This book wasn't what I was expecting at all, but I still really enjoyed it! Based off of the cover, I was expecting a light and fluffy beach read. I didn't think it would deal with as many heavy topics as this did.

This follows three generations of a family, and every one of them has their own drama going on. Taylor is dealing with an unexpected teen pregnancy. Autumn is dealing with a missing husband and an old boyfriend. Mary is dealing with ghosts from her past.

Every one of these plotlines weaves together beautifully, but it did have me confused at times. For the first 15% of this, I was constantly having to remind myself who each character was. This problem disappeared as I read on, but keeping everything straight was difficult. I loved how intricate the plot was though, and how fleshed out each character was.

I was most interested in Autumn's plotline, and I would say that hers was the most pivotal. I empathized so strongly with her, and I was praying that everything would work out in the end. I loved her relationship with her family, it was super strong.

I do wish that we would've gotten an epilogue at the end. So many things felt unresolved, and the little resolution we were given was rushed. I did love the way everything wrapped up though!

Although this wasn't what I was expecting, I still really enjoyed it! It was a great book, full of drama and unexpected twists. I'll definitely be checking out more of this author's writing.

Thanks to Brenda Novak and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Another wonderful book by Brenda Novak. This book details the lives of three generations in a family. There is drama, mystery and romance. I loved the ending. Each book this Author writes out does the one before. Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Wow. So many twists and turns that I never saw coming! I loved the character growth and progression and I loved that Nick’s return didn’t guarantee a Happily Ever After.

The Bookstore on the Beach by Brenda Novak is a wonderful beach read which touches on a number of topics that are in the news today.

Autumn's husband has been missing for 18 months and she has done everything she can to find him, including going to the FBI to ask for help in the search, but there has been no sight of him. She decides to spend the summer with her children at her mother's house at the beach, where she grew up. There she connects with an old love interest from high school who is divorced from his crazy ex-wife. What she doesn't know is that her daughter is pregnant and unsure of her sexuality and her son just wants to move on with their lives, even though he misses his dad terribly. Her relaxing summer doesn't turn out to be quite what she thought it would be as the weeks roll on...

I felt bad for Autumn that she had to navigate so much in one summer! However it was an enjoyable book and I thank the author, HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) MIRA and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Autumn Divac was a happily married woman with two teens whose husband went missing. For over eighteen months, she has searched for him. She decides to return to her home in Sable Beach with her children for the summer to help her mother and aunt in their bookshop on the beach. While she is there, Autumn rekindles her relationship with her first love, Quinn Vanderbilt, all the while questioning if that is wise. Meanwhile, her mother and daughter have secrets that when revealed will change lives forever.
I read the bookstore on the beach in a little over a day. From the start, I was drawn to Mary, Autumn and Taylor's story. Three generations of women who come together for a summer, each with their own strong storyline. Secrets unfold layer by layer and as a reader, I found myself vested in the outcome.
The male characters were well-developed and made a strong supporting cast. I loved Caden and the hero of the story, Quinn. This story covered so many different themes and topics but Brenda Novak delivered even the toughest storyline with skill and class. And there were a few. Most of which pulled at my heart strings.
I couldn't hold the tears as some of the moment's were truly bittersweet. I felt the angst and related with Autumn so much. I loved how the author took the story about layer by layer. In the end, I loved the decision and the outcome. Fans of Brenda Novak will not be disappointed. When I read her inspiration behind the story, my heart squeezed.
Looking forward to more of Brenda Novak's books. Five-star-Read.

