{Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy.}
Grieving the recent loss of her father, 19-year-old Charlotte leaves college and her home state of Ohio behind seeking solace with her best friend, Evie, and her family on the tiny island of Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. But the tranquil seashore Charlotte recalls from childhood vacations remains out of reach as things on the island are in flux: Evie’s life is upended by an unplanned pregnancy, Charlotte finds herself in something of a love triangle, and a hurricane is brewing in the Atlantic.
The Saddest Girl on the Beach is a metaphor rich exploration of grief and a coming-of-age story highlighting enduring and evolving friendship. The sense of place is well developed and central to the story including interesting sprinkles of local lore and oceanography.
This would make an excellent beach read if you enjoy an emotionally charged story with your sun and sand, especially if you find yourself on OBX and can appreciate some of the references first hand.
The Saddest Girl on the Beach is something of a companion novel to Frese’s debut, and winner of the Lee Smith Novel Prize, The Baddest Girl on the Planet, telling Evie’s later story.
That Bookish Life 