The Bookstore on the Beach

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review* In The Bookstore on the Beach Brenda Novak tells us the story of three generations of women, grandmother Mary, mother Autumn and daughter Taylor. Eighteen months ago, Autumn’s husband disappeared mysteriously and she has done all she can to try and find out what happened to him, with no success. Now her and her children, Taylor and Caden, return to Sable Beach to spend the summer vacation. It’s their first time back since Nick disappeared and she hopes the change of scenery will be beneficial for them all. If Caden has been able to deal with what has happened relatively well, Taylor has been struggling and, before they left, she did something that will forever change her life. But at Sable Beach she meets someone special who gives her a new perspective on her life and helps her find herself again and accept her new reality. Autumn begins to come to terms with the fact that she will probably never know what happened to her husband, and that the most likely scenario is that he is dead. And that, for her kids sake and for her own, she might have to move on. When she reencounters Quinn, her old unrequited passion from youth, now divorced, she discovers that, to her great embarrassment, she still has feelings for him. The difference is that now the feeling seems to be mutual... Meanwhile, Mary has ghosts from her past to deal with. The secret she has been keeping for so many years threatens to be revealed and that may mean losing the daughter she loves so much. But there is nothing she won’t do for her daughter and her grandchildren, and that love will give her the strength to deal with it, at the same time that she continues to support them as they deal with their own problems. I loved all the characters, even the supporting ones! Mary has been through so much, but she survived and became the best mother and grandmother she could be. Autumn, who has always put her family ahead of everything, learns that, if she’s not happy neither will her children. And Taylor who, at the beginning can’t see beyond her own grief, learns to empathize and realizes we don’t always get the life we dreamed we’d have but that it doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be unhappier. I also liked Caden, who is so sweet to his sister when she needs him the most. However, my absolute favorite is Quinn. He’s also been through so much but when he reunites with Autumn realizes there may be a second chance at happiness for him after all. But can she take a chance on them? I liked all the stories, but loved the romance between Autumn and Quinn. He’s so patient, so understanding, and always gives her the time and the space she needs to decide what she wants to do. He has raised the bar for heroes… That’s why he didn’t deserve (and neither did we) the scare the author gives us, leaving the happy ending literally to the last paragraph… I would have liked an epilogue, but we can’t always get what we want...

Okay, I have to rant about this book. I have mixed feelings after finishing it. And I have some things to say. Like how the hell do you move on when your husband is missing. Like how. Please explain to me. I just would be in an in-between state, not talking to someone else. I just could not understand how Autumn could. I just could not. I know it may be hard since he is missing but that's messy whenever the husband does show up again. And he does in The Bookstore on the Shore. Messy situation. Autumn should have known that this was going to happen. I blame the messy situation on her. She caused, well both of them did.

I honestly went between 1 and 2 stars so I'm one of the few who did not like this book. I felt short changed - wanted to know more about Autumn and Nick, felt there were too many issues covered and found the ending abrupt but predictable.