I’ve never read Luanne Rice before Beach Girls. I’m glad I did though, because now she’s one of my favorite contemporary romance authors!
In the summer of 1976, three teenage girls dub themselves the “Beach Girls” and vow they’ll always be close. Now, in present day, Emma Kilvert, one of the Beach Girls, has died. The other two women—Stevie Moore and Maddie Kilvert—rarely speak to one another.
When Emma’s husband and daughter return to Hubbard’s Point, Connecticut for the summer, they instantly connect with the bohemian, free-spirited Stevie Moore. As Stevie bonds with Jack and Nell over losing Emma, Stevie finds she’s hopelessly attracted to Jack, and learns the feeling is mutual.
Meanwhile, Jack’s younger sister Maddie is still coping with Emma’s death, especially since she feels partly responsible. While this group of friends and family reconnect at their beloved summer getaway at Hubbard’s Point, they mend their relationships and eventually find forgiveness.
Beach Girls is finely executed. It’s a beautiful, sweet, and sad story. There’s also a lot of mystery surrounding Emma’s death, which isn’t revealed until the end, of course.
My favorite characters in Beach Girls are Stevie’s aunt and cousin who live in an ancient nearby castle. I liked how these characters added extra color and pizzazz to a story that’s already quite vibrant.
If I had to choose one word to describe how Beach Girls made me feel, it would be “wholesome.” The novel is an all-around great read, and I think Luanne Rice is the perfect go-to author when you need a happy read or a pick-me-up.
Beach Girls is so great it inspired a limited 6-episode Lifetime miniseries featuring Rob Lowe and Julia Ormond. How cool is that?!
Other books by Luanne Rice include:
- The Shadow Box (2021)
- If Anything Happens to Me (2024)
- Until Midnight (2026)
I’ve also read and reviewed Light of the Moon by Luanne Rice. What are your favorite books by this author?
Last Updated on November 28, 2025 by Sarah Ann
Affiliate Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this content. This means I earn a small commission if you buy anything from those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Leave a Reply