3.5 stars. Well-written and atmospheric, this historical fiction novel, set in Montauk on the tip of Long Island, is the perfect "beach read" to get lost in while you relax on vacation. Glamour, deception, romance, it will keep you turning pages until the end. And while it didn't quite wrap up the way I wanted it to, I still enjoyed the journey.

This review will be posted on the New York Journal of Book site the evening before the release date.

In the past 80-plus years, much has changed in the world, in industry, social norms, and the way people now act and think. The year is 1938, and the wealthy women of New York City are vacationing in Montauk, Long Island, to escape the summer heat. For three months the wives of hardworking businessmen are pampered and spoiled. Nannies care for the children while their husbands spend weekdays in the office then come for the weekend to relax. It's a genteel atmosphere where the ladies attend soirees, beach parties, and live a life of luxury.

This is the first year 27-year-old Beatrice Bordeaux is able to join in the frivolities with other ladies of her class. Why then is she bored and lonely? Beatrice was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth but grew up in a small countryside town in Pennsylvania. College educated at Vassar, she didn't complete her degree but went to work in the city where she met Harry, her successful and handsome husband. He swept her off her feet and now they are into their fifth year of marriage.

Beatrice tells Harry she would prefer to stay at their home, for she does not know any of the women who will be at the shore.

"'What reason do you have to be in the city?' His quick response felt sharp. Feelings of futility came gushing to the surface and I felt my cheeks burn red.

"'Well, I could work again,' I said, quietly, turning the stem of my glass, making small ripples in the cream-colored tablecloth. But Harry told me, once again that it wasn't appropriate for someone like me.

"'We've already discussed this, Beatrice. You're not a college girl anymore, or a farm girl for that matter. You're a Bordeaux now and you should be proud of that.'"

After arriving at the shore, Beatrice is happy to be out of the stifling humidity of the city and the chance to now savor some alone time:

"Now that Harry was gone at least I could read my new book by Virginia Woolf. He didn't think I should be reading that kind of 'feminist baloney,' so I had kept it under the bed for the whole weekend."

Beatrice's main sensation of isolation comes from the fact she does not have a child. Though trying, they've not been successful. And as time passes, Harry is more and more distant, leaving her wondering if he is losing interest with her because she has not produced an heir. He insists he is extremely busy with some others who are looking into invest in Montauk property since the original founder lost almost everything in the Depression.

Also, she cannot get over the loss of her beloved older brother, Charlie, who died in a freak accident not long before she met Harry. Her thoughts turn melancholy as she grieves his death and her failure to conceive.

The elite reside at The Montauk Manor, a 200- room luxury hotel located on the ocean with a yacht club that offers many activities for the women. Between parties, dinners, and fundraisers, Beatrice feels she's out of place with the other wives for they have nothing in common. She is befriended by Dolly, who is a bit older and childless, and who, with her husband owns a millinery factory in the city.

One day after missing Elizabeth, the laundress, Beatrice rushes to catch her to present her with the clothing she needs to be cleaned. Elizabeth lives on the other side of town and is the mother of four rambunctious boys. Beatrice shares an affinity with Elizabeth, though the locals keep at a distance, not wanting to mix with the uppity summer folk.

To pass the time, Beatrice takes long walks through the village and forests. One day she encounters Thomas Brown, the Montauk lighthouse keeper. She is fascinated by the tower and pleads with him to show her around and tell her about it.

Thomas is completely the opposite of Harry, and for some reason, Beatrice is drawn to him. She can converse with him in ways she can't with her own husband, and she enjoys his company, too. But what would people say if they saw them together? He's not a gentrified gentleman, but a worker. If it becomes known she talks to him, even though platonically, it could ruin not only her reputation but Harry's, too.

As summer wears on Beatrice spends a lot of time alone or with the locals, and she gains more confidence.

"I'd always been scared of everyone and everything: scared if I did the wrong thing, said the wrong things, scared of losing the people closest to me, of being all alone in this world. And yet, I'd been knocking down every fear I'd confronted since I'd set foot in Montauk."

Many of the businesses described are still in existence today, giving a history lesson as to how the locale came to be the playground of the rich and famous. Montauk offers the reader an in-depth look at the past as well as demonstrating the prejudices and haughtiness of the wealthy at that time. The division between the classes is highly evident, and the way women were looked upon and treated gives new meaning to "feminism" and the world we live in today.

