Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Welcome to Beach Town by Susan Wiggs Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Published by Avon, HarperAudio on June 20, 2023
Genres: Life Fiction
Pages: 336
Length: 10 hours, 38 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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Every town has its secrets...
In idyllic Alara Cove, a California beach town known for its sunny charm and chill surfer vibe, it's graduation day at the elite Thornton Academy. At Thornton, the students are the worldly and overindulged children who live in gated enclaves with spectacular views. But the class valedictorian is Nikki Graziola, a surfer's daughter who is there on scholarship. To the shock of everyone in the audience, Nikki veers off script while giving her commencement address and reveals a secret that breaks open the whole community. As her truth explodes into the light, Alara Cove will face a reckoning.
Nikki Graziola's accusation shakes the foundation of Alara Cove, pitting her against the wealthy family whose money runs the town. Her new notoriety sends Nikki into exile for years, where she finds fame--but not fortune--overseas as a competition surfer...until a personal tragedy compels her to return to Alara Cove.
This author continues to impress me with her life fiction with characters who struggle and grow and love, where everything does not go smoothly and joy can be found in unexpected places. These realistic and imperfect characters are so easy to love.
The setup is classic with the haves and have nots at a elite high school in a beach town. The haves push the envelope with outrageous behavior because they can get away with it. They control politics and even law enforcement to get what they want whether it is overlooking criminal behavior or getting land they want for developments to fill their pockets.
Nikki is a girl who grew up with a single dad and foster care. She was able to make her own way with surfing skills, strong academics, and her art. She has a scholarship to go to art school but after her friend dies, she can’t help but speak the truth as valedictorian at graduation. So then she falls in love with an Australian surfer and goes on tour.
Fifteen years later, Nikki comes home. This allows her to reconnect with her dad, who is a single dad again with a two year old, Gloria. She also has an adult friendship with her art mentor and former foster parent. The heart of the story is here as she grows in her connections with family and old friends and finds her life and love. She is still a truth teller though and the stakes are higher now.
I loved the way Nikki kept herself going and worked through problems. She was smart and not afraid of big ideas and taking a few risks. It couldn’t have been easy to come home and rebuild after losses but she does it with courage. This author excels at creating characters with heart and perseverance through challenging circumstances.
Narration:
I have appreciated Pressley’s narration previously and I enjoyed it here. The emotions and tones felt right for the ages and genders, including children. The appropriate voices allowed me to stay in the story and enjoy the performance. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Susan Wiggs
Susan Wiggs’s life is all about family, friends…and fiction. She lives at the water’s edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers’ group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field’s End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world’s top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She’s been featured in the national media, including NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I’ve never read Susan Wiggs (unless it was a long time ago and I don’t remember!) but I love the sound of this😁
Her work is what I would call life fiction like the recent Jill Shalvis and Kristan HIggins have been, more than romance. I have collected some of her audios and am working on her backlist a bit.
Mannnn I can’t remember when I last read a book by this author
I really enjoy her books. Life fiction, more realistic than most romance.
I’ve never read Wiggs before but this sounds like a great story. I do enjoy seeing characters grow and overcome challenges. Wonderful review, Anne!
Oh I love her life fiction. I want to read more of her books. The first one I read was The Oysterville Sewing Circle which was 5 hearts. It’s more realistic than most romance and has some real ups and downs for the characters.
Nikki sounds like a very strong and memorable character. I’ve read just one book by Susan Wiggs, but I did really like it. The whole beach town setting makes me want to check this one out. 😀
I really enjoy how realistic her stories are so I’m trying to read more of this author.
I’ve enjoyed slipping into this little niche of the women’s fic genre, too. I love the sound of this one.
Susan Wiggs is one of my favorites. I’m trying to read more of her work.
This book sounds interesting. I like the story premise.
Thanks. It’s more complex than the normal romances. The romance in some ways is just one layer of the woman’s life along with career / family / friends/ etc.
This book has been on my radar and yours is the first review I have read about it. A really great review Anne! I’ll look to see if my library has it!
Thank you Jodie. I like the depth of the characters in this author’s work. The character growth is the heart of the story, not the romance.
I really need to try this author’s work. I have a feeling that I would really enjoy this one!
Thanks Carole. I loved it. I also loved The Oysterville Sewing Circle which was the first book I read from this author. But also I sew which added just a touch, not that it is heavily about sewing. I’m trying to read more of her work.
It’s the first time I hear about this one but it looks good
I hope you get a chance to try this author.
I’ve never read a Susan Wiggs book. This sounds wonderful…is it the place to start? Great review, Anne💜
I have loved everything I have read from this author. It’s life fiction. You could start here. I started with the Oysterville Sewing Circle – 5 hearts for that one. The heart of the story is character growth with layers of career / family/ friends / issues / romance. It’s similar in scope to Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins later works, maybe a bit more serious, and a bit less romance.
I have really loved everything I’ve read by this author and one I definitely want to read more. This sounds fantastic.
yes exactly! Katherine Center has quite a back list and I’m not getting through it at all. Luckily they are mostly stand alone so I can fit in just one when I have a chance.