The Shore House is a sweet summer read, great for vacation! Stacey's mom, Kaye, convinces her and her family to leave their busy summer plans and spend several months at the old family shore house. What ensues is a light story about love and loss, and the messiness that can sometimes be part of family life. Heidi Hostetter writes in a manner that really allows her readers to be present in the story - beautiful descriptions of the beach community, the friendliness of the neighbors, the joy of reliving the old days at the shore house. This is a very easy, quick book. It's a little predictable, though. I did keep expecting something shocking or eventful to happen, but was a tad disappointed. If you are looking for excitement, this is probably not going to be the book for you, but if you want to experience a gentle family vacation, you'll enjoy The Shore House.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read The Shore House.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley, I was provided an advance review copy (ARC) of "The Shore House" by Heidi Hostetter in exchange for my honest review.

I was very excited to read this book. The description promised a heartfelt summer read of love, forgiveness, and the power of family bonds. Unfortunately, the story as a whole fell flat and did not deliver. The characters, particularly the women, were very unlikeable. I can usually overlook unlikeable characters if they are well written and show growth throughout the course of the book. This did not happen with "The Shore House."

The relationships, particularly among Kaye and Stacey, were forced and unrealistic. I question whether the author has ever been around small children based on the descriptions of Stacey's children. I found it highly unlikely that a six year old who plays soccer would use a booster seat at a table. I found it even more unbelievable that a four year old who would be spending her summer with a reading tutor would use a highchair (with a tray!).

The book description promised a "heart-stopping accident on the beach." I kept waiting for this to occur, and it finally did 93% of the way into the book..sort of. The accident was nothing more than a mother losing track of her child and panicking. The son was never in danger. I would hardly consider this a climax worth describing in the book's synopsis. While it did bring about a conversation between Kaye and Stacey regarding Stacey's fear of the ocean, it did little to show any kind of major character growth. As a mother myself, I still wonder how Kaye went over twenty years without noticing her daughter's fear and avoidance of the ocean.

I wish I could recommend this book, but unfortunately I cannot. The book as a whole has potential, but it needs a lot more work before I would want to read it again. If you're looking for your next summer beach read, this is not it.

The perfect summer book! Reading this story is like stepping inside the Bennett family ... you become one of them. Their lives, trials, troubles, loves... you have a front row seat to it all. The pages almost seem to turn by themselves. You won't want to put it down. And when you are finished... you will find yourself wishing for more. A sequel maybe?
Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. My review is my own and is in no way required by the publisher.

Great depiction of family dynamics, unresolved issues and how they come together and finally confront them, discuss problems and repair relationships.Overall a very enjoyable book. Great summer read. Thank you Heidi Hostetter and Net Galley for this ebook. Review and opinions solely my own.

I can not say enough good things about this book. What an insightful, generous author. The Shore House is about the Bennett family. The family consists of the parents Kay, Chase and their grown children Brad, who is single and Stacy who is married to Ryan and has two children. The story is divided almost equally between the family members- including Ryan. Reading it, I wanted to know the Bennett’s~ heck, I even wanted to be related to them. I wanted to be a guest at their shore house, I wanted to be invited to one of Kay’s summer parties. Each character draws you in to their world ~the good and the bad. I’m not going into the story because it’s too good to spoil. I make it a point to try to not read series books but I was half way through this book and looked, hoping it was going to be a series. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone and will watch, hope for more books to read from Ms. Hostetter. THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

The Shore House is an enjoyable read. Kaye's family spent every summer at the beach in. New Jersey. She wants to rekindle the tradition after three years. Her husband's heart attack turned Kaye into a helicopter wife and its stifling Chase. Stacy has never gotten along with her mother and now she's spe ding the entire summer in the same house with her. Even her brother Brad begins to show initiative after getting rid of a bothersome girlfriend. I liked all the characters amd laughed during scenes when Kaye got really annoyed with Iona. I can smell the salt air, hear the waves crash, and feel,the sand beneath my feet, I love the cover too.

