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South Carolina Sunsets #1
The Beach House
*** Now a USA TODAY BESTSELLER! ***
She's 43 years old...
...and starting over from scratch.
How did this happen? She had it all together. A stable marriage of two decades. Two grown daughters. And now she and her husband, empty nesters, were moving to a beach house.
Until he showed up late one night and tore their marriage apart.
A secret life. A different woman. Another family.
Left alone, she has to begin again.
And then her estranged sister and mother get thrown into the mix.
When she buys a house on a small South Carolina island, will she learn what life is really about?
Or will she find out that some relationships can never be mended?
This women's divorce fiction book will give you all the feels. Grab your tissues and go on a journey with this quirky cast of characters. Get it now.
She's 43 years old...
...and starting over from scratch.
How did this happen? She had it all together. A stable marriage of two decades. Two grown daughters. And now she and her husband, empty nesters, were moving to a beach house.
Until he showed up late one night and tore their marriage apart.
A secret life. A different woman. Another family.
Left alone, she has to begin again.
And then her estranged sister and mother get thrown into the mix.
When she buys a house on a small South Carolina island, will she learn what life is really about?
Or will she find out that some relationships can never be mended?
This women's divorce fiction book will give you all the feels. Grab your tissues and go on a journey with this quirky cast of characters. Get it now.
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2019
13552 people are currently reading
20279 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hanna
98 books2,852 followersHey there! Before I tell you all about myself, can I invite you to join my private Rachel's Readers Facebook group? That's where my readers hang out, discuss my books, participate in giveaways and learn about new releases.
You can join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rache...
So who am I? My name is Rachel Hanna, and I am a wife, mother of three incredible kids (maybe I am a BIT biased?), two lovable doggies and one cat that lives outside and thinks he owns the world. Okay, I also have a gecko now too. Don't judge me.
I started writing as a young child, and I went into the field of Journalism for many years as an adult. Now, as a romantic fiction writer, I get to live out my own daydreams every single day and share them with readers around the world!
I'm a Southern chick living near Atlanta, so I say "yes, ma'm" and "ya'll", but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)
You can join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rache...
So who am I? My name is Rachel Hanna, and I am a wife, mother of three incredible kids (maybe I am a BIT biased?), two lovable doggies and one cat that lives outside and thinks he owns the world. Okay, I also have a gecko now too. Don't judge me.
I started writing as a young child, and I went into the field of Journalism for many years as an adult. Now, as a romantic fiction writer, I get to live out my own daydreams every single day and share them with readers around the world!
I'm a Southern chick living near Atlanta, so I say "yes, ma'm" and "ya'll", but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,411 reviews
July 17, 2025
cute! very simple easy beachy read. i wasn’t sure if i was going to continue the series, but im kind of hooked now…
May 1, 2020
There are very few self-published books that are great and this wasn’t one of them. When I read things that a good editor/proofreader wouldn’t have let by, I find them very jarring and they ruin the book for me. A few examples in this book were: “Dawson was standing in the kitchen, sanding the baseboards on his hands and knees.”. So, was he standing or was he kneeling? Another was “when she noticed Dawson looking at her, his face impassable”. Does this mean she couldn’t walk by his face? Did the author perhaps mean “implacable”?
February 23, 2021
I was looking for something light to read. Oh my, was this ever light. This just isn't my type of book. I found it to be silly, contrived, predictable, cliche, sappy. Needless to say, I won't be following this author.
September 6, 2025
3⭐️
Genre ~ Women's Fiction
Series ~ South Carolina Sunsets, #1
Setting ~ Georgia & South Carolina
Publication date ~ September 27, 2019
Est Page Count ~ 288 (15 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 4 hours 47 minutes
Narrator ~ Becky Brabham
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ infidelity, starting over, no steamage
Julie is blindsided when her hub announces he wants a divorce. He has a new younger lady, of course. Cliche much. See ya, Michael! She continues on with the plan to move and is off to South Carolina to live at the beach.
Ut oh, the house isn't in perfect condition like she expected, so she's forced to hire a contractor named Dawson. It takes a while, but turns out this was the best decision she made.
I was having a fine time with this, enjoying her starting over on her own, but then something happens in the 3rd act that bugged me. I really can't say much since it'll probably be a spoiler, but it had to do with the ex-husband. I don't feel like she had to do what she did even though she felt like she did.
Anyway, I wasn't overly in love with this so I probably won't continue on with the 12 book series unless they pop up as a hoopla bonus borrow.
Narration notes:
She did fine.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Pre~reading notes:
Who wishes they were at the beach 🙋♀️☀️🌊🏖️
Genre ~ Women's Fiction
Series ~ South Carolina Sunsets, #1
Setting ~ Georgia & South Carolina
Publication date ~ September 27, 2019
Est Page Count ~ 288 (15 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 4 hours 47 minutes
Narrator ~ Becky Brabham
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ infidelity, starting over, no steamage
Julie is blindsided when her hub announces he wants a divorce. He has a new younger lady, of course. Cliche much. See ya, Michael! She continues on with the plan to move and is off to South Carolina to live at the beach.
