I really liked this book - I loved the setting of it. Holly has a job as a secret resort blogger, basically to make sure the resorts are meeting the standards they should be and also including anything fun to do while vacationing. While there Holly meets a super sweet couple and a handsome gentlemen and thats where the fun begins! There is also ties into her messed up relationship with her mother that harbor a lot of weird feelings that get explored.

4 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Publish date: 10/31/2024

Life's a Beach and Then...
by Julia Roberts
Narrated by Melanie Crawley

Actual rating: 3.7/5.0 Stars

What to say about this book...It was challenging for me to get into but I kept pushing through. I'm glad that I did, but for the first quarter of the book, I wasn't really that into it. The second half was much better and picked up pace a lot. The book ends with a cliffhanger, so just be forewarned that you will not get your HEA by reading this first book in the series. I wouldn't mind listening to the next book in the series now that I'm invested.

Holly is a travel writer who goes undercover and stays at luxurious resorts and reports on them. While on assignment, she meets Robert, Rosemary and Phillipe, whom she falls in love with, but they are all harboring their own secrets. I don't want to give anything away, but as mentioned, the beginning of the book is a bit slow, but does pick up about halfway through.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Dreamscape Select | Raconteurs Audio LLP and Ripped Ltd for the chance to listen to and review this ARC.

I enjoyed this book. I thought it was sweet. I enjoyed the bind that was made. I thought the ending came way too quick. I wanted more time to savor it.

This is my first novel by Julia Roberts, but certainly not my last. I chose this book because I needed a soft landing during the erratic days of the election. Good news - it did the trick! I loved everything about this book - the backdrop, the writing, the well-developed characters, and the two love stories. Holly has my dream job - undercover blogger reviewing 5-star resorts. Who wouldn't love that? She meets a lovely couple in the restaurant who want to take Holly under their wings. They introduce her to Phillippe, a dashing French writer, and sparks fly. This book is the first in the series of 3, and I can't wait to read the sequel. The narration was superb.

The cover of this audiobook drew me in and the descriptive style of the author made Mauritius sound so amazing! It is now on my bucket list! This is the first book in the Liberty Sands trilogy and I look forward to continuing the story of the characters. The narrator, Melanie Crawly, has a voice that is perfect for this book and easy to listen to. She changed her voice for different characters which made the book easier to follow.

Thank you Net Galley, Julia Roberts and Dreamscape Audio for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions expressed are my own.

This audiobook was very interesting and the narrator was great.
At the beginning of this book I wasn't sure if I could stick with. I am so glad I did because it was a very good book. It takes place on the island of Mauritius and the descriptions of it sound absolutely beautiful and majestic. While this book was about Holly and her interesting career as a secret travel writer and an editor, it's also a book about her befriending a couple (the wife is sick) and a single man. She grows close to the wife of the couple and share some of her secrets with them. As she gets close to them she feels she can let her guard down. Once she leaves Mauritius she keeps up her friendship with the couple and tried to help where she can. This book encompasses lots of feelings of guilt for being secretive (as it's part of her job), sadness and loss. While also sharing the joys she has found with these friends. Toward the end of the book we jump a few years ahead, then back and then it ends.
I was planning on giving this 4 stars but I absolutely hate when a book that is going to have a sequel just stops without a wrap up, now I have to read the next book in the series. Thus the 3 star rating.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc audiobook.

This is the first book in the Liberty Sands book series. Holly has landed on Mauritius as a travel blogger and made quick friends with Robert and Rosemary. She had to lie about who she is, but still had made friends with them and also with Phillippe. She falls in love with Phillipe, who is also carrying untruths. I would love to read the rest of this series!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Select for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderfully narrated sweet and sad story. Holly is a single mom who loves her wonderful son with her whole heart and most aspects of her work. She is an editor and a “secret shopper/reviewer” for a global resort chain, thus she travels all over and blogging about the places she visits. On her most recent trip she meets Robert and Rosemary, possibly the sweetest most wonderful couple who found each other a little later in life. Theirs is the love we all hope for, but it is also tinged with sadness. She also meets Phillipe and for the first time since the father of her son (who ceased contact when he went to America and never looked back) allows herself to let love in. She may not have been totally honest due to her job, but when she through a twist of fate discovers who Philippe really is she feels betrayed to the very core. A wonderful story that was narrated beautifully. Be advised, there are cliffhangers so if that's not your thing, this may not be for you. I, on the other hand, have already pre-ordered the next in this series. I need to know what happens next.