This book.was absolutely heartwarming and I could feel the summer breeze, smells of the ocean and corn on the cob permeating the pages. What was also.intriguing are the secrets that the family kept from each other that could have led to further disintegration of relationships, whether it be Ryan's dissatisfaction with the direction of his company, Kaye and her fears, and Stacy's desire to return to her passion at work. Very well written and I was so.happy that they are started speaking to each other directly and became each other's greatest champion.

The Shore House is a lovely summer read centering on the Bennett family. Re-opening their family home for the first time since her husband, Chase, suffered a massive heart attack three years ago, Kaye is determined to recreated a summer from their past filled with family and fun. Kaye’s grown daughter, Stacy, her husband and two kids (with one more on the way), leave behind a busy suburban life for a quiet summer at the shore. Kay’s son, Brad, also joins the family. As always, family dynamics are complicated, confusing and often due to lack of communication. This family is no different, but their story weaves a tale that is enduring and entertaining. All marriages require work and renegotiating roles and both married couples use the summer at the shore to navigate new territory. The Shore House would be delightful for readers to enjoy on the beach relaxing this summer!

A sincere thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Shore House centers around the Bennett family, and their New Jersy shore beach cottage. Noooo not THAT New Jersey shore, the nice quiet shore of Dewberry Beach. The family hasn’t had their normal summer there for about three years due to the father having a heart attack.

Kaye Bennett decides to try and recapture the past by gathering the family for the length of the summer, never mind the fact that she has not heard from son Brad in months while he spends the time traveling around on adventures with his hippy girlfriend. Or that daughter Stacy and she have a very strained relationship and have never gotten along. She gets Stacy there by telling her that Brad is coming for the entire summer. Stacy finds out her mother lied to her when Brad is a no show when she gets to the cottage. She wants to pack up her two kids and husband and leave, but she stays. Brad shows up and the family drama begins.

One of my favorite things about the book was the town of Dewberry Beach. I love when an author can describe a place and you just seem to be right in the middle of town seeing all that is described. The town of Dewberry is idyllic with its summer traditions, I wanted to be on the crowded beach smelling the scent of suntan lotion and hearing the yells of people as they play against the waves or on the beach, or in the town square with all the excited children, bikes decorated for the annual Fourth of July parade, cards flapping against the spokes of the wheels to make noise as they rode, maybe a bit wobbly down the road.

There are several surprises and secrets thrown in to keep the book moving, but the story is written not to have a jaw-dropping wow moment, it just flows naturally like a summer breeze. Shore House was a delight to read. It felt like an escape. It was a quick read that shows that family bonds are strong even when you don't realize it, a story of forgiveness, and finding yourself. It is the perfect summer read.

I enjoyed this book, even though I wanted to slap Kaye a lot. Kay is the matriarch of the Bennett family. She is married to Chase, who has fully recovered from a heart attack. Their children are Stacy, married to Ryan with 2 kids, and Brad, hooked up to the highly unsuitable Iona. Kaye is a serious control freak. She needs to tone it down before he gives HERSELF a heart attack.

The family is spending the summer together at the Jersey shore. There are a lot of bad feelings among them, like a regular family. So many things they’ve never said to each other.

This is a story of family and making your peace with the one you’re given. There are a lot of storylines in this book, so be prepared for that.

Communication Gap. Everybody has heard about this word but have they ever measured its depth? Sometimes the people are not prepared for the things that happen in their life. Sometimes they are too scared to admit that its an error from their side. Many times, people are scared to be vulnerable because they think that will lower their value. However, the key factor here would be communication. If the person communicated their feelings to their loved ones then their problems would be solved without any issue.