Ut oh, the house isn't in perfect condition like she expected, so she's forced to hire a contractor named Dawson. It takes a while, but turns out this was the best decision she made.
I was having a fine time with this, enjoying her starting over on her own, but then something happens in the 3rd act that bugged me. I really can't say much since it'll probably be a spoiler, but it had to do with the ex-husband. I don't feel like she had to do what she did even though she felt like she did.
Anyway, I wasn't overly in love with this so I probably won't continue on with the 12 book series unless they pop up as a hoopla bonus borrow.
Narration notes:
She did fine.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Pre~reading notes:
Who wishes they were at the beach 🙋♀️☀️🌊🏖️
April 30, 2021
This is quite possibly the most contrived, cliche, sappy, and poorly written book I have ever read.
April 9, 2021
This was a quick read and unexpectedly entertaining. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as I feel the drama has just started. I am so glad she wised up about the husband! She was way too good for him
July 3, 2020
Good Story
I was rooting for Julie all the way. After 20+ years of marriage, Julie's husband announced that he was leaving her for another woman. He tells her this after they sold the house they had lived in and raised their daughters. She had nowhere to go and she was alone. Her next moves were adventurous, if not somewhat foolish. But I wandering her on. Good things come out of nowhere sometimes; and sometimes bad things jump in. Great story. Made me want to live where she ended up making her home. Loved it.
I was rooting for Julie all the way. After 20+ years of marriage, Julie's husband announced that he was leaving her for another woman. He tells her this after they sold the house they had lived in and raised their daughters. She had nowhere to go and she was alone. Her next moves were adventurous, if not somewhat foolish. But I wandering her on. Good things come out of nowhere sometimes; and sometimes bad things jump in. Great story. Made me want to live where she ended up making her home. Loved it.
June 29, 2021
Tragic story. It’s not because of the plot but due to the horribly unimaginative, redundant, and trite writing. I can’t tell you how many times a character “cocked their head” to listen. The woman who was having an affair with the husband is called, at various times, a skank, skanky, a tart, a tramp, and my favorite- a floozy. That in addition with one sister’s greatest offending insult- that she’s an old maid- makes me wonder who in God’s name wrote this book? Someone who’s 102? No one talks like that, and wow- being an unmarried woman is *offensive*? No, thanks. Characters aren’t fleshed-out people you can empathize with. They’re cardboard caricatures.
The writing is repetitive and in desperate need of both editing and the grammar police. An editor would have asked for a rewrite of these 2 sentences: (pg. 63) “Now I can go home to my beloved Buddy and rest easy that both of you are taken care of.” (pg. 65) “I’m going to head back up to see my beloved Buddy and rest easy knowing that both of my daughters are in good hands with each other.” Awful.
I looked at the number of stars other people have given to this book. They’re either remarkably generous, friends of the author, or they didn’t read the book carefully. Do yourself a favor and spend your time looking for another book to read. This one isn’t worth your time. There’s very little in the way of literary merit here. The only reason I finished it was because it was for a book club. Not recommended for purchase.
The writing is repetitive and in desperate need of both editing and the grammar police. An editor would have asked for a rewrite of these 2 sentences: (pg. 63) “Now I can go home to my beloved Buddy and rest easy that both of you are taken care of.” (pg. 65) “I’m going to head back up to see my beloved Buddy and rest easy knowing that both of my daughters are in good hands with each other.” Awful.
I looked at the number of stars other people have given to this book. They’re either remarkably generous, friends of the author, or they didn’t read the book carefully. Do yourself a favor and spend your time looking for another book to read. This one isn’t worth your time. There’s very little in the way of literary merit here. The only reason I finished it was because it was for a book club. Not recommended for purchase.
January 22, 2021
I’m fairly new to Rachel’s books and now having read the first four books in the South Carolina series, let me just say “OMG”! After reading the first one-“The Beach House”, I was immediately hooked! I hadn’t read four books so quickly since........? Very relatable characters along with family dynamics, which hit close to home as well. A dramatic yet inviting story along with just the right amount of romance, without unnecessary sexual details. Love my new “favorite” author! You’ll definitely fall in love with this series, “The Beach House” being the beginning of a wonderful series!!
July 11, 2023
3.5 rounded up. This was an uplifting story about second chances. Julie's excited to be moving to a beach house with her husband, but gets blind sided when he announces that he's leaving her for another woman. Instead of giving up on her dream, Julie uses her savings to buy her own beach house. A new sense of independence and happiness comes with following her dreams, along with a few new friends, possible romance, and a reunion with her estranged sister.
July 14, 2022
This is probably the most basic adult novel I've ever read. It is a cliché from the start. The author included every southern belle stereotype she could think of. There was nothing remarkable about any of the characters and there was no originality to the story.
