The Beach House

By: Jane Green

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

From the author of Falling and Sister Stardust comes the New York Times bestseller about finding your place in the place you call home.

Ever since her life took an unexpected turn, Nan Powell has enjoyed living alone on the sun-drenched shores of Nantucket. At sixty-five, she’s just as likely to be found at Windermere, her beach front home, as she is skinny dipping in her neighbor’s pool. But when the money she thought would last forever starts to dwindle, Nan decides to do something drastic to keep hold of her free-spirited life: open up Windermere to strangers.

After placing an ad for summer rentals touting water views, direct access to the beach, and a sexagenarian roommate, Nan’s once quiet house is soon full of noise, laughter, and the occasional bout of tears. Between her eclectic new tenants and the sudden return of her son, Nan gets a taste of what life is like when you have someone to care for besides yourself. But just as she starts to happily settle in to her new existence, the arrival of a visitor from her past threatens to turn everyone’s lives upside down...©2008 Jane Green; (P)2008 Penguin

Critic reviews

“Green gives you a clear sense of Nantucket's weathered splendor and offers up a refreshing summertime getaway…best read on a deck chair somewhere.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“A sweetly memorable summer story, capturing the relaxing, renewing quality of life at the shore.”—New Orleans Times-Picayune

“Breezy…deeply appealing.”—Connecticut Post

“Green's best novel in years, a compelling, unputdownable read.”—Booklist


More Praise for the Novels of Jane Green

“Gripping and powerful.”—Emily Giffin, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“The perfect summer read.”―Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A warm bath of a novel that draws you in…Green’s sympathetic portrayals…resonate.”—USA Today

“Warm, witty, sharp and insightful. Jane Green writes with such honesty and zing.”―Sophie Kinsella, New York Times bestselling author

“Her compelling tale reflects an understanding of contemporary women that’s acute and compassionate, served up with style.”―People

“The kind of novel you’ll gobble up at a single sitting.”—Cosmopolitan

“A smart, complex, character-driven read.”—The Washington Post

“Green’s novels consistently deliver believable, accessible, heartfelt, often heartwarming stories about real people, problems, and feelings.”—Redbook

Lovely story

This was a wonderful read/listen. Twists and turns to keep you interested and coming back for more.

My husband & I absolutely loved this book as we drove to Estes Park today!!

When I get done reading a book & tell my husband about the book, he’ll say “you tell it like it really happens.” That’s how I feel about the best books I read. This is one of THOSE books. Now I want to visit Nantucket, hope my husband wants to go too!!

5 star book

great narration, interesting book with great characters. loved it. I wish there was a sequel to it.

no thanks

While this book is well written, I found it (overall) to be very...sad. The breakup and heartache of marriages and relationships falling apart was actually quite depressing, and the ending (very neatly put together) seemed to border on ridiculous. Jane Green has written much better books than this one!

I’ve read it twice

This book held my interest and I found the narrator soothing to listen to. I may never live on Nantucket or near the ocean, but for a few hours I was transported there. Thank you for the experience.