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Sunrise on Half Moon Bay
From the Bestselling Author of the hit Netflix series, Virgin River!
Sometimes the happiness we’re looking for has been there all along…
Adele and Justine have never been close. Born twenty years apart, Justine was already an adult when Addie was born. The sisters love each other but they don’t really know each other.
When Addie dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents, Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement at the time but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both women.
Addie had great plans for her life but has been worn down by the pressures of being a caregiver and doesn’t know how to live for herself. And Justine’s success has come at a price. Her marriage is falling apart despite her best efforts.
Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can. Together they find the strength to accept their failures and overcome their challenges. Happiness is within reach, if only they have the courage to fight for it.
Set in the stunning coastal town of Half Moon Bay, California, Robyn Carr’s new novel examines the joys of sisterhood and the importance of embracing change.
Sometimes the happiness we’re looking for has been there all along…
Adele and Justine have never been close. Born twenty years apart, Justine was already an adult when Addie was born. The sisters love each other but they don’t really know each other.
When Addie dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents, Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement at the time but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both women.
Addie had great plans for her life but has been worn down by the pressures of being a caregiver and doesn’t know how to live for herself. And Justine’s success has come at a price. Her marriage is falling apart despite her best efforts.
Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can. Together they find the strength to accept their failures and overcome their challenges. Happiness is within reach, if only they have the courage to fight for it.
Set in the stunning coastal town of Half Moon Bay, California, Robyn Carr’s new novel examines the joys of sisterhood and the importance of embracing change.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 14, 2020
2583 people are currently reading
4357 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Carr
161 books12.6k followers Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of over sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series and Sullivan's Crossing series. Robyn's new women's fiction novel, THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB, will be released in January 2024. The new hit Sullivan's Crossing TV series (season 1) inspired by Robyn's book series was released in the USA in the fall of 2023! Plus, season 5 of the worldwide fan-favorite Virgin River TV Series is now streaming on Netflix (July 2023) with two holiday episodes coming November 30, 2023. Both TV series have been renewed for another season!
Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016, and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at https://www.robyncarr.com/.
Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016, and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at https://www.robyncarr.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 876 reviews
November 29, 2020
EXCERPT: For Adele and Justine, the twenty year age difference was just the beginning. They had never really lived in the same house. Justine was in college when Adele was born. Elaine had been in her forties when surprised by a second pregnancy. Then, probably because of her age and experience, Elaine made Adele the centre of her universe in a way Justine had never been. Adele had been dreadfully spoiled, her parents doting on her every moment.
It wasn't as though Justine had been pushed to one side, but she certainly didn't get as much attention. Many times Justine had told Adele the story of her asking her mother to make her wedding gown, Elaine having been a gifted seamstress. But according to Justine, Elaine had said, 'How could I find the time? I have a small child!' When Justine pointed out that the small child was now in school, Elaine had said, 'But I have myself and Adele to get ready for the wedding!' So how could she find time to make a complicated gown for the bride?
It had ever been thus as far as Justine could see. Adele was the chosen one and Justine was supposed to understand, step aside and worship her darling baby sister. Justine's great accomplishments, and there were many, were taken in stride while Adele's merest babble was praised to the skies. Justine used to claim, 'If Adele put a turd in the punch bowl, Mother would say, 'Look what Addie made! Isn't she brilliant?''
ABOUT 'SUNRISE ON HALF MOON BAY': Adele and Justine have never been close. Born twenty years apart, Justine was already an adult when Addie was born. The sisters love each other but they don’t really know each other.
When Addie dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents, Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement at the time but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both women.
Addie had great plans for her life but has been worn down by the pressures of being a caregiver and doesn’t know how to live for herself. And Justine’s success has come at a price. Her marriage is falling apart despite her best efforts.
Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can. Together they find the strength to accept their failures and overcome their challenges. Happiness is within reach, if only they have the courage to fight for it.
MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this story despite a few flies in the ointment. Robyn Carr repeats basic information about the characters multiple times. I lost count of the number of times the twenty year age gap between the two sisters is mentioned in the first chapter alone. And this is only one of many examples.
There are two different emotional stories, one from each sister. Justine has worked hard for her marriage and family life, supporting her stay at home husband and daughters. Now her marriage is foundering at the same time that her workplace is undergoing a merger, endangering her job, and she is having to adjust her life to fit her new circumstances.
Addie has spent the past eight years caring for her ailing parents. Now that they have both passed, it is time for her to resume her life, but that is easier said than done. Overshadowed by her successful sister, she is struggling to get out of her pyjamas each day, never mind make a decision about the course that her life should now take.
Although this is a pretty predictable storyline, it is interesting to see how the relationship between the sisters grows and strengthens. Both the main characters have their faults. Both sisters have been manipulated by the men in their lives, but have reacted to their betrayals in totally different ways. Justine is a very strong character. She is organised and logical in her approach to her problems. Addie is her polar opposite. She is emotional and indecisive. There were times I wanted to slap her and tell her to wake up to herself. One thing that struck me as odd was that apart from Addie's friend Jake, whom she treats like a doormat, neither sister appears to have any friends.
This is a quick, pleasant and easy read, and one that I probably will have forgotten by next week.
⭐⭐.9
THE AUTHOR: Robyn Carr was a young mother of two in the mid-1970s when she started writing fiction, an Air Force wife, educated as a nurse, whose husband’s frequent assignment changes made it difficult for her to work in her profession. Originally from Minnesota, they lived in all four corners of Texas, Alabama, Florida, California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada. Little did the aspiring novelist know then, as she wrote with babies on her lap, that she would become one of the world’s most popular authors of romance and women’s fiction, that 11 of her novels would earn the #1 berth on the New York Times bestselling books list.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of Sunrise on Half Moon Bay written by Robyn Carr, narrated by Therese Plummer, published by Harper Audio. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram, and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
It wasn't as though Justine had been pushed to one side, but she certainly didn't get as much attention. Many times Justine had told Adele the story of her asking her mother to make her wedding gown, Elaine having been a gifted seamstress. But according to Justine, Elaine had said, 'How could I find the time? I have a small child!' When Justine pointed out that the small child was now in school, Elaine had said, 'But I have myself and Adele to get ready for the wedding!' So how could she find time to make a complicated gown for the bride?
It had ever been thus as far as Justine could see. Adele was the chosen one and Justine was supposed to understand, step aside and worship her darling baby sister. Justine's great accomplishments, and there were many, were taken in stride while Adele's merest babble was praised to the skies. Justine used to claim, 'If Adele put a turd in the punch bowl, Mother would say, 'Look what Addie made! Isn't she brilliant?''
