Beach House Summer by Sarah Morgan: An Audiobook Review

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From The Publisher:

When Joanna Whitman’s famous ex-husband dies in a car accident, she doesn’t know what to feel. Their dysfunctional marriage held more painful secrets than she cares to remember. But when she discovers that the young woman with him in the crash is pregnant, Joanna feels compelled to act, knowing exactly how brutal the media spotlight will be on celebrity chef Cliff Whitman’s ex-wife and his mysterious female friend.

Ashley Blake can’t believe it when Joanna shows up in her hospital room and suggests they hide away at her beach house on a sleepy stretch of California coast. Joanna should be hating her, not helping her.

But alone and pregnant, Ashley can’t turn down Joanna’s offer. Yet she knows that if Joanna ever found out the real reason Ashley was in that car, their tentative bond would shatter instantly.

Joanna’s only goal for the summer is privacy, but her return causes major waves in the local community, especially for the man she left behind years ago. All Ashley wants is space to plan for her and her baby’s future, and to avoid causing any trouble for Joanna. But as secrets spill out under the hot summer sun, this unlikely friendship is about to be put to the test.

Book Review:

Beach House Summer is a wonderful story of friendship and understanding which shows how one woman’s desire to make things right allows her to overcome her past. Set in California, this book has all the vibes to make it a great beach read.

When Joanna Whitman’s famous ex-husband is killed in a car crash, she’s numb to any emotion. In the year since the divorce, she finally finally feels free of all the secrets that the marriage held. She learns that the female passenger in the crash has survived, and is pregnant. The two women, although strangers, have a shared past. Knowing that both of them will be hounded by the media, Joanna invites Ashley to escape to her beach house. Without family or a job, Ashley accepts the invitation.

Silver Point on the California coast is a lovely location for a beach house. Joanna has history here and left the community suddenly twenty years before. Both Joanna and Ashley are welcomed into Silver Point and begin to develop a meaningful relationship. Joanna is reunited with her best friend Mel who she hasn’t spoken to since she abruptly left Silver Point all those years ago.

Joanna also reconnects with her long-time boyfriend Nate. While there is a romance between these two it is not the focus of this book. This is a story of women coming together to provide support and friendship to overcome the past. I appreciate stories such as this that emphasize the importance of a strong circle of friends to get us through darker moments in our lives. The small-town vibe is present and Joanna soon remembers why she loves this location so much.

The story is a beautiful one and I appreciated reading it. There is a theme of cooking that is threaded throughout the story which I found particularly enjoyable. For those readers who are familiar with Sarah Morgan’s books, what you will not see here is the humour that is often found in her work. Nevertheless, the book is full of joy and friendship and one I recommend to all readers who enjoy Women’s Fiction.

I listened to the audiobook version of Beach House Summer which was narrated by Regina Reagan. Her performance fit the characters well and was easy to listen to. I have no problem recommending the audiobook version of this book to those that appreciate this format.

What I Liked:

• The friendship that forms between Joanna and Ashley
• The theme of cooking that is threaded throughout the story
• The small town beach vibe of Silver Point

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to my public library for bringing in the audiobook of Beach House Summer.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan

Family For Beginners by Sarah Morgan

The Christmas Escape by Sarah Morgan

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