This was my first Michele Campbell book, and it really exceeded my expectations. I think stories told from different unreliable narrators can be a little frustrating (in addition to feeling a bit stale) as everyone is being mysterious for the sake of propelling the mystery, but I thought Campbell implemented the narrative device in a refreshing way here, with each scene being told from the perspectives of both Caroline and Aidan, where the reader learns very quickly that someone is definitely NOT telling the truth. This makes for a fun Rashomon whodunit, and while I figured out the twists pretty quickly, it didn’t deter from a fast-paced, fun mystery.

Pretty good story. A tiny bit slower than I'd like. I felt like the ending was never going to happen. Although, I did start to unravel it myself a bit when things started to come out. I do like the way the author took the story. The narration was fabulous.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell.

This probably wasn't the best time for me to read A Stranger on the Beach because I've been really struggling with domestic thrillers lately, which is what I would categorize this book as. I found the beginning super unrealistic which is where it kind of lost me. I really don't enjoy a book that doesn't seem realistic, so this one I struggled to get through. I really didn't connect with any of the characters and was really disappointed in my reaction to the book. I know a lot of people who really loved this one, so I had very high hopes.

I'm hoping that maybe I'll find some time to read it again when I'm not feeling so burnt out on domestic thrillers. I think that this is a good book, it just wasn't for me at this moment!

Stranger on the Beach started out with a lot of potential for me. I liked where the story was going. However, for me the middle fell flat and was just dragging through. All of the characters seemed unreliable and I kept going back and forth over who the villian was. Everything wrapped up neatly, if not a tad predictable. All in all, it is a great lazy summer beach read thriller, and sometimes a book like that is needed!

A Stranger On The Beach contains two narrators, both unreliable. Michele Campbell uses the device well. I really appreciated the depth and complexity of her character portraits. The novel moves along easily, though I did find it a bit predictable. There are enough twists to make the read entertaining, and readers of psychological suspense will be pleased by the book. Unraveling the lies and truths was what made the novel most enjoyable for my taste.
3/5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

A Stranger in the Beach is intriguing and full of twists and turns! The story goes back and forth between Caroline and Aiden in what seem to be their perspectives. Michele Campbell kept me guessing throughout the entire book! I would highly recommend this book!

This is the first book I have read written by Michele Campbell. That being said, I wasn’t sure what sort of ride I was in for. I am a part of a podcast with my friend and co-creator Kim called Books Don’t Review Themselves. Together we sit down and decide was books we are going to read and review on the podcast, but each of us also read what we want in addition to the scheduled books. That being said, Kim was personally reading this book and sent me her review upon completion. After reading her review, the concept of the book, while basic, seemed very intriguing. Luckily, I was able to snag a copy on Netgalley and read it for myself. With that said, a podcast episode came to fruition.

Like I mentioned above, the storyline is nothing spectacular in the sense it revolves around Caroline, a wealthy wife and mother with a high-class lifestyle including lavish parties surrounded by other high-class wealthy individuals; and then there is Aiden, who is barely getting by and has a less than ideal past that very much affects his future. The story comes to life when their paths cross.

Caroline is remodeling their beach house and planning a lavish party to show off her efforts and also celebrate her husband, Jason, birthday when she sees Aiden standing out on the beach staring at her beach house. At the party, Caroline soon finds out that Jason has been lying to her and Aiden just so happens to be one of the bartenders at the shindig. As Caroline’s marriage starts to unravel, who better to comfort her than…you guessed it… Aiden.

Now up until that point, everything seems pretty vanilla, but that is when the author takes a basic vanilla plot and turns it into ice cream sundae with all the fixings!

What turned this story into a ride was how she wrote it in two separate views. It was so fascinating to essentially read Caroline’s perception of a scenario and then Aiden’s perception of the same thing. You felt like you were in each of their minds but at the same time, you were trying to figure out who was lying. That is what made this basic plot so amazing.

This, first book that I’ve read by this author, is awesome. There are so many twists and turns throughout. I was thoroughly engaged in this story from the beginning. I highly recommend this book if you like mystery and suspense. I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review

In Michele Campbell's latest novel, A Stranger on the Beach, this thriller will grip you and take you on a wild ride. It all started when Caroline Stark spotted Aidan Callahan on the beach near her beach house, and when her husband Jason came into the housewarming party with his Russian girlfriend. But things aren't what they seemed when she accused him of cheating on her and he asked her to get a divorce for some strange reason. Shocked and dismayed, she goes to the Red Anchor Bar and seeks Aidan out as the bartender. After a couple of drinks, she teases him when he's fallen hard for her and began a temptous affair. He couldn't get her out of her mind and is smitten with her. He spent prison for involutionary manslaughter and tends the bar in his spare time. His brother is the chief of police. But he wants the beach house on his grandfather's land. But after a one-night stand, she cuts things off with him and whispers to him that he wants Jason dead. Although he turned it down, things had gotten too far between them and their affairs. He follows her husband and her daughter and reports back to her on what he saw and heard. Before the hurricane, things got dicey and heated when there was a break-in at the house and her husband winds up dead. But after the storms, Aidan's charged with the crime and Caroline goes into hiding. But in the end, things don't add up with a shocking twisted ending you would never believe.

