I really enjoyed this book. Not having read any of Jane Green's writing, I went with the notion that as a best seller, it had to be good. And I was not disapointed. I love the East coast (I'm from the West coast)and Nantucket is a favorite. You can tell from her descriptions and characters she did a lot of research on both, and I'm always impressed with the effort writers put into their writings. I highly recommend this novel. Fast, easy to follow even tho there are a number of characters involved. For men as well as women.

Perhaps my first mistake is that this is simply not the type of book I usually read. I have never before read Jane Green and only picked up this book because a magazine recommended it and I thought a quirky old lady in Nantucket would be delightul and whimsical.

I just don't like to sit around and read melo-dramatic soap operas starring characters for whom I feel nothing.

Jane Green's writing is pretty enough, and I don't think this is a book that will deter me from reading more of her. But, well, this book was not what I expected--which is not always a bad thing--but in the end it truly failed to grab me. It could have been cute. It could have been sweet and heartwarming, but I never really connected with it. It was little more than a grand possibility and fluffy little affairs.

Sweet, I suppose, but not what I'm into and still did not have much I would recommend.

An easy read with nothing too mind straining, but totally enjoying. Holds your interest while not taxing the brain.

Light, fun summer reading. Green's style is very intimate. I felt as though she was sitting across the table from me and telling me the details of her characters lives. And what characters they are. Motivation is something that always look for. Many times it's hard to find. But here the characters' actions and feelings make sense.

Read this on the beach. Loved it. Kept picturing Diane Keaton as main character.

If you are a white, upper middle class, female 30- or 40-something from New England who is going through a divorce, this book may be cathartic for you. However, if you fit another demographic group, this book is probably a waste of money and time. If you can stick with it past the halfway point, it is somewhat more readable (but not great). The stream of consciousness style combined with omniscient narrator style (sometimes both in the same paragraph!)is annoying , as are all the run on sentences and bad punctuation/typos (plurals where she means possessive), etc. But primarily it's simply unpleasant to read all the whining and soul searching of every character in the book as white upper middle class marriage after marriage breaks up, combined with the absence of action (other than to pack up and travel to the beach house). A much better use of your energy would be Anita Diamant's "Last Days of Dogtown" or "Red Tent." Chick books too (although my husband also likes them), but extremely well written and researched. Diamant's fluid and lovely writing style, historical perspective, thoughtful observations, action, and the interaction between characters is gripping.

Very entertaining, though somewhat predictable. Great light summer read. Made me want to visit Nantucket. Enjoyable.

I'm struggling to get through this book right now. The first chapter hooked me. I love the notion of Nan and her free spirit. But after chapter one, this book is hurdling downhill like a bus with no brakes. Each subsequent chapter is full of "introduction" dribble - boring. I find myself flipping the pages to the next chapter just to see if it gets back on track with anything exciting to say. Sadly, it doesn't. This book is a big, wad of love mush gone astray. For example, "She loves her daddy so much it hurts." Ugh. Can Jane Green not do better than that?

This book kept showing up as a recommendation, so I finally decided to get a copy and take it with me to the beach last week. I'm glad I did. It's a breezy read, painting a summer picture of Nantucket and filling it with an array of colorful, well-drawn characters. I couldn't help but fall in love with the central character, Nan, a kooky old broad who rides a bicycle around town and helps herself to flowers in her neighbor's gardens. The additional characters revolve around her as she, determined to keep her landmark home, ventures into an innkeeping business. I read this in two afternoons.

If you like character driven women's fiction, I also recommend: Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA, It's Not Your Mother's Bridge Club, and The Jane Austen Book Club

I didn't find this to be "typical" Jane Green, which are books I usually have a hard time putting down, but I still found it a worthwhile read. The first 3rd of the book is a real grabber but it somewhat loses momentum after that. As always, she does an excellent job introducing characters and drawing you into their lives, but I struggle with the way she weaves them all together to share the high point and plot. Still, you have to give her credit for diverse story line -- an aging mother with financial problems, a coming-out gay man, a couple of extramarital affairs, a disillusioned divorcee, a troubled young girl, and a born-again gambling addict. She manages to pull it all off, which to me is real talent but very little to identify with.