Harrison does an amazing job of depicting both time and place in her debut novel. While not much of a “romance” reader, I did enjoy the historical elements in this story. With a great cast of characters that come alive on the page, Harrison brings 1938 to life as we see both the rich and famous and the poor and hard working. While I knew the path Harrison was taking with this novel, I still liked the journey getting there. Filled with raw emotions, and an unexpected ending, this book was very well written.

I received an invitation widget from the publisher to read and review this book. Otherwise, this wouldn't have caught my eye as something I would want to read. I'm not into the historical romance genre, but every once in awhile I travel outside my comfort zone. Technically this is classified as women's fiction. I steer clear of those too.

Beatrice Bordeaux has been married to Harry for five years. It's 1938, she's now thirty and childless. Beatrice came from humble beginnings, but has been living a privileged existence with Harry so successful in the finance field. When they first got married they couldn't keep their hands off each other, such was their ardent hunger for one another. Now Harry is spending more time away on business and it seems like their marriage is on auto-pilot.

The Bordeauxs live in New York City, but like many other well-to-do couples, they are going to Montauk (at the tip of Long Island) for the summer. The wives stay at the opulent hotel "The Manor" flying solo during the week, while their husbands join them on the weekend. The wives just have fun playing tennis, sunbathing, swimming and other indulgent activities while boarding at The Manor. They send the laundry to be done by a young local named Elizabeth, and mothers even send dirty cloth diapers out to be cleaned by someone else. Meals are taken in the hotel and mothers have nannies to tend to their children. They plan charity functions to fundraise for various causes. The ladies wear the finest gowns and jewelry, especially on weekends when their husbands will dine with them.

Beatrice isn't like the other rich ladies that vacation at Montauk. She's more fascinated with the locals. The men have sinewy limbs from working hard at physical jobs. The laundry girl Elizabeth has four young children to take care of while cleaning the rich people's laundry. Beatrice is particularly drawn to a man named Thomas, the island's lighthouse keeper.

This was an OK read. The book was 400 pages and it felt like 400 pages. By the time I got to the end, I felt cheated by the climax.

A big squishy romantic novel I read in no time flat thanks to Harrison's storytelling skills and the sweep of the story. Set in Montauk (duh) in 1938, it's the story of Bea who is married to Harry, a businessman older than herself who is, shall be say, occupied in the city while she spends the summer alone on Long Island. Harrison has a great touch with characters and the situational environment- the women on the charity committee, Jeannie the queen bee, Dolly the good egg. Then there's Elizabeth and Thomas. Especially Thomas. He's the lighthouse keeper and he's got a secret he's keeping from Bea, even as they become very very close. This is one that unfolds naturally. You get a good sense of time and place (there's a wonderful and sad scene where Bea is snubbed when she is with Mr. Rosen) but even better you get a good read. Thanks to the publisher for the ArC. This will make an excellent beach or travel book. And omgoodness- the last scene!

This debut novel is set in the summer of 1938 in Montauk, Long Island. 

Beatrice was a great character and it was interesting to see how she reacted to different situations with some of the wealthy wives. She came from a more middle-class background.  Her husband was a truly unlikable guy. 

A bit more of a romance than I was expecting. It is well written, but a bit of a slow burn for me. There is quite a lot going on with themes of the class privilege, infidelity, politics and romance. A bit predictable, although I was very surprised at the ending.

Thanks to NG / SMP for my review copy. OUT June 2019

This debut novel is rich with a sense of place. We can see, smell and hear Montauk in the narrative of Beatrice Bordeaux's summer. It is 1938 and Montauk is a newly discovered playground for the rich. The iconic lighthouse beckons from the top of the hill and it is just a matter of time until lonely Beatrice climbs that hill and makes a connection that will change her life forever. The story was compelling enough, but in the end there are too many questionable choices and too many plot threads left to unravel on their own.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of this new historical fiction title in exchange for an honest review.

It is the summer of 1938 and the city people escape the heat by going to Montauk, Long Island. Like most resort towns, there is always the underlying friction between the wealthy summer folks and the poor locals who provide the services.

This is Beatrice Bordeaux’s first summer in Montauk. She was hoping to get her marriage back on track. After five years of marriage they are still childless. Her husband Harry seems more and more distant. But Beatrice quickly learns that her husband will only be spending weekends with her as he returns to his work – and other interests - in the city during the week. Having married into money and now left on her own she feels out of place among the social-climbing wives. She much prefers exploring the local fishing village and soon makes friends with Elizabeth, the local laundress. Beatrice finds herself drawn to the local lighthouse keeper who is everything her husband is not. Caught between the two worlds and two men Beatrice finds the courage to determine her own future.

