Beachcombers

A Novel

By: Nancy Thayer

Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Beautifully written, powerfully felt, full of both abundant joy and heart-wrenching sorrow, Beachcombers is an extraordinary novel that centers on the bittersweet reunion of three captivating, very different sisters on Nantucket over one gorgeous, exhilarating summer.

Abbie Fox hasn’t seen her father or two younger sisters in almost two years, during which she’s jetted around the world and experienced life, if not love. But now Lily, the baby of the family, is sending Abbie urgent emails begging her to return home to Nantucket. Their middle sister, Emma, has taken to her bed, emotionally devastated after the loss of her high-powered stockbroker’s job and a shockingly unexpected break-up with her fiancé. Also, Lily is deeply worried that Marina, the beautiful, enigmatic woman renting their guesthouse, has set her sights on the sisters’ widowed father, Jim. The Fox girls closed ranks years ago after the haunting, untimely death of their mother, but seeing their dad move on with his life forces each of them to take stock.

Over the course of the summer, the sisters’ lives grow as turbulent as the unpredictable currents encircling Nantucket. When Abbie encounters an incredibly appealing married man, she breaks her own rules in the name of love, fearing all the while that she’ll regret it. Meanwhile, type-A Emma learns a new definition of success, and strong-minded Lily must reconcile her dreams with reality. Even Marina, who has come to Nantucket to forget heartbreak and betrayal, faces an astonishing turn of events that will find her torn between fate and freedom. At summer’s end, these unforgettable women will face profound choices—and undergo personal transformations that will surprise even themselves.

©2010 Nancy Thayer. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Nancy Thayer has a deep and masterly understanding of love and friendship, of where the two complement and where they collide.” (Elin Hilderbrand)

“Thayer portrays beautifully the small moments, inside stories and shared histories that build families.” (The Miami Herald)

“This is a charming and fun summer read. Readers will love this story of family and love.” (The Plain Dealer)

Mental illness

I like the fact that mental illness was part of the story. I really related to the story, because my mother had mental illness when I was growing up.

Narrator was hard to listen to.

it was very difficult to listen to her tremulous, whispering voice. She had good emotion, but the whispering almost made me quit.

Paints picture

Easy listening and paints a beautiful picture. Liked the characters and the relationships they shared.

A Very Interesting “Listen”

Nancy Thayer has always created the most delightful characters whom we have known ourselves, and yet not really because they do such creative and unpredictable things. Real, but likable. Things kept happening here which kept me “tuned” all through it. I could have listened longer. I’ve been a fan of hers about 40 years—so glad she’s still writing.

Loved this!

One of the best books in my life in a long time! What a good job, Nancy! Very, very interesting family, each person explained, and brought to life so well. Just loved it all.
Except the narrator, didn’t really care for her whispery voice, and how she kind of drew each word out. I don’t recommend her for future narrating for any author. I’m putting her in my notes as a no.
Looking forward to your next book Nancy! You’ve had so many good ones, I think I’ve read, at least most of them, probably the ones I didn’t were the ones I didn’t care for the narrator as I only get audible books now. Thanks again!

Kind of goony and could barely finish

I really thought this would be like an Elin Hildebrand book, but it turned out to be so corny and unrealistic even for a beach read. I stuck with it because I paid for it, but otherwise would have moved on.

Horrible actor

Can’t handle the reading, the story is probably good. It’s too bad… I probably would like the book.

Predictable and unrealistic

Too cheesy even for a beach read. I didn’t like the idea of trying to mix mental health with such far-fetched and shallow storylines. The relationships and interactions were underdeveloped and uninteresting.