MONTAUK by Nicola Harrison is a captivating story about the wealthy and glamorous Manhattan socialites that spend their summers on Long Island surrounded by extravagance and intrigue. Set in Montauk in the summer of 1938, the main character, Beatrice is hoping that this time away with her domineering husband, Harry will help heal their failing marriage. While the husbands all return to the city during the week, the wives are left to gossip, party and lounge around the pool. Newly married into money, Beatrice is appalled by the petty and mean-spirited behavior of the rich families, especially when they mistreat or take advantage of the local year-round workers. Beatrice secretly befriends one of the local women and the handsome lighthouse keeper in the village and finds she feels more at ease with them than her high society friends. What follows is a story of deepening friendships and forbidden love that predictably lead to chaos and tragedy. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the setting, the cultural climate of the times and the interesting portrayals of the characters. MONTAUK was an engaging debut novel and I am thankful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

Predictable from jump, along the Beatriz Williams line of summer releases. If you like those, you'll like this. Free ARC from Netgalley,in exchagne for an honest review.

Montauk by Nicola Harrison. An interesting look into how the 1930s wealthy class spent their summers. The ending was a bit disappointing. A good beach read, as others have noted.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Beautiful Montauk is not all it appears to be back in the past! Such fun to read what choices you could make financially then, if you had a husband! It would cost you ten times the amount (at least) for the same property now, but you could do it alone! Also, so interesting how sleazy everything seemed. The characters are so real and interesting, but also, very sad to be. Excellent read.

This book is about Beatrice it was swept away by high society and money. She is spending the summer at Montauk. It doesn't take her long to figure out she just doesn't fit in. She meets a man who she has much more in common with. This was a good book. I enjoyed reading it. It was a bit predictable, but I would still recommend it to my friends and family.

This is a book about families that live in Manhatten and vacation at “The Manor” on the beach at Montauk. The wives and children stay at the beach all summer and the husbands come out on the weekends. Beatrice and Harry are going for the first time. Beatrice doesn’t know anyone and Harry is a little too anxious to get back to the city. Beatrice wants a baby in the worst way and is a little jealous of some of the society wives and their children and nannies. So she starts exploring more of this rather poor beach town and the locals. It is an interesting storyline and the characters are developed fairly well. I wasn’t real crazy about the ending- I thought it was rushed with too many loose ends. I will recommend this book to family and friends. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

This was such a lovely debut novel! Set in 1938 in Montauk, it revolves around Beatrice and her overbearing husband, Harry. As they've come to "summer" there at a lovely resort, Beatrice looks forward to spending lazy days and lavish party-filled nights with her husband. But he's only there for weekends as he must work in the city to support them. What Beatrice discovers is that her wealthy "friends" are not all they appear to be; instead they are petty, jealous, mean-spirited, and judgmental of the locals who work for them. Beatrice discovers a whole new world when she meets the somewhat-eccentric lighthouse keeper in the fishing village and this opens her eyes to a world she never knew existed. I loved everything about this book: the time period where women were supposed to be "obedient," the catty chatter of women believing themselves to be superior, the lovely setting of the village and its people, and especially the character of Beatrice who proves that women are a force to be reckoned with! The novel is heartbreaking and heartwarming, both lyrical and realistic. It is a book to be savored.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review (thanks NetGalley!). Montauk will be the perfect summer read and the style reminds the reader of Beatriz Williams. Since this is the unedited version, I did find one section that wasn't consistent- Bea describes getting a blackberry pie and shortly after mentions a blueberry pie. It's a minor detail, but just a heads up. I loved this book and did not to put it down and think that others will too.

Solid historical fiction book that takes place in the 1930's-which I really love to read about. For the most part, I enjoyed reading about Beatrice and her struggle to live the carefree and flighty life of the rich socialite while missing her middle class, hard working roots. She is still reeling from an accident that killed her brother years ago and is sensitive and kind. I think the romance between her and Thomas was overly melodramatic and that is really the only flaw I found with this story. The ending was just over the top--I still would recommend as a beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This was just an okay read for me. It took me a while to get into it. I could relate to certain parts of it though. This one wasn't bad, but not sure it was really for me.

Montauk | NetGalley
By Nicola Harrison

NetGalley
Book 3

Spoilers...

Had me at page 2!

A bit Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies) with the women’s social club. A little bit Kathryn Stockett (The Help) with Elizabeth and Beatrice. This novel is so beautifully written. I loved the innocence of Beatrice. The adventure she insisted upon regardless of the risk. This book is so refreshing!

