The Last Beach Bungalow

by Jennie Nash

A breast cancer survivor of five years, April Newton is feeling restless, as if her life and marriage are slipping away in spite of the stylish dream home her husband is building as a fresh start in their lives, and becomes obsessed with purchasing a bungalow in Redondo Beach, a little house that becomes a symbol of everything she is missing in her life. (General Fiction)

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Womens Fiction, Book Club, Novels

192 pages, Library Binding

First published February 5, 2008

About the author

Jennie Nash is the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, a company that trains book coaches to help writers bring their books to life. For twelve years, writers serious about reaching readers have trusted Jennie to coach their projects from inspiration to publication. Her clients have landed top New York agents, national book awards, and deals with houses such as Scribner, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette. Jennie is the author of 9 books in 3 genres. She taught for 13 years in the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program, is an instructor at CreativeLive.com and speaks on podcasts and at writing conferences all over the country. Learn more about being coached or becoming a coach at bookcoaches.com or authoraccelerator.com

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in a day at the beach. It started as a fine beach read but then picked up. I love what the husband tried to do for the wife in this book but will not reveal to avoid a spoiler.

[Holli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very fast, easy read from author Jennie Nash. The writing is very real and flows well. I enjoyed that and I really liked the premise of this book. I thought that it could have been fleshed out more as I would have enjoyed hearing more about all of the characters introduced and their stories. Every one of them would have been interesting in their own right. It really took me a long time to connect with the narrator and finally after a hundred pages or so I did. Sadly, that's about half way through the book. I wish I would have connected with her earlier.

Good story.... just was left wanting and wondering about the characters,. I would read more by this author though. Her writing hooks you.

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is what I call a light, chick-lit beach read. The story seems to flow along casually, with no real challenges along the way, and the characters, while pleasant, are never truly explored beyond the superficial. There are some touching moments and a few minor setbacks for the main character, but nothing really to sink your teeth into. Pleasant entertainment for a quiet day on the shore.

[Sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. And double Meh. If only all men could be so doting and fabulous and build you a multi-million dollar beach home. But let's whine, because we want a house with "history". No thanks. Also she slipped the f word in 2 times which was completely unnecessary.

[Shelby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a quick read for me. However, I never really got attached to any of the characters and found it kind of boring.

[Taylor Segen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty much knew I wouldn't like it and almost quit when the hatred if dogs arose. Sure enough, at the end, I still didn't much like this character. It ended as a downer, which had nothing to do with cancer and everything to do with the greed that is rampant in our country. I kinda like to read to have some escape from that.

[Lorena Keech · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished it, so it was compelling enough to hold my interest.
But I pretty much disliked all of the characters, not that there
are very many. The heroine is kind of whiny, her daughter is
a spoiled brat and her husband was milk toast.
I've been thinking about the book and realized I was wrong to
give it three stars. I've downgraded it to two stars. It just is not
all that great...

[Sonja Reitan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having gone through breast cancer at 35 myself, I could relate to what the main character was going through. Maybe that helped me engage with her in a more empathetic way. A good read during this pandemic.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hesitant to even read this book based on the poor reviews, but I enjoyed it. It just shows that opinions vary greatly from reader to reader.

[Tammy Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was hard to feel sorry for a woman who had passed the 5 yr mark, her husband was building her a multimillion dollar house and loved her greatly. I mostly just wanted to slap her. 😑

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thought provoking

[Maryellen Cyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insights into life, death, relationships and place.

[Bailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved how this book talked about overcoming breast cancer and being vulnerable. this author has made wives with breast cancer stick out. i really wish she would have got the beach bungalow.

[Sharon A · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book about love and marriage

[Lynne Curry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really tried to like this book because it started well, getting into the writer's head, but I wound up bored, wondering where we were going and finally reading no more.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book from the title, thinking it would be more along the lines of "A Year By the Sea" or "An Unfinished Marriage" by Joan Anderson, but fictionalize.