The Bookstore on the Beach
Brenda Novak
April 6, 2021

Mary Langford looked forward to her daughter and grandchildren visit. Taylor and Caden were out of high school for the summer and both enjoyed the stay in the small cottage their grandmother owned by the beach. Mary’s longtime \and bookstore co-owner, Laurie did her best to keep her busy and away from the window. When her daughter, Autumn and the kids arrived she flew outside to greet her family. This story gives us a story for each. All had a journey to complete. Their lives blended in and out but the passage was never easy for any of the four. We read of the heart breaking history for Mary and Autumn. The years of Mary’s young life being kidnapped and then giving birth to Autumn, were reminders of the violations of girls and women’s suffering.
After raising Autumn and enjoying being a mother and grandmother for her family, Nick, the husband and father went missing while working abroad. While much of this family’s narrative is pleasant and heartwarming, the story line also shows the characters' resilient fight not to shatter their pleasant and loving seaside home.
Novak gives us a unique standalone novel. I have read all of her romance and mystery works however this accomplished history of the trials of these two women is excellent. I enjoyed reading it from the onset of the novel, The Bookstore on the Beach. Brenda Novak’s book will be published by Mira Books of Toronto on April 6, 2021. I appreciate MIra’s allowing me to read and review The Bookstore on the Beach via Netgalley. Novak’s fans should not miss this addition. Other readers will be allured by this release. The story is uplifting and poignant. Included are review questions for book groups. Enjoy!

I really enjoyed The Bookstore on the Beach. I love how strong each female lead is in this one. From the teenage girls Sierra and Taylor and then you have Taylor's mom and grandma, Autumn and Mary, facing different challenges and secrets in their lives. I love how close they all become through everything. You feel for Mary and everything she went through. As her past comes to light you realize how much strength comes through from that. This is a beautiful read that brings families together. I love the little twists that pull at your heart so. At points I wished there was a little more to the story because I felt I was let wanting to know what happens next. There is so much heart like in all Brenda Novak books that you cannot help but to fall in love with each and every character.

WOW!! This book was so good. When I read the description I thought I was going to get a story of past love reignited. I did but I also got so much more.

this book explores so many different levels of love. Love of a mother for her child, the love of friends, the love of siblings and so much more. You also get this wonderful story about 3 generations of women all facing a difficult moment in their lives.

The depth of emotions that Brenda explores in this book is just so moving. Not to mention the twist, turns, and secrets that are revealed throughout the story. Just when you think I know what is happening the story takes another turn. I seriously could not put this book down.

What I enjoyed most was that you got to see life through 3 different women's perspectives. A grandmother, mother, and daughter. Each was faced with tough decisions in their life and you got to see how they dealt with it and how they supported each other through it. It was a beautiful story of strength, love, and finding strength from those you love.

It's a book that draws you in and holds you to the very end.

This book is more than just a fluffy beach read. It is chock full of drama and secrets. 3 generations of women are together for the summer, each with secrets waiting to explode and create chaos for the family. When I reached the end, I felt a bit exhausted but that all of the right decisions had been made. A satisfying read.

The story of three women, all of whom face huge challenges in life, was written with so much powerful emotion that it carried me along, much as the tide carries the shells with it. Mary, the mother of Autumn and grandmother of Taylor, is hiding a terrible secret that she fears others will discover. Autumn’s husband of a couple of decades is missing after a trip to Ukraine and she is undone by his disappearance. Finally, Taylor, Autumn’s daughter, has some serious drama of her own to deal with. Just when I thought not one more secret could be revealed, they just kept coming. I loved the mysterious aura that was scattered throughout the book and the way the characters interacted with each other at each new revelation. I really liked all of the characters and thought that each of them was portrayed realistically and with real heart. From chapter to chapter, I personalized the story and asked myself what would I do if that dilemma were mine. Being able to put myself into the story created a bond between me and the characters so that when I got to the end, I wasn’t really ready for it to conclude. I wanted the story to go on and on, with happy endings for all. The lesson that I learned from the story is that sometimes you just need to let go and do what is right for you, no matter what others think. Fans of Brenda Novak’s romance books will enjoy the web of intricate details woven into this story and will want to discuss it with book clubs, friends and family members who read her books. This is not a light romance, but it is a romance that you will never forget!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I enjoy all of Brenda Novak's books. This one was a keeper. Autumn has lost her husband, will she lose her kids too? This is a story about the family and how they survived when her husband goes missing. Will he come back and if he does will she want him? I don't know which one I hoped for in the beginning but I know which one I was hoping for in the end. Her kids are lost as well but not missing, they have to grow up fast and they do a good job in the end. I did not care much for the daughter at times but she did grow up and made a few good choices in the end.

