The Beach House: A Book Review

Have you ever wanted a second chance in life? What would you do differently in life if you had a second chance? I myself may have picked a different program in graduate skills, but at the same time I do not regret the things I learned because this had made me the person I am today. The Beach House is written by Alice Monroe and it is a heartwarming story about second chances. At the beginning of the story Cara seems like a self-centered woman who is just upset about having lost her job. However, as the story unfolds, we begin to see that she is a nurturing person who is spending one last summer with her ailing mother.

I loved how this novel kept surprising me in many different ways. When Lovie goes out to speak to the spirit of her dead lover at the beginning of the novel, the reader is led to believe that she is a little eccentric. However, by the end of the novel this incident makes perfect sense and I cannot tell you why without spoiling the ending. Also, I enjoyed how Monroe wrapped up all the lose ends and explained everything that mystified me at the beginning of the story.

The Beach House made me cry and it made me happy at the same time. This may sound twisted, but I love books that make me cry because I can identify with many of the life experiences the characters are going through, and the deluge of tears is actually quite cathartic. I was truly invested in seeing Cara rebuild the relationship with her mom because I have a strong relationship with my mom and I like stories about mothers and daughters. Ironically, Cara becomes interested in protecting the turtle nests, which is something she resented doing with her mom as a child. This reminded me of how my mom wanted to share certain activities with her that I could not stand, but now these hobbies are a very important part of my life.

Also, The Beach House teaches us an important lesson about slowing down to smell the roses, which I truly believe. At the beginning of the book Cara is obsessed with getting back to the high powered career from which she was terminated, but she begrudgingly gives up the summer to look after her terminally ill mother. Over time Cara begins to realize that taking things slow can have benefits and it is nice to slow down once and awhile. I remembered when I was in a hectic career that I did not enjoy, but I kept doing it for awhile because I felt I needed to make a lot of money. However, the money never made me happy, and finally leaving that career and exploring things I love to do has enriched my life. Cara also learns that last summer with her mother that she has more of a purpose in life than just making money. She also comes to see her mom as a strong woman and realizes her mother sacrificed so much to make her brother and her secure in a loveless marriage. This book makes us appreciate the sacrifices our mothers make for us.

On a final note this story taught me about the loggerhead turtles and how these are an endangered species. I never would have thought about this creature before reading this novel and I am glad I have learned about their plight. The Beach House has many good qualities and I hope you enjoy reading this book.