Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review Nicola Harrison’s debut novel, Montauk. Below is my honest review.

Nicola Harrison has written a rich evocative story of a young women on the brink of self discovery. Set in the late 1930’s, Beatrice Bordeaux is a bored housewife summering on the exclusive enclave of Montauk, Long Island. Frustrated with her scoundrel husband, disappointed by her inability to conceive, shunned by the upper crust ladies, Beatrice befriends the locals who work and live on the island.

I was hoping for more historical fiction and less romance, but that’s my own preference as a reader. At times the story fell flat but I appreciated the author’s language and sense of place to keep me engaged. I think fans of Beatriz Williams will really enjoy this lovely summer read. It’s light, crisp and aching for a beach chair and cocktail.

I received this ARC from the publisher and netgalley for my honest review.

I had to think about this one for a little bit. It was a nice, light romance and perfect for a summer reading list. I just feel like all the characters were very typical for a romance novel. You have the thought she was weak but turns out she's strong and independent leading lady, her seems OK but slowly is turned evil as the book goes on significant other, the guy who is obviously going to sweep her off her feet, the plucky bestie and of course the bitch. That being said though it was a good read. A surprise but maybe not satisfying ending.

Recommended if you're looking for a beach read about the beach!!

Remembering that this is a debut novel, and a fine launch at that, I found so much to enjoy in this story. We are truly transported to Montauk of that era. Harrison captures the social climbing creations of that day, and we get a nice sense of place here. I enjoyed the relationships between the women far more than the romantic or crumbling marital relationships. I found myself not as engaged in the flirtations as I was in the careful machinations of the ladies' connections. So what we have here is some mastery of place, language and 'how it's done' of that time period, gripping relationship dives, and a slow burn that sometimes hits dead spots, but we can forgive a new author for a spotty ride when most of the writing is this good. I'll be seeing this one poolside and on the beach a lot this summer. Very worth the time.

A beautifully writtwn domestic drama, sure to tug on your heartstrings and make you appreciate your relationships more . Will definitely read more book by this author.

There is a storm headed to Montauk and Beatrice Bordeaux is right in the middle of it. And the worst part of it is, it’s a storm of her own making.

Beatrice is a young woman trapped in an unfulfilling marriage. She’s a woman who is ahead of her time, in that she does not want to stay home and play the role of the perfect wife. She also has married up and is uncomfortable with the social mores of the wealthy.

When her husband Harry takes her to Montauk and leaves her there for the summer in the company of other wealthy wives, Beatrice feels out of place and separates herself from most of the women. Because of this, Beatrice opens herself up to their petty gossip.

Beatrice hates that the wealthy have their dirty little secrets, but then Beatrice begins to collect her own secrets. These secrets gain momentum and at the end of the novel things go horribly awry.

For readers looking for a scandalous beach read, this may be right up your alley. For readers wanting good historical fiction, this won’t quite hit the mark. I found the first part of the book a bit slow moving, but once Beatrice got herself deeper and deeper into a compromising situation, I found I was riveted to the story.

I’d give this 3 stars for the slow beginning and the lack of character development, especially where Harry is concerned. I also had some issues with the way the story wrapped up.
For the tension and scandal in the story, I give it 4 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

I loved it! This is going to be the Beach Book of 2019! I requested this and was thrilled to be chosen since I have spent many summers on Montauk and loved reading about familiar places such as Montauk Manor and the iconic lighthouse. Nicola Harrison does a beautiful job capturing the rustic coastal beauty of Montauk as well as a very specific time through the fashions, food and limited roles of women. Issues of class and gender are expertly handled and this is not simply another beach read, but a thought provoking novel about marriage, love, and longing.

I imagine fans of the Showtime series The Affair would enjoy another Montauk based love triangle. I can't wait to share this with other readers and look forward to more by Nicola Harrison. I already can't stop talking about this one!

My very first book by Nicola Harrison and what a lovely debut novel it is.

Montauk, nestled on the tip of Long Island in the summer of 1938. Think back to a time where men and women have very designated roles. Beatrice Bordeaux has been stuck on Long Island for the entire summer, while her husband Harry has taken up some extracurricular activities in New York.

Beatrice has very little in common with the high society women and once you dig beneath the glamour and fashion, these women are dissatisfied with their lives and feel extremely superior toward the local people.

I enjoyed the setting of the story, but I didn't particularly connect with Beatrice, mainly due to the narrative style, Beatrice lacked awareness so much at times that I had to look away. That being said, she is a likable character and you root for her.

I'm interested to see what comes next from Nicola Harrison.

I received a copy of Montauk through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Nicola Harrison for the opportunity.

What seemed to be a life of extravagance for Beatrice Bordeaux, married into a socialite circle, as she began her summer in Montauk away from tony Park Avenue, transforms into a lesson about what truly matters in life...kindness, generosity and true love. A riveting page-turner that envelops you in the privileged beginnings of this East Coast enclave and has you falling in love with its lovely characters.

