Book Review: Same Beach, Next Year by Dorothea Benton Frank

Same Beach, Next Year: A Novel

(Lowcountry Tales #11)

by Dorothea Benton Frank 

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank returns to her magical Lowcountry of South Carolina in this bewitching story of marriage, love, family, and friendship that is infused with her warm and engaging earthy humor and generous heart.

One enchanted summer, two couples begin a friendship that will last more than twenty years and transform their lives.

A chance meeting on the Isle of Palms, one of Charleston’s most stunning barrier islands, brings former sweethearts, Adam Stanley and Eve Landers together again. Their respective spouses, Eliza and Carl, fight sparks of jealousy flaring from their imagined rekindling of old flames. As Adam and Eve get caught up on their lives, their partners strike up a deep friendship—and flirt with an unexpected attraction—of their own.

Year after year, Adam, Eliza, Eve, and Carl eagerly await their reunion at Wild Dunes, a condominium complex at the island’s tip end, where they grow closer with each passing day, building a friendship that will withstand financial catastrophe, family tragedy, and devastating heartbreak. The devotion and love they share will help them weather the vagaries of time and enrich their lives as circumstances change, their children grow up and leave home, and their twilight years approach.

Bursting with the intoxicating richness of Dorothea Benton Frank’s beloved Lowcountry—the sultry sunshine, cool ocean breezes, icy cocktails, and starry velvet skies—Same Beach, Next Year is a dazzling celebration of the infrangible power of friendship, the enduring promise of summer, and the indelible bonds of love.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

He was with a woman, a very large woman, who had to be at least ten years older than him, if not twenty.  She was towering over a grinning Ted, wearing a black mink coat to the ground, high heels that could produce altitude sickness, and enough makeup to scare the hell out of Estee Lauder… “Merry Christmas, y’all!” she said in a smoky voice that suggested a lifetime of dedication to tobacco products.

Let’s be honest.  Who could please Cookie?  She’d find fault with the pope himself!  He’d come to dinner and bring baked ziti and she’d hate it!  She’d hate the pope’s baked ziti!  She’d tell him it tasted like dog shit.  Believe me!  I’ve given this a lot of thought!

The air was thick with contentment, something you might run through your fingers if you held your hand outside the window.  I wished I could grab some, put it in a jar, and keep it with me. 

 

My Review:

I always eagerly anticipate reading a Dorothea Benton Frank book as I admire and relish her easy pace, bright wit, observant insightfulness, relatable plots, and twists of clever irony.  She is a skilled illusionist and uses colorful distractions and crafty sleight of hand to keep us guessing; things are seldom what they seem.  I adore her quirky and vibrant characters who aren’t always likable or admirable but take Southern eccentricity to a new level of entertainment.  Reading her books is like going on a fun yet relaxing vacation with a seldom seen but trusted friend.  I was provided with a review copy of this lovely book by TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins.  

Empress DJ

About Dorothea Benton Frank

New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. She resides in the New York area with her husband.

Find her on the web at www.dotfrank.com, or like her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.