An enjoyable summer read. Interesting characters that come together in a variety of ways. This book makes anyone who enjoys the summer by the sea want to go to Nantucket, especially if you know about it or have ever been there before.

As a Jane Green fan, I never fail to enjoy her novels, but this one is truly a wonderful read, and one I could devour with pleasure.

Offbeat Nan, a faded beauty who still retains her unique, hippie personality, is happily ensconced in her rather shabby old mansion, left to her by her late husband. She cherishes his memory, so the house is kept the way her husband had left it. Hence the "shabby" nature. But Nan, full of vigor and still crazy after all these years, is not above her adventures--like swimming naked in a vacationing neighbor's pool.

All that changes when Nan reluctantly faces the very real terror of possibly losing the house. The only way of keeping it is to take in boarders--unheard-of in her tony area of Nantucket--so she does. And so the story unfolds with the entertwined lives of strangers who become closer than family. We learn their stories, we see the results, we pray for Nan and all her brand new loved ones to come out OK in the end.

But this is no fairy tale, and as secrets and heartbreaks come to the surface, we feel everything the characters do...and cheer them on, as they have become our family too.

This is a good read, a good story, and a perfect book to enjoy.

I have read all of her books and find her to be a delightful writer who hooks you in and keeps you interested in her characters throughout the story. While some of it is predictable, it is still a great read, one you dont want to see end!

This book is a quick and entertaining read with well developed characters. I recommend it!

When I hear the phrase "easy read" or "beach read" I usually hesitate to pick up the book so described. But the premise of an eccentric, free-spirit older woman who turns her home on Nantucket into a bed and breakfast called to me. I should have let that call go unanswered.

I agree with another reviewer that each of the sub-plots had plenty of potential and I wanted to learn more about how Dee dealt with the death of her marriage and her father's death happening in such a close time frame. I'm positive that there is a story of its own there waiting to be told.

However, this author chose to give us a "beach read" in the truest sense of the phrase. There's no need to put on your thinking cap for this one - just go with the flow and you won't be disappointed. But if you'd like to explore each of the story lines in depth then pass this one by. You won't get so lost in the story that you'll forget about lunch.

Nice setting, variety of characters, and clean writing garner a strong 2.5 stars from this reviewer.

I loved this book. I cried and laughed all the way through it. It was hard to keep up with all the characters at first, because the book moved from character to character trying to introduce you to all the characters that would become the Beach House.

I have read reviews on Jane Green's past few books. Readers have been disappointed in Green's past attempts with writing. I haven't agreed with the critics until now. Although the story had promise, I found it difficult to want to continually read The Beach House. It was predictable. I felt like it borrowed ideas from previous books. I didn't feel the "spark" that I did during Green's first books. I just couldn't get excited about the characters. There were too many too keep track of, so the characters weren't fully developed.

The various character story lines took a while to come together, especially after reading the book jacket and knowing that they all end up at the house in Nantucket. But knowing their history makes what comes later that much better. So, stick with it if you are ADD like I am and you will enjoy the book in the end.

I just finished reading this book and must agree with other reviews I've read - simple and easy to read but not much depth in the quality of the writing. I thought the plot was completely predictable and almost boring in that you knew what would happen next. I also agree that the characters were hardly developed and the story was just way to sophomoric in nature. I was disappointed by the time I got to the end and actually just skimmed the last few pages being hardly interested in what was left. I knew where it was going and was just not that interested in how Ms. Green got there. If you're taking it to the beach, it's an easy, light read for a hot afternoon and you won't sweat thinking too much, that's for sure.

While I found parts of the story highly implausible, this is a fun and very sweet novel about a woman reconnecting with, well, humanity. Jane Green is always great for a light, fun read and this book does not disappoint. If you have ever been to Nantucket, you will be impressed with Green's ability to evoke the summer-y feel of the town and its beaches. Take this with you on a late summer vacation!