Beautifully written, she transported me to Montauk where I could see and feel the beauty. I could hear the sea gulls and the crashing waves and smell the salty air of the little fishing village. Harrison captures the era perfectly with her descriptions of what was expected of the wives of the social elite. So glad I did not live in that era! The characters came to life as she took me on an emotional ride of real life situations and real emotions.

The perfect summer escape with passion and suspense. If you enjoyed Beatriz Williams’ THE SUMMER WIVES, you will love Nicola Harrison’s debut novel MONTAUK.

Many thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC

Montauk by Nicola Harrison was an interesting read. We entered the glittering world of money in New York society with Beatrice and Harry Harrison. They are young, glittering, wealthy and summering at Montauk (out on Long Island). Harry is always off doing “business” and Beatrice is left alone a lot. Harry wants her to make friends and be a good partner. Beatrice just wants to feel like she belongs and to be a mother.

Changing for every meal and spending time doing useless things is not how Beatrice thought she would spend her life. Roosevelt with his fireside chats shares the precarious nature of the nation, ugly talk of going to war and she is playing tennis and planning the entertainment. Until one day, when she meets Thomas, the Lighthouse Keeper.

Suddenly, she is in a whole new world, one that she feels comfortable in and wants to help people, not hang out with the idle rich. Harry is coming out less and less and he is obviously having an affair (s). The cattiness and desire to be most important shows up more and more as the summer heats up as does the heat between Beatrice and Thomas.

And it all comes down to one fateful night and day...a masquerade, a hurricane and a gun. None of the participants are ready to deal with the reality and the truth. Montauk was a wonderful read, the story, the riches and the time and place help you feel like you are part of everything happening. Nicola Harrison, the author of Montauk has written a great book to enjoy.

This is a phenomenal debut novel. I was hooked from page one. Harrison does an expert job crafting her characters ( Beatrice, Dolly and Elizabeth especially), their motivations and creating the world they live in. I felt like I was experiencing summer in Montauk with Beatrice, falling in love with the city and living the ups and downs of her relationship with Harry and her journey to find true love. This is the perfect beach read and highly recommend it for fans of Beatriz Williams and Amor Towles.

4.5 stars!

The thing that drew me to this book was its cover! Admittedly, I am one of those judge-a-book-by-its-cover people. But the bright blue accents against the muted gray background caught my eye immediately.

Montauk is set in 1938. Beatrice and Harry are a married couple living in New York City. Harry is working his way up the business ladder and Beatrice is expected to be the trophy wife on his arm, keeping up appearances at social events. But behind closed doors, their marriage is anything but perfect. When all of the social elite descend on the tiny town of Montauk for the summer, the men will travel back to the city during the week to work while the women plan and engage in social events, waiting for the men to return every weekend. But Beatrice quickly learns that she finds herself more comfortable in the company of the Montauk locals than in her fancy social circles.

I adored this story. Nicola Harrison wrote a story that was extremely captivating. I fell in love with Beatrice right away and was rooting for her from start to finish. I felt like the story was completely authentic and the characters could have leaped off the pages.

At around 400 pages, this book was on the longer side. And let me tell you.... I'm not usually a fan of long books. But that's because I feel like sometimes they are just long for the sake of being long even if the book would have been just as good if it were 100 pages shorter. Montauk is the exception. All 400 pages contributed to the overall story and added value. I adored how the story unfolded.

I was a tad surprised by the ending. It wasn't what I was expecting and seemed a little rushed for how long the rest of the story was, but I appreciated that Nicola Harrison gave the reader an ending that wasn't predictable.

I would highly recommend this one to anybody who enjoys historical fiction or is a fan of women's fiction. It's kind of a mixture of the two. I'm honestly a little sad it is over.

-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Nicola Harrison, and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review.-

