The book starts right away with a simple meet-cue of the two main characters that you know are going to eventually fall in love even though they’re running from something in the entire story. One event after another pushes them back together over and over again.
Their storyline I did not care for. I honestly think it might have been the dialogue the characters had throughout the story. It felt unintelligent and prevented me from really connecting to either of them. And when they finally did get together, it felt very rushed, dry, and with little emotion.

However, at the same time a separate storyline is going on with the main character is trying to solve. It’s a mystery from the past that no one wants to talk about in this small town.
I wanted more of that story. I really liked the letters that Albert wrote to his mysterious women and wanted more. I wonder if alternating timelines would have made this back stronger and more engaging.

I really wanted to like this, as I love a romantic hallmark story both in film
and in print. And while it’s not the best Beachy read coming out this summer it does make for a simple story for anyone to read out on a warm sunny day.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The Beach House" by Jenny Hale is a sweet romance about Melanie, who buys an old house on the Florida beach, as instructed by her grandmother in her will. Melanie meets carpenter Josh, who helps her with the house as he struggles with some life issues of his own. In addition to the current day story, Melanie discovers some unsent love letters from the owner of the house and is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery/love story from the past.

This was a fun, easy and satisfying read. I always enjoy a beach setting. The old house remodel/handsome carpenter story has been done before, but it was a well written book and enjoyable nonetheless.


If you enjoy a light romance with a historical twist, read "The Beach House" by Jenny Hale.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Melanie is mourning the loss of her grandmother, a woman who meant everything to her, and whom she spent the last three years looking after full time. When she hears her grandmothers final wish, for Melanie to buy a house with her inheritance in Rosemary Bay and turn it into a bed and breakfast, she has some hard choices to make. Why is this house so important to her grandmother?
When Melanie arrives in Rosemary Bay, she has no idea what she is getting into when she sees her new dilapidated house. When she runs into a handsome yet stubborn contractor, she does everything she can to try and convince him to help her. The only problem is, he is leaving in a week for greener pastures. Can Melanie convince him to stay? Will the mysteries of the old house bring them closer together or will it tear them apart?

Jenny Hale has done it again. An amazing novel with a feisty female, a stubborn male and a problem they need to solve together. I loved the characters, the setting and the mysteries that lay in the old house. The little boy in the story stole my heart and I was just riveted to the story to find out if we would get a happily ever after. Many thanks to Bookouture, Jenny Hale and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy to review. All the opinions are unbiased and completely my own.

The Beach House is the latest Summer novel by Jenny Hale. Melanie just lost her Grams after taking care of her for the last three years. In her will, she urges Melanie to purchase an old, decrepit house in Rosemary Bay. Trying to make a fresh start of her life, she grants her Grams’ wishes and the renovations begin. However, with the renovations being too big for her to tackle alone, she scores the help of local handyman Josh. However, there are secrets in the house. And Melanie is bound and determined to unlock every single one.

This is one of those books that as soon as you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down. I finished it in one sitting and now find myself a little sad that the story is over. I fell in love with the story and could possibly name this book my favorite read of Jenny Hale’s so far (and I’ve read almost all of her books).

I couldn’t wait to unravel the mystery of the old home as much as Melanie. When she finds old love letters from the home’s former owner (Alfred Ellis) to his first and only love, I felt as though I was swept back in time. There are two romances built into the book, and while one just absolutely broke my heart, it also gave me joy.

Are all love stories meant to be? What happens when two people find fall deeply in love, only to be separated by circumstances beyond their control? Alfred loved his lady with all his heart, even though she went on to marry a wonderful man and had a family of her own. And she continued to love Alfred as well, unbeknownst to him. But as fate intervened, they were never destined to be together.

This book is so genuine and told from the heart. The characters are pure, warm, and engaging…making them a delight to read about. The story is alluring, gripping the mind and heart from the first page. Of all books I’ve read, I would put The Beach House at the top for the perfect beach read. Highly recommended!

The Beach House by Jenny Hale is a quick read, ready for the beach, your front porch, or your favorite reading spot.

