Series: Temple River #3 (Standalone)
Publication Date: 30th May 2024
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
3.8 Stars
One Liner: A nice family drama
Ivy Ross left River End a decade ago after her father went behind bars. She vowed not to return and lived in England. However, Ivy had to get back when her younger sister, Jody, called, saying it was time to finalize what they did with their inheritance. The Fairview House was ‘the place’ for all kinds of artists back when life was normal. Ivy wants to sell it, but Jody wants to keep it in the family. She also wants to sort out the differences between the two.
Ivy is reluctant but does what she can to find out more about the large property they own. It doesn’t help that she sees Leo, the man she loved before the fateful tragedy destroyed their future together. As Ivy digs deeper, she realizes there’s a lot more she doesn’t know.
The story comes in Ivy’s third-person POV (and the last in a few letters).
My Thoughts:
The book is a standalone set in the same place (Rivers End) as the previous two books. While it has a few recurring characters, not knowing them will not affect the reading experience in the least.
The beginning is a little slow (the pacing improves but the story drags in the middle) as we need the time to understand the dynamics between the sisters and their pasts. Their relationship has a few thorns, but the affection they have for each other is evident.
We get the story from Ivy’s POV, but can see what she doesn’t and connect the dots she ignores. It’s more of a waiting read to see how and when she will finally get to the truth. However, we don’t know everything, so there’s some intrigue left to keep us going.
The letters mentioned in the official blurb are opened almost around 40% or later, so the wait was a bit long. Similarly, Leo’s entry also takes time. This is a family drama more than a romance. Not an issue, as such, but given how nice Leo is, he could have had a bigger role in the book.
Most characters are flawed (except Leo). Ivy can be annoying at times, but it aligns with her overall arc as someone who picks flight when faced with danger/ uncomfortable situations. Jody can be annoying, too, but her struggle comes across a bit more clearly (despite the POV belonging to Ivy). There is one character I cannot like or sympathize with. Good that we don’t get direct interaction with them even if their role is crucial.
The book shows different types of relationships between couples. It is a subtle study of love and loyalties (and misplaced loyalties). What each character does with their relationship when things get complex reflects who they are or who they have become due to the circumstances. Interesting!
The ending is heartwarming, as it should be for books in this genre. The epilogue has a mini-epilogue in it, which I found rather sweet. It works for my HEA love.
To summarize, The House at Angel's Beach is an introspective read about family, relationships, second chances, and healing. There are a couple of triggers.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC.
#NetGalley #TheHouseAtAngelsBeach
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TW: Infidelity and cheating, alcohol dependence (as a coping mechanism), accident and death
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