ABOUT 'SUNRISE ON HALF MOON BAY': Adele and Justine have never been close. Born twenty years apart, Justine was already an adult when Addie was born. The sisters love each other but they don’t really know each other.
When Addie dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents, Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement at the time but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both women.
Addie had great plans for her life but has been worn down by the pressures of being a caregiver and doesn’t know how to live for herself. And Justine’s success has come at a price. Her marriage is falling apart despite her best efforts.
Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can. Together they find the strength to accept their failures and overcome their challenges. Happiness is within reach, if only they have the courage to fight for it.
MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this story despite a few flies in the ointment. Robyn Carr repeats basic information about the characters multiple times. I lost count of the number of times the twenty year age gap between the two sisters is mentioned in the first chapter alone. And this is only one of many examples.
There are two different emotional stories, one from each sister. Justine has worked hard for her marriage and family life, supporting her stay at home husband and daughters. Now her marriage is foundering at the same time that her workplace is undergoing a merger, endangering her job, and she is having to adjust her life to fit her new circumstances.
Addie has spent the past eight years caring for her ailing parents. Now that they have both passed, it is time for her to resume her life, but that is easier said than done. Overshadowed by her successful sister, she is struggling to get out of her pyjamas each day, never mind make a decision about the course that her life should now take.
Although this is a pretty predictable storyline, it is interesting to see how the relationship between the sisters grows and strengthens. Both the main characters have their faults. Both sisters have been manipulated by the men in their lives, but have reacted to their betrayals in totally different ways. Justine is a very strong character. She is organised and logical in her approach to her problems. Addie is her polar opposite. She is emotional and indecisive. There were times I wanted to slap her and tell her to wake up to herself. One thing that struck me as odd was that apart from Addie's friend Jake, whom she treats like a doormat, neither sister appears to have any friends.
This is a quick, pleasant and easy read, and one that I probably will have forgotten by next week.
⭐⭐.9
THE AUTHOR: Robyn Carr was a young mother of two in the mid-1970s when she started writing fiction, an Air Force wife, educated as a nurse, whose husband’s frequent assignment changes made it difficult for her to work in her profession. Originally from Minnesota, they lived in all four corners of Texas, Alabama, Florida, California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada. Little did the aspiring novelist know then, as she wrote with babies on her lap, that she would become one of the world’s most popular authors of romance and women’s fiction, that 11 of her novels would earn the #1 berth on the New York Times bestselling books list.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of Sunrise on Half Moon Bay written by Robyn Carr, narrated by Therese Plummer, published by Harper Audio. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram, and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 27, 2020
Adele (Addie) Descaros is 32-years old and spent the last eight years caring for her ailing parents. She was selfless in her commitment, even though it came at a time when she was at her own life crossroad. Now that they’re both gone, it’s “now what?” Her sister, Justine, is twenty years older, married with two teenage daughters and is the breadwinner in her household, managing a successful career as a high-powered attorney for a tech company. Justine is now in crisis as her company is facing a merger that will significantly impact her job and her marriage is suddenly crumbling. She and Addie love one another but have never been close. And, she’s provided the financial support for Addie since she became their parents’ caregiver.
These type of issues in the hands of another, less skilled writer would be fodder for a lot of sensational drama. But Carr applies her typical deft touch and takes this story in less predictable directions. Her honest portrayal of Justine’s reactions to her husband’s betrayal is extraordinary as she’s not always behaving well even though she has good intentions. It was hard, and I mean really hard to deal with some of the things thrown at her and I always felt she was presented authentically. Addie’s struggle to find footing and direction was complicated by her memories of her past personal failures and her inability to make decisions when it involves her own life. Both of these women touched me in ways I hadn’t anticipated, quickly establishing an emotional connection that never broke.
I loved this story and finished it in one day. Thérèse Plummer was outstanding in her narration, elevating these characters off the pages into real life people. I knew these women and their insecurities, missteps and resilience. While there are some romantic elements (thank goodness), this reads more like excellent contemporary fiction so know that going into it and set your expectations accordingly. I didn’t always like the choices made by Addie and Justine and there were times I was actually shaking my head fiercely trying to redirect their paths. But these women always found their footing, especially with each other, despite it being a circuitous route sometimes. It’s a story everyone should read because it could easily be your life. It far surpassed my high expectations, despite it being written by one of my most favorite and trusted authors.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
These type of issues in the hands of another, less skilled writer would be fodder for a lot of sensational drama. But Carr applies her typical deft touch and takes this story in less predictable directions. Her honest portrayal of Justine’s reactions to her husband’s betrayal is extraordinary as she’s not always behaving well even though she has good intentions. It was hard, and I mean really hard to deal with some of the things thrown at her and I always felt she was presented authentically. Addie’s struggle to find footing and direction was complicated by her memories of her past personal failures and her inability to make decisions when it involves her own life. Both of these women touched me in ways I hadn’t anticipated, quickly establishing an emotional connection that never broke.
I loved this story and finished it in one day. Thérèse Plummer was outstanding in her narration, elevating these characters off the pages into real life people. I knew these women and their insecurities, missteps and resilience. While there are some romantic elements (thank goodness), this reads more like excellent contemporary fiction so know that going into it and set your expectations accordingly. I didn’t always like the choices made by Addie and Justine and there were times I was actually shaking my head fiercely trying to redirect their paths. But these women always found their footing, especially with each other, despite it being a circuitous route sometimes. It’s a story everyone should read because it could easily be your life. It far surpassed my high expectations, despite it being written by one of my most favorite and trusted authors.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
April 16, 2020
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is the latest contemporary romance from well known author Robyn Carr. This latest book focuses mainly on the lives of two sisters changing the point of view between them but also has a couple of instances it switches to other secondary characters for a deeper prospective of their involvement.
Adele and Justine were never very close as sisters since there is twenty years between their ages but they have always kept in touch despite the difference. Justine who is the older of the two became a high powered lawyer whose husband became a stay at home dad to their two girls. Meanwhile Adele had dropped out of college when an affair had gone wrong and while she processed the breakup she needed to begin to care for their aging parents.
Now after eight years of being a caretaker with her parents gone Adele is lost as what to do with her life and when Justine approaches about selling their family home she knows she needs to figure out her life. Just as Adele begins to take a look at her own life though she sees Justine’s husband with another woman and Justine ends up taking a step back to evaluate her own life and marriage.
