The Shore

More about the book

One summer in Seaside, the Dunne family grapples with an uncertain future, coping with loss through hard work, humor, sisterhood, and friendship. Brian and Margot Dunne live year-round with their daughters, Liz and Evy, running a real estate company to maintain their livelihood. Their lives are upended when Brian is diagnosed with a brain tumor, leading to violent outbursts and erratic behavior. Amid this turmoil, Liz yearns for the flirtation and adventure typical of teenage life. Meanwhile, Evy, who works in a candy shop, develops a sarcastic edge and falls for her friend Olivia, all while secretly adopting an online persona as a middle-aged mom to connect with her mother. Margot faces an impossible choice driven by grief and the impact of their seaside life. As the family struggles to hold it together, leaving the beach behind becomes a tempting option. This poignant debut explores the pain of losing someone who becomes a stranger, the challenges of running a small business in a tourist town, and the ways we seek connection when our families can’t fulfill our needs. It also highlights the nostalgic comfort in revisiting past selves and the deepening understanding between sisters as they confront mortality while navigating their coming-of-age journeys.