Book Review: The Beach Trap by Ali Brady

Posted June 16, 2022 by WendyW in Book Review, bookblogger / 35 Comments

The Beach Trap
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

One FlameOne FlameOne Flame

by Ali Brady
Publication Date June 14, 2022
Published by Penguin
Purchase Here Buy on Apple - Buy on Kobo - Buy on Google - Buy at Barnes and Noble - Buy on Waterstones - Buy on Audible - Buy on Amazon UK
Goodreads
Genres: Fiction / Family Life / Siblings, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 384
Format: ARC

***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***


Two best friends torn apart by a life-altering secret. One summer to set the record straight.
 
When twelve-year-olds Kat Steiner and Blake O’Neill meet at Camp Chickawah, they have an instant connection. But everything falls apart when they learn they’re not just best friends—they’re also half sisters. Confused and betrayed, the girls break off all contact.
 
Fifteen years later, when their father dies suddenly, Kat and Blake discover he’s left them a joint inheritance: the family beach house in Destin, Florida. The two sisters are immediately at odds. Blake, who has recently been demoted from regular nanny to dog nanny, wants to sell the house, while social media influencer Kat is desperate to hold on to the place where she lived so many happy memories.
 
Kat and Blake reluctantly join forces to renovate the dilapidated house, with the understanding that Kat will try to buy Blake out at the end of the summer. The women clash as Blake’s renovation plans conflict with Kat’s creative vision; meanwhile, each sister finds herself drawn into a summer romance. As the weeks pass, the two women realize the most difficult project they face this summer will be coming to grips with their shared past—and learning how to become sisters.


The Beach Trap by Ali Brady is a wonderful book about sisters, family, and love with a subtle Parent Trap vibe.  I enjoyed this book very much as I love books about sisters and family drama. 

Kat Steiner and Blake O’Neill met when they were twelve years old at camp.  They immediately became fast friends, their personalities complemented each other.  But, when Kat’s father comes by to pick up Kat, they realize they are half-sisters.  

Fifteen years later, when Kat’s father suddenly dies, she finds out he left her a beach house in Florida, but, she co-owns it with her half-sister, Blake.  She’s been angry with Blake ever since she found out that her father had a separate family, so she’s not happy to share her inheritance with Blake.  Blake needs to get the beach house renovated as soon as possible so she can use the money to help her father move into a memory care facility where he can be looked after properly.   

This book was so much better than I expected.  The cover and the blurb made me think this would be a light-hearted rom-com, and it is, but it’s also so much more.  I love books about sisters, and The Beach Trap did not disappoint.  Like in the Parent Trap, Kat and Blake meet at camp, and that’s where they discover they are half-sisters.  But instead of instant friendship, Kat is angry and does not have any contact with Blake until they inherit the beach house.  This story is mainly about Kat and Blake and their journey to forgiveness and understanding.  

I was fully immersed in this story from the very beginning and I enjoyed every page.  I love a good family drama, especially with sisters, and lots of emotion, and The Beach Trap fulfilled all these wishes.  

I highly recommend The Beach Trap to anyone who enjoys romance and women’s fiction.  I received a complimentary copy of this book.  The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About Ali Brady

Ali Brady is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. The Beach Trap is their first book together. Alison lives in Chicago and works as a VP creative director at an advertising agency. She’s the author of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me. Bradeigh lives with her family in Utah, where she works as a physician. She’s the author of the psychological thriller, Imposter.

35 responses to “Book Review: The Beach Trap by Ali Brady

  1. This one sounds really good! Your review definitely has me wanting to read it.
    Question, do you set your posts to no longer take comments after a certain time? I went to comment on your Thank You Next review, and there was no box to reply. But I have to tell you that one sounds good and your review on it was great as well!

  2. I’m a little confused about the parentage if Blake has a father with memory problems. Did they have the same mother? If so, I’m surprised that the house was left to both of them. It sounds like a good book with a love/hate relationship for the girls.

    • They had different mothers. It’s a sad situation, but it’s nice to see the sister grow to like each other again.

  3. I like that this goes far deeper than a simple romcom. I’d love to see how the sisters work things out. Lovely review Wendy 🙂

  4. Jenny+McClinton

    I love family dramas too, think I would like this 😊 great review 💕

  5. Great review, Wendy! I am seeing lots of good things about this one. Another reviewer also said it was better than she expected.