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay was a wonderful read that focused on the overall lives of the two main characters with all their ups and downs along the way. It was nice to have both grow so much during the book to become two strong willed women that dealt with all that life through at them and eventually find their way to happiness. I’m sure this will be a winner with Robyn Carr fans and new readers alike.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Adele and Justine were never very close as sisters since there is twenty years between their ages but they have always kept in touch despite the difference. Justine who is the older of the two became a high powered lawyer whose husband became a stay at home dad to their two girls. Meanwhile Adele had dropped out of college when an affair had gone wrong and while she processed the breakup she needed to begin to care for their aging parents.
Now after eight years of being a caretaker with her parents gone Adele is lost as what to do with her life and when Justine approaches about selling their family home she knows she needs to figure out her life. Just as Adele begins to take a look at her own life though she sees Justine’s husband with another woman and Justine ends up taking a step back to evaluate her own life and marriage.
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay was a wonderful read that focused on the overall lives of the two main characters with all their ups and downs along the way. It was nice to have both grow so much during the book to become two strong willed women that dealt with all that life through at them and eventually find their way to happiness. I’m sure this will be a winner with Robyn Carr fans and new readers alike.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 25, 2024
Two disappointed stars for my second Robyn Carr books after the first one was so entertaining - this seems like it was written by a different and much less talented person. There was very little to recommend this book: shallow, unrealistic characters, ridiculous dialogue, slow as molasses plot.
But the cardinal sin was endless, endless repetition. I frequently shouted at the audiobook, "Oh for the good love of the Lord, Adele is NOT going to explain for the 400th time why she is hesitates to commit to Jake?! Justine isn’t REALLY going to repeat the whole story of why her marriage fell apart?" It was almost humorous after awhile.
The story was supposed to be about this relationship between sisters finding themselves at a crossroads, and rediscovering each other, but that was almost completely unexplored. I think if the author just left the nitwit Adele character out, it would have been a better book. Justine's plot line was much more interesting. I like a good rat-bastard ex husband story, and hers was the most rat-bastardy.
I might give Robyn Carr another chance, but the next one will have to knock my socks off.
But the cardinal sin was endless, endless repetition. I frequently shouted at the audiobook, "Oh for the good love of the Lord, Adele is NOT going to explain for the 400th time why she is hesitates to commit to Jake?! Justine isn’t REALLY going to repeat the whole story of why her marriage fell apart?" It was almost humorous after awhile.
The story was supposed to be about this relationship between sisters finding themselves at a crossroads, and rediscovering each other, but that was almost completely unexplored. I think if the author just left the nitwit Adele character out, it would have been a better book. Justine's plot line was much more interesting. I like a good rat-bastard ex husband story, and hers was the most rat-bastardy.
I might give Robyn Carr another chance, but the next one will have to knock my socks off.
December 13, 2021
Very low energy romance book. There’s some serious subject matter that I was more interested in honestly. But the two leads were blah and so were their love interests. I’ve read better by Carr.
"Sunrise on Half Moon Bay" follows sisters, Justine and Addie. Their mother has passed away after a long illness. Now that Justine may have to leave her high powered job, it means that she won't be able to support her sister like she has in the past. Due to that, Addie is going to have to get a job and they will have to decide what to do about their family home. With all of that going on, the two sisters are dealing with some upheavals in their personal lives. Justine's husband is having an affair and she divorces him. Addie runs into an old love, while holding off on starting something she has known for almost her whole life.
I don't know. I usually can say that I liked so and so character better. But in this one, I got nothing. Addie started getting on my nerves. Her former love interest was a big snooze and I wanted to tell her to get some sense. Justine's life was a mess, but I got tired of the interactions between her and her ex. I was honestly curious about Justine's ex more in this one because of a plot that Carr decided to do with that character. He ended up being more interesting to me than the two female leads were.
The book meanders along for a long time. It goes back and forth and we follow some other side characters such as Logan (a PI) one of Justine's daughters, Addie's best friend, etc. I just didn't find myself as engrossed in this book as I have in other Carr standalone books.
The ending didn't really work for what came before it I thought. I kept waiting for something else to happen.
"Sunrise on Half Moon Bay" follows sisters, Justine and Addie. Their mother has passed away after a long illness. Now that Justine may have to leave her high powered job, it means that she won't be able to support her sister like she has in the past. Due to that, Addie is going to have to get a job and they will have to decide what to do about their family home. With all of that going on, the two sisters are dealing with some upheavals in their personal lives. Justine's husband is having an affair and she divorces him. Addie runs into an old love, while holding off on starting something she has known for almost her whole life.
I don't know. I usually can say that I liked so and so character better. But in this one, I got nothing. Addie started getting on my nerves. Her former love interest was a big snooze and I wanted to tell her to get some sense. Justine's life was a mess, but I got tired of the interactions between her and her ex. I was honestly curious about Justine's ex more in this one because of a plot that Carr decided to do with that character. He ended up being more interesting to me than the two female leads were.
The book meanders along for a long time. It goes back and forth and we follow some other side characters such as Logan (a PI) one of Justine's daughters, Addie's best friend, etc. I just didn't find myself as engrossed in this book as I have in other Carr standalone books.
The ending didn't really work for what came before it I thought. I kept waiting for something else to happen.
April 14, 2020
I can’t even tell you how much comfort Robyn Carr’s books have brought to me lately, I’ve been listening to the Virgin River series and am obsessed with it and was thrilled that she also had this new release as well. She’s the queen of writing authentic and relatable characters who you fully support and adore but she also always infuses her stories with other characters that aren’t as likable but they’re messy, flawed individuals who just seem so very real. Throw in a deeply emotional read, romance, complicated family dynamics and a pretty setting and it’s everything I could ever want.
I always seem to gain some insight and wisdom about life and relationships when I read an RC book and this was no exception. While I always find myself thinking about different passages later on, the addition of humor and heart are what really make her books unforgettable reads. As two sisters, Addie and Justine navigate several challenges, both separately and in their relationship with each other I emphasized with them and also related to them so many times. This is a book that will make you feel all the feels but when I finished I felt hopeful and cozy and really, that’s so important to me nowadays. Another winner from one of my go to authors!
I always seem to gain some insight and wisdom about life and relationships when I read an RC book and this was no exception. While I always find myself thinking about different passages later on, the addition of humor and heart are what really make her books unforgettable reads. As two sisters, Addie and Justine navigate several challenges, both separately and in their relationship with each other I emphasized with them and also related to them so many times. This is a book that will make you feel all the feels but when I finished I felt hopeful and cozy and really, that’s so important to me nowadays. Another winner from one of my go to authors!
