I really liked the premise of this book, but felt like the miscommunications at its center just got larger and larger, to where even I was surprised that they were able to be neatly resolved at the end. Charlie's mishaps and adventures in her new town are clouded by her anxiety-which could all be resolved if she was to actually try talking to her husband. I would have liked a little bit less conflict of emotions and a bit more plot to this one.

I really struggled with the fact that the main character thought she could just find a new her. I know it’s supposed to be “lighthearted” but felt heavy at times

I’m so torn on this book. It kept my interest, but it also felt rushed and though it covered important issues like addiction and recovery, it did it in such a background way that it felt like lip service at times.

Our story follows Charlie and Dev as they embark on a new life in a Nantucket-esque New England town. Dev works at the local medical clinic and Charlie is trying to find some roots for herself and her two precocious kids.

Entertaining story but not one of my favorites. Narrator did a good job holding the story together

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

I really liked this book. I have heard it called a beach read with a serious side and i have to agree with that. It took me a bit to get into this book but once I did so, i was swept away.

I am glad I was able to read this novel thru NetGalley and if you like a story about New England beach community this is the book for you. I did find myself thinking that the FMC needed to take a minute and think things thru as well as improve communication with her husband who had same issue. It is nicely resolved and a little unexpected ending

Loved this book! It's a beach read with a serious side. Charlie moves to Rumford, a small New England town, when her husband, a physician, takes a new job at a health clinic run by his ex-girlfriend, the impressive and beautiful Presley. Charlie has lost some of herself in motherhood and marriage, so when a group of wealthy Rumford moms takes her under their wing she's all in. This is a beautifully told page turner of a book as Charlie and Dev navigate the problems and secrets in their marriage -- as well as the secrets and marriages of the other moms. I read it in two days because I couldn't put it down!

Pink Whales is a fun beach read about finding yourself, trying to fit in, and marriage. I was instantly drawn to this book because of the New England setting. The characters fell a bit flat for me. I had a difficult time connecting with them. Overall, it was a fun beach read.

Pink Whales is a debut novel about a frazzled mother of twins (Charlie) who relocates with her doctor husband (Dev) to a preppy, affluent seaside town in the Northeast. A chance meeting with the "cool moms" of her new town launches her into the stratosphere of this Vineyard Vines yacht club set. I was drawn to this book because I love a good beach read set in New England! The story also featured one of my favorite tropes, an outsider, or in this case, a fish out of water.

It's no surprise that the book features many fun elements of rich people behaving badly. That being said, I also appreciated how the author focused on Charlie's desperation to reconnect with her overworked husband, forge close female friendships, and rediscover her sense of self after the haze of new motherhood.

My least favorite trope (miscommunication) was featured, which I wasn't thrilled about, but it was done in a more realistic and nuanced way than many other novels. I would wholeheartedly recommend this if you are seeking a witty and fresh take on marriage, motherhood, friendship, and fitting in.

I look forward to reading the future works of Shukla! Thank you to Little A and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I do not get all of the hype about this book. A poorly written storyline and one dimensional characters should make this a hard pass

I like Shukla's writing but I admit to not really liking any of her characters and that's a bit of a turn off for me. I have to like someone! May be more appealing for people who can identify with someone. Sorry!

This is a total beach read. This has drama and wealthy people problems. I felt bad for Charlie at times during this story but you would need to read the book to see why. The book did move slow but I did not mind that. Overall a good book.

Pink Whales features a young couple moving to a Massachusetts coastal town with twins. The wealthy, heaving drinking socialites pull in Charlie our FMC, who is a lost while her husband, Dr Dev is extraordinarily busy with a new position in a clinic nearby. Between the beach club, yacht club, country club, book club and kids camp, these families float through summer with permanent buzz. It's an incubator for bad behavior.

This is a bit of a typical rich people behaving badly story, but it was a lot of fun. This would be a great beach/poolside read hovering between 3-4 stars. Thank you Netgalley and Amazon publishing for the advanced copy. Pink Whales debuts on June 4, 2024.

I found this book pleasant, if a bit meandering. But I think it would make a perfect beach read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If Charlie thought the move would help their marriage, well, now she's not so sure because her husband Dev, a physician is working with his ex and he's working more than ever, So she's home with their twins . No wonder she's entranced by the power moms and makes every effort to be as cool and preppy as they are. Let's be honest, this is a familiar plot in some ways but Shukla has done a nice job with creating a character in Charlie whose self doubt is obvious. Love her parents, btw. This has some sharp barbs but it's not mean. And Dev's a good guy. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

"Pink Whales" has an interesting synopsis and great cover. The tone and writing style drew me in and I enjoyed the characterization of a family moving to a more upscale, competitive town on the coast. However, I found it tedious to keep up with the many directions the plot followed, and ultimately, the narrative seemed all over the place. This was not the perfect read for me, but could be for someone else. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
#PinkWhales
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This was a great book. I connected with the characters. I felt engrossed with the plot. I would read another book by this author.

I felt drunk, anxious, and hot most of the time I was reading this book. Pink Whales is a fish out of water story about a family that moves to an exclusive coast town. Mom and Dad are on the outs, but it's not really clear why, and ads a result Mom is eager to fit in with the uber wealthy women about town. This was interesting, but a stressful read!

This was not what I expected, but I wound up quite enjoying it anyway. Frankly, from the cover and blurb, I was looking for lighter fare here - but instead found a surprisingly in-depth look at female friendships and relationships. It was twisty and alternately frustrating and insightful - all in a good way - and the pacing kept me in the story the entire time I was reading. The characters felt like caricatures in the beginning, but developed into fully three-dimensional individuals throughout the course of the story. I really liked this and would definitely look up Shukla again.

There was a lot I liked about Pink Whales. Sara Shukla creates interesting characters, and I liked that the women characters (with one or two exceptions) were supportive of each other despite their flaws. I thought both Poppy and Heidi were a lot of fun and that Presley deserves her own book.

What keeps me from rating this book higher is my total disdain for Dev. I thought he was really horrible to Charlie and the embodiment of a 1950s husband who completely neglects his wife and children. By the end of the book, a lot of his terrible behavior gets excused in an unsatisfying way.

Despite that, I really liked the book, and look forward to reading more by her. Shukla's style reminds me a lot of Elin Hilderbrand, and with Hilderbrand retiring from writing soon, I think Shukla has the potential to fill that niche.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance of "Pink Whales."
When Charlie, her husband Dev, and their children start anew in a wealthy, seaside town in New England, Charlie navigates fitting in with the country clubbing, designer wearing upper-crust residents. Amidst beach club gatherings and neighborhood parties, Charlie grapples with her identity in her marriage and social circle, making "Pink Whales" a delightful beach read.