**Spoilers from here.** The main character is shallow and extremely immature. She is just another privileged white woman whose husband cheats on her and she has to begin again. She moves to a quaint little town, buys a cute little fixer-upper, falls in love with the first hunk she meets, gets a quirky job at a mom & pop bookstore and everything goes just right for her. This is probably the most unlikeable character I've ever encountered.
There is no flow to the book, it just jumps around all over the place. In one chapter the main character was talking with her daughters on the phone, and in the next sentence, she was sitting in the attorney's office. There was no transition or indication that the scene was changing. There were so many grammar mistakes that I wonder if this book had an editor. It is PIQUING my interest not PEAKING! This book was a hot mess and a very simple read. I finished it in less than an hour.
**Spoilers from here.** The main character is shallow and extremely immature. She is just another privileged white woman whose husband cheats on her and she has to begin again. She moves to a quaint little town, buys a cute little fixer-upper, falls in love with the first hunk she meets, gets a quirky job at a mom & pop bookstore and everything goes just right for her. This is probably the most unlikeable character I've ever encountered.
There is no flow to the book, it just jumps around all over the place. In one chapter the main character was talking with her daughters on the phone, and in the next sentence, she was sitting in the attorney's office. There was no transition or indication that the scene was changing. There were so many grammar mistakes that I wonder if this book had an editor. It is PIQUING my interest not PEAKING! This book was a hot mess and a very simple read. I finished it in less than an hour.
April 21, 2023
Enjoyed this sister focused story of starting over.
January 3, 2024
So good!
Review to follow!
Review to follow!
September 18, 2024
I was going to read a couple of chapters of this when it showed up at my door and I read the whole book in one sitting. The plot the characters and the setting were all top notch.
I was left hanging at the end and there are 10 more books in this series, I feel like they could have all been put in three or four books. Not sure I will read the next 10 books, but I did really enjoy this one.
I was left hanging at the end and there are 10 more books in this series, I feel like they could have all been put in three or four books. Not sure I will read the next 10 books, but I did really enjoy this one.
July 21, 2022
Perfect summer cozy beach read 🥰👒🌊 I’m at the beach this week and this was a perfect little short story to read. I also live in South Carolina so this was a lot more fun to indulge in. I’m excited to read the second book and find out more about Julie’s endeavors on Seagrove island! 🏝
Read
October 28, 2021Read a sample of chapter 1 of The Beach House:
“I’m moving out.”
“I know. We both are, sweetie. To our new beach house. Everything will be wonderful there.”
“No. Julie, you’re not listening. I’m… leaving you.”
She stopped breathing. The heartbeat in her head was like a pounding jackhammer. The room started to spin a bit as she tried to get her equilibrium again. She grabbed the handle of the closet door and struggled to suck in a deep breath.
“What?”
“There’s… someone else.”
Someone else? How could there be someone else? They had a good marriage. A happy life. Two girls. A maid. A new beach house. Maybe he was drinking? Or someone had slipped him a drug on the plane?
“This can’t be happening…” she stammered.
“Who? Why?”
Michael sighed. “Does it matter, Jules?”
“First of all, don’t call me that! Cheaters don’t get to call me that!” Now she was angry. She walked toward him, her finger pointed at his face, rage literally coursing through her veins like waves after a hurricane. “And second, yes it matters! I want to know who the home wrecker is!”
He walked past her and back into the bedroom before sitting in the chair again.
He covered his face and leaned back. “I really didn’t want to do this tonight,” he repeated.
She followed him out and stood in front of the chair. “Oh, I’m sorry. I know you must be tired. Would you rather crush my heart and smash all of my dreams tomorrow then? What time shall I pencil you into my calendar to be a gigantic cheating jackass? Is lunchtime good for you? No? Might mess with your digestion… I know how you get constipated easily… Have you told your hussy that little tidbit about yourself?”
“Enough, Julie! I never meant for this to happen!” he said, standing up. “It just….”
“Happened? Yeah, I hear a lot of cheaters say that on those trashy daytime talk shows. Unfortunately, that’s a crock and you know it! You made a decision, Michael! At least give me the respect of telling me who… and how… this happened.”
He sucked in sharply and sat back down. Julie calmed herself enough to sit on the bed a few feet away, preparing herself to hear the gory details she never thought she’d hear.
“Her name is Victoria. She lives in Boston.”
All of those business trips to Boston… Now it made more sense.
“So these business trips were all fake?” Her heart hurt as she felt the first of the unwanted tears dripping down her face.
“Not all of them. At first, I was there to set up our new division. One night, after a particularly crappy meeting, I went to a restaurant. They didn’t have seating for one. I sat at the bar. Then this woman came in…”
“Good Lord, this is unbelievable.”
“You can’t help who you fall in love with, Julie.”
She stood up again. “Seriously? You were supposed to be in love with me, Michael! Me! Your wife of twenty-one years! The mother of your two daughters! Was that all fake too?”