April 24, 2020
I admit that I joined the Robyn Carr fan party late having only just started reading her this year, but I’m so glad that I discovered her writing at last! Like many, I started watching the Virgin River series and then went back to read the books. Now I’m branching out to her other collections and, wow, there are many! Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is Carr’s latest book published this month and it is fantastic. I stopped reading one of her other books so that I could read this one because I love the area of Half Moon Bay, California. The book was calling to me!
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is a tale of two sisters born twenty years apart. I thought my own kids, born five years apart, had a lot of years between them but twenty is an entire generation! Needless to say, the sisters had very little, if anything, in common. Addie, the younger sister, dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents while Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement for all concerned but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both sisters. With a future filled with uncertainty and change, the two will need to find a way to come together to solve both of their problems and, perhaps, to find love along the way.
I have found that Carr is a master at creating characters that the reader will care about and relate to. Both sisters, although light years away from my own lifestyle or concerns, still resonated with me. The challenges they were facing were those that many of us will face at some point in our lives. I also found the secondary characters to be a tad bit more interesting than the sisters themselves and I hope that in future books we will see them again.
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is well written women’s fiction and perfect for Carr’s fans as well as new readers to this genre, especially those who are new to Carr after watching Virgin River.
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is a tale of two sisters born twenty years apart. I thought my own kids, born five years apart, had a lot of years between them but twenty is an entire generation! Needless to say, the sisters had very little, if anything, in common. Addie, the younger sister, dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents while Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement for all concerned but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both sisters. With a future filled with uncertainty and change, the two will need to find a way to come together to solve both of their problems and, perhaps, to find love along the way.
I have found that Carr is a master at creating characters that the reader will care about and relate to. Both sisters, although light years away from my own lifestyle or concerns, still resonated with me. The challenges they were facing were those that many of us will face at some point in our lives. I also found the secondary characters to be a tad bit more interesting than the sisters themselves and I hope that in future books we will see them again.
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is well written women’s fiction and perfect for Carr’s fans as well as new readers to this genre, especially those who are new to Carr after watching Virgin River.
April 14, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
SUNRISE ON HALF MOON BAY by Robyn Carr is her new Women’s fiction novel set in a small California coastal town featuring two sisters who are about to deal with life changing transitions. This story is full of love, empathy, strength and pain as the two sister’s lives change.
Justine and Adele have led very different lives. They are twenty years apart in age and even though they like each other, they are not close.
Justine is a successful, high-power corporate attorney with a stay at home husband and two daughters. Married since college, Justine has devoted her life and long working hours to making a comfortable life for her family. With her company’s merger, she has to make some decisions about the type of work she wants in the future. And then she finds out her husband of twenty-eight years has been having an affair.
Adele returned home from college to be the caregiver for her ailing parents. After eight years as a caregiver, she has few friends and is stuck in a rut. Then Justine comes to tell Adele, finances are tight and she needs to get a job, Adele feels betrayed.
Each woman must find ways to start over and they both discover they need each other more than ever. Together they fight to overcome their failures and learn to fight for their new happiness.
I enjoyed this book so much and found it difficult to put down. Justine and Adele were so different and yet they were there for each other. Justine’s feelings of pain and heartbreak were written with such empathy by this author. How she was afraid to cry because she thought she would crack and not be able to keep all her responsibilities together ripped at my heart. I was cheering for Adele as she took the steps to change her personal life, but I was completely frustrated when she kept refusing to move on emotionally.
I was engrossed in all the emotions, good and bad that this story made me feel. All the secondary characters were fully fleshed and were essential players in this story. There is one mild sex scene that is not gratuitous. (Please Be Advised: this story contains adultery, domestic abuse and a stillborn birth.)
I highly recommend this emotional and ultimately uplifting story!
SUNRISE ON HALF MOON BAY by Robyn Carr is her new Women’s fiction novel set in a small California coastal town featuring two sisters who are about to deal with life changing transitions. This story is full of love, empathy, strength and pain as the two sister’s lives change.
Justine and Adele have led very different lives. They are twenty years apart in age and even though they like each other, they are not close.
Justine is a successful, high-power corporate attorney with a stay at home husband and two daughters. Married since college, Justine has devoted her life and long working hours to making a comfortable life for her family. With her company’s merger, she has to make some decisions about the type of work she wants in the future. And then she finds out her husband of twenty-eight years has been having an affair.
Adele returned home from college to be the caregiver for her ailing parents. After eight years as a caregiver, she has few friends and is stuck in a rut. Then Justine comes to tell Adele, finances are tight and she needs to get a job, Adele feels betrayed.
Each woman must find ways to start over and they both discover they need each other more than ever. Together they fight to overcome their failures and learn to fight for their new happiness.
I enjoyed this book so much and found it difficult to put down. Justine and Adele were so different and yet they were there for each other. Justine’s feelings of pain and heartbreak were written with such empathy by this author. How she was afraid to cry because she thought she would crack and not be able to keep all her responsibilities together ripped at my heart. I was cheering for Adele as she took the steps to change her personal life, but I was completely frustrated when she kept refusing to move on emotionally.
I was engrossed in all the emotions, good and bad that this story made me feel. All the secondary characters were fully fleshed and were essential players in this story. There is one mild sex scene that is not gratuitous. (Please Be Advised: this story contains adultery, domestic abuse and a stillborn birth.)
I highly recommend this emotional and ultimately uplifting story!
May 22, 2020
As a big Robyn Carr fan, it pains me to write this review, but I disliked SUNRISE ON HALF MOON BAY so much, I was a breath away from throwing the book across the room at points. I’ve read upwards of 30 RC novels previously, and none of them have hit such a sour note.
The story follows two sisters, separate in age by 20 years, as they both deal with family and personal crises. The only reason I gave this book two stars, instead of the one it probably deserves, is because I genuinely enjoyed Justine’s story. She’s the older sister and the self-contained lawyer with two teenagers and a crumbling marriage. I thought her experiences with divorce, betrayal, and the conflicting emotions that come with having your life turned on its head were engrossing. She was strong and fierce, yet willing to be flexible and change. I felt like she had a wonderful character arc and I enjoyed following it.
