Format: Paperback, ARC
Links: Goodreads | Amazon UK
Blurb: Will your past always catch up with you?
Tessa Dannall is excited and happy when her daughter, Nia, arrives at their family’s tropical beach resort to get married.
Tessa is also trying to forget the last time she went to a wedding on this beach and how that day changed her life for ever.
But as the big day draws near, Tessa realises she must face the deadly ghosts from her past – or they may ruin her daughter’s future…
Review: The Beach Wedding by Dorothy Koomson is another one of the Quick Reads books I was sent in January. In case you didn’t hear me talking about them in the last review, Quick Reads says that their books are ideal for busy people who may want to up their reading game in the New Year and also for less confident adult readers. Which again, I think is a fab idea that they’re targeting a large market with their books. Anyway, I was keen to review The Beach Wedding because I’m a huge Dorothy Koomson fan and have been for a good many years now and was intrigued to see how her writing would adapt in a short story, as opposed to the deep, rich and detailed full length novels she normally writes.
It took me a little while to get into this book (I say a little while, like 20 pages or so) but it definitely takes off a little while in and once that hit, I couldn’t put it down and finished it in more or less one sitting. The Beach Wedding is a short story about Nia and Marvin who are due to get married at Nia’s mother’s family’s beach resort in Ghana. The same place where her father died on his and her mum’s wedding day. Tessa, Nia’s mother is apprehensive about the wedding and the memories and heartache it might bring up but when Marvin’s parents turn up at the resort, everything gets turned on it’s head.
For Women’s Fiction fans, this would be a perfect read to up your Goodreads goal or something to tuck in to on a morning commute. Plus, the book is super light-weight so it won’t cause any extra heaviness in your bag! Win win. I love Dorothy Koomson’s writing and characters and she defintiely didn’t disappoint with this one although because it’s a short story, everything is diluted down a little bit. I would have absolutely loved to have read this story as a full length novel. It would have worked so, so well with the setting, a beach resort in Ghana, the variety of characters and personalities and also a rich past between Tessa, Drew (her husband-to-be who died), Jake, Nia and Marvin.
There was brief mention of perhaps some mental abuse between Tessa and Drew’s relationship when they were in their 20’s and I think this could have opened up a fantastic dialogue and awareness in that topic, had there been more space and time to delve into it, which of course there wasn’t in so little pages. However, in such a short story, it really packs a punch. There’s a lot of tension, drama, twists and turns that I wouldn’t have expected! If anything, this book has just made me want to pick up another Dorothy Koomson novel next!
I’ve never heard of this book or author, but I will be sure to add this to my book wishlist.
Amy | hookedonthemusic.com
Hope you enjoy! Can’t believe you’ve not heard of Dorothy Koomson. Her full length novels are incredible xxx
I was so excited when I saw Dorothy Koomson was doing one of the QuickReads books, and The Beach Wedding did not disappoint! I loved it.
Brilliant wasn’t it! Completely gripped me xxx
Oooh that blurb! It sounds like such an interesting book! I think these Quick Read books sound so good in general xx
They’re usually very good! 🙂 xx
You’re seriously swaying me towards short stories. I never thought I’d get into them but this seems like such a good read!
Thank you (:
I love how in depth your review is without giving away any spoilers! Shorter stories are perfect for me because I feel like I’m always too busy to sit down and read a long novel, so I definitely want to check this book out!
Thank you very much (: i always try my best to give away as least as possible!
This book is the kind of book I love to read, and I’m really tempted to go buy this book now and add it to my tbr list. I’m definitely going to check out Quick Reads as well I’ve never heard of them but think they’re awesome already. Great review.
They’re only a pound each too (: xx
This sounds like a cute story! I haven’t heard of the Quick Reads before, but it sounds like such a lovely idea. Great review!
Thank you (: it’s a very good idea indeed! xxx
I’ve actually never heard of Dorothy Koomson but this book sounds interesting! I really like reading short stories or essays, as they’re a nice alternation after reading long texts for uni and especially when commuting short stories are a must. Isn’t it the worst when you have to cut short in the middle of a chapter? And ALWAYS when it’s getting tens or a big plot twist is build up… *deep sigh* 😉
Love,
Dominique
http://www.fashionedbypluche.blogspot.com
Never heard of Dorothy Koomson?! Pick up one of her books now, she’s amazing! xxx
I’ve never hear of these Quick Reads books. They kind of remind me of James Patterson’s Book Shots (which I adore when I want to read a book in one sitting). This one sounds really cute and fluffy and definitely would be a beach read for me. Thanks for the amazing review, I’m glad you got into it.
I love James Patterson! I used to read his Women’s Murder Club books in a day 🤣
Those books were awesome (the ones I read anyway lol). I feel like his books are awesome quick reads!
I read one of the quick reads a couple of years ago and wasn’t a fan x
http://www.ofbeautyandnothingness.co.uk
That’s a shame, what one did you read?
I love Dorothy Koomson! I’ll pick this up!
She’s wonderful isn’t she!
I don’t read that many short stories as I also prefer a more in depth novel. But I agree they’re good for a journey and ideal for someone like me who doesn’t have a Kindle or read eBooks (#dinosaur).This one sounds like it packs a lot into a few pages though – an intriguing review!
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
I obviously prefer longer novels too but yeah these are great if you don’t have an eReaders as well as they’re only a pound! xx
Oooh this book sounds right up my street! I’m definitely gonna have to add this to my list!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Hope you enjoy! (: xx
I haven’t heard of this book before but it sounds really good, I’ve even added it to my book wishlist on amazon. I love light-weight books as they’re easy to carry about and it’s something that I’ve been looking for so I can take them on holiday with me. Thank you for sharing 🌸✨
With love, Alisha Valerie x | http://www.alishavalerie.com
It only came out on Feb 1st (: this is so lightweight and easy to both carry and read! Perfect for a commute or something! xxx
This sounds really interesting. I don’t read short stories too often as I miss the depth that a full-length story has. But I dunno, there seems to be something about this story that makes me feel like I would be satisfied at the end.
I’m often the same but they’re great for getting a quick read in and especially great for upping your reading amount in a year!