“Of course not! I loved you!”
“Past tense? Really?”
He sighed again. “Victoria just gets me. And there’s something else…”
“We have a six-month-old son. His name is Charlie.”nport.”
“We have a six month old son. His name is Charlie.”
Once again, she couldn’t breathe. Michael had always wanted a son, but after two difficult pregnancies, Julie had said no more. That had created a huge rift in their marriage for years, but they’d eventually gotten past it. Now, he had his son and his perky-bosomed soulmate. She wanted to vomit.
“How could you? So you’ve been living this secret life where you go to Boston a couple of times a month and spend time with your other family? Dear God, what are Meg and Colleen going to think of this?”
“You can’t tell them.”
“Have you fallen and hit your head? They have to know they have a little brother!”
“I just mean, let me tell them. Please.”
She sat down and pushed back her tears. “Fine. Spin it however you want, but good luck. Your daughters aren’t idiots like me. They’ll smell your lies a mile away.”
“Julie, I never meant to hurt you. But life is short, and I want to be happy again.”
“I was the fool who thought I made you happy all these years.”
“You did… for a long time.”
“Wow. Well, sorry I didn’t make the cut for the second half of your life. I guess I’m not young and hot enough anymore.”
“Julie, she’s only a year younger than you are. It’s not like that.”
Well, that was a punch to the gut. She couldn’t even blame this on a younger, hotter woman. Nope. She just wasn’t enough all the way around.
“I have a flight leaving tomorrow, and I’ll send movers for my things next week. I spoke to the real estate agent yesterday, and our counter offer was accepted so the buyers will close in three weeks.”
“And where am I supposed to go, Michael?”
“I wasn’t going to leave you in the lurch, Julie. You might think I’m a horrible person right now, and I do too, honestly.”
“Not enough, apparently. You’re still going to Boston.”
“I have to go. My son is there, and seeing him off and on isn’t good for his development.”
“I don’t even know what to say. This is like some cheesy TV movie.”
“Here,” he said, reaching into his pocket and handing her a set of keys.
“What are these?”
“Keys to a suite at the extended stay hotel on Davenport.”
“An extended stay hotel? Seriously?”
“I’ve paid for six weeks after the house closes to give you some time to get on your feet.”
Julie stood there in stunned silence. This wasn’t the man she knew. This wasn’t the man who nursed her back to health after a bout with the flu four years ago. This wasn’t the man who diligently went to every Lamaze class with her when she was pregnant with Colleen. This certainly wasn’t the man who stood in front of her and renewed his vows a few years back. She didn’t know this guy.
“I just can’t believe this.”
“I need to also tell you the beach deal isn’t happening, Julie.”
“Obviously.”
“I’m truly very sorry to kill your dream of living there.”
“I thought it was our dream,” she said, softly, unable to stop the tears from flowing.
“It was never my dream, Julie. You knew I was just going along.”
“And what is your dream, Michael?”
“My dream is in Boston.”
And just like that, her heart shattered into a million pieces, scattering all over the floor of a home that once housed only precious memories.
“I’m moving out.”
“I know. We both are, sweetie. To our new beach house. Everything will be wonderful there.”
“No. Julie, you’re not listening. I’m… leaving you.”
She stopped breathing. The heartbeat in her head was like a pounding jackhammer. The room started to spin a bit as she tried to get her equilibrium again. She grabbed the handle of the closet door and struggled to suck in a deep breath.
“What?”
“There’s… someone else.”
Someone else? How could there be someone else? They had a good marriage. A happy life. Two girls. A maid. A new beach house. Maybe he was drinking? Or someone had slipped him a drug on the plane?
“This can’t be happening…” she stammered.
“Who? Why?”
Michael sighed. “Does it matter, Jules?”
“First of all, don’t call me that! Cheaters don’t get to call me that!” Now she was angry. She walked toward him, her finger pointed at his face, rage literally coursing through her veins like waves after a hurricane. “And second, yes it matters! I want to know who the home wrecker is!”
He walked past her and back into the bedroom before sitting in the chair again.
He covered his face and leaned back. “I really didn’t want to do this tonight,” he repeated.
She followed him out and stood in front of the chair. “Oh, I’m sorry. I know you must be tired. Would you rather crush my heart and smash all of my dreams tomorrow then? What time shall I pencil you into my calendar to be a gigantic cheating jackass? Is lunchtime good for you? No? Might mess with your digestion… I know how you get constipated easily… Have you told your hussy that little tidbit about yourself?”
“Enough, Julie! I never meant for this to happen!” he said, standing up. “It just….”
“Happened? Yeah, I hear a lot of cheaters say that on those trashy daytime talk shows. Unfortunately, that’s a crock and you know it! You made a decision, Michael! At least give me the respect of telling me who… and how… this happened.”
He sucked in sharply and sat back down. Julie calmed herself enough to sit on the bed a few feet away, preparing herself to hear the gory details she never thought she’d hear.