I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Title: Life’s A Beach and Then . . .
Series: Liberty Sands Trilogy Book #1
Author: Julia Roberts
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narrator: Melanie Crawley
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Dreamscape Select/Reconteurs Audio and Ripped Ltd.
Audiobook Release Pub Date: October 31, 2024
My Rating: 4+ Stars
Pages: 300

Holly Wilson a single mother of nineteen year old Harry who is off to college, is offered a job as a travel blogger to report on the level of service and accommodations at holiday resorts. However, she must to do secretly and not reveal any truth as to why she is there.
Her first assignment is the resort on the beautiful paradise island of Mauritius.
Almost immediately after arrival she makes friends with Robert and his wife Rosemary as well as the handsome Philippe, a journalist and now a writer.

Holly has to tell a few lies as to why she is there by herself. But it seems she’s not the only one hiding a few things. Robert and Rosemary have a secret they don’t wish to share. Holly friendship with Rosemary develops into something very special and
Rosemary reveals to Holly that she is dying but doesn’t want to burden anyone with this sad news. Robert of course knows and respects Rosemary’s wishes not to reveal her secret.

Philippe finds Holly attractive and their holiday friendship turns into what seems more than a Holiday Romance. Is it?

I knew this was a trilogy so wasn’t sure how much was going to develop in Book One – was sure there would be a big ‘cliff hanger/teaser regarding Book #2.

However, I was surprised as well as totally delighted how much I was enjoying this. Rosemary and Robert are fabulous characters – I just love them both! Their story gives an understanding to the title.
Wasn’t sure how much was going to develop with
I was sure the Holly and Phillippe connection would continue but Rosemary and Robert’s love story was so very special, I was Okay with waiting for the other books to keep up with Holly and Phillippe.

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Select/Reconteurs Audio and Ripped Ltd.
for this great audiobook.
Audiobook Release Date scheduled for October 31, 2024.

Life’s a Beach and Then… AUDIO by Julia Roberts is first and foremost a romance. But this seemingly simple romance touches on other subjects: unwed motherhood, assisted suicide, leukemia, and lying. Lies often seem innocuous when told, but turn into so much more as time passes. Such as in this book, where Holly leads a double life: one as a free-lance editor for a prestigious publishing house; and also as a travel blogger, telling the truth, which is often unlikely online. As a travel blogger it is necessary to remain anonymous ans so...lies. Holly met Robert and Rosemary on a trip to tropical paradise, Mauritius, and they become close friends in record time. She is also introduced to their good friend, Philippe, with whom she falls in love. It had been twenty years since she had been attracted to a man, let alone fallen in love. That hadn’t worked out well, except for her son, who was now at university. Then, Philippe did something she thought unforgivable and she was facing single motherhood a second time.

Rosemary was dying. This was a closely held secret but she confided in Holly. Things took a wicked turn there, as well. This was a low-key romance which moved slowly but in retrospect covered plenty of territory. It was a charming listen, full of tears and repercussions. Holly was an excellent character, estranged from her mother, still mourning her dead father. She liked her life and was surprised when Philippe intruded upon it. She had high hopes, which crumbled before her very eyes. There was plenty of pain to go around. The characters were unique and excellently written, pouring out all of their personalities onto the page. The plot was a simple trope, but treated differently and kindly. It was a slow-moving book, but as it turns out the pacing was perfect.

The book was narrated by Melanie Crawley and she was perfect. She dealt with the different characters easily and carefully; at no point did one wonder who was talking. She was the perfect narrator for this lovely book and her rendition added to the story.

I was invited to listen to Life’s A Beach and Then… by Dreamscape Select. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #DreamscapeSelect #JuliaRoberts #LifesABeachAndThen

I have no idea why, but this couldn't hold my focus. I twice tried picking it up and the same problem both times. I made it to 20% in my combined efforts and still have nearly no idea what is happening.