The Beach House is a "feel good" kind of book. It does not tax your intellectual abilities, but is the perfect summer read. The characters are somewhat superficial, but for a light hearted read, it is fun. I would recommend it to someone who has had enough of the slumping economy, the world conflicts and the every day cruelty that people display. It provides an escape from some difficult times.

This was an OK beach read. There were some good plot elements and the main character was fun.

Truth be told I have NOT gotten to read this book as of yet but I highly recommend Jane Green to friends who are looking for fun -normal -real people stories in their reading! Forget reality TV! Jane Green is a lot more fun and a lot more REAL!

Once again I loved this latest novel by Jane Green...I get so into her books and just can't put them down until I'm done....then I really miss the characters.....
Buy it, you'll like it!! :)

I am enjoying Green's latest book; however, Michael says (p.237) that his father died when he was six years old-BUT the inside cover states that Nan's husband died twenty years ago. Michael is 42, which would have made him 22 when his father died. Were there two different husbands? Didn't sound that way since Nan says she's lived in the Powell house for 45 years. Confusing! or maybe just a mistake on the part of the writer or editor. Anyone?

I thought I was going to love this book but it was tedious, character confusing and disjointed. I am sure the author is a talented writer, but I'm afraid I found the story line all too predictable and drawn out.

I once read a suggestion that the time that you commit to a book to see if it is worth finishing should be 100 pages minus your age (the thought being that as we get older why invest our precious time on something not worthwhile.) I gave Beach House much more then that, and still could not finish. I found that I just did not care about these people, their exploits and their untidy lives. Did it work out for Daniel, Daff, Michael, etc. Do I care? Absolutely not another page(s) worth.

I have read a number of Jane Green's books and do not think The Beach house was as good as her other books were. A number of the plots were completely implausible. Some of the characters didn't feel real. One story line disappeared completely. The ending was rushed and some of the plots wrapped up too easily. However, it was entertaining, light reading. Overall, think Green could have worked harder to make this novel much better, as she is capable of doing so.

The Beach House was great. Very entertaining and I would reccomend it to everyone.

A wonderfully simple read about a group of strangers from different backgrounds coming together for a summer where they are a great support for one another. A surprise turn at the end.

I appreciate that my books were delivered to the country of Iraq within a reasonable amount of time. But I wanted to let you know that they arrived badly damaged. "Love the One You're With" and "The Beach House" had large holes through the hard covers and into the pages, and the complete works of Jane Austen had a cover that was torn.
I can still read them and I'm glad that you shipped to my APO.

The book came in excellent condition. I ordered 2 copies, 1 for me (haven't read it yet but the synopsis looks terrific) and 1 for a friend as a gift. She was thrilled. Thanks.

The book came in excellent condition. I ordered 2 copies, 1 for me (haven't read it yet but the synopsis looks terrific) and 1 for a friend as a gift. She was thrilled. Thanks.

Okay, there is nothing particularly clever, new, or unpredictable about Ms. Green's latest book but it was 100% entertaining. I finished this book in the course of a day on my recent vacation and though I did not learn much about the human condition or have any type of moral revelations, I enjoyed Beach House. Hence the reason I refer to this as "candy": no nutritional value to the brain but "tasty" all the same. I have read many of Jane Green's other books and this one is much like the others in that it delivers a fun, easy read.

The setting is Nantucket in summer. The characters are well drawn and the set up of their individual stories takes up the first half of the book. In the second half they come together in unpredictable ways, with everything playing out full circle.

Nan, the widowed white-haired, bicycle-riding matriarch is the center of the story and her grand hilltop estate with ocean views (Windermere) is the "beach house" to which the title refers. It's a dramatic backdrop to a variety of dramatic stories within this family-oriented character study. Other main characters include Nan's son, Michael, a jewelry designer who seems to have a fear of commitment. Then there's Daniel, who struggles to find his true self; Daniel's wife Bee and their two little girls; Daff, facing betrayal and divorce, and her ornery teenage daughter, along with her dad, Richard, and his new girlfriend. Relationships are all over the place, but ultimately you discover how they're tied together as the story explores many different aspects of love and commitment.

This book is a very quick read, left me satisfied and definitely made me want to plan a summer vacation in Nantucket.