Melanie finds herself lost after the death of her grandmother. She spent the last three years caring for Gram, giving up her career and losing her fiancé in the process. When Gram leaves her money to buy a house in Gram’s hometown, Melanie wonders if she can tackle the challenge and find a new way for herself.

Josh is leaving the small town of Rosemary Bay. He just wants to have a few drinks with friends before he heads to New York to make his money to live the life he wants. The last thing he wants to do is help Melanie with the Ellis House. However, a bet is a bet. With family secrets, the hurricane isn’t the only storm coming.

Jenny Hale has created endearing characters. We become attached to them in turmoil and triumph. Her descriptive language makes the reader feel like they are vacationing in Rosemary Bay, past and present with the characters. I want to visit the beach, the pier, the restaurants, and especially the ice cream shop.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the complimentary eARC. Opinions are my own.

I have absolutely loved reading this story from start to finish, such a joy. It was superbly written, but then I wouldn’t expect anything less from author Jenny, as she does write such wonderful stories. What I loved most about this story, is how it had some historical element to it, secrets lost in the past but now to be uncovered/discovered as we turn the pages of the book.

The characters were delightful, all of whom just came alive right before my eyes, I actually forgot that they weren't real at times.I loved getting to know all of the characters, but I did have a little soft spot for the character of Cole, he may only be 4 but he is already clever and has his own unique personality about him. I just wanted to give him a big cuddle, especially after all that he’d been through.

So final words, if you haven't discovered Jenny's books yet, then trust me when I say that you are truly missing out. Her books are just so heartfelt and magical.

New homeowner Melanie asks handyman Josh to help renovate her home. He declines, since he's leaving town to start a new job. But when a storm strands him, he agrees to help her out until the roads are cleared. An attraction develops between them, but they don't explore it, because he's not sticking around.

Melanie discovers some old letters written by the previous homeowner but never sent. What family secrets do they reveal, and how will they affect Melanie's and Josh's future?

This is an emotional small-town romance and family saga. The writing quality is good, the setting is well done, and character development is fine. The book falls short when it comes to plot. The story is interesting, but unfortunately it seems utterly unmoored from reality.

The opening of the story is problematic. The first couple of chapters are a promise that the author makes to the reader. There were two unfulfilled promises in the opening chapters:
- dual time line
- mention of a ghost

These two elements disappeared after the opening chapters. Structurally, the scenes that went back in time would have worked better as a prologue. Also, the mentions of a possible ghost shouldn't have been included if that element wasn't going to be pursued. I started off thinking this would be a paranormal romance, and it wasn't. At all.

The terms of the grandmother's will were confusing and unrealistic. I'm not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure a lawyer could poke all kinds of holes in this plot. To avoid spoilers, I won't get into them.

It made no sense to me that Melanie was so attached to the letters, yet read them one at a time over a period of weeks. Why wouldn't she read them all at once, if she thought they were so important and held some kind of secret?

Some of the aspects of the home renovation also didn't make sense to me, though again, this isn't my area of expertise. Still, no professional builder would allow a small child into a construction zone as was portrayed in this book.

It was also unclear how Josh was qualified for the super-high-paying job in New York that would allow him to retire after a few years and build his dream house. by the ocean. Maybe if he was a Wall Street trader? The cost of living in NYC would likely be several times that of a small town, so an increase in his income wouldn't mean he could put the extra money from a higher salary into savings.

So, overall, I would say this is a pretty good book as long as you don't think about it too much.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

~4.5⭐Rating~

Melanie has been feeling completely lost after the death of her beloved Grams, but Grams has had a plan for Melanie all along! When the will is read Mel learns that Grams wants her to use her inheritance to buy and restore the old house that they both loved in Rosemary Bay. With a bit of help from her mum and sister Melanie decides to take the jump and bring the hold house back to her former glory, she just never expected the restoration to bring along one mystery and one cute carpenter.