“Her name is Victoria. She lives in Boston.”
All of those business trips to Boston… Now it made more sense.
“So these business trips were all fake?” Her heart hurt as she felt the first of the unwanted tears dripping down her face.
“Not all of them. At first, I was there to set up our new division. One night, after a particularly crappy meeting, I went to a restaurant. They didn’t have seating for one. I sat at the bar. Then this woman came in…”
“Good Lord, this is unbelievable.”
“You can’t help who you fall in love with, Julie.”
She stood up again. “Seriously? You were supposed to be in love with me, Michael! Me! Your wife of twenty-one years! The mother of your two daughters! Was that all fake too?”
“Of course not! I loved you!”
“Past tense? Really?”
He sighed again. “Victoria just gets me. And there’s something else…”
“We have a six-month-old son. His name is Charlie.”nport.”
“We have a six month old son. His name is Charlie.”
Once again, she couldn’t breathe. Michael had always wanted a son, but after two difficult pregnancies, Julie had said no more. That had created a huge rift in their marriage for years, but they’d eventually gotten past it. Now, he had his son and his perky-bosomed soulmate. She wanted to vomit.
“How could you? So you’ve been living this secret life where you go to Boston a couple of times a month and spend time with your other family? Dear God, what are Meg and Colleen going to think of this?”
“You can’t tell them.”
“Have you fallen and hit your head? They have to know they have a little brother!”
“I just mean, let me tell them. Please.”
She sat down and pushed back her tears. “Fine. Spin it however you want, but good luck. Your daughters aren’t idiots like me. They’ll smell your lies a mile away.”
“Julie, I never meant to hurt you. But life is short, and I want to be happy again.”
“I was the fool who thought I made you happy all these years.”
“You did… for a long time.”
“Wow. Well, sorry I didn’t make the cut for the second half of your life. I guess I’m not young and hot enough anymore.”
“Julie, she’s only a year younger than you are. It’s not like that.”
Well, that was a punch to the gut. She couldn’t even blame this on a younger, hotter woman. Nope. She just wasn’t enough all the way around.
“I have a flight leaving tomorrow, and I’ll send movers for my things next week. I spoke to the real estate agent yesterday, and our counter offer was accepted so the buyers will close in three weeks.”
“And where am I supposed to go, Michael?”
“I wasn’t going to leave you in the lurch, Julie. You might think I’m a horrible person right now, and I do too, honestly.”
“Not enough, apparently. You’re still going to Boston.”
“I have to go. My son is there, and seeing him off and on isn’t good for his development.”
“I don’t even know what to say. This is like some cheesy TV movie.”
“Here,” he said, reaching into his pocket and handing her a set of keys.
“What are these?”
“Keys to a suite at the extended stay hotel on Davenport.”
“An extended stay hotel? Seriously?”
“I’ve paid for six weeks after the house closes to give you some time to get on your feet.”
Julie stood there in stunned silence. This wasn’t the man she knew. This wasn’t the man who nursed her back to health after a bout with the flu four years ago. This wasn’t the man who diligently went to every Lamaze class with her when she was pregnant with Colleen. This certainly wasn’t the man who stood in front of her and renewed his vows a few years back. She didn’t know this guy.
“I just can’t believe this.”
“I need to also tell you the beach deal isn’t happening, Julie.”
“Obviously.”
“I’m truly very sorry to kill your dream of living there.”
“I thought it was our dream,” she said, softly, unable to stop the tears from flowing.
“It was never my dream, Julie. You knew I was just going along.”
“And what is your dream, Michael?”
“My dream is in Boston.”
And just like that, her heart shattered into a million pieces, scattering all over the floor of a home that once housed only precious memories.
July 12, 2022
shallow and poorly written
Unfortunately this book reads more like a story written by a novice than an accomplished author. Conversations between characters are utterly basic and lack depth and creativity. This book was a huge disappointment and painful to read. Lacks layers, realistic adult conversations, and glosses over itself again and again.
Unfortunately this book reads more like a story written by a novice than an accomplished author. Conversations between characters are utterly basic and lack depth and creativity. This book was a huge disappointment and painful to read. Lacks layers, realistic adult conversations, and glosses over itself again and again.
February 1, 2022
For a book that was trying to show us a strong, independent woman, our heroine comes across as sappy, too soft hearted, and frankly stupid at times.
January 8, 2024
You never know what book will induce an existential crisis, but this one did. Not the book, per se, but the experience of reading it.
I bought this book and read it because I was hoping to understand what it feels like to be someone who reads romance novels. Because on an existential level we are we what read and for a long time I only read, for the most part, what would we classified as "literature" (pronounced with a posh English accent), and well, I started to question that. What does it say about me that that is what I confined my reading to? Does it mean I'm a snob? That I'm pretentious? I was a high school English teacher for a long time so maybe this was borne out of a desire to maintain professional duties or to live up to the Platonic ideal of what we think an English teacher should be. Because who reads books for pleasure these days anyway? And who reads literature? Not many. So the fact that I do reinforces a long held belief that I'm an odd duck. And that odd-duck-ness is why I like to read literature. Self-help for the alienated weirdos.