I started the book disliking both main characters, and as I mentioned, Justine grew on me. Adele did not. I found her to be unbelievably selfish and her self-pity grated on me throughout the whole story. I could have dealt with her as an unlikeable character, if she wasn’t so, so terrible to her longtime friend/love interest. She strung him along for YEARS and then when he finally gave her an ultimatum for his own mental health, she basically said she would settle for him but it wasn’t any kind of great love. COOL. BYE.
In addition to 50% of the main characters driving me up a wall, this book lacked Robyn Carr’s signature emotional and descriptive writing style. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, which kept me detached from the plot and characters. I hate to say it, but it felt like RC phoned it in with this one. For such a short read, it was grueling for me to slog through until the end, and the last 20% of the book was my least favorite part!
Overall, I am still a Robyn Carr fan. She has written some of my favorite small town romances and women’s fiction novels. This one just missed the mark in so many ways. I think the hardest part of this book was knowing RC can do so much better.
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
The story follows two sisters, separate in age by 20 years, as they both deal with family and personal crises. The only reason I gave this book two stars, instead of the one it probably deserves, is because I genuinely enjoyed Justine’s story. She’s the older sister and the self-contained lawyer with two teenagers and a crumbling marriage. I thought her experiences with divorce, betrayal, and the conflicting emotions that come with having your life turned on its head were engrossing. She was strong and fierce, yet willing to be flexible and change. I felt like she had a wonderful character arc and I enjoyed following it.
I started the book disliking both main characters, and as I mentioned, Justine grew on me. Adele did not. I found her to be unbelievably selfish and her self-pity grated on me throughout the whole story. I could have dealt with her as an unlikeable character, if she wasn’t so, so terrible to her longtime friend/love interest. She strung him along for YEARS and then when he finally gave her an ultimatum for his own mental health, she basically said she would settle for him but it wasn’t any kind of great love. COOL. BYE.
In addition to 50% of the main characters driving me up a wall, this book lacked Robyn Carr’s signature emotional and descriptive writing style. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, which kept me detached from the plot and characters. I hate to say it, but it felt like RC phoned it in with this one. For such a short read, it was grueling for me to slog through until the end, and the last 20% of the book was my least favorite part!
Overall, I am still a Robyn Carr fan. She has written some of my favorite small town romances and women’s fiction novels. This one just missed the mark in so many ways. I think the hardest part of this book was knowing RC can do so much better.
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
April 17, 2020
Even though they are sisters, Adele and Justine they are twenty-years apart, and haven’t really been close. However, now they’re both at a crossroads in their life. Adele, the younger of the two had put her life on hold to care for her ailing parents, but now that they’re both gone, she’s not sure what to do next. Add to that is her feelings for her best friend Jake: friend or more? Justine’s marriage of twenty-eight years is over after her husband is caught cheating. Even though they hadn’t been close, their situations make is so they have to be, but this proves to be a blessing as they draw close, and support each other through the tough times.
I love Robyn Carr’s heartfelt, and emotional stories with characters you can relate to, flaws and all. The Virgin River series is one of my favorites, but her women’s fiction reminds me a bit of Kristan Higgins’, so I think fans of KH would enjoy Sunrise on Half Moon Bay. Even though I think this would be considered more women’s fiction than romance, there was a bit of that in there, too.
A copy was kindly provided by MIRA Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love Robyn Carr’s heartfelt, and emotional stories with characters you can relate to, flaws and all. The Virgin River series is one of my favorites, but her women’s fiction reminds me a bit of Kristan Higgins’, so I think fans of KH would enjoy Sunrise on Half Moon Bay. Even though I think this would be considered more women’s fiction than romance, there was a bit of that in there, too.
A copy was kindly provided by MIRA Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2022
How is it possible that a cheating husband book could be bland, boring and tedious?
Husband is a tool, the new man a little too perfect.
Daughters and sister were fine.
The only positive—karma.
.
.
.
.
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Needs a domestic violence trigger warning.
Husband is a tool, the new man a little too perfect.
Daughters and sister were fine.
The only positive—karma.
.
.
.
.
.
Needs a domestic violence trigger warning.
April 23, 2020
Absorbing take about life, love, marriage, and the dynamics between sisters.
April 19, 2020
Carr is a queen of contemporary romances. This one had romance, drama and dysfunction. All the makings for a good read. I love stories about sisters and how this one turned out was a happy one in my opinion.
I really loved the happy ever after. So glad I picked up a copy of this while out getting my groceries.
I really loved the happy ever after. So glad I picked up a copy of this while out getting my groceries.
May 11, 2024
Typical Sister story with 2 romances. Quick read. Learned more about female to male domestic violence.
May 23, 2020
As a former caregiver for my mom (17 years care with no help while working a full-time night job), this book really resonated with me personally. While you are engrossed in it, you don't truly recognize the extreme toll it takes until it ends. In my case, it was my mom's unexpected death. There are so many things you realize and experience when it all stops that you are totally unaware of when you are in the throes of the process of care and survival. This book captures a lot of the aftermath so well. Ms. Carr also highlights (as she usually does within her stories) another not often talked about quiet, frustrating and sometimes fatal crime which occurs more frequently than people know or want to hear about. She always has such a deft, sensitive hand when handling these topics which should be talked about and brought to attention.
This was a wonderful book of discovery for two sisters, born years apart, and their difficult journey to a better life.
This was a wonderful book of discovery for two sisters, born years apart, and their difficult journey to a better life.
April 7, 2020
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is a small-town story about family, heartbreak, and love, delivered in Robyn Carr's signature style. I found it to be engaging and cozy, with some really thoughtful and touching passages about long-term relationships and the kind of love that lasts.
Adele and Justine are sisters with a distant relationship, partly because they were born 20 years apart. Justine has been juggling a corporate law career and a family with two teen girls. Meanwhile, Adele has spent the past 8 years as a caregiver to their parents through their declining health and eventual death. Now Adele must decide what comes next for her, while Justine discovers that her husband is carrying on an affair. There are big life changes and trauma both past and present that must be dealt with, but there is also the hope of love.
I found myself engrossed in the story and it was the perfect cozy sort of read. I will say I've come to realize that this author tends to negatively stereotype people with things like tattoos, and also frequently mentions women's weight. Adele joins a program for weight loss very similar to Weight Watchers and we get detailed descriptions of that process and characters telling her how great she looks after losing the weight. Thankfully her love interest consistently says she has always been beautiful, but this is still worth noting if it will bother you. Overall, an enjoyable read and I will probably continue reading books from this author.
