Not my cup of tea. Way too much, "in my head" ,chain of thought conversations. An ironic tale of marriage, separation, reunion, big house to beach shack tale. Crazy neighborhood and corrupt politicians. It is as described, A "tongue in cheek un beach read". Sarcasm galore. An ok book for debut.
I can't not finish a book so I did go to the end,A rather funny ending.
I was provided an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to review. The opinions expressed are my own except as quoted. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

Save What’s Left
Author: Elizabeth Castellano
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: June 27, 2023

When our lead protagonist Kathleen finds out, over dinner, that her cardiac surgeon husband of 30 years, Tom wants out of their marriage in order to “find himself” she decides what the heck. She lives in Kansas…who lives in Kansas? She wants something different too. So, she buys (sight unseen) a little shack on the ocean in the east coast town of Whitbey. She wanted to move somewhere to make friends and to get out her own rut. But Whitbey is not the paradise she expected. Her home is literally a lobster shack next to a massive construction zone with a variety of zoning defects. Kathleen’s new circumstances force her to stop being a doormat and find a new purpose in life…fighting injustice. This is not a laugh out loud book, but it is witty, sharp, and charming. The characters in the novel are a hoot as Kathleen’s caustic and grumpy friends. Save What’s Left is a good debut novel for author Elizabeth Castellano. #life #fiction #humor #brave #acceptance #contemporary #witty @netgalley @elizabeth.castelll @vintageanchorbooks #anchorbooks #savewhatsleft
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Anchor Books, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: June 27, 2023.
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I had a really hard time getting in to this book. I was excited to read it based on the description but for me it fell short. The negative rants were too much for me and I couldn’t finish it. I couldn’t seem to find much humor, it just sounded like the rants of a grumpy older woman.

The sales materials for Save What's Left by Elizabeth Castellano led me to think I was requesting a novel of a woman finding her way in mid-life with the background of a beach town. Seems I'd be the target audience. I think I was expecting more of a character piece but instead it's pretty stream of consciousness. There are funny parts and I think there's an audience for this book but it just wasn't for me. If you like a more free flowing writing style this might be good for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Save What's Left in exchange for an honest opinion.

I hate to do this but I could not finish this book. I got 50% through it and decided it was not for me. There was way to much wining on the part of the main character Kathleen. I did feel for her because of the drama with the huge house being built beside her but she got herself in that mess by buying a house without seeing it first hand. She is a depressing character. Sorry to say this book did not work for me.

I really wanted to like this book. It sounded nice and I felt like the setting would be really enjoyable to read about. But it took me three tries to just start it. Once I did manage to get through the first chapter, I found myself annoyed with the main character. She started out pretty normal, but about 33% of the way in she becomes this absolute Karen.

She takes to writing the most cringey emails to these people who are just doing their jobs, and spends all her time in a never ending pity party.

Mind you, I didn't get past the first third of the book cause it was just not for me.

This book called out to be a DNF for me but I kept going and read through to the end only to wonder why I did. That's all I'm going to comment on this book. I don't like to leave negative reviews so this is the only place I will be leaving any feedback.

Save What’s Left kept me slightly entertained but I felt like I was reading the ramblings of a middle aged woman with attention deficit disorder. So many random side stories. And then the ending was a bit ho- hum. Life is what you make it people- even in our fiction!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

I just can't. I made it to 26% and the silliness just finished me. There is no story here, just a lot of words, many of which don't even make sense.

I give up.

This story shows us a different side of life in a beach town. When Kathleen Deane’s husband tells her he is no longer happy and wants to go off and find who he is now, she decides to go to a town called Whitbey that has always looked lovely in the Christmas letters her childhood friend Josie sends every year.
Once she arrives, she finds the town is nothing like the Christmas letters she received every year. She stays and gets involved in the community. Even though this is nothing like she expected or how life here would be, she realizes that this is where she is meant to be. It is amazing how life makes this happen.
I received an ARC from Anchor, through NetGalley.

This is a fun/easy read. There were times I thought the story could move along a little quicker, but it was an enjoyable read. Funny, we are thinking about moving to a beach town and this book makes me wonder if they are all actually pretty crazy. Kathleen is pretty entertaining and definitely begins to act like a beach townie.

