Goodreads says, "Two best friends torn apart by a life-altering secret. They have 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, their friendship instantly crumbles. 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 instantly 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 keep the place where she had so many happy childhood 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, and 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."
As young girls, Kat Steiner and Blake O'Neill both spent their summers at Camp Chickawah and were good friends. That is until they realized that they share the same father. Yes, unbelievably so, but true without a doubt. Fast forward many years later and their father has died. He left both women a beach house in gorgeous Destin, Florida. This is a dream, right? Wrong. The house is in horrific condition and needs major renovations before they even consider selling it for top dollar. How can Kat and Blake work together to renovate this house when they haven't spoken to each other in years? Also, do they both want to sell? Because one can't sell without the other's permission. Cue the drama both renovation wise and emotionally. Fans of The Parent Trap will enjoy the similarities to this novel, but ultimately, The Beach Trap by Ali Brady fell flat.
Each chapter alternates the point of view between Kat and Blake in The Beach Trap. I enjoyed the flashbacks to camp and appreciated it as well as I needed to fully understand how these former best friends could have ended up enemies. The flashbacks explain it all. Once we are in present day though, that's when things went off track for me, specifically looking at Kat's chapters. Kat is a fashion influencer and I found her chapters to be mind numbing. She was insufferable. Truly, I didn't care what happened to her or what she wanted out of the beach house. On the other hand, I liked Blake and my heart went out to her as she is the one who grew up without a relationship with her father and is now dealing with this sticky situation. Also, both women have a chance for love this summer, which added to the beach-read feel of this story along with the beautiful setting of Florida. I mean who doesn't love Destin?
I also liked some of the home renovation descriptions of the house and the similarities to The Parent Trap (always one of my favorite childhood movies!), but that's where my enjoyment ended in The Beach Trap. The romances for both women were a bit too perfect, especially that overly saccharine ending. Perhaps I am too jaded. Don't get me wrong, I love a happy ending, but this seemed over the top and just not realistic.
Essentially, The Beach Trap was a miss for me. There are so many other great beach reads out there this summer to pick up. I'd say skip this one unless you are curious about the nod to The Parent Trap and you love a good sisters having a second chance story.
So, what do you think? Have you read The Beach Trap? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Ugh, what a bummer! It's hard to enjoy a book when you don't like one of the main characters!
ReplyDeleteYeah, the character of Kat was difficult for me! Thanks for visiting, Angela!
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