Thank you for the opportunity, but this one wasn't for me. And I don't even know why (usually I do)

Holly Wilson has landed her dream job: staying at luxurious five-star resorts around the globe. But there's a catch—she must travel undercover, which means telling lies, something she despises. Her fabricated story, designed to deter probing questions, is that she's revisiting her honeymoon destination for closure after her husband's sudden death. In reality, Holly has never been married, though she does have a 19-year-old son, Harry, whom she raised on her own as a freelance copy editor after her university boyfriend, Gareth, left for America, unaware she was pregnant. He never came back.
Holly meets the Forresters during her second evening in Mauritius. Rosemary, close in age to Holly's estranged mother, radiates a warmth that Holly has long missed. The two bond, but Holly feels guilty for lying to Rosemary, as she still carries the blame for her father's death, which her mother has placed on her since she became pregnant with Harry. Through the Forresters, Holly is introduced to Philippe, who is immediately captivated by her. Though Holly has kept herself from any serious relationships since Gareth abandoned her, she feels a strong connection with Philippe. What begins as a holiday fling soon deepens, and they agree to reconnect once Philippe returns to the UK after finishing his book, which Holly believes to be a travel memoir.
However, two months later, an extraordinary twist reveals Philippe’s hidden truth to Holly. Faced with this revelation, will Holly be able to forgive him? And will she honor the promise she made to Rosemary?

I enjoyed listening to this book, the narrator did a good job with it however she played the late 50 year olds rather old. They sounded as if they could have been 80 the way they were played. Phillipe confused me as well as he didnt speak french as well as she thought but had a very strong accent.
I am usually a person who listens to a psychological thriller but this story did keep me captivated. I will say that these characters are very open and trusting to strangers, .3 out of 5 stars.

I need a vacation...and a job like this one! It was both bittersweet and lovely as I was SO invested in the lives of these characters. I loved the depth created and the progression of self-awareness each one had. A great read!

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to finish the book. While it had nothing to do with the story itself , the narrator was just to difficult for me to stay engaged with. I was so disappointed because I really was excited to listen.

Life's a Beach and Then… is book one in the The Liberty Sands Trilogy by Julia Roberts.

I absolutely loved the audiobook and wished it wouldn’t have ended! I can’t wait for the next one in the trilogy.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Julia Roberts, and Dreamscape Select for the advance access to the audio version. Melanie Crawley’s narration was fantastic!

Publication Date October 31 2024
#LifesaBeachandThen #NetGalley

I loved this story, it was touching and.movimg and I found that i even replayed certain parts as it spoke to me!!

The characters were lovable, vulnerable and had us pulling at heart strinthe plot was powerful and often left us teary eyed.

I love how the author brought together such a different collection or personalities and created strong bods.

The title of this book intrigued me so I requested the audiobook to check out the start of this series. I have mixed emotions about the plot but the writing is well done and the audiobook narrator is excellent. This will make it very hard to find an appropriate star rating that encompasses the totality of how I felt listening to this book.
Let me start by saying that the narrator is the star of this book switching between accents beautifully and has an appropriate level of inflection to keep from feeling "lulled" into not paying attention. In other words, kept me engaged.
The book is written in a third person voice and I never thought that I would have an opinion about that type of storytelling. I've never seemed to notice whether it was first person or not. However, in this book, I felt that it made me feel disjointed in some scenes. It's hard to describe but there was a scene where two of the characters are getting romantic and I could tell that the narrator's voice was from the male perspective and then it switched to what was going on with the female's thoughts... it was very noticeable in this book.

Here's where the mixed feelings come in to play for me. So many lies and secrets that were being held (the reasons for most of them seemed so flimsy). Richard and Rosemary vacation on an island where they have met Philippe. Rosemary is sick with cancer and has grown close to Philippe as a friend on the island and they spend dinners together over a year long period. Holly visits the island, meets this couple who they introduce to Philippe and there is chemistry between them. Rosemary discloses her "secret" terminal illness to someone she has JUST met and Holly discloses her secret as a mystery "secret shopper" blog writer. Neither secret is disclosed to Philippe at any time. Holly uses the excuse of not giving her phone number as she doesn't have the money to return the calls to international numbers because she doesn't want him to find out about her secret career. Let's get real... this is not high school? Her career is not the CIA.... I eye rolled so hard with all these secrets that just added up to a LOT of confusion and misunderstanding. There is a HUGE huge secret that i won't reveal but it made me so mad that Holly decides she can't disclose this information to Philippe.... WHY? She's a ghost writer and faults Philippe for using parts of their relationship as inspiration.... WHAT? Why was this such an issue.

Okay... Narration was 4.5 stars
The actual storytelling 3.5 stars
The Plot 2.5 stars
There were times when I wish an editor had condensed a good bit of this book as well.

Since there are no half stars allowed, 3 stars will have to do to convey that I felt the book was decent and I will probably pick up the rest of the series because of the cliffhanger but it was pretty frustrating at times.

I just finished a great listen. Life’s a Beach and Then… was so amazing. I was kept guessing where the story was going to go until the very end.