I thought to myself, let's venture out from our literature ghetto, let's take it easy for a change. Let's lighten-up! Who knows, perhaps I could discover this previously untapped source of pleasure that would distract me from life's cares, the endless procession of drudgery and setbacks. There are literally millions of romance novels out there in the world beckoning us as we wait in line to pay for our groceries, so obviously humanity can't get enough of them. They go down easy and fast, like Shamrock shakes from McDonalds or drug addicts looking to score some dope.
I picked this particular romance for a few different reasons, reasons that I would like to share so that it might be understood why I was ultimately so very disappointed. Let it be known that I approached reading this novel with an open mind and an open heart. I did not go into this novel with the condescending attitude of someone who wears tight jeans and sports an ironically outdated handlebar mustache and lives in Bushwick.
I chose this novel carefully because I wanted to love it. I chose it because the title was the Beach House and and I love the beach, am easily swept up in the romance of the sand and the sea despite, or perhaps because, the fact of my being born and bred in the hinterlands, and have often fantasized about owning my own beach house, especially during those warm summer nights when my wife and I would stroll along the boardwalk of the Jersey Shore.
And I was drawn to the setting-- Outerbanks of the South Carolina--a place I've never visited in person but I have encountered them (it?)on the Netflix series of the same name. And I was drawn to the the plot, which the jacket indicated was about a woman starting her life over because she had the rug pulled out from underneath her, and what was left to do but pull up her big-boy pants and rebuild. And who doesn't romanticize starting over? I for on have started over at least two or three times and each time was thrilling, at least for a little while,
But alas, it didn’t pan out for me, I didn't get out of it what I sought. That says more about me than the novel or the legions of romance novel aficionados. I'm just not suited to the genre and the genre is not suited to me. It's no one's fault really. Sometimes the magic isn't there and the best thing to do is shrug and move on. Maybe I'll try another one another day. Maybe the right one just hasn't come along yet.
In the end, I have to conclude that yes, I am an odd duck, and that's why I like to read the classics. But maybe I'm the way I am because I have read the great books. Maybe they changed me in ways I'm only beginning to understand.
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I bought this book and read it because I was hoping to understand what it feels like to be someone who reads romance novels. Because on an existential level we are we what read and for a long time I only read, for the most part, what would we classified as "literature" (pronounced with a posh English accent), and well, I started to question that. What does it say about me that that is what I confined my reading to? Does it mean I'm a snob? That I'm pretentious? I was a high school English teacher for a long time so maybe this was borne out of a desire to maintain professional duties or to live up to the Platonic ideal of what we think an English teacher should be. Because who reads books for pleasure these days anyway? And who reads literature? Not many. So the fact that I do reinforces a long held belief that I'm an odd duck. And that odd-duck-ness is why I like to read literature. Self-help for the alienated weirdos.
I thought to myself, let's venture out from our literature ghetto, let's take it easy for a change. Let's lighten-up! Who knows, perhaps I could discover this previously untapped source of pleasure that would distract me from life's cares, the endless procession of drudgery and setbacks. There are literally millions of romance novels out there in the world beckoning us as we wait in line to pay for our groceries, so obviously humanity can't get enough of them. They go down easy and fast, like Shamrock shakes from McDonalds or drug addicts looking to score some dope.
I picked this particular romance for a few different reasons, reasons that I would like to share so that it might be understood why I was ultimately so very disappointed. Let it be known that I approached reading this novel with an open mind and an open heart. I did not go into this novel with the condescending attitude of someone who wears tight jeans and sports an ironically outdated handlebar mustache and lives in Bushwick.
I chose this novel carefully because I wanted to love it. I chose it because the title was the Beach House and and I love the beach, am easily swept up in the romance of the sand and the sea despite, or perhaps because, the fact of my being born and bred in the hinterlands, and have often fantasized about owning my own beach house, especially during those warm summer nights when my wife and I would stroll along the boardwalk of the Jersey Shore.
And I was drawn to the setting-- Outerbanks of the South Carolina--a place I've never visited in person but I have encountered them (it?)on the Netflix series of the same name. And I was drawn to the the plot, which the jacket indicated was about a woman starting her life over because she had the rug pulled out from underneath her, and what was left to do but pull up her big-boy pants and rebuild. And who doesn't romanticize starting over? I for on have started over at least two or three times and each time was thrilling, at least for a little while,
But alas, it didn’t pan out for me, I didn't get out of it what I sought. That says more about me than the novel or the legions of romance novel aficionados. I'm just not suited to the genre and the genre is not suited to me. It's no one's fault really. Sometimes the magic isn't there and the best thing to do is shrug and move on. Maybe I'll try another one another day. Maybe the right one just hasn't come along yet.