••

Josh Claiborne definitely does not have time to start anything let alone develop these kind of feelings for the feisty Melanie, after all this is supposed to be his last summer in Rosemary Bay before he heads to New York. That is until Melanie came barreling into his world and turning everything upside down, but with his growing feelings and the case of the mysterious letters Josh finds that his heart just doesn't seem to want to leave Rosemary Bay anymore.

••

Oh gosh was this a goodie! I love a cute romance setting in a small town but with the added zing of the mysterious old letters and my heart was stolen! I devour this novel in no time at all. I absolutely loved that the past romance was so tied into the present one.

••

I loved Melanie to bits! You could just see that she was genuinely a nice person that just needed a push in the right direction. I loved following her as she read more of the letters and tried to find out more about Alfred Ellis and her link to the old homeowner. I also loved watching Josh and Melanie fall for each other as they restored the house together.

••

I absolutely love Jenny Hale's books and The Beach House is definitely one that I would recommend reading, this romance mixed with a touch of mystery will just worm its way into your heart!

Grandma's lost letters, beach house that needs renovating, handyman that doesn't want to stick around. All ingredients for a nice summer read, which this was. Interesting characters and nice beach setting.

This is a perfect summer read. There is a grandmother’s dying wish to turn an old beach house into a bed and breakfast, a handsome contractor and mysterious letters.
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I was sucked in from the beginning and flew through the pages. There is also a small town feel that includes a spot to paint wishes on a tree. I loved Melanie’s wish, “Change the story.” It takes so much bravery to change your own story one step at a time and I loved that.
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There is so much I loved about this one with happy little surprises along the way. I don’t want to give too much away but I rooted for Josh and Melanie the entire time to find themselves and each other.

The Beach House by Jenny Hale is perfect for Summer romance reading. If I'm totally honest though, this book is a great read any time of the year! It's full romance, a beach house in a quaint seaside town and a stack of mysterious letter that leads to a mystery needing to be solved. All my favorite things rolled into a wonderful story!

I found The Beach House to be an engaging, relaxing read with realistic characters and a story that kept me on my toes. At times I laughed out loud and other times I was moved to brief tears. I walked away from this story with a warm fuzzy feeling and big smile. I definitely recommend this book!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Bookouture Publishers and Ms. Hale for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Melanie and Josh meet when she moves to town, having bought the delapidated house that her late grandmother used to love. Melanie needs help to renovate it in to a B&B, and Josh would be just the person to help if he wasn't set on leaving for New York for a new job.
After Melanie finds old letters in the house, she start to piece together what really happened with the previous owner of the house, but it is a secret that affects Josh.
An enjoyable read in a great setting, despite the hurricane!

Thank you to Bookouture for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I have been a big fan of Jenny’s writing and was looking forward to my escape to the seaside.

Melanie isn’t quite sure what to do with herself now her Gram has passed and she’s no longer her carer. I felt like Melanie really discovered herself in this story. She was lost and without purpose at the beginning. Melanie is such a likeable character. She has a good heart and you rooted for her instantly.

Josh, Josh, Josh. This man has so many layers. He was so hurt from his ex but underneath that hurt is a man who just wants to be loved for who he is. I felt so much pain and anger for what his ex had done.

The letters were so sad, I found them so heartbreaking to read. The only thing I would have liked would have been a little more flicking back to the past, maybe some bits from before the prologue.

Jenny’s writing is a pleasure to read. It was very easy for me to sit down and read for hours at a time and not want for anything.

This book is a sweet romantic story with a little mystery thrown in. It's a great book to pick up on these sunny days and be instantly transported to the beach.

My first Jenny Hale novel. A great read which kept me fully engaged.

As Melanie renovates the Beach House with help from Josh, she gradually learns the story not only of the house but of the man who lived there. Little does she know quite how intrinsically linked the story is to her life - and indeed to Josh's too.

Highly recommended read.

This is a incredible read, a contemporary romance skilfully intertwined with ones from the past and I can’t praise it highly enough.

