parents turn up a few days early, everything changes.
December 20, 2018
"The Beach Wedding" by Dorothy Koomson is a Penguin #quickread that packs as many twists and turns into its few pages as in any full length novel.
I finished this in a couple of hours and it was a nice change to read such a quick story in between much longer books.
A feel good, pacy and addictive story I'd happily recommend it and as it is my first introduction to this author, I fully intend now to read her more popular novels in the future.
5 stars
I finished this in a couple of hours and it was a nice change to read such a quick story in between much longer books.
A feel good, pacy and addictive story I'd happily recommend it and as it is my first introduction to this author, I fully intend now to read her more popular novels in the future.
5 stars
August 2, 2020
I loved this #quickreads story! On the day Tess was due to get married on the beach, 24yrs ago... her fiance ran into the sea to save a little boy. The little boy made it, but Tess' husband to be did not. Now, in present day, Tess' daughter Nia is about to get married on that very beach. Emotions are running high ... and something is lurking in the shadows. What Tess always thought would be her dream come true, becomes a total frightening nightmare. Brilliant, I recommend this to all fans of family drama with a twist.
August 17, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, didn't want it to end even though it wasn't a very realistic plot
April 5, 2018
Part of the 2018 Quick Read series. Well written and twisty/ page turning. A super lunchtime/commute/WaitingInThePostOfficeQueue/read - better still, it is possible to read in a month for parents of preschoolers book club with enough character and story to allow for discussions. This 'teaser' of a short story demonstrates what a super author Dorothy Koomson is, so I will look out for more of her books
January 30, 2020
Tessa’s fiancée tragically died on their wedding day. 24 years later her daughter Nia is getting married in their family’s tropical beach resort and Tessa is trying to hold it together even when skeletons come out of the closet ✨A quick read and it didn’t disappoint. I do enjoy Dorothy’s writing and I did enjoy this quick read. A satisfying story.
March 14, 2020
really enjoyed this
August 15, 2020
Really really enjoyed this one! Great story
September 22, 2023
I don't know how many stars to give a 'short story' but this one was great! Lots of twists and turns packed into only a few pages. I'm a huge Dorothy Koomson fan, and this is a great little book for anyone that wants to sample her work without committing to a novel.
Read
May 20, 2018PLOT TWIST
January 3, 2019
Totally ludicrous.
June 10, 2024
oh, how i love dorothy koomson - yet i have never been so traumatised in such a short space of time.
this book is a true rollercoaster and a testament to how talented dorothy is that she can make you go through so many emotions and live through so many different parts of a character's life in simply 96 pages.
throughout the space of this novella, i was questioning everything and everyone - the mark of a fabulous dorothy book.
this book is a true rollercoaster and a testament to how talented dorothy is that she can make you go through so many emotions and live through so many different parts of a character's life in simply 96 pages.
throughout the space of this novella, i was questioning everything and everyone - the mark of a fabulous dorothy book.
August 7, 2020
I love Dorothy Koomson books and this one is no different!
So many twists and turns were crammed into 96 pages - loved it!
Looking back, the actual storyline is quite far fetched BUT it didn't make a difference to the enjoyment factor.
So many twists and turns were crammed into 96 pages - loved it!
Looking back, the actual storyline is quite far fetched BUT it didn't make a difference to the enjoyment factor.
June 6, 2020
Another brilliant read from Dorothy Koomson, she is one of my favourite authors. It was lovely and heartwarming.
January 13, 2021
Dorothy Koomson has packed so much into such a short story. Not only was it well written but I was invested in the characters. I hope to read more by this author.
November 12, 2022
Great story, well written.
April 23, 2022
A quick read (I picked it up in a charity shop & read it while hubby was in the supermarket) which kept me entertained & while I did spot all the "twists" it still managed to surprise me!
A good story packed into only 96 pages & another thumbs up to "The Reading Agency" for these little gems.
A good story packed into only 96 pages & another thumbs up to "The Reading Agency" for these little gems.
April 4, 2018
Another fantastic book from Dorothy Koomson. Really enjoyed reading it.
June 3, 2018
I was so surprised when I saw that my favorite author had written a short story. She usually fills up her novels with so much depth and detail that I was curious to see her manage it on fewer pages. Of course, she did. The story had me hooked from page one and continued all the way to the end. Brilliant and amazing. But I’d like to give it a trigger warning for domestic abuse.
November 14, 2020
Great read, I thought I was in for a romance but it had so much more than that, I just couldn't stop until I was done...
Beautifully written it flows perfectly from one scene to the next without rushing, taking the time to describe the characters giving the full picture of them and the circumstances, simply brilliant.