Content warnings include infidelity (the husband, but also Adele had an affair with a married man in the past), mention of infant death, pressure to have an abortion, domestic violence agains a man, detailed discussions of weight loss and a weight watchers like program.
Adele and Justine are sisters with a distant relationship, partly because they were born 20 years apart. Justine has been juggling a corporate law career and a family with two teen girls. Meanwhile, Adele has spent the past 8 years as a caregiver to their parents through their declining health and eventual death. Now Adele must decide what comes next for her, while Justine discovers that her husband is carrying on an affair. There are big life changes and trauma both past and present that must be dealt with, but there is also the hope of love.
I found myself engrossed in the story and it was the perfect cozy sort of read. I will say I've come to realize that this author tends to negatively stereotype people with things like tattoos, and also frequently mentions women's weight. Adele joins a program for weight loss very similar to Weight Watchers and we get detailed descriptions of that process and characters telling her how great she looks after losing the weight. Thankfully her love interest consistently says she has always been beautiful, but this is still worth noting if it will bother you. Overall, an enjoyable read and I will probably continue reading books from this author.
Content warnings include infidelity (the husband, but also Adele had an affair with a married man in the past), mention of infant death, pressure to have an abortion, domestic violence agains a man, detailed discussions of weight loss and a weight watchers like program.
May 13, 2020
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2020; Mira/Harlequin
Sisters, Adele and Justine are twenty years apart and have never really been close. Justine was starting a family around the time her sister was still a child. She has a great marriage and two beautiful teen daughters. She was able to go to law school, and have a well-paying job, as her husband stays home to care for the girls. Justine is also taking care of her sister financially, so that Adele can be their parents caregiver. After the death of her mother, Adele is finally able to continue with her life, but Justine's marriage is coming to an end. Add on top of that, Justine's job may be downsized so money is tight. As the two sisters try to figure out what comes next, they discover they just might have each other.
I love Robyn Carr for the sweet but realistic storylines, that always find some happy medium by the end. This novel is a standalone and you have two strong women characters coming into their own. The happily ever after in the end is just the cherry on top to this relaxing comfort read.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2020; Mira/Harlequin
Sisters, Adele and Justine are twenty years apart and have never really been close. Justine was starting a family around the time her sister was still a child. She has a great marriage and two beautiful teen daughters. She was able to go to law school, and have a well-paying job, as her husband stays home to care for the girls. Justine is also taking care of her sister financially, so that Adele can be their parents caregiver. After the death of her mother, Adele is finally able to continue with her life, but Justine's marriage is coming to an end. Add on top of that, Justine's job may be downsized so money is tight. As the two sisters try to figure out what comes next, they discover they just might have each other.
I love Robyn Carr for the sweet but realistic storylines, that always find some happy medium by the end. This novel is a standalone and you have two strong women characters coming into their own. The happily ever after in the end is just the cherry on top to this relaxing comfort read.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
March 8, 2020
2 sisters having to start over. This book grabbed me from the beginning and was a quick read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published April 14, 2020.
February 12, 2022
Robyn Carr writes comforting books with great characters that leave you feeling just a bit better about everything. Oh, and I might mention…her infuriating characters ALWAYS get their comeuppance! 😉
August 6, 2020
I had forgotten I had put this audiobook on hold at the library until I was informed it was was ready for download. I did not enjoy the last book by this author The View from Alameda Island but figured it was a fluke because I have read a lot of her backlist and have really enjoyed her brand of romance-crossing-over-into-women's-fiction.
But I have to admit, this is the second clunker in a row and for the very same reason I disliked the last one.
There are some major similarities between this one and the last one: Both have as main characters a woman with two daughters who is going through a divorce from a husband who is a real shit heel. Both books get into the minutia of divorce proceedings way too much. Both books have the main female character and her new soon to be love interest bonding and discussing their divorces in a therapeutic way. Both books pivot from borinbg divorce to a Lifetime movie in the second half. And frankly both books were boring. I swear it feels like she took all the ideas she decided not to use in the first book and simply re-worked it here in a second book that was only slightly different. And this one also had an additional storyline with her younger sister finding herself after having subsumed a lot of herself being a primary caretaker of her parents who both suffered debilitating illnesses late in life. But that storyline was largely forgettable, imo.
This one gets an additional star because the Lifetime movie tacked on to this one was waaay more interesting than the one in the previous book. I actually liked the storyline the author gave the messy ex-husband in the second half. And not in a gleeful way (because as much I disliked him I do not think he deserved the situation he found himself in) but in an invested way because I was very curious if (and hopeful) he'd actually find his way out of it.
Not a winner, but ok as a listen to pass the time and of course Therese Plummer is an excellent narrator who deserves a lot of the credit for keeping me involved in the story.
But I have to admit, this is the second clunker in a row and for the very same reason I disliked the last one.
There are some major similarities between this one and the last one: Both have as main characters a woman with two daughters who is going through a divorce from a husband who is a real shit heel. Both books get into the minutia of divorce proceedings way too much. Both books have the main female character and her new soon to be love interest bonding and discussing their divorces in a therapeutic way. Both books pivot from borinbg divorce to a Lifetime movie in the second half. And frankly both books were boring. I swear it feels like she took all the ideas she decided not to use in the first book and simply re-worked it here in a second book that was only slightly different. And this one also had an additional storyline with her younger sister finding herself after having subsumed a lot of herself being a primary caretaker of her parents who both suffered debilitating illnesses late in life. But that storyline was largely forgettable, imo.
This one gets an additional star because the Lifetime movie tacked on to this one was waaay more interesting than the one in the previous book. I actually liked the storyline the author gave the messy ex-husband in the second half. And not in a gleeful way (because as much I disliked him I do not think he deserved the situation he found himself in) but in an invested way because I was very curious if (and hopeful) he'd actually find his way out of it.
Not a winner, but ok as a listen to pass the time and of course Therese Plummer is an excellent narrator who deserves a lot of the credit for keeping me involved in the story.
November 1, 2020
I really loved this sister story. Finding who you are after a big change of life takes being honest with others and yourself. I really related to the older sister who had a plan for her life that was blown up by her husband. I liked how finding love was a smaller subplot than finding yourself for both of the women.
April 14, 2020
This is a book about sisters. Separated by twenty years they are not close, but their circumstances have turned upside down and now they are both starting over. Will the time they spend together bring together a bond they might have thought never to happen?
Adele has always done the responsible thing for their parents, caring for them despite the worries that came with it, even leaving college and giving up her master's degree when they fel ill. Although so much younger than Justine, Adele proved more than up to the task. Meanwhile, Justine has had to had to cope with the devastating that comes with being the wife of an adulterer. Justine has made a fine career as a successful lawyer and has two teenage daughters. What changes in their lives is the fact that Adele and Justine end up together with hopes of forging a future together?
Along the course of this book there is a situation involving domestic violence, and that might have an impact on some readers. Even so, this book was a very warm, inviting read about sisterhood, family, love and growth.
Although this is only the second book I have read by Robyn Carr, her name is more than familiar to me and I would love to find the time to read more by her as her writing is smooth and my attention was drawn to the story from the very beginning.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Adele has always done the responsible thing for their parents, caring for them despite the worries that came with it, even leaving college and giving up her master's degree when they fel ill. Although so much younger than Justine, Adele proved more than up to the task. Meanwhile, Justine has had to had to cope with the devastating that comes with being the wife of an adulterer. Justine has made a fine career as a successful lawyer and has two teenage daughters. What changes in their lives is the fact that Adele and Justine end up together with hopes of forging a future together?
Along the course of this book there is a situation involving domestic violence, and that might have an impact on some readers. Even so, this book was a very warm, inviting read about sisterhood, family, love and growth.
Although this is only the second book I have read by Robyn Carr, her name is more than familiar to me and I would love to find the time to read more by her as her writing is smooth and my attention was drawn to the story from the very beginning.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
October 11, 2022
Een zwaarmoedig verhaal zonder ook maar een spoortje humor om het wat lichter te maken .
April 14, 2020
I’ve read a few Robyn Carr books, and have enjoyed them. As much as I enjoy them, I find I enjoy the author’s series more than I enjoy the standalones. Nevertheless, I’m always willing to read more of the author’s work.
With Sunrise on Half Moon Bay, we have another enjoyable read. Although not a favourite, the more I read the more I enjoyed. At first, I was unsure about the characters and the story. It didn’t quite grip me in the way the author’s books usually do. However, once the story got going I found I was sucked in. There was more going on than it initially seemed, and I was happy to power through the story to see how it came together.
All in all, another enjoyable read from Robyn Carr.
With Sunrise on Half Moon Bay, we have another enjoyable read. Although not a favourite, the more I read the more I enjoyed. At first, I was unsure about the characters and the story. It didn’t quite grip me in the way the author’s books usually do. However, once the story got going I found I was sucked in. There was more going on than it initially seemed, and I was happy to power through the story to see how it came together.
All in all, another enjoyable read from Robyn Carr.
April 6, 2020
This book was so much more than I expected. Adele (Addie) and Justine are sisters, but because they are 20 years apart, don't really have much of a relationship. Justine is busy living her life with her family and working to support them all. Addie lives in the family home about 40 minutes away, not sure what is next for her. She has spent the last 8 years of her life as a caregiver, first assisting her mother take care of her dad, then her mother after suffering a stroke shortly after her father's death. Both of these women have some serious decisions to make, but both have a chance at new beginnings.
Both Addie and Justine were strong women, although neither was sure of that when this story begins. I really liked them both but for different reasons. Addie was a person who evoked sympathy from me. She had given up on her dreams to take care of her parents and when she was finally free to move on with her life after their deaths, she didn't know what to so with herself. She was depressed and possibly about to have the rug pulled out from under her by Justine. Justine was a mother, wife and breadwinner in the family. She had spent most of her life doing what was expected in order to give her family pretty much everything they wanted. I felt bad for her, almost like they were all using her for what she could give them, so when her life started falling apart, I was rooting for her to stand up for herself and not feel like everything was her fault. The secondary characters all played very important roles in making the sisters become the best they could be. I really enjoyed this story. It is a story of finding yourself. What do you really want out of life? A story of family, getting to know them and helping them become the best they can be. It is a story of second chances and new beginnings. It is also a story that deals with infidelity, abuse, betrayal and eventually forgiveness. The last paragraph in the synopsis really summed up my thoughts about this book. "Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can. Together they find the strength to accept their failures and overcome their challenges. Happiness is within reach, if only they have the courage to fight for it."
The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
Both Addie and Justine were strong women, although neither was sure of that when this story begins. I really liked them both but for different reasons. Addie was a person who evoked sympathy from me. She had given up on her dreams to take care of her parents and when she was finally free to move on with her life after their deaths, she didn't know what to so with herself. She was depressed and possibly about to have the rug pulled out from under her by Justine. Justine was a mother, wife and breadwinner in the family. She had spent most of her life doing what was expected in order to give her family pretty much everything they wanted. I felt bad for her, almost like they were all using her for what she could give them, so when her life started falling apart, I was rooting for her to stand up for herself and not feel like everything was her fault. The secondary characters all played very important roles in making the sisters become the best they could be. I really enjoyed this story. It is a story of finding yourself. What do you really want out of life? A story of family, getting to know them and helping them become the best they can be. It is a story of second chances and new beginnings. It is also a story that deals with infidelity, abuse, betrayal and eventually forgiveness. The last paragraph in the synopsis really summed up my thoughts about this book. "Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can. Together they find the strength to accept their failures and overcome their challenges. Happiness is within reach, if only they have the courage to fight for it."
The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
April 14, 2020
This story was very different – in a good way – to what I was expecting after reading the blurb. It is a story of families, friendships, betrayal, infidelity, second chances and self-discovery, all skilfully interwoven into a story with characters who you soon feel you know and can relate to. Adele (Addie) and her older sister Justine don’t really know each other very well as there’s an age gap of twenty years, they’ve never lived together and aren’t that great at sharing their thoughts and feelings with each other.
When their parents needed caring for, Addie dropped out of University to look after them whilst Justine, a successful corporate lawyer, helped cover their expenses. Now their parents are dead, Addie is unsure of herself and what to do in future – only to have this compounded when Justine reveals she may be losing her job. Addie assumes Justine’s life is perfect – great job, loving husband and two delightful teenage daughters. However, appearances are often deceptive and Justine’s marriage is disintegrating . . . . The sisters are both needing to make a fresh start in their lives, to cope with all the impending changes and dare to look to the future. Can they also learn to know and support each other whilst they make all the necessary changes?
