A review by bookishboujeeandbossbabe
The Beach Trap by Ali Brady

challenging emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I’m going to bring you back to your tween years at camp- the sun, the fun, hanging out with your summer bestie. 

Blake and Kat are the best of friends, until twelve year old Kat discovers Blake is her half-sister and their worlds begin to fall apart. Fast forward to their twenties, their father has passed away and left them a beach house. They haven't spoken since that summer at camp, and there is certainly been no love lost between the two. 

Right off the bat, I came really close to DNFing because of Kat. The entire book she whines on and on about how Blake is out to get her, out to make her life hell, how it’s all her fault that Kat’s life has fallen apart. She can't see beyond her own selfishness to realize that her half-sister's life hasn't been glitz and glam...that once Blake's grandfather passes she will be all alone. Every time the sisters make any progress at  repairing their relationship - Kat’s immaturity damages it. 

Alas- I did stick it through, and can admit the ending won me over. I fully understand Kat was suppose to irritate the reader but my desire to smack sense into her was overwhelming. The ending and the epilogue were well worth the pain of Kat's personal growth. I really enjoyed the following both sisters as they faced their grief, their hang ups, through their growth, overcoming scars- the changes, and undeniable anger - everything it took for both sisters to become whole once again. In the end, the summer made the difference.