Beautifully written it flows perfectly from one scene to the next without rushing, taking the time to describe the characters giving the full picture of them and the circumstances, simply brilliant.
May 16, 2025
3.5⭐️ Quick and easy Dorothy Koomson, very much typical of her stories. An enjoyable read ☺️
February 23, 2021
Tessa Dannall is excited when her daughter arrives at their family beach resort. Her daughter has planned a joyful wedding on the beach at the family holiday resort but the plans bring back painful memories for Tessa who suffered a tragedy at her own beach wedding many years before. When the in-laws arrive tensions are heightened when Tessa realises they are connected with her past.
This is another novel from the “quick reads” collection which I have begun looking through lately. The idea of this collection is exactly as it says on the tin (or should that be cover), a shorter than normal book by world leading authors. One of the things I quite like about these books is that they force the authors to cut out a lot of the waffle that sometimes goes on in books. This keeps the stories quite fast paced with a lot happening in less time. I'm proud of authors who take on the challenge of writing these books so that they can be enjoyed by all even those who aren’t keen reader. I love to read these books after I finish a long novel or quite a serious non-fiction book, I find it refreshes my reading cycle a little.
I often think it’s useful to see an extract of a book to get an idea of the writing style. Here is a brief extract so that you can see a sample of the writing yourself:
Viewpoint: This story is told by Tessa although it switches from the present day timeline and the flashbacks to the time of her own wedding. The author does a really good job of slowly revealing bit by bit Tessa’s past which is really the more intriguing part of this storyline in my opinion.
Setting: This book primarily has a lovely beach setting which does give it a lovely holiday read type feel to it.
Any Negatives: I think parts of the story could move a bit quicker at times and as other reviewers have stated it is a bit predictable in places but I enjoyed it.
Overall View: I found this review quite difficult to write without giving too much away but hopefully I managed to share enough to give you the gist of the storyline. It was an enjoyable read, it very much felt like a holiday read (in fact you’d easily finish it on a short flight, not that there is too much flying going on these days). It’s not high drama, more of bubble-gum soap opera type book but light reading with a bit of escapism isn’t a bad thing every now and then. You get a great chunk of story in less than 100 pages, what more could you ask for.
Please leave a like if you think my review/feedback of the item was helpful to you. Alternatively, please contact me if you want me to clarify something in my review.
This is another novel from the “quick reads” collection which I have begun looking through lately. The idea of this collection is exactly as it says on the tin (or should that be cover), a shorter than normal book by world leading authors. One of the things I quite like about these books is that they force the authors to cut out a lot of the waffle that sometimes goes on in books. This keeps the stories quite fast paced with a lot happening in less time. I'm proud of authors who take on the challenge of writing these books so that they can be enjoyed by all even those who aren’t keen reader. I love to read these books after I finish a long novel or quite a serious non-fiction book, I find it refreshes my reading cycle a little.
I often think it’s useful to see an extract of a book to get an idea of the writing style. Here is a brief extract so that you can see a sample of the writing yourself:
Eventually, Jake moved away from me and sat back to pull and do up his trousers. I straightened myself out as Jake climbed off the sofa and returned to sitting on the floor beside me, staring at the television. Nothing was said for long minutes and I wondered if we’d ever speak of this. Or if we would pretend it hadn’t happened.
‘I shouldn’t have told you,’ Jake finally said.
‘You still miss Drew so much. I still miss him so much. He was my brother, you know? We grew up together. Double trouble, everyone called us. We looked alike, we were alike. My mum was always saying it was like she’d had twins, because she spent as much time telling him off as she did me. His mum said the same about me before she died. It makes sense we both wanted the same woman.’
Viewpoint: This story is told by Tessa although it switches from the present day timeline and the flashbacks to the time of her own wedding. The author does a really good job of slowly revealing bit by bit Tessa’s past which is really the more intriguing part of this storyline in my opinion.
Setting: This book primarily has a lovely beach setting which does give it a lovely holiday read type feel to it.
Any Negatives: I think parts of the story could move a bit quicker at times and as other reviewers have stated it is a bit predictable in places but I enjoyed it.
Overall View: I found this review quite difficult to write without giving too much away but hopefully I managed to share enough to give you the gist of the storyline. It was an enjoyable read, it very much felt like a holiday read (in fact you’d easily finish it on a short flight, not that there is too much flying going on these days). It’s not high drama, more of bubble-gum soap opera type book but light reading with a bit of escapism isn’t a bad thing every now and then. You get a great chunk of story in less than 100 pages, what more could you ask for.