There are quite a few things going on through out but they tie together seamlessly! The characters steal your heart, well with the exception of a few obvious ones.

I was really holding out hope that Thomas would see Beatrice’s bruises as a result of her violent encounter with Harry. I wanted him to step in and take action as a result but I guess that would have been too predictable. And then...

This was going to be my favorite book EVER and then... the ending came. I’m so upset at the way the author chose to end this book. I went from a 5 to a 3 star rating. So disappointed at the last 5% of this book.

I am so grateful for my advanced reader copy from NetGalley!

This is a novel that draws you in and doesn't let go. The author wonderfully describes the mores of the rich and famous of NYC who spend their summers in Montauk L.I. She touches on many social issues of the 1930's, but she is especially adept at painting a portrait of a woman who is finding her true place in the world.

I loved this book Montauk a place I’d love to spend a summer enjoying.The atmosphere the people the strong characters the differences in the levels of society the wealthy summer dwellers the locals considered less then.A character driven literary feat a novel that draws you right in to a different place a different time.Highly recommend, #netgalley #st.martins

Received a vopy of this book through netgalley.
Loved the story line and the different descriptions of the characters,well thought out about the social structure st the time between the city people and locals.Points out the social norm of the times parties,affairs, dress code.
Liked the way the story developed,as seen through the eyes of the main character,and the development of her,did not see the ending coming taken by surprise.
A must on your reading list.

I am a huge fan of Beatriz Williams and Amor Towles, and Nicola Harrison certainly is a worthy successor. Montauk takes the reader to the newest playground for the ultra rich society denizens of New York City in 1938. Through the eyes of the abused wife, Beatrice Bordeaux, the reader enters the chic resort built by Carl Fisher which was going to catapult Montauk to the level of an international luxury resort.

The summer of 1938 is a tumultuous one, not just for Beatrice but for the world. She discovers unpleasant truths about her marriage and finds life-changing love during these weeks. She also discovers her inner resources and strength.

Harrison manages to create an atmosphere redolent of the snobby WASP society of the era. I pictured the cast of Claire Booth Luce’s THE WOMEN transported to Montauk. Her descriptions of the people, clothing, and dynamic totally engrossed me from the moment I opened the novel.

Having read so many books about this time period, the year immediately brought the massive hurricane of 1938 to mind, especially A HUNDRED SUMMERS by Beatriz Williams. These books are very different, but that historic storm loomed large in both.

The author skillfully iinjects subjects like anti-Semitism, fertility issues and nascent femininism into the book. This will provide rich fodder for book club discussions and seminars.

I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to more writing by this author. I am grateful to NETGALLEY for this opportunity, and look forward to discussions about the magic that this author created.

This book did not resonate with me, although I'm sure it will be successful and garner a large following.

Beatrice, a naive and sheltered young woman, is somehow swept off her feet by the dashing society young man, Harry Bordeaux, and, to the surprise of everyone who knows her, married him and moves to Manhattan, where she tried to fit into Harry's world. The summer after they marry, Harry announces that they will be spending the summer at Montauk Manor, a deluxe resort that sounds like Gurney's, but isn't. And when he says THEY will be spending the summer there, he means Beatrice will be there four days a week by herself, and Harry, like every other working husband, will come out for the weekend.

Beatrice is not so sure about that; as a recent entrant into.High Society and Nouveau Riche, she hasn't yet made any friends, and despite the multiple recreational opportunities and social outings, she feels like she doesn't for in.

And, she doesn't fit in, Harry being the only common denominator in the In Crowd. Eventually, though, she makes some friends.

Childless and haunted by Harry's infidelity, discovered before the summer venture, Beatrice discovers that she has more in common with the locals, the lighthouse keeper in particular, who knew her late brother and who sweeps her off her feet and into his bed.

Meanwhile, Harry proves himself to an abusive, drunken, blowhard, who we all hope gets washed out to sea in The Big Storm.

What will become of Beatrice and her unborn child in the midst of all this turmoil? You will have to read it yourself to find out all the.details.

This is an engrossing story which had me hooked from the very first page. It brings to life what it was like to live in the high society world of the 1930's and the descriptions of the beauty of Montauk make it seem so real. When Beatrice Bordeaux ,a secretary to an editor at Fortune Magazine, met and married Harry she stepped into a new and exciting world of luxury. But when Harry arranges for her to spend the summer at Montauk Manor she realizes that the world beyond the gates of the rich and famous may be more important to her. I loved reading about Beatrice's life and cheered for her.