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kellbell222's review against another edition
5.0
So good. Grief n love n familiar nj places. Love the characters and the different perspectives. Nice ending. Truly enjoyed :-)
sophia_mastandrea's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me love living by the ocean even more. It takes place in Seaside, NJ and I loved all of the shore town references. This book was filled with inspiring messages on loss, grief, having to become an adult (at a normal pace and too early in life), and what a hometown or where you are from really means. It was interesting getting every characters perspectives. The story mentions poetry briefly, but I think it is riddled with poetry in its style of writing and the messages it presents. I can’t imagine living anywhere besides Manahawkin or LBI. I agree that where I am from no longer exists, it is ever changing and perhaps certain parts were fabricated with nostalgia in my memories. I can’t wait for more Jersey summers.
gimmethatbook's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for this review copy!
The Shore is a book where the location makes perfect sense. There is something about salty air and the sound of the sea that makes the summer perfect. Anyone from New Jersey will totally understand this; others will be able to picture the setting easily as they race through this enthralling book.
Nearly all of the characters are sympathetic; Margot (the mother) seemed a little annoying to me as she constantly avoided having serious, adult conversations with her daughters. Both seemed mature enough to talk to, especially as they dealt with the burden of their father’s illness. Looking back, it seems as if all three of them came of age as the book progressed, although it took a long time for Margot to grow mentally and emotionally.
Summertime is always an opportunity to experiment with yourself as the warm air encourages growth before the serious autumn comes along. Evy and Liz look inward as their father’s illness progresses and makes him a burden to his family. Their realization of who they are and who they want to be is beautifully described as the days go by. Liz’s relationship with Gabe was especially poignant; first love can either be a wonderful memory or a painful experience. I was also happy to see Evy and Olivia explore their feelings for each other; the author managed to describe their relationship with just the right balance of detail without bogging it down with forced intimacy.
As I read, I wondered how I would react if I were in Margot’s shoes, or even her daughter’s. Losing the patriarch of a family is a weighty situation, and each of the characters’ reactions showed some of the ways to manage such an issue. THE SHORE is at once enthralling and sad, as the themes of loss and growth are explored in such a way that makes the reader think as well as feel. Despite the serious theme, the book is easy to read, and you will become invested in the characters right away. No matter where you are when you read this, you will be able to smell the air and hear the crashing of the waves on the beach. The author’s excellent description of boardwalk activities and tourists brings this book to life. It may be meta to bring this to the shore with you, but I urge you to read this – it’s the perfect beachy read!
The Shore is a book where the location makes perfect sense. There is something about salty air and the sound of the sea that makes the summer perfect. Anyone from New Jersey will totally understand this; others will be able to picture the setting easily as they race through this enthralling book.
Nearly all of the characters are sympathetic; Margot (the mother) seemed a little annoying to me as she constantly avoided having serious, adult conversations with her daughters. Both seemed mature enough to talk to, especially as they dealt with the burden of their father’s illness. Looking back, it seems as if all three of them came of age as the book progressed, although it took a long time for Margot to grow mentally and emotionally.
Summertime is always an opportunity to experiment with yourself as the warm air encourages growth before the serious autumn comes along. Evy and Liz look inward as their father’s illness progresses and makes him a burden to his family. Their realization of who they are and who they want to be is beautifully described as the days go by. Liz’s relationship with Gabe was especially poignant; first love can either be a wonderful memory or a painful experience. I was also happy to see Evy and Olivia explore their feelings for each other; the author managed to describe their relationship with just the right balance of detail without bogging it down with forced intimacy.
As I read, I wondered how I would react if I were in Margot’s shoes, or even her daughter’s. Losing the patriarch of a family is a weighty situation, and each of the characters’ reactions showed some of the ways to manage such an issue. THE SHORE is at once enthralling and sad, as the themes of loss and growth are explored in such a way that makes the reader think as well as feel. Despite the serious theme, the book is easy to read, and you will become invested in the characters right away. No matter where you are when you read this, you will be able to smell the air and hear the crashing of the waves on the beach. The author’s excellent description of boardwalk activities and tourists brings this book to life. It may be meta to bring this to the shore with you, but I urge you to read this – it’s the perfect beachy read!
elmont's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, this took me TOO long to finish. Just want to say thank you Katie Runde for hosting a GR giveaway, so happy I won this book and got to read it!
This was a good book. I enjoyed the way Runde had the three different perspectives, the two daughters and the mom. But I didn't like that it was in third person, that's just a me thing. It's sometimes hard for me to keep everything in order when the book is in third person. But even with that, I feel like she did a good job with showing us who each character was. I did feel like I got to know each one even in the third person pov.
This book was full of so many emotions, love, lost, heartbroken, even healing. But I sometimes felt like the emotions could've been expressed better with each person. And I feel like I would've gotten that if there was more dialogue, if that makes sense. I felt like Runde had a lot of non dialogue moments that would've hit my heart more if they were actually spoken by the character. I don't know if that makes sense though lol
I don't know if I liked some of Runde's writing style in this book. I felt like there were sentences that just kept going and that could've been for the affect of emotions that character was feeling in that moment, but it made me get lost. I would have to go back a reread a few parts because the sentences were just so long I lost track of why a part was in there. Again, I feel like that is more of a personal thing rather than the author's writing skills.
This is the first time I've read a book like this, not sure what genre this would be considered.
I really did like this book, it made me feel SO many different things and I really liked that. I have been on a romance kick, so having something that has broken up all the romance was good! I would recommend this book! I personally don't think it's a "beach read", yeah this book takes place in Seaside but since it holds so many emotions I don't think I'd reach for this if I was going to be reading on the beach.
Overall I think this was a great book, I want to read more from Runde. I think this was a great first book from her, so I can't wait to read more of when she writes more books!
*I won this book in a GR giveaway, didn't pay for it. Giving my honest review!*
This was a good book. I enjoyed the way Runde had the three different perspectives, the two daughters and the mom. But I didn't like that it was in third person, that's just a me thing. It's sometimes hard for me to keep everything in order when the book is in third person. But even with that, I feel like she did a good job with showing us who each character was. I did feel like I got to know each one even in the third person pov.
This book was full of so many emotions, love, lost, heartbroken, even healing. But I sometimes felt like the emotions could've been expressed better with each person. And I feel like I would've gotten that if there was more dialogue, if that makes sense. I felt like Runde had a lot of non dialogue moments that would've hit my heart more if they were actually spoken by the character. I don't know if that makes sense though lol
I don't know if I liked some of Runde's writing style in this book. I felt like there were sentences that just kept going and that could've been for the affect of emotions that character was feeling in that moment, but it made me get lost. I would have to go back a reread a few parts because the sentences were just so long I lost track of why a part was in there. Again, I feel like that is more of a personal thing rather than the author's writing skills.
This is the first time I've read a book like this, not sure what genre this would be considered.
I really did like this book, it made me feel SO many different things and I really liked that. I have been on a romance kick, so having something that has broken up all the romance was good! I would recommend this book! I personally don't think it's a "beach read", yeah this book takes place in Seaside but since it holds so many emotions I don't think I'd reach for this if I was going to be reading on the beach.
Overall I think this was a great book, I want to read more from Runde. I think this was a great first book from her, so I can't wait to read more of when she writes more books!
*I won this book in a GR giveaway, didn't pay for it. Giving my honest review!*
amakhani's review against another edition
5.0
two coming-of-age stories, one of learning to live with a new normal, all set against the backdrop of a new jersey beach town and a tumor that sets it all off. this book is about love. this book is about kindness. this book is about growth. this book is about resilience. this book is about family.