It was actually about a breast cancer survivor, April Newton, trying to find hope. The character April seemed to have prepared herself to die, but didn't prepare herself to survive. She seemed to have disconnected herself from a lot of her life, including her husband and daughter. The book is less about the bungalow the title mentions and more about how she begins to wake up from a long emotional hibernation.

I almost didn't make it past the first couple of chapters - the descriptions of waiting for a mammogram are very real and made me a little ill.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is told by a woman who is a breast cancer survivor. The story revolves around her relationship with her husband Rick and her teenage daughter, Jackie.

Her husband is building them a new huge home, to signify a fresh start to their lives (since she survived the cancer); however, what the woman really wants is a bungalow that is for sale.

The owner of this bungalow, Peg, is going to give away the house in a contest, to whichever bidder gets her attention and who will promise not tear down the bungalow.

Will the cancer surviver get this house? Will she and her husband stay together?

It was a pretty good book, but the story line was a little slow.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good. It grabbed me right away. April Newton is at a turning point in her life and she is cancer free after 5 years. She feels her husband slipping away from her and her 15 year old daughter is growing up before her eyes. They are about to move into their dream home and she could care less. This hurts her husband deeply, as he built it for her. Off chance she finds an article that changes her outlook on her life. I wasn't sure if I could read about a woman going through this, but it opened my eyes and made me think about my own life. Having a wonderful husband is something you should never take for granted.

[Caren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story! The title may lead you to think it is a "summer" read but it actually takes place in CA at Christmas, and weaves together the tales of young love, a middle-aged couple and a widow who lived her life for more than 50 years. The widow doesn't want to sell her multi-million dollar property to just anyone so she has a literary contest for which the lucky winner only has to pay $300,000 for the house. The main character is also a breast cancer survivor and as a survivor myself it is the only book I have ever read that exposes some of the personal thoughts one experiences.

[Mary Markis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm neither a cancer survivor, mother, or writer, but strangely, felt so in tune with what she feeling, if not what she was going through. That sense of emptiness, drained hope and the little things in life that fill you back up. Memories, hope, and love... and peace.

Perhaps I just read this book at the right time, but I thank Nash for giving me a companion with shared feelings...even if just for 265 pages.

[Drea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is our book club book for March or would it be April since we aren't discussing it until April 28 - Hmmm? I finished reading this and am now ready for our book club meeting. I have to say I have not experienced anything like the woman in the book but I was a little thrown off by her thoughts and actions. At the same time, it did make me think about how I would react in the situation.

[Corky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the best books I have read in a long time. Jennie Nash is a breast cancer survivor and has written 2 non-fiction books. This is her first novel. She hits all the right notes for making this a best seller and most likely, the newest in book discussion titles all over the country.

[Becky Schulman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very personal story that definitely resonates. You get to a point sometimes in your life where you wonder is this all there is and you wonder if you have made the right choices. This story provides perspective. It would have been easy for the author to take the expected ending, but the road taken really showed the main character's growth.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the things that made this book really interesting for me was the fact that it takes place right here. The stores and street names and descriptions are all so familiar. It was a nice read. There wasn't much action in the book, but it was interesting to read how the characters developed.

[jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet read. Story takes place right here where I live...seriously, it was cool. The plot development was interesting and I was surprised at how it ended, which is always a treat for me!! :)

[Care · Rating 3 out of 5]

started this 7/11, the main character really irritated me at times but funny - she was still likable. She was a 'nice' person but we didn't think much alike. She didn't like dogs! Nor did she like dog people. She wouldn't have liked me.
giving to Leslie

[Deb Krill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick easy read, my analogy of it, one woman searching for her mortality after reaching the five year point of a clean breast cancer report, and trying to search for her dreams thru a house. It was a fun read but glad I only paid $2 for it off the bargain shelf at the bookstore.

[taliyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

[Pmcdnld2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a breast cancer survivor struggling with herself written by a cancer survivor-sweet and honest.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Story...