Beach Plum Island - by Holly Robinson (Paperback)

About the Book

"These are the last cryptic words that Ava Barrett's father says before he dies. But Ava doesn't have a brother, as far as she knows, so how can she tell him the truth? She dismisses the conversation and dedicates herself to bringing her family together for her father's funeral. This is no easy task since her sister, Elaine, has been estranged from the family and still harbors resentment against their stepmother and half sister, Gigi. Ava, on the other hand, is a single mother who sees Gigi as a troubled teen in need of love and connection. Ava, too, could use more love in her life and finds it where she least expects it. But the biggest surprise of all is that Gigi holds the key to the mystery surrounding her father's dying words, and she joins Ava in uncovering a secret that rapidly unravels the very fabric of their entire family..."--

Book Synopsis

"Your brother should know the truth."

These are the last cryptic words that Ava Barrett's father says before he dies. But Ava doesn't have a brother, as far as she knows, so how can she tell him the truth? She dismisses the conversation and dedicates herself to bringing her family together for her father's funeral. This is no easy task, since her sister, Elaine, has been estranged from the family and still harbors resentment against their stepmother and half-sister, Gigi. Ava, on the other hand, is a single mother who sees Gigi as a troubled teen in need of love and connection.

Ava, too, could use more love in her life and finds it where she least expects it. But the biggest surprise of all is that Gigi holds the key to the mystery surrounding her father's dying words, and joins Ava in uncovering a secret that rapidly unravels the very fabric of their entire family...

CONVERSATION GUIDE INCLUDED

Review Quotes

Praise for Beach Plum Island

"In this absorbing, big-hearted novel, Holly Robinson explores sibling bonds, love in middle age, and the intricate dance of a blended family. The painful past is everywhere in Beach Plum Island, but the present moment shines through."--Elizabeth Graver, author of The End of the Point

"Robinson uses Beach Plum Island to explore the conflicts that can surface between brothers and sisters, half-sisters and half-brothers, and stepsiblings when divorces rip families apart and remarriages attempt to weave them into a new fabric." --The Daily News (Newburyport, MA)

"A family novel with plenty of emotional punch. . . Robinson weaves each sister's story into a tale of grief and love that explores the ways women adapt to expectations, the consequences when those become too much to bear, and the healing power of love. Along the way, she includes details that bring every scene to life. . . An uplifting but not overly bow-tied ending makes for satisfying reading."--The Concord Monitor

"What a great cast of characters Holly Robinson has created in this fun and touching novel."--The Good, The Bad and The Unread

"Anyone liking romance with a little mystery and the shedding of a few tears will enjoy this book as much as I did."--Open Book Society

"Sensitivity clearly enables every character in this novel to grow, to expose grievous secrets and to create new life that erodes the tension too long lying just below the surface. Lovely, powerful story that is well-crafted."--Crystal Book Reviews

"In Beach Plum Island, Holly Robinson's rich details transport you to picturesque New England and right into the core of the conflicted Barrett family. Robinson tugs at your emotions from the viewpoint of the three complex and very different Barrett sisters, through whom the author deftly explores grief, secrets, and shunned family ties. This story reveals the way people become stronger when they are together rather than apart, and proves that it is never too late to become a family. Beach Plum Island is a triumphant family saga filled with heart and hope. I couldn't put it down!"--Amy Sue Nathan, author of The Glass Wives

"Holly Robinson is a natural-born storyteller and her tale of three mismatched sisters and the lost brother they search for will keep you turning those pages as she quietly but deftly breaks your heart. I loved every single one of her characters and you will too; here is a novel to savor and share."--Yona Zeldis McDonough, author of Two of A Kind

About the Author

Holly Robinson is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Huffington Post, Ladies' Home Journal, More, Open Salon, and Parents. She is the author of one previous novel, The Wishing Hill and a memoir, The Gerbil Farmer's Daughter. Robinson holds a B.A. in biology from Clark University and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She and her husband have five children, two cats, a grumpy hamster, and two very stubborn small dogs.