Please leave a like if you think my review/feedback of the item was helpful to you. Alternatively, please contact me if you want me to clarify something in my review.
February 20, 2018
I love the time of year when Quick Reads release their titles for the year. These are perfect for people on the go, who have a little time but really want to feel like they have read and achieved something.
Koomson is a popular women's fiction writer and has written some very popular books. This is less than 100 pages but didn't feel rushed and had many twists and turns in it.
Nia and Marvin are due to be getting married at Nia's family home in Ghana, this was the same place that her mother was meant to marry her father, but something happened on that faithful day that she doesn't like to speak about. Nia's mother is not so sure it is a good idea that her daughter is to marry in the same place, surely it is bad luck? Things look like they are going ahead anyway and when Marvin's parents turn up a few days early, everything changes.
This was a short story that I devoured in a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a small escapism but can't commit to a full length novel.
Koomson is a popular women's fiction writer and has written some very popular books. This is less than 100 pages but didn't feel rushed and had many twists and turns in it.
Nia and Marvin are due to be getting married at Nia's family home in Ghana, this was the same place that her mother was meant to marry her father, but something happened on that faithful day that she doesn't like to speak about. Nia's mother is not so sure it is a good idea that her daughter is to marry in the same place, surely it is bad luck? Things look like they are going ahead anyway and when Marvin's parents turn up a few days early, everything changes.
This was a short story that I devoured in a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a small escapism but can't commit to a full length novel.
February 21, 2020
This book was amazing. I know it was only a short quick read but it totally blew me away.
My heart broke for Tessa at the start as her fiancé is tragically lost at sea saving a boy and she’s left on her wedding day and pregnant. I loved watching the love develop between her and Jake, who was Drew - her fiancés best friend. The story is about her daughters wedding, who wants it on the beach just like hers was meant to be. I never for one moment suspected that Drew wasn’t dead and would turn up as her daughters future father in law! The tale he wove had me seriously thinking whether he was telling the truth and the villain was going to be Jake, I literally couldn’t put the book down or read fast enough. Tessa goes with her gut and love for Jake and my heart sang as she finally told him that she loved him and wanted to marry him. I was so sad to see the end of the book, I really wanted to keep reading. Dorothy Koomson books are amazing and really make you feel as if you’re in the moment with the characters.
My heart broke for Tessa at the start as her fiancé is tragically lost at sea saving a boy and she’s left on her wedding day and pregnant. I loved watching the love develop between her and Jake, who was Drew - her fiancés best friend. The story is about her daughters wedding, who wants it on the beach just like hers was meant to be. I never for one moment suspected that Drew wasn’t dead and would turn up as her daughters future father in law! The tale he wove had me seriously thinking whether he was telling the truth and the villain was going to be Jake, I literally couldn’t put the book down or read fast enough. Tessa goes with her gut and love for Jake and my heart sang as she finally told him that she loved him and wanted to marry him. I was so sad to see the end of the book, I really wanted to keep reading. Dorothy Koomson books are amazing and really make you feel as if you’re in the moment with the characters.
February 21, 2025
The Beach Wedding by Dorothy Koomson
Blurb
Will your past always catch up with you?
Tessa Dannall is excited and happy when her daughter, Nia, arrives at their family’s tropical beach resort to get married.
Tessa is also trying to forget the last time she went to a wedding on this beach and how that day changed her life for ever.
But as the big day draws near, Tessa realises she must face the deadly ghosts from her past – or they may ruin her daughter’s future...
My Opinion
At just over 100 pages this was a quick read. I have recently been on the look out for some novellas to read and this one caught my eye. Dorothy Koomson is an author that I have mixed feelings about – I have liked most of the books I have read but I have been disappointed by a few. In this case, The Beach Wedding was an enjoyable read. Whilst this was a quick read there is definitely a lot packed in.
Rating 4/5
Blurb
Will your past always catch up with you?
Tessa Dannall is excited and happy when her daughter, Nia, arrives at their family’s tropical beach resort to get married.
Tessa is also trying to forget the last time she went to a wedding on this beach and how that day changed her life for ever.
But as the big day draws near, Tessa realises she must face the deadly ghosts from her past – or they may ruin her daughter’s future...
My Opinion
At just over 100 pages this was a quick read. I have recently been on the look out for some novellas to read and this one caught my eye. Dorothy Koomson is an author that I have mixed feelings about – I have liked most of the books I have read but I have been disappointed by a few. In this case, The Beach Wedding was an enjoyable read. Whilst this was a quick read there is definitely a lot packed in.
Rating 4/5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews