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The Beach Hut #1
The Beach Hut
FOR SALE: a rare opportunity to purchase a beach hut on the spectacular Everdene Beach, Dorset. “The Shack” has been in the family for fifty years, and was the first to be built on this renowned stretch of golden sand…’ Jane Milton doesn’t want to sell her beloved beach hut, which has been the heart of so many family holidays and holds so many happy memories. But when her husband dies, leaving her with an overwhelming string of debts, she has no choice but to sell. THE BEACH HUT follows the stories of the people who own the beach huts, families who come to Everdene each year, people who fall in – or out of – love, remembering their pasts, or trying to forget them… Veronica Henry has brilliantly drawn together the comings and goings of life at the beach huts over one long, hot, lazy summer…
373 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
241 people are currently reading
2658 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Henry
68 books1,591 followersVeronica Henry was a television script writer before turning her hand to fiction. She has published sixteen novels which she describes as realistic escapism - her setting are gorgeous, but her characters have problems and dilemmas everyone can identify with.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
January 9, 2020
This was a lovely, sunny, warm read! As I was reading it I could feel the warmth of the sun and picture the beach huts and the sea in warm, bright sunshine.
I’ve read a couple of Veronica Henry’s books before and she always delivers. This one was just the same. It is one of a series of three and luckily I have the other two as well, bought for me by a family member for Christmas so I can read them at a later date.
I recommend this book as it is truly a “beach read” and to read it during winter just makes you think that summer isn’t far away.
I’ve read a couple of Veronica Henry’s books before and she always delivers. This one was just the same. It is one of a series of three and luckily I have the other two as well, bought for me by a family member for Christmas so I can read them at a later date.
I recommend this book as it is truly a “beach read” and to read it during winter just makes you think that summer isn’t far away.
April 9, 2013
After enjoying the Long Weekend so much I couldn't resist this book. I liked the book but I didn't enjoy it as much as the Long Weekend. This book takes a similar approach where there are a number of different stories followed at the same time. With this book, I felt there were too many stories to follow, some only visited once, and I struggled at times to keep track. While the Long Weekend had variety in the stories, most of these ones were love/partner related. I think this book was good, but didn't meet the standard set by the Long Weekend. As this book was written earlier I can see the author's improvements and will look forward to reading anything new she might publish.
January 14, 2018
Easy to read but very hard to put down. Recommended.
May 21, 2022
The story of the owners and visitors to a row of beach huts in a Devon seaside town, the author cleverly entwines their lives with each chapter. Good story telling, not too light and fluffy.
December 29, 2018
This is a very shallow book, with lots of chopping and changing between characters. I struggled - some storylines pulled you in (which was amazing) but then you’re dumped into a different storyline. There were so many characters it was hard to keep up with who’s who and what’s going on. What’s more, when you’re hooked on a storyline but you’re flitting between a dozen, there’s no space for the story to deepen (like said, very shallow).
The writing was easy to read, and some characters were more interesting than others, but the book was easy to put down too.
Probably wouldn’t read it again.
The writing was easy to read, and some characters were more interesting than others, but the book was easy to put down too.
Probably wouldn’t read it again.
May 1, 2011
Whether it was the fact I have a major obsession with beach huts and the seaside and everything that links in with the two or not, there was something about this book which gave me that feel-good feeling - like the type you get at Christmas. I found myself as an extra character, there with all the others as they went through their journeys. A very enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it to anybody who wants a easy-to-read book - Ideal for kicking back and relaxing on the beach.
March 14, 2017
Няколко житейски истории, обединени от един плаж, или един плаж обединил историите на няколко поколения .
Приятна и добре написана.
Понеже не помня имена на герои, донякъде ми беше трудно , защото се редуват историите на доста хора. От своя страна свързани с още хора.
В крайна сметка всеки намира своята половинка или това , което търси.
Човешки истории, преминаващи през всякакви фази.
Това са неща, които вълнуват повечето от нас.
Приятна и добре написана.
Понеже не помня имена на герои, донякъде ми беше трудно , защото се редуват историите на доста хора. От своя страна свързани с още хора.
В крайна сметка всеки намира своята половинка или това , което търси.
Човешки истории, преминаващи през всякакви фази.
Това са неща, които вълнуват повечето от нас.
February 24, 2016
May contain small spoilers.
Ive got quite a lot to say about 'The Beach Hut', and it's mainly about how I struggled with it.
I'll start by saying that this is relatively easy read. The writing flows, and the plot kept me amused. But boy, did I feel disconnected from it. The book is about 370 pages long, with pretty sizeable font. So it is by no means an epic. But I just found it hard to motivate myself to pick it back up. Once you're reading it, you're fine. But I certainly wasn't tearing myself away from it, or desperate to get back to it.
I felt like a large part of this was down to the amount of Characters in such a short book. There is probably close to 2 dozen different characters who have storylines, and majority of them don't intertwine. I found it really difficult to remember who was who, and what each character's story was. And majority of the characters were just completely uninspiring. Characters like Jane and Roy were very likeable, but others just seemed to be thrown into the mix for reasons I can't quite justify. Jenna, a character with the potential for real depth, had a small, but gripping cameo. Then just disappeared from the rest of the story, with no new information on her whatsoever! There were just too many characters too tie up all the loose ends, which left it feeling all a bit messy.
Also, maybe this is just me nitpicking, but I'm sure almost every character was described as attractive!? It was just so odd to read. The whole story is set around the beach in the fictional 'Everdene', and for them all to be described as physically attractive just didn't seem at all believable. Maybe this is just my personal opinion, but I don't buy Everdene's very own 'Beautiful People Club' all within half a mile radius of each other.
And that leads me to the Author herself. I really didn't feel comfortable with her style. I thought she tried a little too hard to come across as a writer for all ages. There were examples of pop culture, aimed to draw in all from teens to the elderly. But I didn't feel like she managed to pull it off, and it made me feel like she was slightly out of touch. And that was slightly apparent in what seem to be her views on the roles of men and women.
There was an occasion when Henry mentions childbearing as a woman's duty. The decision whether to have children or not should be a choice, and it felt like she was putting across a view that a woman isn't fulfilled, unless she has Children? And it didn't come across as a character thought, but rather Henry's own narrative. It just made me feel slightly uncomfortable. But once again, I accept that could just be me.
Then there was the questionable narrative on Roy. While looking back at his past, and his relationship with Marie in particular, a moment is deceived when Roy touches between her thighs. Marie says no, and Roy is described as "Chivalrous" and a Gentleman for stopping. Maybe I'm holding expectations too high in a slowly progressing society, but again, I just felt uncomfortable. If someone says no, during any sort of consensual situation, you shouldn't be commended for stepping back. It just seemed demeaning to both men and women in the situation.
To conclude (finally, I know), I really should say this isn't a terrible book. I know I slated it, possibly quite harshly, it is by no means a bad book. Henry paints a really beautiful picture of Everdene and the joys of the beach side. It really was quite lovely! I wouldn't recommend The Beach Hut, but neither would I advise people to turn away from it. Maybe it will be just your cup of tea! But unfortunately, it wouldn't be mine.
Ive got quite a lot to say about 'The Beach Hut', and it's mainly about how I struggled with it.
I'll start by saying that this is relatively easy read. The writing flows, and the plot kept me amused. But boy, did I feel disconnected from it. The book is about 370 pages long, with pretty sizeable font. So it is by no means an epic. But I just found it hard to motivate myself to pick it back up. Once you're reading it, you're fine. But I certainly wasn't tearing myself away from it, or desperate to get back to it.
I felt like a large part of this was down to the amount of Characters in such a short book. There is probably close to 2 dozen different characters who have storylines, and majority of them don't intertwine. I found it really difficult to remember who was who, and what each character's story was. And majority of the characters were just completely uninspiring. Characters like Jane and Roy were very likeable, but others just seemed to be thrown into the mix for reasons I can't quite justify. Jenna, a character with the potential for real depth, had a small, but gripping cameo. Then just disappeared from the rest of the story, with no new information on her whatsoever! There were just too many characters too tie up all the loose ends, which left it feeling all a bit messy.
Also, maybe this is just me nitpicking, but I'm sure almost every character was described as attractive!? It was just so odd to read. The whole story is set around the beach in the fictional 'Everdene', and for them all to be described as physically attractive just didn't seem at all believable. Maybe this is just my personal opinion, but I don't buy Everdene's very own 'Beautiful People Club' all within half a mile radius of each other.
And that leads me to the Author herself. I really didn't feel comfortable with her style. I thought she tried a little too hard to come across as a writer for all ages. There were examples of pop culture, aimed to draw in all from teens to the elderly. But I didn't feel like she managed to pull it off, and it made me feel like she was slightly out of touch. And that was slightly apparent in what seem to be her views on the roles of men and women.
There was an occasion when Henry mentions childbearing as a woman's duty. The decision whether to have children or not should be a choice, and it felt like she was putting across a view that a woman isn't fulfilled, unless she has Children? And it didn't come across as a character thought, but rather Henry's own narrative. It just made me feel slightly uncomfortable. But once again, I accept that could just be me.