I was very hopeful about The Bookstore on the Beach and dove in with great enthusiasm. I was looking for a light relaxing beach read, something uplifting but this was not what the book was about at all. The title was a tad misleading. I did love the connection between Mary, her daughter Autumn and granddaughter Taylor. But I was losing interest in the other characters and found the story line a bit boring at times and at other times unbelievable as it involved a lot of drama. That being said, the relationship between old high school sweethearts, Quinn and Autumn was very sweet and endearing and I found myself really rooting for them. I think if I had been in a different frame of mind and not needing a light and cheery book, I might have enjoyed The Bookstore on the Beach more. But for me it’s a 3 star read. Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review The Bookstore on the Beach.

This book has an amazing cover and blurb but it’s the author that has me grabbing this one. Who doesn’t want to read about a bookstore on the beach!

What did I like? Do I think this is a crazy beach read just in time for summer then yes. Three different pov’s make navigating this book a bit wild and the stories that the three different pov’s have are unbelievable. I felt the author did a great job with the juggling and although I wanted more of an ending it has a HEA!

Would I recommend or buy? I’m getting a copy for sure, and recommend it to people who can handle multiple pov’s. There are some things I wished would have had more of in the end but in all I gave it four stars. Really sucked me in.

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review.

I'm so excited to read this book because it seems like the perfect, light-hearted romance. I think it's genius for an author to write books and put the word bookstore in the title. I can't wait to finish my current read to jump into this one!

3.5/5 Stars

You had me at Bookstore and Beach...two of my favorite things. Add in family drama and you get an enjoyable summer read.

Family, secrets, drama and throw in a little romance and that’s this book. Matriarch Mary is co-owner of the Beach Front Books. She is hiding a huge secret. Daughter Autumn is in the middle of her own drama, a missing husband and rekindling an old love. Throw in teenager granddaughter, Taylor, dealing with an outcome of her impulsiveness and immaturity, not to mention finding an unexpected relationship.

Story flows nicely, characters are likable, situations are a lot for one family. My main disappointment is the ending feels very abrupt, like there is another chapter or Epilogue needed.

My thanks to Ms. Novak, Harlequin and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

I really enjoyed this latest by Brenda Novak. From the beginning, I was completely invested in the characters and their stories. A few parts were predictable but overall, a quick, enjoyable read. Great beach book for the summer!

Thank you #netgalley and #HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) #mira for the eARC.

There's a lot going on in Brenda Novak's latest book - perhaps a bit too much. Autumn's husband is missing, her teenage daughter is pregnant, her mother is hiding a deep, dark secret about her past, and her teenage love for Quinn is growing into something more adult and permanent. This and more drama make for a good beach read!

Geez, what a soap opera! Way too much drama for one family in one book. I was waiting for some dreadful thing to happen to poor Caden, the only normal person in the whole story. Maybe an airplane crashing on him while he is walking down the street? It was a little outrageous but I know many readers who will eat this up. Even though it isn’t my favorite read of late, it’s well written and I will recommend it.

“Secrets had a way of coming out” thinks Mary Langford at the beginning of The Bookstore on the Beach. Believe me, she is not wrong.

This family drama is the story of three women, the problems they face and the secrets they carry. Bookstore owner Mary has overcome a life changing situation in the past which has affected her outlook on life. Her best friend and partner Laurie has been a major support. Mary’s daughter Autumn is desperately searching for her husband Nick who disappeared in the Ukraine nineteen months ago while helping the FBI on a mission. Autumn has returned to her hometown of Sable Beach, Virginia for the summer, one of the last she will spend with her son Caden and daughter Taylor. They will be a high school Junior and Senior in the Fall and are already planning their college years. In Sable Beach, Autumn reconnects with her first love Quinn and has to make some hard decisions about her future. However, her daughter Taylor is facing the toughest decisions of all. Sierra, a new friend, has forced her to question her sexuality and the secret she is hiding may destroy her family. Mary, Autumn and Taylor learn to trust each other and realize that by sharing what they have kept hidden, they will strengthen their family ties and the love that they share.

The Bookstore on the Beach is a satisfying, enjoyable read. Brenda Novak deals with serious themes and provides a heart warming, thoughtful conclusion. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and Brenda Novak for this ARC.

Wow. Not what I was expecting...great combo/ cross genre story. Mystery, romance, drama, family and social situations. Something for everyone. 3 generations of women all with secrets.
Great read!