This book is the definition of thriller! So many twists and turns you don't want to put it down lest you forget!!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Stranger on the Beach starts out as a view on the perfect family in their lavish beach house. It veers off into something completely different in so many twisty turny ways.

4 ½ stars
From the outside it seems as if Caroline has a perfect life; a gorgeous beach home, a successful husband, a beautiful daughter starting college and the perfect job. Even with all that though Caroline is lonely and when she discovers that her husband is cheating on her at her own housewarming party she decides to have a reckless one night stand with the local bartender Aidan. Only Aidan has a different idea and is not ready to let go of Caroline so soon ...

A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell is fast-paced plot with well-developed characters that builds to a high climax.Told from Caroline and Aidan’s POV’s it is difficult to figure out who is telling the truth .Overall this was a really good read and if you are a fan of the psychological thriller genre you will love this

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

I could not wait to get my hands on A Stranger on the Beach, and I’m so glad I did! This was a pretty fun thriller, and I loved how the two alternating perspectives told the same story, but with details that differed so vastly. Definitely entertaining, and the twist at the end was just what it needed to cap the story off.

Thanks Netgalley for the kindle edition in exchange for review!

This will grab your attention and not let go until the very last page!
Full of plot twists that keep you guessing, you'll have shivers even if it is 98° outside.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I predicted that this would be a 5-star read and I was correct. The book was at first somewhat unsettling in the beginning, but the twists and turns kept coming. I loved Michelle Campbell's first two books and this one is another winner.
Ecuse any typos as I am recuperating rom a strok, hence why my review is shorter than usual.

A Stranger on the Beach had me constantly guessing and trying to figure out which side I should be on. Was I Team Aidan in love with Caroline and innocent? Or was I Team Caroline being stalked by Aidan and fearing for my life? A Stranger on the Beach is a well written mystery thriller with great character development. I devoured it page after page late into the night.

This is my second novel by Michele Campbell and she kept me guessing with all the twists & turns in the story. We delve into the lives of Aiden & Caroline in this story. We learn that “perfect” lives and beauty come with a cost!?! Aiden is a good-looking bartender with a past and Caroline is the perfect socialite wife. Well, lets just say---outward appearances can be deceiving!

Like her other novels, It’s Always the Husband, she kept me guessing right until the end. Personally, I enjoyed the twist & turns of her novels because in my head, I am always trying to figure out the plot anyway. So she is helping me to determine the flaws in my theories. I enjoy Michele’s writing style and will look forward to reading future novels by her! I rated this book 4.75/5 stars. It is a wonderful escape into a world that seems “perfect” but beauty, money, and influence can hide dark secrets!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Michele Campbell for the ARC for my honest review.

Caroline has just moved to a beautiful new beach house in the Hamptons with her husband. But, her husband is lying to her about his job and an affair he is having, so when Caroline winds up at a bar, she ends up sleeping with Aiden, the bartender with a troubled past. The affair ends up meaning more to Aiden than it does to Caroline, resulting in Caroline finding herself being stalked by Aiden.

I was sucked into this one from the beginning! I really enjoy a book that goes back and forth between different characters, retelling the same story from each of their perspectives. I know there are some people that don’t like this, but in this case, it really helps to the storyline. You don’t know who to believe throughout the entire novel because both storylines seem different.

Just like the title, this is a perfect, juicy, beach read. There seems to be a fine line between enjoying a psychological thriller and feeling like the storyline has been done before. Luckily, A Stranger on the Beach felt like the former for me! I can’t wait to read more by Michelle Campbell.

Wealth does funny things to people. Especially if you haven't grown up with that wealth. It can make it so that you will do anything to keep the lifestyle you've become accustomed to. Turning you into something you're not or putting your true colors on display.

This story is told in duel points of view. You get to see the events through both Caroline and Aiden's eyes. However, with duel points of view you also get duel perspectives. The stories do not appear to be the same. Through the eyes of each character the story is shifted to meet their respective purposes. One seemingly in love and one seemingly obsessed. But which is the true version of the events?

Caroline and Aiden's story will have you racking your brain and searching for clues to help lead you to a conclusion that is completely unexpected. With lives on the line, whose truth will prove to be the whole truth?

One of the most intense books I've read this year.

This one took me a while to read. I’m not a fan of how the dialogue is written, it seems forced to me. I also read She Was The Quiet One and felt the same way so perhaps this author isn’t for me. It took me a while to get into. I liked the premise of the story and how the perspective switch back-and-forth so you never really knew who was telling the truth.