Then there was the questionable narrative on Roy. While looking back at his past, and his relationship with Marie in particular, a moment is deceived when Roy touches between her thighs. Marie says no, and Roy is described as "Chivalrous" and a Gentleman for stopping. Maybe I'm holding expectations too high in a slowly progressing society, but again, I just felt uncomfortable. If someone says no, during any sort of consensual situation, you shouldn't be commended for stepping back. It just seemed demeaning to both men and women in the situation.
To conclude (finally, I know), I really should say this isn't a terrible book. I know I slated it, possibly quite harshly, it is by no means a bad book. Henry paints a really beautiful picture of Everdene and the joys of the beach side. It really was quite lovely! I wouldn't recommend The Beach Hut, but neither would I advise people to turn away from it. Maybe it will be just your cup of tea! But unfortunately, it wouldn't be mine.
July 18, 2021
This was good.
May 9, 2021
Although the chapters of this book are much longer than I am used to (about 50 pages) I still really enjoyed everything about this book. I loved the setting at Everdene and the beach huts sounded wonderful - I really want my own beach hut now!!
Each chapter was based on a different set of characters and at first you think that their story ends with each chapter but little by little the stories start to unfold and entwine together and I loved it.
I loved how in the last few chapters all the stories come together and questions are answered.
I now can’t wait to read the rest of the series before the new book comes out in June!!
Each chapter was based on a different set of characters and at first you think that their story ends with each chapter but little by little the stories start to unfold and entwine together and I loved it.
I loved how in the last few chapters all the stories come together and questions are answered.
I now can’t wait to read the rest of the series before the new book comes out in June!!
August 11, 2020
Positive point: writing style accessible
Negative points:
too many plotlines with almost no development, taking the focus of the "main story". each chapter looks like a short story and this book should be maybe a collection of short stories if they were well developed.
Sometimes the chapters were confusing because new characters happen and we don't know who they are if they are connected or not to the last ones or even in what year the action is taking place.
It had all the potential to be a great book but loses by having too many stories, not give them time to developed and tackle important issues.
Negative points:
too many plotlines with almost no development, taking the focus of the "main story". each chapter looks like a short story and this book should be maybe a collection of short stories if they were well developed.
Sometimes the chapters were confusing because new characters happen and we don't know who they are if they are connected or not to the last ones or even in what year the action is taking place.
It had all the potential to be a great book but loses by having too many stories, not give them time to developed and tackle important issues.
July 27, 2021
Terminado, mas quer dizer, aquilo era tão desinteressante que passei várias páginas, mais de metade do livro, sem ler🙊. E esta autora que me costuma cativar facilmente...
Em THE BEACH HUT são apresentadas diversas personagens que vão passar férias numas cabanas de praia em Everdene. Há uma descrição um bocado alongada e desinteressante do passado de todos eles até chegar aos problemas que têm atualmente e aí é que está a parte interessante mas não tem desenvolvimento. Mais perto do final, há um resumo breve da situação resolvida de cada um e pronto, é isso🤷♀️.
Tinha o 2° livro na wishlist mas já não o vou ler.
Em THE BEACH HUT são apresentadas diversas personagens que vão passar férias numas cabanas de praia em Everdene. Há uma descrição um bocado alongada e desinteressante do passado de todos eles até chegar aos problemas que têm atualmente e aí é que está a parte interessante mas não tem desenvolvimento. Mais perto do final, há um resumo breve da situação resolvida de cada um e pronto, é isso🤷♀️.
Tinha o 2° livro na wishlist mas já não o vou ler.
July 29, 2019
4.75 stars
The Beach Hut is a quiet, cozy and utterly charming novel chronicling the lives of various summer residents set in and around the picturesque Everdene beach huts in Dorset. This story is wholly about the characters and they are a quirky and varied cast of summer regulars all with their own unique stories, rich histories, life struggles and personal strengths and flaws...some more than others.
We follow each character individually, looking at their past, their present and eventually circling back around to their current situations a bit later in the novel. We get the opportunity to see how many of their lives are interconnected with one another in the most amazing ways.
It’s gossipy and slightly voyeuristic, but also interesting and moving. These characters feel like real people and you can’t help but be touched by their lives and the journey they are all on. The Beach Hut is a slower story, but it absolutely draws you in. It’s introspective, thoughtful, and a delight to read.
The Beach Hut is a quiet, cozy and utterly charming novel chronicling the lives of various summer residents set in and around the picturesque Everdene beach huts in Dorset. This story is wholly about the characters and they are a quirky and varied cast of summer regulars all with their own unique stories, rich histories, life struggles and personal strengths and flaws...some more than others.
We follow each character individually, looking at their past, their present and eventually circling back around to their current situations a bit later in the novel. We get the opportunity to see how many of their lives are interconnected with one another in the most amazing ways.