This book had some funny moments, but man it just felt so repetitive. The actual writing was actually really good, and I wanted to read more, just didn't enjoy this particular one.

Poignant yet hilarious, this book traces the life of Kathleen, whose husband leaves her not for another woman but out of boredom of their life together. So she picks up and moves to a beach town where her oldest friend, Josie, also lives.

While there, Kathleen just can't keep out of everyone's business. Especially because the town operates JUST LIKE A LOT OF TOWNS and the only business is everyone's business. Especially when it impedes on her bought-sight-unseen beach shack of a house.

There are two ways to read this book.

One is literally - in which case you will probably get a headache.
The other way is to realize it is HILARIOUS. - and you just have to roll with what happens. I found myself laughing out loud and my kids thought I was crazy. It's kind of like a "Series of Unfortunate Events" for Adults!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of this novel. #sponsored

I requested this thinking it would be a fun, beachy summer read, the story of a woman finding herself at midlife. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I expected and it didn't work for me - I DNF'd at 20%. It was a stream of consciousness melange of stories and complaints and felt like the narrator was throwing out every random thought she wanted to share. Thanks to Netgalley and Anchor Books for the advance digital copy.

I really enjoyed!! Not at all what I was expecting in that the characters were much more dry-witty and unlikeable in the likeable kind of way.

I would have liked a bit more character interaction as far as where their relationships with each other went (they just felt a bit shallow) but overall I loved getting to know them.

A great beach read about a woman later in life trying to figure it out. Proves that no matter what age you are, you can always pivot, decide to speak up for yourself, and get involved in something that sets your soul on fire. Even if it is stopping the building of new homes in your brand new, little beach town.

I kept wondering why I was reading this book because nothing ever happened but it kept making me laugh so I'm glad I finished it. It's not your usual divorcee moves to a beach town story. It's a slightly dark, quirky stream of consciousness tale of a Karen who is concerned with fairness... I think it's a good beach read because it's a pretty straightforward book that's not too challenging as long as you know what you're getting into.

“I would rather have a clever person for an hour than spend a minute with a dull person doling out compliments.”

This was quite a funny little debut novel. The main character, Kathleen, is about to turn sixty and just moved to a beach town after her husband of 30 years left her to tour the world. Before moving to this little town she considered herself outgoing and social but the small town drama and life’s curveballs have turned her into a bit of a curmudgeon.

This book had me laughing so hard at times tears were running down my face. That alone will leave a fond and lasting memory of this reading experience. Even though I’m not at the age to understand retirement life I did enjoy Kathleen’s version and somehow, even with all the drama, found myself wishing I could move to a beach town. The only thing that missed the mark for me were some letters Kathleen writes to the city supervisor that felt a bit drawn out and ultimately lost my attention. But overall I l appreciated the tone of the story and will definitely read whatever Castellano writes next!

Thank you Vintage Anchor for the advanced reading copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. Kathleen, Tom, Josie, and RoseMary are well written. All are pretty quirky !
It’s kind of reads like an I love Lucy show.
Kathleen has had it with her husband, Tom, she is ready for a new life in a tiny beach house in a small beach town. Life is anything but quiet for her as she gets involved with everything! Each chapter starts with a complaint letter, then the first person analogy on her life and the odd characters in her town, and how they annoy her

Soon, Tom is back and has a motorhome parked in her yard and he loves the neighborhood. Rosemary has become a good friend and someone equally annoyed by the young rich and the rule breakers. Kind of an Ethel to Kathleen’s Lucy.

It’s a fun story to read sprinkled with lots of humor. Thank you, NetGalley , and author, Elizabeth Castellano, for this ARC in exchange, for my honest opinion .

A debut novel. A mid-life crisis. A small beach town. The newcomer becomes a local. Told with a welcome side of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kathleen's story. Also excited to listen to the audiobook when released as Therese Plummer is the narrator. A cute beach read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions are my own.

This story is outrageously hilarious. The cast of characters are wonderful and unforgettable. Kathleen upends her life and moves to a beach community with all kinds of problems. Her husband Tom goes off to find himself and ends up back at her house. Amongst all the fighting and e-mail writing, readers will be delightfully entertained. I love the author’s first person telling through Kathleen as the plot unfolds. This is really an awesome debut novel.