Review and Blog Tour: Beach Trip
Four young women are assigned as suitemates when they’re freshmen at Bedford University, a small Episcopalian women’s college in western North Carolina. Even though they come from different backgrounds, the four become fast friends and remain roommates throughout college. The women haven’t see each other in over twenty years when Lola calls and invites them to join her at her new beach cottage for a week. The four women are:
- Lola, the daughter of a former governor of Alabama – she’s led a privileged life but ends up being forced to marry the “right” man instead of the man she loves. She has everything money can buy.
- Mel, who is the daughter of a hugely successful car dealer. He’s a bully, though, so Mel has issues with love. She’s a novelist who’s been divorced twice.
- Annie, a sweet woman from a happy family. She’s in a stable loving marriage, but doesn’t know what to do with herself now that her children are grown.
- Sara, who struggles, along with her husband, with balancing their needs with the needs of their autistic child. She has a dark secret from her college days that is eating her alive.
When the women first get together at the beach house, they’re reserved with each other and not all that kind. It’s not until their last night together, when they each decide to reveal something about themselves that no one else knows, that they realize how important their friendships are to each other. Sara said
I was afraid after all these years apart, we wouldn’t have anything to talk about. But the funny thing is the minute I saw you all it felt like we were eighteen again. We’re different, but the friendship’s still there, it’s intact, and it makes me feel – I don’t know, safe. Y’all are the sisters I never had. I can tell you anything.
I found Beach Trip by Cathy Holton to be a pleasant, satisfying read with quite the dramatic ending! This is a great book to take to the beach with you this summer. The story is told in the present day with flashbacks to the characters’ childhoods and their days in college. Since it’s told in the third person, the transitions are easy to follow. All of the main characters is believable and well written – I saw a little of myself in each one of them. This book serves as an important reminder of the importance of friendships.
This is Cathy Holton’s third book. A true Southern girl, she lives in Tennessee with her husband and children. She is currently working on her fourth book. This is the final stop on her TLC Book Tour.
This sounds like an excellent character novel. I like reading how old friends react with each other after many years. Been there myself. Good review.
Sounds like a great vacation read. I’m meeting up with a college friend/roomie this week. We’ve managed to meet every five years or so since college and it’s always as if we live next door to each other. I cherish that!
I saw this described on another review as “woman’s fiction” which made be want to read it even less than calling it chick lit.
Although I do like the cover…
Wonderful review, Kathy. It just made me want to read this one. I like books with characters you feel you actually know and can relate to.
Hi Kathy,
I enjoyed this book as well. And what an ending!
This book is so on my wish list!
I haven’t read Beach Trip, but your description of it sounds very like Enchanted April- about four disparate women who vacation together in a castle in Italy… and find out how alike they really are. Have you read it? it’s wonderful.
Thanks, Kathy, for taking the time to read and review Beach Trip! Glad you liked it!
You make the ending sound very intriguing!
Glad you liked this, too. Satisfying is a good way to describe it.
I loved the ending as well. 🙂
~ Popin
I’m becoming quite the fan of women’s fiction. I love reading about relationships between friends, especially ones who have known each other for many years!
Any time the word “beach” is in a title I think light and fluffy, but upon closer inspection this does sound like a satisfying read. Thanks for the review.
I like stories that focus on the dynamics of women and friendships but so many of them end up being too chick-litty for me.
I hope to get my hands on this one; nice review.
Okay I must stop reading blogs LOL another book to add to my wish list. Sounds really good Kathy. Also the perfect beach read. Thanks Kathy.
I’m glad you liked it, Kathy. I liked it, but didn’t love it.
Sher
This one looks good.
What a perfect book to bring to the beach! I can’t wait to read it.
Nice review Kathy. This really was a good read. I really enjoy reading about women’s friendships and this one was chock full of them. Glad you enjoyed it.
as always, sounds like fun! 🙂
I loved this book Kathy!! Fun review!!
I have this one. I just might pack it for the shore. Sounds like a good beach read.
I love womens fiction and I love the cover of this book, on to my wishlist.
I have to be more alert to these blog tours! This one looks awesome and here I am on the side lines…. drooling over a book I missed the tour bus on….
“Doh!” : )
One Persons Journey Through a World of Books
This one sounds great. I love the cover photo.
Well, since I just returned from a trip where I saw many friends many years later, this sounds intriguing.
This sounds like the perfect summer read! And I love the cover, too.
I wasn’t as fond of this book but that ending was a surprise! Here’s my review:
http://litandlife.blogspot.com/2009/06/by-cathy-holton-432-pages-published-may.html
I love books on friendships involving group of women. Most of my friends stay far away, so books make me think of them. I heard good stuff on this one around the blogs, I’m keeping it in mind for future reading!
Sounds like a good book. I tend to enjoy books that focus on multiple characters. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention.
–Anna
I have this book in the TBR pile as well, and I hope that I can get to it soon.