Michele Cozzens, author of A Line Between Friends.

This was a cute book. If your looking for something simple then this is a good book.

I enjoyed this book, especially after the complete let down of Second Chance. That said, I have read all of Jane Green's books, and this was not quite on par with her older books - I have noticed a marked decline in the stories in her novels the past several years. It was a fast read with an interesting story and a few twists. Nothing extraordinary or particularly memorable. My biggest complaint echoes that of other readers - there was so much detail at the beginning, and by the end, when the most important story arcs were occurring, it seemed rushed. Some of the biggest scenes in the book were not fleshed out. With more development at the end, this could have been a far better book than it was. As it is - if you are a Jane Green fan, I would wait for the paperback.

This book started out so promising, but quickly went downhill. To many charaters all at the same time, it was hard to keep up. Didn't like this book at all.

I read this book in 2 days on the Hawaiian sand! I was a little let down by Green's last 2 books, Swapping Lives & Second Chance, but this was a refreshing comeback for me. I liked the style of the interwoven storylines and I found myself itching to get back into the story after I had put it away for the day.

I recommend it!

I have read many Jane Green books in the past, and have enjoyed them. The Beach House, however, was a bit too fluffy for my taste. The storyline had promise, but wasn't as developed as it could have been. Some of the plot lines were rather far-fetched, and of course, everything worked out perfectly in the end.
Parts of the book also seemed unfinished. There were hints about Nan's health...cancer perhaps? The reader never finds out!
I will continue to read Jane Green in the future. I hope that her next books are deeper and more satisfying than The Beach House.

This book was a quick and entertaining read during my 6 day vacation! There were a few twists and turns in the plot that I wasn't expecting! The characters were likeable and the writer seemed to "pull" me into the setting with them!

This book was a quick and entertaining read during my 6 day vacation! There were a few twists and turns in the plot that I wasn't expecting! The characters were likeable and the writer seemed to "pull" me into the setting with them!

This is definitely a beach read and it works fairly well as a diversion. There is no substance to it however. It is like watching a television comedy. I found myself skimming through sections where the plot was just too predictable. There is one plot twist that crosses the line from implausible to impossible and that is annoying because it ruins the mood. I started thinking about all the reasons that could not have happened. For the most part, however, it is a pleasant little story.

I read Jane Green's "Second Chance" and fell in love with her as a author. I enjoyed it so much that I ran out and bought ALL the books she has written. "The Beach House" had me on the edge of my seat a few times and made it very hard for me to put the book down. One can't help but fall in love with all the people in this story! Fabulous book. The only negative thing I can say is in the beginning it is difficult to get into it. Too many characters to start with, but then it all comes together and you will not be albe to put it down.

This was my first Jane Green book. I have to say that I was totally into it in the beginning and couldn't stop reading it. Probably one of the quickest books I have read in a long time. The twist at the end, was an unexpected one.

This turned out to be chick lit lite ....sex and money and improbable romances ...golly gee!
Still its summer so why not kick back with a predictable feelgood story. I just wish other reviews had given me a better picture of what I was getting into.

I loved this book. My first Jane Green, but not my last. I loved the setting on Nantucket. I liked and cared about all the characters. The twists & turns were unexpected and fun. I couldn't put it down, but was sad when I got to the end.

The quintessential chick book. A good summer read when you want something light and fluffy that you would not mind leaving at the beach or hotel or airplane when you're done. A predictable book with happy endings for all the characters.

This is a great book... Have read some of her other work. She is a fantastic author!!

I'd say 'The Beach House' is a good choice for a holiday read - as in a book that doesn't keep you from sightseeing on your summer holiday because it's just not interesting enough to want to lie around reading.

Not the kind of book I tend to normally choose, but I was hoping to enjoy it all the same. It reminded me very much of magazine fiction...those short stories that I only used to read when I'd read everything else and done the word search!

Actually, it wasn't really awful, just not very challenging. It's very light, lacking in intrigue, and is full of people with relationship problems of varying kinds that predictably all end happily in a blissful location...with everyone becoming bosom buddies.

Just a bit airy fairy for my taste I think. 2.5 stars