A fun summer read. Good to take on weekend vacation. Enjoyed the characters learning to embrace change and enjoy moments.

EXCERPT: 'Everything goes.'

Kaye Bennett stood on the dewy grass in the early hours of a cool May morning and addressed the work crews scattered across the lawn. She pointed to the open front door of her family's beloved shore house and spoke in a clear voice. 'I want you to take it all - every dish in the kitchen, every blanket on the beds. All of it. Get rid of it.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: When the Bennett family arrive at the shore house to spend the summer together, they bring more baggage than just suitcases…

When Kaye Bennett, matriarch of the Bennett family, summons her adult children to the shore house, she anticipates a vacation full of nostalgia. It’s a chance to relive the carefree joy of summers past: basking in the hot sun, cooling off in the surf and enjoying long, relaxing evenings watching fireflies on the deck. But when Kaye’s son and daughter arrive, late and uncooperative, it becomes clear the family desperately need to reconnect.

Kaye and her daughter Stacy have been quietly at odds for years and resentment has grown around words unsaid. Faced with spending the summer months in such close quarters, Kaye is determined to remind Stacy of happier times and why she once loved their beautiful beachside home.

But both Kaye and Stacy are holding something back… and only when a heart-stopping moment on the beach puts what Stacy most loves at risk are the two women finally able to set free the secrets in their shared past.

MY THOUGHTS: This is a nice, pleasant, quiet read, just not special or memorable. A perfect 'beach read' where you can doze as you read, and not tax your brain. This is also the first book in a planned series, each to feature a different family in the setting of Dewberry Beach, New Jersey.

The author has drawn on her own childhood summers for her inspiration. She portrays the atmosphere beautifully with sand, sun, iced tea, ice-cream trucks, crabbing, and even those pesky insects that like to nip and leave red welts.

Chase Bennett, patriarch of the Bennett family, has survived a heart attack. Kay, his wife, feeling guilty for not being able to be reached and for not knowing it was going to happen, has been micromanaging his life ever since. Stacy, their daughter, married with two children, has never felt particularly close to her mother but adores her father, and it is for him that she packs her family up for a summer vacation with her parents. Brad, her brother, is as unlike his father as he could possibly be. Whereas Chase was driven and ambitious, Brad is a free spirit, unsure of what direction he wants his life to take. He has been summoned back from travelling overseas to spend the summer with his family. What no one expects is for him to bring a girlfriend along with him, changing the whole family's dynamics.

This is a story of a family's imperfections. They haven't been together for any period of time for some years, so there are adjustments to make, boundaries to be reestablished, old hurts to be addressed, misunderstandings to clear up, and things which have been swept under the carpet for years to be brought out and aired.

Add into this mix business difficulties for Ryan, Stacy's husband, and an unexpected call for to return to work for the pregnant Stacy and it adds in a whole new level of interest. And then, of course, there is Brad's girlfriend who seems to be making and effort not to fit in!

I liked the characters, could even see a little of myself in the matriarch Kaye. I could see similarities in Kaye's and Stacy's characters, and wondered if that was part of the reason they found it so difficult to get along.

A pleasant read. And yes, I will be picking up the next in this series. Dewberry Beach is a very pleasant place to visit.

***.4

THE AUTHOR: I love books, always have. There’s just something about the way a story unfolds that seems magical to me. When I was a kid, I remember riding my bike down to the public library on Saturday mornings and spending the day lost in the stacks, filling my arms with anything that looked interesting. In the afternoon I’d pedal back up the hill on my bike, my basket loaded with possibilities, and spend the rest of the weekend reading.

So, when I started creating stories of my own, I made sure to include description that bring settings to life, characters who become friends, struggles that reflect real life, and always –– always –– a happy ending.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Shore House by Heidi Hotstetter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage.

When Kaye's husband Chase has a heart attack she overdoes it helping with his recovery. For 3 years she forces him to stop working and denies him the chance to state what he wants while she pushes healthy meals, physical therapy and daily exercise even after all his lab values are within range. She gets so used to making all the decisions that the poor man can't even order coffee if she's around.

Finally understanding that her husband is no longer content she tells her children that Chase wants them to all spend the summer together at their cottage that she's just reopened on the Jersey Shore. Stretching the truth and pushing her agenda, Kaye soon realizes that not everyone is happy with her demands. Her son Brad's new girlfriend, an unexpected and unwelcome guest, keeps Kaye from realizing she can't control everything while her daughter Stacy makes it clear that she and her family may be leaving within days, not months.

Even the two grandchildren become bored because they're never allowed to play on the beach due to Stacy's fears, fears that Kaye understands but keeps secret.

With the perfect elements of a summer cottage and strong family ties, the characters in this story learn to grow and claim their own independence in a surprising and delightful way.
I received an advance Kindle copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and read it in one day. Now I need to read more Dewberry Beach Books.

Thank You NetGAlley/Publisher & Author for this gifted e-ARC!

Summary/Goodreads---
When the Bennett family arrive at the shore house to spend the summer together, they bring more baggage than just suitcases…

When Kaye Bennett, matriarch of the Bennett family, summons her adult children to the shore house, she anticipates a vacation full of nostalgia. It’s a chance to relive the carefree joy of summers past: basking in the hot sun, cooling off in the surf and enjoying long, relaxing evenings watching fireflies on the deck. But when Kaye’s son and daughter arrive, late and uncooperative, it becomes clear the family desperately need to reconnect.
Review---
I was beyond thrilled to get a chance to read this book! Like plum stocked about the situation. LoL
This was a brilliant book. Like I really loved it.
I loved the story, the setting, the characters, the ending, the writing.
I found myself smiling, alot while reading this book!
It was a fun read. And I truly loved it!
So thank you for the approve!

Rating--- 4/4

A nice beach read,.1st in a new series of Dewberry Beach on the Jersey Shore. Well written with great characters and an atmosphere of Summer memories revisited that you can feel yourself becoming a part of. A summer to try to bring together a slightly dysfunctional family. I was rooting for them and felt a part of their summer at the shore house. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity. .

The Shore House by Heidi Hostetter is the engaging story of an extended family and their summer at their house on the Jersey Shore. Life had been different for the three years since Kaye Bennet's husband, Chase's, near-fatal heart attack. She was so frightened it would happen again she had become unbearably controlling. Every part of his life was mapped out: what and when he could eat; when and how far he walked; what he could do with his copious spare time. Kaye had tricked their daughter Stacey to bring her husband, Ryan, and two children to spend the entire summer at the beach. She had tried to have her son, Brad, join them but she could not find him. He was not returning her calls or responding to her messages. She craved a family summer, needed it to the bottom of her soul. As it turned out she got exactly what she wanted but not without some growing pains.

Kaye is a traditional upscale wife and mother in her late 50s or early 60s. She has always been in charge of the house and the children. They called her, "the general," and not without cause. She had never been close to Stacey, instead reserving herself for Brad; he seemed to need her more. Kaye was forced to face herself this summer and came out in the end better for it. The story is about a mildly dysfunctional family, which rights itself with some open communication and plenty of love. It is a wonderful story and deserves a close read. Hostetter got it right. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of The Shore House by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #theshorehouse

This is an absolute pleasure of a book to read. It's like having a holiday without actually going anywhere.

This book is perfection in book form. It's got characters that are so real that you feel like you're part of the family. The imagery and descriptions are so authentic. You can feel the breeze, experience the sights and sounds and even the smells in Dewberry Beach. It's a book that totally transports you into the place and the story.

Kaye, the matriarch of the family, I wasn't sure about at the start. She seems to be very controlling of all aspects of her family's lives. But when I got to know her better, I realised that she has their best interests at heart, and that she just really wants this summer to go well.

Stacey, her daughter, I liked straight away, along with Ryan, her husband.

Everyone goes through a lot of changes during the summer. I'm really pleased to see that this is to be the first of a series. I can't wait to return to Dewberry Beach.

Can't recommend this book highly enough. Evocative, engaging and so enjoyable, I was sorry when it had to come to an end.

“ The summers she and her brother had spent in Dewberry Beach had been magical and she let the memories come. Sparklers and shucking corn. Sunburns and mosquito bites. Burned hot dogs and drippy popsicles. The crash of the ocean waves as they tumbled to the shore. The sound of crickets at night, the blink of the fireflies and the heat from an outdoor fire as she held a peeled-bark stick of marshmallows too close to the flames.”

This was a charming read! Perfect book to read poolside or beachside. The story opens with the family matriarch, Kaye Bennett, longing for her family to all be together at their house on the shore. Her husband, after all, had suffered a serious health scare, which she used as part of her convincing argument to all go to the Shore. Her daughter, Stacy, is unimpressed by the idea, but at the coaxing of her husband, agrees to go. They head off with their family hoping to make some good memories. However, things come up along the way to challenge that notion. Relationships and happiness are tested. Familial wounds get reopened. Past traumas resurface. Will the Bennet family pull through to the other side? Will they be able to forgive each other, but also be able to forgive themselves?

This was an enjoyable read for me and it was a pleasure to spend time with the Bennett’s. The story flowed well and was a very realistic depiction of a family drama saga. This was a first for me, written by this author, and I will definitely be picking up some of her other works.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC. It is now available for purchase!

This book was really beautiful.
I really enjoyed the family structure and the deep love and closeness between them all..

After reading The Shore House I yearn for a visit to the Jersey shore, especially in the midst of this COVID 19 pandemic. Heidi Hostetter set the scene beautifully as I could picture the cottage and the small town of Dewberry. Craving a treat from Muellers...some of my very favorite bakeries have been found in small beach towns. I actually took a dislike to Kaye immediately and somehow never warmed up to her. Stacy seemed just as unlikable. And Iona, not sure what the purpose was for introducing her character. I felt pity for Chase, who then became a refreshing character, as were Ryan, Brad and Billy. The male characters saved the book for me. Love the concept of change for all of them...maybe Kaye and Stacy will be more likable. The ending set the stage for a sequel with Brad as the lead. A good beach read. Many thanks to Heidi Hostetter and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this book, just published.

This is the debut book in the new "Dewberry Beach Series" by author Heidi Hostetter. Thank. you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

We are introduced to the perfect summer read. The matriarch of the Bennett family has asked her children and grandchildren to gather at the family beach house for the summer. on the picturesque Jersey shore. As the family arrives it is clear no one is getting along or wants to join into a family summer holiday. As truths are spoken and family problems come to light each person in the family rediscovers the joy of family and spending time together at the shore amid the waves and sun to restore their souls.

A very enjoyable read. The perfect summer read for quarantine.

This was such a delightful beach read set in the adorable town of Dewberry Beach at the Jersey Shore. Being a native New Jerseyan myself, we would always spend days down the shore in the summer, so this book felt so familiar! It reminded me of those wonderful summer days spent exploring the local shops and restaurants and driving past the charming beach houses.⁣
⁣
Hostetter created such a beautiful setting for this story following the Bennett family’s first summer back together at their shore house after a family medical emergency. In the midst of barbecues and crab trapping, family dinners and frequenting the local bakery, matriarch Kaye tries to recreate the perfect summers of years past and bring their family back together. I appreciated the relationships Hostetter created between different members of the family. Their relationships were tested and sometimes difficult, but underpinned by love. The Bennetts were so real and relatable, and this book just felt like summer . It’s the perfect light yet heartwarming beach read!⁣
⁣
Thank you to @bookouture and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author. Here, we have a story about a family trying to keep up with traditions but so many things are different. While Chase recovers from a heart attack, Kate tries to hold it all together, and still have a normal family vacation. But, one sibling doesn't care for another family member, bring in the spouses of the siblings and you have high tension. But, the book flows freely, keeping you turning the pages and wondering in which direction the family will turn. Thanks to Net Galley for a copy for my honest opinion.

This is the first in a series and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read it. I am eagerly looking forward to the rest of the series. Kaye (mom) has decided she wants to gather her entire family at the shore house for the summer. It has been a whiles since everyone has been together and as Chase (husband/dad) is on the mend from a heart attack and she has become a control freak she decides this is the summer for it and will stop at nothing to make it happen. Guilt and manipulation are her go to's. In her mind it will be a wonderful love fest for everyone. What she forgets, whether intentional or that she truly never realized the impact she had on her kids she thinks it is all going to be sunshine and rainbows. As with all families there is love, loyalty, jealousy, forgiveness, resentment, frustration, competition, heavily charged emotions, hurt feelings and pretty much every emotion that exists. It has been a while since the entire family gathered together at the shore house and Stacy has her reasons for not wanting to be there. She is tired of feeling like she is second best and being manipulated yet again by her mother. Everyone is tired of it. Kaye has on some rose colored glasses and believes she knows what is best for everyone, is clueless as to the negative impact she has on her family and truly has no idea how much anger and frustration she has created around her. And so the entire family gathers and slowly, but surely all past hurts come to the surface and must be dealt with. So without giving anything away, join this family on their way to dealing with settling past issues, learning to trust and lean on each other. Its an emotional journey during which they learn to let old resentments go and find their way back to each other as equals. Its a lovely read set in a beautiful place and is truly heartwarming.

This is a great summer read. I loved the setting and the characters. This is an easy read. I hope there are more books in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

It was an excellent read that made me smile and root for the characters.
Every family is different and the Bennet are family full of silences, of things not told and strained relationship.
The life of the characters is going to change and they will have to face the changes and accept new relationships and new way of living.
This is an enjoyable read, heartwarming and uplifting. I thoroughly appreciated the character development and how the characters grow and change.
The plot flows and it kept me hooked till the end following changes and how the silence became understanding and the difficulties were overcome.
The general atmosphere of the book is light and I loved the lovely descriptions of the setting.
It was an excellent read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A light summer read about the Bennett family in their Shore House. Author Heidi Hostetter really knew how to bring joy and springtime buoyancy with her words. The book was special, warm and spicy, just like a family.

Kaye had decided the entire Bennett family would spend the summer in the Shore House. Her husband Chase’s heart attack three years ago had shaken her up. Her daughter Stacy had a prickly relationship with her and son Brad seemed to be in a prickly one. It was their story set over 6 weeks or so.

I thought the book was brilliant. The story flowed from one scene to the other seamlessly, the emotions it brought along set my heart into a journey through the woods of life where the pebbles did hurt but the flowers around brought peace and happiness. Such was the power of the author’s writing.

As I kept turning the pages, the Bennett family became real; their problems, skirmishes, and career issues became a part of my life. The story pulled me in so much that I never knew the passage of time. I asked Siri to read out to me, and I could see that this would make a fantastic audiobook.

The only tiny niggle, almost negligible, was that I wished that some of the issues between the mother and daughter were dealt in earlier so that their love shone in the last few chapters. Nevertheless, the book was a surprise as I never expected to fall in love with it so quickly.

I think I would read any book by this author. It was one of my best feel-happy reads in recent times.

Sea. Sand. Family. Heidi Hostetter whisked me away to the Jersey shore with her vivid storytelling. A splashing story about family, forgiveness, food, and community. As the mother of adult children I completely related to Kaye and her desire to spend the summer making new memories with her adult children. Three years ago Kaye’s husband Chase had a heart attack and ever since Kaye has been super diligent. But this summer she wants some normalcy. A summer to never forget spent at the family‘s Beachhouse on the Jersey shore. Her daughter Stacey and son Bradley are less than thrilled about this but they are willing to go along to keep the family peace. Stacey has a doting husband, two adorable children and one on the way, but she is missing the buzz of her career. Bradley is still figuring things out, but one thing he knows is he is not living up to his father’s expectations. The family spends the summer getting to know one another again and healing old wounds.

I enjoyed spending time with this family in this charming seaside town. I probably found Kaye the most relatable character, but I did understand why she irritated her husband and children. Poor Chase The man was just trying to live and his well meaning wife was micromanaging everything. I really liked Stacey and her husband Ryan‘s relationship and how their story played out in the book. Bradley was another great character and I love the touching moments between his father and him. A lovely story about an authentic family, looking forward to future books in this series.

This book in emojis 🏖 🔨 📚 🍉 🌭 🎇 🦀

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

When the summons was sent out to her children to spend summer at the Shore House, Kaye Bennett hopes that reliving the wonderful, carefree memories will help her disjointed family reconnect.

That hope seems to be dashed before it has a chance to flower, when her son and daughter both show up late and determined to remain steadfast.

Hostetter has crafted a powerful narrative of family, with resentment and compassion in equal measure. The bond between mother and daughter is strong and unbroken, despite the hurts that both harbour within themselves. She skillfully tugs at heartstrings, keeping you turning pages for an engrossing read that you are loathe to put down when it ends.

A beach read perfect for this uncommon summer, Shore House is a curl-up-with-wine-and-your-cat kind of book.

[Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author, for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I was not required to write a review; the opinions herein are entirely my own.]

Favorite Quote:

… the master bedroom was directly above the kitchen, which was where Brad and Iona chose to settle their differences. Chase slept through it, oddly enough, but Kaye did not. She listened, like a Cold War spy, straining to hear and not at all proud of her curiosity.


My Review:

I giggle-snorted, smirked, and thoroughly reveled in this cleverly penned tale from start to finish. I was quickly drawn into the characters' tangible vortex of complicated family dynamics and was dazzled by Ms. Hostetter’s effortless, crisp, wily, wryly humorous, and cunningly insightful writing. Her word voodoo was so strong I could smell the sea, hear the waves, and feel the sunburn. I want to know all about her curiously compelling yet deeply flawed characters; they intrigued me and left me with a taste for more. This was my first time wading into Ms. Hostetter’s pool but I am feeling the intense desire to splash further into her listings with a cannonball dive.