It’s gossipy and slightly voyeuristic, but also interesting and moving. These characters feel like real people and you can’t help but be touched by their lives and the journey they are all on. The Beach Hut is a slower story, but it absolutely draws you in. It’s introspective, thoughtful, and a delight to read.
August 10, 2022
Приятна история за лятната почивка. По-точно даже е, да се каже,че са няколко истории ,свързани от едно бунгало на плажа.Започва интересно, но във времето доста се изгубих из персонажите, много бяха разхвърляни историите, нямаше последователност и леко ми доскуча накрая.
September 11, 2020
I've only given this 3 stars. I found it hard to get into and I skim read the last five chapters due to not wanting to waste anymore time one something I didn't like.
November 10, 2023
I enjoyed this book - connecting stories about people who own Beach Huts in a seaside town. I would read more in the series
August 7, 2022
So many characters and plotlines with no time to develop.
September 8, 2022
I struggled a bit with this one, 2.5 stars. Lots of almost short stories that only loosely connected, it wasn't quite what I expected. I skimmed some of them but did like others a lot so it was a mixed bag for me.
January 13, 2025
I had to hunt this one down, and think all the huts I’ve read are better than this first one.
October 29, 2014
I love Veronica's books they always seem to leave a lasting impression. There are lots of characters in this book, the main one being Jane, Veronica transports us back in time so we can learn about Jane's childhood, which was very interesting. With the other characters in this book, Veronica seems to give us a glimpse into their lives with enough information to get you hooked. I love the cover of this book it reminded me of growing up and going to the beach, there is a certain calm about it also. I have also just realised that Veronica has published 'The Beach Hut Next Door' in July of this year, so will be heading out to pick that one up right away. Such a delightful read from an amazing author.
October 28, 2020
I found this book so be fairly slow and quite confusing to read.
Each chapter is told from a different person's perspective and tells the story of their own experiences at their beach hut in Everdene.
A few of the people are connected but some only have the beach huts in common and don't actually meet up.
Everytime I started a chapter, I had to try to remember what I had previously read about this person/family to understand the next part of their story.
Some were more interesting than others and there were a couple that were featured right at the beginning of the book and then not again until near the end, which made it feel like you needed to have kept notes throughout.
It wasn't a bad book, but one than would have been easier to read if I'd had the time to read it over less days.
Each chapter is told from a different person's perspective and tells the story of their own experiences at their beach hut in Everdene.
A few of the people are connected but some only have the beach huts in common and don't actually meet up.
Everytime I started a chapter, I had to try to remember what I had previously read about this person/family to understand the next part of their story.
Some were more interesting than others and there were a couple that were featured right at the beginning of the book and then not again until near the end, which made it feel like you needed to have kept notes throughout.
It wasn't a bad book, but one than would have been easier to read if I'd had the time to read it over less days.
January 19, 2020
It ends up sort of being a cohesive story, but part way through I ended up writing a list of each of the 9 characters who'd been introduced (and that wasn't the end)
Some of the stories are unresolved, they were interesting enough to have more than half a chapter.
I picked up this after I've spotted the Christmas sequel, but wanted to read the original before. Not sure I'll try the Christmas one. I've looked at the blurb for the Beach Hut 2, it doesn't look like the unresolved stories are in there.
From other reviews, it looks like this is how the author writes all her books. I'll try the Christmas one, the blurb seems to be about 1 story rather than millions.
Some of the stories are unresolved, they were interesting enough to have more than half a chapter.
I picked up this after I've spotted the Christmas sequel, but wanted to read the original before. Not sure I'll try the Christmas one. I've looked at the blurb for the Beach Hut 2, it doesn't look like the unresolved stories are in there.
From other reviews, it looks like this is how the author writes all her books. I'll try the Christmas one, the blurb seems to be about 1 story rather than millions.
July 26, 2020
This turned out to be a short story book in my opinion with too many characters and while some of the stories had potential they just weren't explored enough due to the volume of stories in the book. The idea was to tell the story of every beach hut on the beach, for me that was just to much.
November 20, 2010
I really loved this book. I started reading it on a day trip to the beach and couldn't put it down. A wonderful holiday read
January 28, 2014
This was a lovely book for a Sunday afternoon
January 11, 2016
Lovely easy to read story,though there is a lot of characters to remember!
March 13, 2019
Another nice easy read by Veronica Henry. You literally cannot go wrong with her books. This one wasn’t my favourite but it still ticked all the boxes.
April 2, 2021
review coming soon
April 7, 2021
no plot, too many characters and povs, very boring.
September 15, 2021
Really enjoyed reading this book and the characters behind the beach huts- idyllic setting I want to visit Everdene!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews