Montauk

A Novel

By: Nicola Harrison

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

An epic and cinematic debut from Nicola Harrison, Montauk captures the glamour and extravagance of a summer by the sea with the story of a woman torn between the life she chose and the life she desires.

Montauk, Long Island, 1938.

For three months, this humble fishing village will serve as the playground for New York City’s wealthy elite. Beatrice Bordeaux was looking forward to a summer of reigniting the passion between her and her husband, Harry. Instead, tasked with furthering his investment interest in Montauk as a resort destination, she learns she’ll be spending 12 weeks sequestered with the high society wives at the Montauk Manor - a 200-room seaside hotel - while Harry pursues other interests in the city.

College-educated but raised a modest country girl in Pennsylvania, Bea has never felt fully comfortable among these privileged women, whose days are devoted not to their children but to leisure activities and charities that seemingly benefit no one but themselves. She longs to be a mother herself, as well as a loving wife, but after five years of marriage, she remains childless while Harry is increasingly remote and distracted. Despite lavish parties at the Manor and the Yacht Club, Bea is lost and lonely and befriends the manor’s laundress, whose work ethic and family life stir memories of who she once was.

As she drifts further from the society women and their preoccupations and closer toward Montauk’s natural beauty and community spirit, Bea finds herself drawn to a man nothing like her husband - stoic, plainspoken, and enigmatic. Inspiring a strength and courage she had almost forgotten, his presence forces her to face a haunting tragedy of her past and question her future.

Desperate to embrace moments of happiness, no matter how fleeting, she soon discovers that such moments may be all she has, when fates conspire to tear her world apart....

©2019 Nicola Harrison, LLC. (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Loved it

This was the perfect kick off to summer reading/listening. Light and upbeat but, not so much that I lost interest. Couldn’t stop listening and finished in 2 days!

Beautiful summer read

Touching story about THE END aka Montauk and it’s high society summer vacationers and salty locals.
Hit the beach with your headphones, and take a listen back to the 30s in Montauk.

Left me unsatisfied

The setting is gorgeous, the time period is fascinating, and the fashions of the New York elite are dramatic. However, there are so many threads that never get tied up in this story. There's an arch enemy but never a scene to put her in her place, there's a marriage gone wrong but never remorse or alternatively retribution, there's a secret career for the main character but it ultimately has no lasting impact and only serves as a distraction, there's a wiser, older, irreverent friend who starts strong but loses her edge as the story progresses. I was along for the ride until the end, hoping that the ending would move it from pretty good to great, but the clever or imaginative resolution I was hoping for never happened. I don't require a fairy tale ending, but this ending felt lazy and made me wonder if I had wasted my time.

Loved

Great
Great story love the narrative very emotional love the way it was narrated must hear great story

Huge disappointment

The positives - great narration, lovely cover art, and a promising set up, a lifestyle of the rich and famous in Montauk, NY, 1938.
The negatives - cardboard characters, a sappy romance, and a totally predictable plot. I could tell where the author was going and I wanted to cry No, don't go there ! But she did.....and ruined the book.

Loved it!

Beatrix story and characters were wonderful. Transported into the 1930's in Mantauk!! recommend to anyone who loves a love story!

Such an excellent book

I happened upon Mantauk while searching for a great Nantucket type story; one of those rare treasures that pull you in and leave you longing for a series to follow. I discovered this and much more in this first Novel by Nicola Harrison. The story was well researched and the characters developed to match the era. Choosing Erin Bennett as the narrator was icing on the cake. Pure perfection! Now, I’m hoping for a sequel so I can follow the interesting lives of the characters I’ve grown so fond of.

Montauk

I liked this historical fiction story set in Montauk, New York with the hurricane of 1938. Erin reading was on point. It did have a mix of the well to do and the locals for an interesting listen. The ending was a surprise! I think Nicole Harrison did a great job on her first book and I hope she will write part 2 to finish off things left undone.

Montauk

Excellent story rich verses poor. Learn the history of Montauk at the edge of Long Island. It’s a beautiful story a little of everything in it a woman who doesn’t really care for her marriage any longer a husband who constantly cheats on her and a man she finds interesting and falls in love with. The ending is somewhat of something I didn’t want however you must read the book to get to the end. Excellent read if you’re looking for a change in stories little history and it’s a true story very good don’t pass it up it’s worth the credit every time

Tone and Detail: Perfection

Montauk is truly a gem! The author’s meticulous detailing of the era and setting creates an authentic atmosphere. The storyline is perfectly balanced - neither dull nor overly thrilling. The tone is captivating, the writing style, with just the right amount of detail, is fantastic. I didn’t have the urge to jump ahead out of detail boredom. One of the best reads (listens) I’ve had in years!!