In the end, I have to conclude that yes, I am an odd duck, and that's why I like to read the classics. But maybe I'm the way I am because I have read the great books. Maybe they changed me in ways I'm only beginning to understand.
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September 2, 2023
The only reason why I read this book was because it was one of those Hoopla bonus borrows. But I’m actually glad I listened to it. I liked the narrator. I enjoyed the story. Even though this had cheating in it, which I normally don’t love, I really enjoyed this one. Especially since it was less about the FMC getting back together with her ex and more about her moving on.
Read this if you love:
- Beach reads
- Found family
- Small town bookstores
- Short stories
Read this if you love:
- Beach reads
- Found family
- Small town bookstores
- Short stories
August 18, 2023
I feel bad as I know this was a labor of love for the author, but the dysfunction of all but 2 characters gave me anxiety and had me swearing over what felt like a VERY long 4 hrs and 48 min. The husband, Michael, was obviously a narcissistic, cheating loser from the start. Julie is such an immature, 40 yr old child that how in the hell are we expected to believe that her and Michael with their juvenile antics were married for 20-something years? Everybody could see what an ass he was but she is the martyr carrying on taking care of him 'for the girls.' At that point, there is too much to fix with these characters that I just hated everybody. Julie's relationship with her sister is that of self-centered, jealous 12 yr olds STILL in their 40's. Neither really have redeeming qualities. That Julie has ZERO healthy communication skills with her mom, sister, cheating husband and clearly can't tell her adult daughters her feelings either, felt like I was reading a pre-teen angsty novel. Don't even get me started on the manipulations/guilt trips from the mother! Hated her as well. The contrived paint war between Julie and her sister is where I just wanted to finish the damn book and that happened early on, so yeah, my anxiety was through the roof most of the day. I kept thinking it had to get better. It didn't. Saw absolutely NO reason for Dawson to be interested in Julie except that she was someone new on a small island with no other prospects and putting up with her drama (again, ridiculous paint fight with sister) was just a necessary evil because he is the contractor on her house. I could go on, but really, I just want to be done with this whole mess and start a new book to cleanse my palate. I can't even bother to check this for typos because I just want to move the F on. Again, my apologies to the author, but, this was really painful
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2022
After 20+ years of marriage, Julie's husband announced that he is in love with someone else and he is leaving her for this woman. He literally tells her this just after they sold the house they in and were finally going to buy a beach house. At this point, Julie has nowhere to go and probably isn't quite right in her head lol. Her next move is probably not the best idea but she wants adventure and she wants her damn beach house. She chose to buy a fixer upper on a South Carolina island and so many things happen for such a short book... she makes new friends, she learns things about herself she never knew, she stands up to her family...it is a very fast read full of promise and growth. What's not to like?
May 31, 2022
I wish this has been a library book rather than one I wasted money on. This was just so bad. I tried to give it a shot but really couldn’t stomach anymore after the first three chapters.
Maybe the author was trying to make a statement about the shallow, ignorant, and privileged lives southern women have by overtly portraying the main character’s (Julie) ‘friends’ that way, but the whole book sounds like that. I assume the reader should be feeling sorry for Julie by this point (her husband left her, she’s a young empty nester, & has no real friends or job other than her online boutique) so darn, now she’s got to go live at the beach by herself now. She just sounds so stupid and childish and simple-minded herself that it’s hard to care.
Most of the text consists of overused cliches and immature sayings and insults (who calls anybody a ‘hussy’ anymore?!). Even her idiot husband, when confronted and then exposed for his affair, quips, “Oh my gosh…get a grip, Julie! I was a little late. It’s not the end of the world!” In what universe would a middle-aged businessman working in Atlanta respond like that? It even sounds too hokey for a teenage boy! Her lines were just as awful - to the point where you feel like you’re getting dumber just by reading them. Save your brain cells and skip this book!
Maybe the author was trying to make a statement about the shallow, ignorant, and privileged lives southern women have by overtly portraying the main character’s (Julie) ‘friends’ that way, but the whole book sounds like that. I assume the reader should be feeling sorry for Julie by this point (her husband left her, she’s a young empty nester, & has no real friends or job other than her online boutique) so darn, now she’s got to go live at the beach by herself now. She just sounds so stupid and childish and simple-minded herself that it’s hard to care.
Most of the text consists of overused cliches and immature sayings and insults (who calls anybody a ‘hussy’ anymore?!). Even her idiot husband, when confronted and then exposed for his affair, quips, “Oh my gosh…get a grip, Julie! I was a little late. It’s not the end of the world!” In what universe would a middle-aged businessman working in Atlanta respond like that? It even sounds too hokey for a teenage boy! Her lines were just as awful - to the point where you feel like you’re getting dumber just by reading them. Save your brain cells and skip this book!
