Katie Runde

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for this review copy!

The Shore is a book where the location makes perfect sense. There is something about salty air and the sound of the sea that makes the summer perfect. Anyone from New Jersey will totally understand this; others will be able to picture the setting easily as they race through this enthralling book.

Nearly all of the characters are sympathetic; Margot (the mother) seemed a little annoying to me as she constantly avoided having serious, adult conversations with her daughters. Both seemed mature enough to talk to, especially as they dealt with the burden of their father’s illness. Looking back, it seems as if all three of them came of age as the book progressed, although it took a long time for Margot to grow mentally and emotionally.

Summertime is always an opportunity to experiment with yourself as the warm air encourages growth before the serious autumn comes along. Evy and Liz look inward as their father’s illness progresses and makes him a burden to his family. Their realization of who they are and who they want to be is beautifully described as the days go by. Liz’s relationship with Gabe was especially poignant; first love can either be a wonderful memory or a painful experience. I was also happy to see Evy and Olivia explore their feelings for each other; the author managed to describe their relationship with just the right balance of detail without bogging it down with forced intimacy.

As I read, I wondered how I would react if I were in Margot’s shoes, or even her daughter’s. Losing the patriarch of a family is a weighty situation, and each of the characters’ reactions showed some of the ways to manage such an issue. THE SHORE is at once enthralling and sad, as the themes of loss and growth are explored in such a way that makes the reader think as well as feel. Despite the serious theme, the book is easy to read, and you will become invested in the characters right away. No matter where you are when you read this, you will be able to smell the air and hear the crashing of the waves on the beach. The author’s excellent description of boardwalk activities and tourists brings this book to life. It may be meta to bring this to the shore with you, but I urge you to read this – it’s the perfect beachy read!… (meer)

This wasn't the summer book I was expecting but I couldn't stop reading it until it was finished! It does take place in Seaside during the summer but it's about a family, Margot and Brian Dunne and their teenage daughters, Liz and Evy. They own a real estate company that rents out their shore houses for the summer months. When Brian develops a brain tumor, his erratic emotions and outbursts become something his wife and daughters need to deal with in addition to trying to keep up with their business and own heartbreak. This book is heartbreaking but it leaves you ultimately uplifted after you finish it. I felt the author got so much right that someone in her family must have had the same time of brain tumor as Brian. In her author notes, she explains that.… (meer)