The Shore

A Novel

By: Katie Runde

Narrated by: Andi Arndt, Priya Ayyar, Dan Bittner, Inés del Castillo

A mother and her two daughters spend a summer grappling with heartbreak, young love, and the weight of secrets in this “deeply felt family saga” (Entertainment Weekly) hailed as “one of the best beach reads of all time” (Today).

Brian and Margot Dunne live year-round in Seaside, just steps away from the bustling boardwalk, with their daughters Liz and Evy. The Dunnes run a real estate company, making their living by quickly turning over rental houses for tourists. But the family’s future becomes precarious when Brian develops a brain tumor, transforming into an erratic version of himself. Amidst the chaos and new caretaking responsibilities, Liz still seeks out summer adventure and flirting with a guy she should know better than to pursue. Her younger sister Evy works in a candy shop, falls in love with her friend Olivia, and secretly adopts the persona of a middle-aged mom in an online support group, where she discovers her own mother’s vulnerable confessions. Meanwhile, Margot faces an impossible choice driven by grief, impulse, and the ways that small-town life has shaped her. Falling apart is not an option, but she can always pack up and leave the beach behind.

“An emotional family drama...with endearing characters and deep insights” (Glamour), The Shore is a heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting novel infused with humor about finding sisterhood, friendship, and love in a time of crisis. This big-hearted novel examines the grit and hustle of running a small business in a tourist town, the ways we connect with strangers when our families can’t give us everything we need, and the comfort found in embracing the pleasures of youth while coping with unimaginable loss.

Family’s endurance

Sad but wonderful story of the emotional struggles that each family member experiences and handles coping with loss.
Everyone grieves in different ways

Heartbreaking coming of age story

Perhaps this hit a little too close to home for me, having recently dealt with the cancer diagnosis and death of my husband. My heart broke for this family as I empathized with their life and I understood what each was going through. Well written and the audio book was well done.

Poignant story

Slow and confused beginning but opens up to lovely story about a family whose self realization is affected by early death of husband and father.

Absolutely Loved it

What a awesome summer read . It’s Well written , with great characters, funny , touching , haunting and hopeful.. Liked it so much I actually bought a print copy to lend out. This Author has gained a fan .

Definitely recommend

a very moving story, it sunks its hooks into me quickly and didn't let go.

a quiet kind of story, steady plot, mote character focused. I felt like we really got to know everyone.