This is a story of it’s not you, it’s me. I mistakenly thought this would be more historical fiction than romance novel. And it’s definitely not. Montauk tells the story of Beatrice, a young woman who has married into money and is struggling to fit in with the high society crowd summering in Montauk. It’s 1938 and the country is still recovering from the depression, not that these folks have any problems. The book covers the differences between the haves and the have nots, the sexes, gentiles and Jews.

Harrison does a good job setting the time and place. You truly see the beauty of Montauk.

It’s a typical woman realizes she can be more than just a wife story. And also that she’s not happy in her marriage. It’s easy to see where this one was going. It’s an easy read, a beach read (no pun intended).

This wasn’t my cup of tea, but It is well written. Those looking for a love story will probably find this entrancing.

My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book

Entertaining, quick read. I admit the beginning of the book and the second half felt like two different stories. It took a while to build up to the plot, but from there the story took off and began to come together. Will be a popular summer read and will make for great book club discussion.

This is what you read during a weekend at the beach or when you want something very light.

The first half of the novel dragged a bit. You expect there to be romance outside marriage, but it was postponed for so long that when it did happen it was almost too sudden. The main character, Beatrice, seems to be mercy and understanding worthy, but now I have second guesses.
It's the late 1938s, women have proven during WWI that they can stand on their own two feet, so Beatrice could very well have left her egocentric and adulterous husband - so I don't understand this part of her dilemma. Not to mention, she was from a middle-class family, had worked before marriage, it's not like she wouldn't have survived. As for her affair with Thomas, the lighthouse keeper, she created the stairway to that, so don't act all surprised when you find yourself with that man in bed, Beatrice. Also, interesting how she falls in love with him so quickly. It read quite unrealistic. Their relationship doesn't feel very sustainable for the future, if you ask me.

The two characters I liked the most were Elizabeth and Dolly. Elizabeth is the laundress whose services are hired by the wealthy of New York during the three summer months spent in Montauk. Dolly is part of the ritz elite, she has her own business, but she is still rational and can see beyond the veil of glamour. Both of them are the constant voices of reason, a voice Beatrice lacks, unfortunately.

The author did a good job of presenting the 1930s the vacationing wealthy lived in. I don't know how accurate everything is, but I enjoyed glimpsing into their lives and the summer spent in Montauk, the fishing village.

As for the ending - I totally understand it. The main character needs to be someone on her own, and possibly the only way to do this is to be independent for a while, away from the strings of high society and romance. I liked that she is now a mother, after longing for that for such a long time. Having no lover by the end of the novel was a nice touch. And how cool that a historically accurate natural disaster fixed all her romantic problems?

It was a good novel, kept me interested. Some dry-ish patches, but for a first novel, Nicola Harrison did a fine job.

This book offered an interesting and seemingly realistic look at the 1930s from the perspective of a farm girl who married into a rich New York family. As a historical piece, I found it very enlightening. The brief mentions of wooden spokes on cars and bathing costumes and the different kinds of hats, and how rich women take care of the babies dirty diapers, was very fascinating. As for the love interest, I was rooting for our girl Beatrice the whole time. On the other hand, the pace was a little slow. Sometimes I got frustrated that nothing was happening. I'm giving it 3 stars for "I liked it" because I did like it. I didn't love it though.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an Awesome book. I absolutely LOVED IT, WOW! I felt like the characters were real, could not put this book down. So well written, many aspects of Montauk that you recognize, just Fabulous! The ending took me by such surprise, I’m so sad this book is over. Will stay with me for a long time. Thank you so much again for an early release. Nicola Harrison write another book soon please.

Beatrice has a loveless marriage with her husband, Harry. Leaving the city for Montauk for the summer, Harry expects Beatrice to meet the “right” people for his investment concerns. Set in the year 1938, Beatrice becomes aware of the differences between the rich summering set and the locals in Montauk. I loved the juxtaposition of the classes, as well as Beatrice’s writing attempts to satirize the wealthy summering class. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I recommend this book as much more than a simple love story as Beatrice falls for one of the locals and turns her life upside down.

Montauk follows a sweet young woman who's caught in a loveless marriage in 1938, tied to Manhattan elite. Her husband talks her into spending the at a ritsy manor in a fishing town called Montauk, while he works in town during the weeks and visits on weekends.

Feeling suffocated in the presence of her peers (she didn't grow up a city girl) and angry with her husband, she goes exploring the town and from there unexpected friendships and an unexpected relationship come to be. All I wanted was for Beatrice to find true happiness. This romance is a sweet slow burn, and I adored it. There are characters to love, and characters to loathe. There's definitely some drama! And MAN. THAT. ENDING.

I don't want to say too much, but I see this being a very popular summer read!

Thank you netgalley for the chance to be an early reader ☺️.

