The Bookstore on the Beach: A Novel

Brenda Novak

Apr 2021 · Sold by MIRA

About this ebook

"A page-turner with a deep heart."—Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Summer

How do you start a new chapter of your life when you haven’t closed the book on the previous one?

Eighteen months ago, Autumn Divac’s husband went missing. Her desperate search has yielded no answers, and she can’t imagine moving forward without him. But for the sake of their two teenage children, she has to try.

Autumn takes her kids home for the summer to the charming beachside town where she was raised. She seeks comfort working alongside her mother and aunt at their bookshop, only to learn that her daughter is facing a huge life change and her mother has been hiding a terrible secret for years. And when she runs into the boy who stole her heart in high school, old feelings start to bubble up again. Is she free to love him, or should she hold out hope for her husband’s return? She can only trust her heart…and hope it won’t lead her astray.

"A heart-tugging romance. Readers are sure to be sucked in.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Don’t miss New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak’s latest novel, The Seaside Library!

Other charming reads from Brenda Novak:

• Summer on the Island
• One Perfect Summer

Ratings and reviews

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.”

Autumn Divac feels like her life is falling apart. Eighteen month ago her husband, Nick, went missing. She has no idea where he went and has been spending all of her free time trying to find him. When Autumn decides to take her kids, Taylor and Caden, to her hometown of Sable Beach to spend the summer with her mom, she never realized that her life was going to change in so many ways. When Autumn runs into Quinn Vanderbilt, all the old feelings come back and for the first time in a long time, she finally feels alive again. As Autumn and Quinn start to spend more time together, things escalate quickly. Autumn is feeling things with Quinn that she never felt with Nick. Just when it looks Autumn has finally found some happiness again, something big happens with her daughter, Taylor......actually two big reveals! Just when the family has finally accepted what is happening with Taylor, Autumn finds out another huge revelation about her mom. After finally coming to grips with everything Autumn and the kids decide they are all going to move from Tampa, FL to Sable Beach. Of course things can never go smoothly and another wrench gets thrown into the mix. It will take a lot of soul searching but in the end, Autumn will finally get her happy ending. I enjoyed this story. It was fun seeing a story about a family through three different generations : Mimi, Autumn's mom; Autumn and Taylor. All three went through a trying situation but in the end they ended up better for it. My heart went out to all three of these people. I also adored Quinn! He was just the perfect person and any woman would be lucky to have him. Overall, this was an enjoyable story with interesting characters and I would recommend reading it.

The Bookshop on the Beach by Brenda Novak is an amazing and heartwarming tale of a woman whose husband went missing and has yet to be found. This story takes us on a journey with Autumn Divac as she tries to start a new chapter of her life but who struggles since she still has no answers to help her reconcile and find closure with the one she’s been living. Then there’s her two teenage children dealing with their own fears, questions, and insecurities created by the situation. Autumn takes her kids home for the summer, to the charming beachside town where she was raised. She enjoys working alongside her mother and aunt at their bookshop, only to learn that her daughter is facing a huge life change and her mother has been hiding a terrible secret for years. Then there’s Quinn, the boy who stole her heart in high school who she encounters in town, and finds those old feelings return again. She has too many questions to deal with before she can move forward; many are unanswerable. Is she free to love him, or should she hold out hope for her husband’s return? She can only trust her heart and hope it won’t lead her astray. I absolutely loved the interactions and love between Autumn, her mother, her kids and Quinn. Each is dealing with major life challenges and trying to find solutions that will work for each of them. Ms. Novak did an amazing job of describing the setting and the characters in a way that makes them come to life. She wrote a story that reaches the soul; the soul of her characters as well the soul of her readers. This wonderful and amazing story was emotional, moving, tear inducing, filled with wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters that is must read. I highly recommend The Bookshop on the Beach to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak has written over 80 novels. An eight-time Rita nominee, she's won The National Reader's Choice, The Bookseller's Best and other awards. She runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity that has raised more than $2.5 million for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). She considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life. www.brendanovak.com