In 1938 Montauk, at the eastern tip of Long Island, NY was just at its infancy as a vacation destination for the set that looks for somewhere to ‘summer.’ Its primary function was a fishing village until Mr. Carl G. Fisher, the man who developed Miami Beach from a tangled mangrove jungle to America’s summer playground, noticed its natural beauty and easy distance from Manhattan. The two-hundred room, Montauk Manor was built in 1926, in the English Tudor style. When Beatrice Bordeaux and her husband Harry, first saw it as they emerged from the train, she thought it looked, “more like an English Castle than a beach town hotel.” She was duly impressed.
Harry’s task was to impress serious investors in The Manor, bring them in from Manhattan and surrounding states, to visit The Manor and enjoy its amenities: fishing, golf, archery, swimming, tennis, horseback riding and such. Perhaps stop into the Yacht Club for a drink or lunch; maybe run into others they may know or want to know.
Most of the Society women there had children, not that they themselves took care of them, they had nannies for that role. They were too busy with their leisure activities, charity functions and planning luncheons. Beatrice didn’t think men realized that the social circles that existed for women in college, still existed in their adult lives even after marriage. The gossip: who knew who, who’s husband worked where, what school did their children attend, on and on. Beatrice wanted no part of it, and the other women didn’t trust her because it, so she wasn’t IN the inner circle. Harry had no clue.
As the story continues, we observe all the little cat and mouse games that go on while the rats go off on the Sunday night train every week. The claws barely recoil as the train brings the men back on Friday evening. Beatrice and Harry play their parts as husband and wife to impress Harry’s clients but they’re growing apart, as they are both aware.
Harry doesn’t have time to deal with it and Beatrice just takes to herself and spends more time away from the Manor and in the village with the friendly people who live there year-round. As she discovers more of the island’s natural beauty, she reminisces about her family and childhood in PA. Unfortunately, some of these memories are sad, but she must confront them. She meets someone who helps her through this regressed pain, but someone who will unlikely not fit in her current life situation.
The novel gets interesting here, but also more dramatic. I am not a spoiler revealer! Some readers will love this book, and some, not so much. If you are a fan of lovely, romance novels then this might be for you. I did enjoy reading it, although I wish it included a bit more historical info.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Nicola Harrison

Set during a time when rich men's wives and families left the city for the entire summer and traveled in packs to "see and be seen", this story follows a country girl turned married woman who grows up in the course of a summer and learns about real friends and real life.

This is the author's debut novel, and I am impressed. Historical romance is not my usual genre and when this book came up on my TBR I couldn't remember why I had selected it, but I was not disappointed. The story is rich with well developed and colorful characters and the setting is spectacular. I've never been to Montauk but with the author's descriptions I was able to develop a beautiful picture in my mind. Of course, I do like history so the timeframe of 1938 was interesting to me. The author painted a vivid picture of "high society" at the time with its post-Depression excesses and lavish lifestyles. What makes the story more compelling is how the lives of the inhabitants of the fishing village were incorporated into the drama and played a critical role in Beatrice's narrative. I found Beatrice to complicated, haunted, and lost, but even more she is a very caring person who wants to improve the lives of those around her. She's educated but doesn't seem to know herself very well as the story opens. She can also be just a little too impulsive at times, which only adds to her charm. The story is told by Beatrice and I really enjoyed the first-person narrative. Bottom line: this book was an enjoyable departure from my usual mysteries and true crime. Well done!

Summering in Montauk in 1938 is the place to be. All of the women spend their weeks at Montauk Manor, having luncheons, playing tennis, swimming, and most importantly....gossiping. The men come down on the weekends to presumably see their wives, but mainly spend their time drinking, playing cards and hunting. Beatrice Bordeaux went on the hopes that she and her husband Harry could reconnect and get back some of the romance they had before they had tried unsuccessfully to have a baby for the past several years. Beatrice finds however, that she is lonelier than ever, and her marriage is in more jeopardy than she realized. She is forced to make decisions that will change the path of her life forever.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was so descriptive I felt like I were really there watching it all unfold. Beatrice was a character that I really rooted for. I highly recommend this one It will make an excellent beach read!

An epic and cinematic novel by debut author 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.
I enjoyed this book so much and will be looking forward to more from this author. I leave the setting and very good character development. It kept me turning page after page and up late at night to finish.

There are two sides to Montauk, and the author portrays them in mesmerizing detail. There are the humble hard working families who struggle to make ends meet all year long, and the wealthy summer tourists who come to while away the summer days in The Montauk Manor, a swanky upscale seaside hotel. Most people will see one side or the other, but Beatrice Bordeax will see both. Never quite fitting in with the other wives and their trivial interests Bea finds herself befriending the laundry lady as her lonely days drag on. Her summer at the hotel was meant to rekindle her marriage, but with her husband away on "business" more days than not she begins to accompany Elizabeth the laundry lady into the village and discovers she feels more at home there than with the snobs at the hotel. It is through Elizabeth that she meets a man who seems oddly familiar and begins to imagine a more fulfilling life for herself. I could almost smell the salt air and feel the breeze off the ocean as I was swept into the story.

Historical fiction set in Montauk?! Didn’t take much convincing for me to pick up this book.