Melanie Simpson gave up her job to look after her beloved Grandmother (Gram) for three years. As a child they used to visit Rosemary Bay, where her Gram grew up and always dreamed about restoring a special house there and running it as a Bed and Breakfast establishment. When her Gram dies, her will instructs Melanie to use her inheritance to buy and restore that property and make their dreams reality – and Melanie sets out to do just that. The dilapidated property needs a lot of work to make it habitable and Melanie is recommended to use the local carpenter, Josh Claiborne, to do the work – but he’s planning on leaving and doesn’t want to work on her home. However, a bet, an incoming storm, a parcel of letters and the uncovering of family secrets will all play key roles in this family drama and several romances!

This story has all the elements of mystery, suspense, romance and drama, enthralling shared in a beautiful read that I have no hesitation in highly recommending to anyone looking for a moving story to escape into. The letters give an insight into past relationships, there are plenty of secrets and surprises in store and love shows the way for them all – including a very special young boy. It is a heartwarming, emotive story, skilfully written to keep you turning the pages, hoping everything will work out for them all – I loved it!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this amazing book which I have voluntarily read, thoroughly enjoyed and honestly reviewed.

The Beach House by Jenny Hale fits very nicely into the contemporary romance sub genre that is relative dies, leaves female relative a mystery to solve and there is also a reluctant romance.

Melanie Simpson loses her grandmother after taking care of her for three years and putting her own life on pause.
Melanie’s grandmother left her an inheritance to buy an old beach house in her grandmother’s home town. They passed it together on many visits and imagined turning it into a B&B. The home has a lot of local legends about being haunted by the previous owner Alfred Ellis.

When she arrives to find the house crumbling she and her sister go out for a drink… only to challenge a local contractor to a game of darts. Josh is well known through out town but is leaving for a big job in NYC soon. He does lend a hand to Melanie for awhile with sparks and crankiness flying. In the Ellis house, she and Josh uncover a box of letter he wrote and a key. Which sets off the mystery that involves both Melanie and Josh.

This is a great summer read full of new beginnings. I loved the characters and it made me want to go on a beach vacation pronto! I did solve the mystery at about 75% in and I would say it drags a bit with mundane upkeep. It is all totally worth the happy ending.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #JennyHale #TheBeachHouse #NetGalley

CW: There is a lot of casual drinking and alcohol in this novel.

Happy Pub Day to The Beach House by Jenny Hale! This book is a sweet contemporary romance that mixes in some mystery and intrigue. Can we talk about those letters? Wow! This is one of those books that you pack for a beach day and end up accidentally sitting there for the entire day until you're finished reading and wind up with weird tan lines LOL. Seriously, pick this book up, pack it in your beach/pool bag, and enjoy the romance and mystery of it all.

You can buy The Beach House on sale TODAY!

Jenny Hale is absolutely one of my favorite authors! I discovered her this past Christmas when I read several of her cozy Christmas novels. The Beach House reminded me how much I love her writing style!

Melanie takes a visit yearly with her grandmother to Rosemary Bay, where Elouise lived as a young girl. Upon her grandmother’s passing, Melanie is left with a directive: use the inheritance to find yourself again...by buying an old, dilapidated house in Rosemary Bay.

What ensues is a poignant tale of discovery, growth, love, redemption, and learning what’s most meaningful in life.

Josh and Melanie have an interesting dynamic that doesn’t really fit well into any category...perhaps enemies to lovers, but Josh is so kind and a gentleman, I don’t even like calling him an enemy.

Cole is one of my FAVORITE characters in the story, his perspective and energy is just wonderful!

I highly recommend this book for ALL THE REASONS! It needs to be on your Summer TBR, and it's the perfect novel to kick off your time at the beach, lake, or heck even the hammock in your own backyard.

Thank you to @bookouture and @jennyhale for my #gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was granted a free copy of this text by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is a perfect summer read. Romance is intermingled with the history of a home and the entire town gets involved. Jenny Hale is definitely one to watch.

3.5 stars
A little predictable but a lot of fun to read. A perfect beach/poolside read, especially if you need a little romance and a nice happy ending in a book.