The Shore House is the vacation house that the family uses every summer but the hectic life offered the chance once again after some years. All the members have been busy in their life, fighting their own fights and surviving. However, there are some problems that they cannot solve by themselves and they will need help from others. The jumbled problems of all the members and different solutions make it a page-turner for me. A must-read for the summer

I love a good beach book and The Shore House did not disappoint. Set in the seaside town of Dewberry, NJ harried mom of 2 (soon to be 3) Stacey deals with unresolved issues with her mom, Kaye. In turn Kaye is coping with her husband's recent health issues. Family Dynamics somehow seem easier to work though over lobster rolls in a family beach house, but truly an enjoyable novel for afternoons in hammock or read poolside.

I genuinely enjoyed Heidi Hostletter's style and would love to read more from her.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC

This was a book by an author not known to me but was a great summer read for me, full of sunshine, summer holidays, good food and family.
The story follows Kaye Bennett who goes to her holiday home "The Shore House" in New Jersey located at Dewberry Beach for the summer and wants all of her family to join her to have the kind of holiday they had when her children were young. Kaye's husband Chase had a heart attack 3 years previously and although recovered Kaye keeps a close eye on him and a rein on what he eats and what activities he does and worries that he will suffer another heart attack.
Her adult children arrive for the summer, her pregnant daughter Stacy with her husband Ryan and two children and her son Brad with a new girlfriend.
The story focuses on the relationship between Stacy and her mum who both tend to be at odds with one another and neither really know how to bridge the gap and strengthen the bond between them. Stacy does not really want to spend the entire summer at the family holiday home but is persuaded by her husband that this is what the family need and she slowly relaxes into a new pace of life. As the summer moves on and the family enjoy their time together do they all come to realise that family is so important?
When a near family tragedy occurs will Stacy and her mum find a way to forgive and forget and move forward together?
I gave this book 4 stars. It is filled with summer holidays, family, love and forgiveness and the ideal summer read for those who like the importance of place in a book they are reading. I loved the setting, the community and traditions of those who spend their summers in the same place and the family who realise the importance of each other and the experiences they share. I smiled most of the way through this book and was entertained from start to finish.

Sometimes you just want a simple beach read. Maybe you've finished a heavy book, or a long book. That's where I was with this one, so for the moment in time that I started this book, it filled a need for me. Beach setting, family get-together, family drama but not TOO much drama. Predictable plot.
Overall, though, it fell a little flat for me. I wasn't in love with the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for this copy!

Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 3
Pace: 3
Plot development: 3
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 3 out of 5

Wonderful book! I could not put the book down. Love the story of family and finding that way back to one another.

Heidi isn’t simply a writer, she’s an artist. Her words paint pictures that tell her stories in ways that aren’t just read with your eyes, but imagined in your mind. Her descriptions resonate with all your senses ... you smell the ocean breeze, taste the summer corn, hear the slap of the screen door. All this sets the scene for the real stars of the story: her characters. It doesn’t take long to feel invested, inquisitive, needing to know more; Heidi creates people you care about. The Shore House kept me turning the pages from Memorial Day through to Labor Day. Do yourself a favor and spend a summer in Dewberry Beach.

The Shore House is a wonderfully satisfying summer read. With the quaint backdrop of the shore community of Dewberry Beach, combined with the dynamics of family interaction, Heidi Hostetter has woven a delightful and descriptive tale. Enjoy!

I really enjoyed this book. After Clark had a heart attack, Kate had rented the summer home in Dewberry N.J out for the summers but this year she is taking it back as theirs and hopes her family will spend the summer together. . Stacy, Ryan and their children and then Brady shows up his girl friend Iona. this is an emotional story. See how decisions are made as life moves on. A GREAT READ.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is a story about the Bennett family who have a house at the Jersey shore that hasn’t been used for three years, since their fathers heart attack.

The head is Kaye, she decides that the time to reunite at the shore has come.
when they reunite, the family members brings emotional baggage and expectations.

A well written, complex story about relationships, fears, expectations, and growth.