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judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
Having read a number of Holly Chamberlain’s books and a long- time fan, THE BEACH QUILT, an insightful novel, set in the picturesque coastal town of Maine explores questions about the meaning of home and family dynamics— can love and friendship sustain us through the hard times?
A novel of secrets and choices, faced by two families over the course of one eventful summer-- What brings them together, and what factors could them apart—from multi-generational viewpoints – each has a story.
Cordelia, smart but not the most focused student, passes with solid B's and a sprinkling of As. While she regularly ignores extra credit assignments (unlike her best friend Sarah, who actually likes doing extra work). Cordelia’s father, Jack is the principal at her high school and her mom, Adelaide has owned a successful quilt shop called The Busy Bee for the last ten years.
Cindy (Sarah’s mother), age thirty eight, also works at the quilt shop and married to Joe (turning forty-two), a contractor and wonderful father, deeply devoted to his wife and children.
Sarah is smart, unlike her boyfriend Justin; good looking, but happy living paycheck to paycheck. Cordelia could only hope Sarah would dump him so they could go back to spending time together as BFFs.
However, when Sarah turns up pregnant at age sixteen (the good student and perfect daughter), how does this news affect others- Adelaide, Cordelia, Cindy, and Stevie? Does she have the baby, or give it up for adoption? Each woman and girl, has a story and possesses secrets of their own.
When faced with hard choices, will these women have the courage and strength to make the right decision, and will their friends and family be able to accept their choices?
As these women piece together a baby quilt and it comes to life, a parallel, as it relates to the lives of these women----the fears, losses, hopes, and dreams- can they survive for a happy ending? Will they find the strength through their friendship and loved ones, to sustain them through their challenges? What sacrifices have led them to their final decisions?
A heartwarming novel, ideal for teens and women of all ages –one of love, loss, tragedy, and triumphant. (nice discussion questions at the end for book clubs).
A special thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A novel of secrets and choices, faced by two families over the course of one eventful summer-- What brings them together, and what factors could them apart—from multi-generational viewpoints – each has a story.
Cordelia, smart but not the most focused student, passes with solid B's and a sprinkling of As. While she regularly ignores extra credit assignments (unlike her best friend Sarah, who actually likes doing extra work). Cordelia’s father, Jack is the principal at her high school and her mom, Adelaide has owned a successful quilt shop called The Busy Bee for the last ten years.
Cindy (Sarah’s mother), age thirty eight, also works at the quilt shop and married to Joe (turning forty-two), a contractor and wonderful father, deeply devoted to his wife and children.
Sarah is smart, unlike her boyfriend Justin; good looking, but happy living paycheck to paycheck. Cordelia could only hope Sarah would dump him so they could go back to spending time together as BFFs.
However, when Sarah turns up pregnant at age sixteen (the good student and perfect daughter), how does this news affect others- Adelaide, Cordelia, Cindy, and Stevie? Does she have the baby, or give it up for adoption? Each woman and girl, has a story and possesses secrets of their own.
When faced with hard choices, will these women have the courage and strength to make the right decision, and will their friends and family be able to accept their choices?
As these women piece together a baby quilt and it comes to life, a parallel, as it relates to the lives of these women----the fears, losses, hopes, and dreams- can they survive for a happy ending? Will they find the strength through their friendship and loved ones, to sustain them through their challenges? What sacrifices have led them to their final decisions?
A heartwarming novel, ideal for teens and women of all ages –one of love, loss, tragedy, and triumphant. (nice discussion questions at the end for book clubs).
A special thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
jbarr5's review against another edition
4.0
The Beach Quilt by Holly Chamberlin
This summer novel is about teen girls who've been friends forever. Cordelia and Sarah and they are starting to like boys, dating, etc. One ends up pregnant and it changes all their lives in the small Maine town near the ocean.
The story also not only follows their story but one of their mothers. Cordelia's mother, Adelaine owns the local quilt store. Sarah's mother, Cindy works at the quilt store and they are all family friends, outside of work.
Sarah becomes pregnant and everybody's lifes are now upside down. Adoption comes up and keeping the baby would mean major adjustments to the family core as Sarah would have to continue going to high school. The women do open up to one another of their past lifes.
Reason I wanted to read this book was not only the story line, the beach but the quilt that binds and hold them all together. Love that they all know how to quilt=some like it more than others.
Was not prepared for the outcome although the families rally throughout the whole book, in support of one another.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
This summer novel is about teen girls who've been friends forever. Cordelia and Sarah and they are starting to like boys, dating, etc. One ends up pregnant and it changes all their lives in the small Maine town near the ocean.
The story also not only follows their story but one of their mothers. Cordelia's mother, Adelaine owns the local quilt store. Sarah's mother, Cindy works at the quilt store and they are all family friends, outside of work.
Sarah becomes pregnant and everybody's lifes are now upside down. Adoption comes up and keeping the baby would mean major adjustments to the family core as Sarah would have to continue going to high school. The women do open up to one another of their past lifes.
Reason I wanted to read this book was not only the story line, the beach but the quilt that binds and hold them all together. Love that they all know how to quilt=some like it more than others.
Was not prepared for the outcome although the families rally throughout the whole book, in support of one another.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
purrfectpages's review against another edition
1.0
I hate to write negative reviews, especially when it's on a giveaway book, but I simply did not enjoy The Beach Quilt. On the plus side, it was a quick, easy read. However, while it was easy to digest, it lacked depth and purpose.
The Beach Quilt tells the story of sixteen year old Sarah who unexpectedly becomes (but who at sixteen EXPECTS?) pregnant by her older, deadbeat boyfriend. No one, including Sarah, saw it coming since Sarah is a smart, level-headed girl who follows the rules. If anything, her flighty best friend Cordelia is more likely to make a crazy, life-altering decision. What unfolds is the journey Sarah goes on in making the hard decision to keep the baby and be a single, teenage mom.
For such a potentially weighty subject matter, The Beach Quilt was oddly... weightless. Although a long novel, nothing ever really HAPPENED (other than the main character getting pregnant, that is). What made the matter more confusing was that there was potential for conflict given the abundance of characters. For example, we hear how best friends Sarah and Cordelia are complete opposites, but no back story really lends itself to why they get along so well or why they remain such close friends. Then there's the attempt at conflicts injected midway through the story in the revelation that Cordelia's mom gave a child up for adoption years ago, or the foreshadowing of a forgotten child syndrome that could be a problem with Sarah's sexually confused younger sister. But instead of being story lines that are mined, instead they remain as planted seeds, never cultivated.
As I was reading The Beach Quilt I kept shaking my head in the missed opportunities, convinced it was going to be a two star rating pretty early on. However, the attempt at a plot twist in the last hundred pages or so really left things on a sour note for me and just went downhill from there. I'll spare the details here, but I also wouldn't spare your time in reading this novel.
The Beach Quilt tells the story of sixteen year old Sarah who unexpectedly becomes (but who at sixteen EXPECTS?) pregnant by her older, deadbeat boyfriend. No one, including Sarah, saw it coming since Sarah is a smart, level-headed girl who follows the rules. If anything, her flighty best friend Cordelia is more likely to make a crazy, life-altering decision. What unfolds is the journey Sarah goes on in making the hard decision to keep the baby and be a single, teenage mom.
For such a potentially weighty subject matter, The Beach Quilt was oddly... weightless. Although a long novel, nothing ever really HAPPENED (other than the main character getting pregnant, that is). What made the matter more confusing was that there was potential for conflict given the abundance of characters. For example, we hear how best friends Sarah and Cordelia are complete opposites, but no back story really lends itself to why they get along so well or why they remain such close friends. Then there's the attempt at conflicts injected midway through the story in the revelation that Cordelia's mom gave a child up for adoption years ago, or the foreshadowing of a forgotten child syndrome that could be a problem with Sarah's sexually confused younger sister. But instead of being story lines that are mined, instead they remain as planted seeds, never cultivated.
As I was reading The Beach Quilt I kept shaking my head in the missed opportunities, convinced it was going to be a two star rating pretty early on. However, the attempt at a plot twist in the last hundred pages or so really left things on a sour note for me and just went downhill from there. I'll spare the details here, but I also wouldn't spare your time in reading this novel.
adenise47's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a good book. Having my daughter at 18, I totally related to this book. I have to admit the ending surprised me. I would recommend this book.
sarahelspeth's review against another edition
1.0
This was the worst book I've read in a very long time. It was poorly written with underdeveloped characters and a dull plot. Don't waste your time.
lisahelene's review against another edition
2.0
Very predictable and trite. I almost had to force myself to finish. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a book with "quilt" in the title.
renflew's review against another edition
1.0
Struggled to finish this one. Agree with another reviewer who said the writing was juvenile. Along with a cast of undeveloped characters and some pretty weird plot twists, I wouldn't recommend this one. I left it in my hotel room because it wasn't worth the weight in my luggage to bring it back.
therainbowduckie's review against another edition
1.0
This freaking book. Ugh. Like the worst play on a beach read ever. Childish writing. Saccharine sweet characters. Too long.
I will say the twist at the end was good but not good enough to make me wish I hadn't wasted my time.
I will say the twist at the end was good but not good enough to make me wish I hadn't wasted my time.