I grew up spending part of every summer in Montauk. Some of my fondest childhood memories are the times I spent with my family out in the old fisherman village. It still holds a special place in my heart even after its recent transformation – pivoting back to Carl Fisher’s initial vision of a Miami in the north.

Montauk takes place in the 1938, after Carl Fisher’s initial push to develop the town that helped leave him bankrupt. The setting? The Montauk Manor, where NYC’s elite spends their summer being chauffeured to the golf course, beach and yacht clubs, some of which still exist today.

Beatrice Bordeaux has more riding on this summer than just escaping the city heat – she is desperate to fix her marriage. After struggling to conceive for over five years she feels her husband drifting away and hopes the sea air will bring them back together. Beatrice is a bit of an outsider - having grown up lower middle class in Pennsylvania, she is new to high society. Her husband, Harry, swept her off her feet, and she became determined to fit in ever since becoming a Bordeaux.

This novel has drama and suspense, and I just couldn’t put it down! I immediately connected with Beatrice, who was kind, genuine and absolutely loveable from the start. It was amazing seeing the town through her eyes and learning more about my beloved summer paradise, especially the restaurants and local haunts that still exist today.

Overall, this is an incredible beach read, perfect for your summer list! Bonus points if you love Montauk as much as I do!

New Yorkers love to escape the summers and head for the relatively more tranquil areas along the shore, from Newport to Long Island, and Montauk, the quiet fishing village for most of the year plays host to the ‘see and be seen’ crowd for three months of summer. Filled with parties, lunches, events and relaxation, anyone who is hoping to be seen as “Anyone in the city” is there. Beatrix has gone there with her husband Harry: their life of late has hit a samey-vibe, and she’s hoping that getting away and relaxing will allow them to reconnect and help her to feel more ‘a part’ of this world that has never quite fitted in with her upbringing. Of course, there are twists and turns, and a man who is the polar opposite of Bea’s husband, involved with people who are also far different to Bea’s current companions – the ‘doyennes’ of society who focus on committees for charity, luncheons, who’s who and looking their best at all times.

To the good, the descriptions and even the sense of ‘who’ everyone that Bea encounters were solid and easy to picture. The story felt very much tied to the ‘time’ and with some of the associated social constraints that came through quite clearly. But Bea – oh Bea. Naïve to the point of stupidity and disbelief. We’re told she’s college educated and kind-hearted, but frankly her inability to navigate some of the simpler interactions – and to always be surprised when things are unexpected was tiring and wore on my patience. Part of that was Bea herself, it just didn’t seem as if she learned anything from her own experiences as the story went on, and was always ‘taken aback’ by reactions or thoughts. The naivete thing was carried a bit too far with her….I expect some seeing as she was very much a woman of her time -but enough is enough. Even in the Tudor court people were aware of hypocrisy and self-serving agendas -but not Bea.

Starting with lots of promise, it was difficult to get past the up and down relationship that I had to Bea, she wasn’t endearing due to her naivete, it was annoying – and the transitions between narrative, conversations and point of view asides were choppy and frequently abrupt – several sentences could go by before it became clear what had happened, and often the why went by unnoticed. Most certainly this could have been cleaned up a bit with editing, as Harrison’s descriptions are solid and evocative, while the character of Bea needed to show some actual growth and recognition of having “experienced’ things that repeatedly surprised her. There’s promise in the overall impression of her work, however, and this means that I’ll be certain to be watching for more.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-ars/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

1938, Montauk, Long Island. The Montauk Manor is where the wealthy go to escape the heat of New York City. The women and children summer there while the men travel back on weekends to escape work. But, all is not as it seems. The females are tucked away while the males enjoy other pursuits in the city. They can have their cake and eat it too. This book explores the class differences of the elite vs the working class, money can’t buy you happiness. It’s about finding your place and not being pigeon-holed into what other people or society say we belong. It’s about love....finding it in places outside the norm, and opening your heart. It’s about friendship in unexpected places. It’s about struggles that go on even now. It’s about finding yourself and being true to who you are and who you want to be.

The book started a little slow, then took off. Beautifully written characters, some you loved, quite a few you wanted to smack, some you wanted to cheer for! I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and the writing. The ending wasn’t what I was thinking, but enjoyed it, even though it seemed rushed. I could have used another chapter or two.

Take this book to the beach or a lounge chair, it’s a little heavier than a normal beach read, but very enjoyable! I look forward to reading this author again.

I received an ARC of this book. Opinion is my own!