This is a family drama, a story about learning to stand up for yourself, to face the future and that sometimes out of heartbreak you can find an even better future. It is a heartwarming story of discovering yourself, finding someone to trust and that love is sometimes right in front of you if you’re only brave enough to take a chance. It deals with some very difficult issues, including infidelity, grief, abusive relationships, divorce and starting again. It is about second chances, counselling, making the most of your opportunities, lasting love and friendship with families at the heart of it all – and is a great read!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
When their parents needed caring for, Addie dropped out of University to look after them whilst Justine, a successful corporate lawyer, helped cover their expenses. Now their parents are dead, Addie is unsure of herself and what to do in future – only to have this compounded when Justine reveals she may be losing her job. Addie assumes Justine’s life is perfect – great job, loving husband and two delightful teenage daughters. However, appearances are often deceptive and Justine’s marriage is disintegrating . . . . The sisters are both needing to make a fresh start in their lives, to cope with all the impending changes and dare to look to the future. Can they also learn to know and support each other whilst they make all the necessary changes?
This is a family drama, a story about learning to stand up for yourself, to face the future and that sometimes out of heartbreak you can find an even better future. It is a heartwarming story of discovering yourself, finding someone to trust and that love is sometimes right in front of you if you’re only brave enough to take a chance. It deals with some very difficult issues, including infidelity, grief, abusive relationships, divorce and starting again. It is about second chances, counselling, making the most of your opportunities, lasting love and friendship with families at the heart of it all – and is a great read!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
May 5, 2020
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is the latest book by Robyn Carr. Having enjoyed her Sullivan's Crossing, I was really looking forward to this book when I received it for review and it didn't disappoint me.
This book follows the two sisters, Adele and Justine, and their journey after the universe throws curveballs at them. The book has both Adele and Justine's point of views. Both sisters aren't so close being twenty years apart.
Adele has been taking care of her parents when they fell sick and she came back home to kind of hideaway from the world for her reasons. She got too used to her lifestyle only relying on Jake for a friend. But once she had no one to take care of, she had to move on with her life finally and this book describes her journey of the changes she brings to her life.
Justine feels burnt out at her workplace but is continuing to work for the fat paychecks for her stay-at-home dad and her teenage children. And then the truth she wanted to deny comes in front when Adele witnesses her husband, Scott cheating on Justine. Justine with a strong mind, keeping her emotions intact approaches this situation, she handles this very well despite being heartbroken and shaken from the betrayal of her trust by Scott.
This book showcases Adele and Justine's journey to make their lives better and their efforts to live a happy life. Both women are so different, hence, each woman has a different approach and yet they grow close. There's a silver lining after all since Justine seems happier and Adele finally starts to live her life. Justine's daughters were really understanding, Logan was a great character as well. I really enjoyed the first 50-60% of the book but later I was slightly disappointed in Adele for being a bit of a dilly dally about Jake.
It was a great book overall. It was nice to read about the duo's journey towards happiness after all the darkness they had.
*Thank you for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.*
This book follows the two sisters, Adele and Justine, and their journey after the universe throws curveballs at them. The book has both Adele and Justine's point of views. Both sisters aren't so close being twenty years apart.
Adele has been taking care of her parents when they fell sick and she came back home to kind of hideaway from the world for her reasons. She got too used to her lifestyle only relying on Jake for a friend. But once she had no one to take care of, she had to move on with her life finally and this book describes her journey of the changes she brings to her life.
Justine feels burnt out at her workplace but is continuing to work for the fat paychecks for her stay-at-home dad and her teenage children. And then the truth she wanted to deny comes in front when Adele witnesses her husband, Scott cheating on Justine. Justine with a strong mind, keeping her emotions intact approaches this situation, she handles this very well despite being heartbroken and shaken from the betrayal of her trust by Scott.
This book showcases Adele and Justine's journey to make their lives better and their efforts to live a happy life. Both women are so different, hence, each woman has a different approach and yet they grow close. There's a silver lining after all since Justine seems happier and Adele finally starts to live her life. Justine's daughters were really understanding, Logan was a great character as well. I really enjoyed the first 50-60% of the book but later I was slightly disappointed in Adele for being a bit of a dilly dally about Jake.
It was a great book overall. It was nice to read about the duo's journey towards happiness after all the darkness they had.
*Thank you for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.*
September 17, 2022
Unfortunately for me, Kristan Higgins has set the bar so high for books about women recovering from betrayal and disappointment. This book was pretty good, but the stakes were much lower and you never really felt the devastation of the older sister.
This is one book where the cheating husband definitely gets what he deserves, but I wouldn't read it for that. He's just a cardboard figure.
In case you want to know how exactly he got what he deserved, but don't want to read the book here it is:
The OW takes all of his money and physically abuses him. He is left with almost nothing. He is never able to restore even a friendship with the woman he betrayed.
This is one book where the cheating husband definitely gets what he deserves, but I wouldn't read it for that. He's just a cardboard figure.
In case you want to know how exactly he got what he deserved, but don't want to read the book here it is:
The OW takes all of his money and physically abuses him. He is left with almost nothing. He is never able to restore even a friendship with the woman he betrayed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2021
Another great read from Robyn Carr. Her books feature strong women going through serious but everyday problems faced by many women. In this one, we have 2 sisters 20 years apart. (And, in case any of you thought that was unrealistic, I am 17 years older than my youngest sibling.)
One child put her life on hold to take care of her parents and is now set free by their death. The older sibling has a great career, but is it really that good? I really enjoyed this book.
One child put her life on hold to take care of her parents and is now set free by their death. The older sibling has a great career, but is it really that good? I really enjoyed this book.
April 19, 2020
The title speaks to a new beginning and that's what this book is all about - making lemonade out of life's bitter lemons.
Addie is figuring out a new path after spending years being her parents' primary caregiver. And her sister, Justine, is coping with major adjustments in her marriage. It seems that Half Moon Bay may hold the answers that they both need.
Though it tackles tough subject matter, readers who've experience similar life changes as Addie and Justine face will find comfort and encouragement in this book. Although a bit repetitive and choppy, it's a fast read and Robyn Carr fans won't be disappointed.
Thanks to MIRA books/Harlequin, NetGalley, and the author for offering a free copy of this new release in exchange for my honest review.
Addie is figuring out a new path after spending years being her parents' primary caregiver. And her sister, Justine, is coping with major adjustments in her marriage. It seems that Half Moon Bay may hold the answers that they both need.
Though it tackles tough subject matter, readers who've experience similar life changes as Addie and Justine face will find comfort and encouragement in this book. Although a bit repetitive and choppy, it's a fast read and Robyn Carr fans won't be disappointed.
Thanks to MIRA books/Harlequin, NetGalley, and the author for offering a free copy of this new release in exchange for my honest review.
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