Publisher: Alcove Press
Genre: Romance
Source: Alcove Press ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: A recently divorced single mom returns to her family’s fixer-upper beach house and finds romance amidst the heartbreak—and truths buried under generations of lies—in this summertime romance perfect for fans of The Beach House and Nora Goes Off Script.

When Dahlia Newberry escapes her terrible marriage and returns to Long Island’s North Fork to put her family’s beach house on the market, she discovers the property has fallen into disrepair, and she has no idea how she’ll get it from fixer to fabulous in a month’s time.

Things start to look up when she discovers her neighbor is Noah, a handsome reality TV star known for his Hamptons-set home renovation series. Noah turns out to be quite handy and pitches in to help Dahlia with the renovations and, as chemistry sparks between them, her self-discovery too. 

Meanwhile, Dahlia discovers a letter from her Aunt Lil, whose dying wish was for Dahlia to find a key that unlocks a mystery spanning three generations. Soon Dahlia is unearthing mysterious clues buried in the garden which threaten to upend everything she believes about her world.

The truth is supposed to set you free, but excavated secrets have a way of shattering an already fragile life—unless Dahlia can find a way to bloom into the woman she was always meant to be.

This debut novel by an accomplished home design influencer is perfect for fans of HGTV shows and steamy summer romances.

Ope’s Opinion: This read was just okay for me. I am not sure how much had to do with the story and how much had to do with the timing of the read. I read this during the holidays and there was so much else going on. I may read it again in the spring when it is due to be published.

The mystery drug on for me. Instead of looking forward to it being solved, I felt like it was dangled like a carrot. Somehow it didn’t work for me. I may be the only one that felt this.

I think I will look at what Jennifer O’Brien writes next.