March 7, 2024
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading The Beach House! Rachel beautifully depicts that you can get through just about anything if you have a few good people willing to stand by you and help you during your darkest moments! This book brought on a lot of emotions, but there was beauty in the new friendships and the reparation between two characters!
~~~~~~
Julie and Michael have been married for twenty years, and they are now empty nesters. They are about to sell their family home and buy a beach house. Their nineteen-year-old daughter, Meg, is studying abroad in France. Their twenty-year-old daughter, Colleen, goes to a college in California, and works under an internship at a law firm.
Just when Julie thinks all of her dreams are about to come true, the ball drops — Michael tells her that he is leaving her. It’s incomprehensible, her world has just been turned upside down, in more ways than one. Her friends aren’t who she thought they were, or, she didn’t see their true colors up until this moment in time. She realizes that she no longer wants any part of these so-called friendships. She has to start over, and decides to move someplace new, but she doesn’t know how she is going to get through these new challenges that life brings.
~~~~~~
Julie and Michael have been married for twenty years, and they are now empty nesters. They are about to sell their family home and buy a beach house. Their nineteen-year-old daughter, Meg, is studying abroad in France. Their twenty-year-old daughter, Colleen, goes to a college in California, and works under an internship at a law firm.
Just when Julie thinks all of her dreams are about to come true, the ball drops — Michael tells her that he is leaving her. It’s incomprehensible, her world has just been turned upside down, in more ways than one. Her friends aren’t who she thought they were, or, she didn’t see their true colors up until this moment in time. She realizes that she no longer wants any part of these so-called friendships. She has to start over, and decides to move someplace new, but she doesn’t know how she is going to get through these new challenges that life brings.
June 4, 2022
The fact that this book was for a book club is the only thing that kept me reading. If it wasn’t for that I would’ve DNF’d on page five. The writing is very low quality and it’s difficult to ignore the countless errors that could’ve been avoided. For example, the word “y’all” is misspelled in at least one place.
The main character is completely unlikeable and absolutely rude to everyone she meets. She has a holier-than-thou attitude even though the reader is supposed to perceive her as the “good guy.” I can say definitively that she was in the wrong a lot over the course of this book. The rest of the characters were flat and most of the characters mentioned were dead. I can only assume this was to avoid writing more in-depth backstories for them.
The plot had potential, but it was messy and I wasn’t rooting for anyone. The only characters in the book that were halfway decent were Dixie and Dawson and they were made out to be the butt of the joke half the time.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. My CAWPILE score was 2.14 or 1.5 stars.
The main character is completely unlikeable and absolutely rude to everyone she meets. She has a holier-than-thou attitude even though the reader is supposed to perceive her as the “good guy.” I can say definitively that she was in the wrong a lot over the course of this book. The rest of the characters were flat and most of the characters mentioned were dead. I can only assume this was to avoid writing more in-depth backstories for them.
The plot had potential, but it was messy and I wasn’t rooting for anyone. The only characters in the book that were halfway decent were Dixie and Dawson and they were made out to be the butt of the joke half the time.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. My CAWPILE score was 2.14 or 1.5 stars.
March 19, 2024
Just a fun, quick read! She offered it free to read, and now I want to read them all.
March 26, 2024
Cute and quick little book. I might read the 2nd one if I feel like reading an easy to follow book.
October 26, 2024
This was a quick read
Leaning more towards 3 1/2 ⭐️
This is a new to me author. Yes this is not overly imaginative, but I I personally did not think this was an absolutely horrible book as some of the reviewers pointed out. Again, all a matter of opinion. If this was a long book, I probably would’ve given this two stars, but I do like the fact that it’s short.
Author does a great job of making you not really like the FMC. Kind of think she’s a self-centered bitch that needs therapy herself. I felt bad for her in the beginning, but her attitude is just icky sometimes and then she just comes off as a naïve dumbass. I do like all the side characters so yeah, I’m gonna continue reading this as long as my local library have the books available.
Leaning more towards 3 1/2 ⭐️
This is a new to me author. Yes this is not overly imaginative, but I I personally did not think this was an absolutely horrible book as some of the reviewers pointed out. Again, all a matter of opinion. If this was a long book, I probably would’ve given this two stars, but I do like the fact that it’s short.
Author does a great job of making you not really like the FMC. Kind of think she’s a self-centered bitch that needs therapy herself. I felt bad for her in the beginning, but her attitude is just icky sometimes and then she just comes off as a naïve dumbass. I do like all the side characters so yeah, I’m gonna continue reading this as long as my local library have the books available.
May 20, 2024
A decent summer read, an uplifting story about second chances. Julie is excited to be moving to a beach house with her husband, but gets blindsided when he announces that he's leaving her for another woman. Instead of giving up on her dream...She buys a run-down house on an isolated island, where she meets Dowson, a contractor who helps her renovate her home and teaches her how to live again. The story is about characters in their forties experiencing disappointment and searching for better opportunities. This is a women's fiction book with a second chance theme. There is no romance in this book, but there may be in the second book.
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