An excellent novel about love friendship and this peculiar thing called life.Beatrice went to Montauk for the summer and her husband,Harry stayed in the city to work,coming out on weekends when he could,which wasn't often.
In the meantime,lonely Beatrice discovered the Lighthouse and the Lighthouse,Keeper,Thomas.
They fell in love,against all odds.
One of the catty women,knew that,she had been visiting the Lighthouse often and for pure
plain meanness and spite couldn't wait to tell Harry.
Well,life happened as it always does and on the last nite of the Season and during the masquerade Ball.,a violent storm came to Montauk Island and
life would never be the same for the guests and the inhabitants of Montauk..
This book_grabbed me, from the 1st page and it will you too.Things are not always,as they seem.
A big thank you to Netgalley,for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.
The author Nicola Harrison has written a dynamite
novel,with ''Montauk. "
The only thing nicer is if it would hit the Big Screen !

Montauk is s great summer beach read with how the elite began their vacations back in 1938. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Montauk, the debut novel from author Nicola Harrison, takes readers to Montauk in 1938 just a few years after it had become a summer haven for the rich of New York City. Over the course of the summer, we see a young woman in an uncertain marriage discover strengths she didn’t know she had while rediscovering a part of her she’d lost when her brother died.

I enjoyed my read of Montauk. Nicola Harrison creates a fictional world that I easily fell into and characters that I cared deeply for. I appreciated Harrison’s look into the class differences in the early part of the 20th century even if it felt like a bit of an unbalanced look with the wealthier, city folks portrayed fairly one-dimensionally as uppity, careless folks who did nothing for themselves, while the villagers were more well-rounded and relatable. Naturally, Beatrice stood out among her peers, championing the villagers as she made discoveries about herself.

Beatrice’s grief over her brother’s death drives quite a bit of the first half of the book as she’s lost inside of herself. Married to Harry for five years, she starts to realize that her connection to Harry grew out of her isolation from others after Charlie’s death. I loved seeing this depth of character as Bea recognized how she kept to herself, unwilling to share her grief with anyone who didn’t know Charlie. It set the stage for her growing awareness of who she had become since he died.

When she meets Thomas, those things that had been simmering boil up and, though he’s clearly keeping some secret, Bea is drawn to him. When he suffers an accident, she has the excuse she needs to spend more time with him, even as she finds herself playing a lying game that could get her into trouble. I enjoyed their romance, which is a slow build from a sweet friendship. But, I also struggled with it as it was infidelity and stemmed from Bea’s response to somewhat cliché actions from Harry.

This is where I struggled with Montauk. I loved the look into the time period and the people. I loved Beatrice’s journey, but there are plot points that felt somewhat contrived and others that took up space just to take up space. Beatrice takes a job that brought tension to the story, but not in any real organic way. Rather it felt thrown in just to give her something else to do. Harry’s personality turn seemed a bit off to me, but that could be attributed to Beatrice’s naive unreliability as a narrator.

Still, I read through Montauk in about 2 days, half of the time on the edge of my seat. I empathized with Beatrice early on when she was desperate to befriend Elizabeth, the local laundress. For just a bit, Bea was caught in prejudice from both sides of the social spectrum and I hurt for her. Perhaps the best character, other than Beatrice, is Dolly, an older friend of Bea’s that’s open minded, encouraging Beatrice out of her shell, but still true to the time period. The ending is takes a harrowing turn, which surprised me but felt true to the story.
I would encourage anyone that enjoys historical fiction and wants to get lost out on the end of Long Island to give Montauk a read.

Montauk reminded me of those epic historical novels that used to be published in droves in the 1980s, (which I love!)--only with tighter writing and more nuanced emotional experiences, which means first time author Nocola Harrison had knocked it out of the park! Set in Montauk (!) in the late 1930s, this is a classic tale of haves and havenots, of love and family, of a changing world and all that brings. A perfectly engaging and throughly enjoyable summer read.

It’s 1938 and for Beatrice Bordeaux the opportunity to spend the summer in Montauk seems like just what she needs to reignite the passion that’s missing in her marriage. The Manor—an up-and-coming vacation getaway for the wealthy—promises leisure, sport, and the opportunity for networking.
But Beatrice’s husband is becoming more distant and spends more time in the city than working on their marriage. After five years, Beatrice is still longing for a child, but pregnancy seems far less likely as her husband’s affections are directed elsewhere.
With her modest upbringing, Bea finds herself growing less comfortable with the society ladies and spends time with the locals, including the handsome man who runs the lighthouse.
Now Bea finds herself on the precipice of two worlds, tottering between the world she committed to, and the one she longs for. Will Bea get to make a choice between them before fate intervenes?
Montauk is a descriptive historical novel that explores a woman—as well as a country—on the verge of great change. Author Nicola Harrison has effectively shown the struggle with women’s roles, family life, and class inequality. The setting is vividly depicted and you can imagine yourself sitting on the beach or at the yacht club listening as conversations take place. While the opening may have felt a bit slow to me, I was effectively caught up in the story as it progressed to a somewhat surprising conclusion.
Montauk is a satisfying read that’ll transport you to this sleepy summer town on the cusp of notoriety.

*I received a copy of Montauk from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.