Susan Wiggs is one of my go-to authors when I want a light breezy summer book. This book did take place on a beautiful beach in California but there was way more to the plot than just happy days. The main character had to face the consequences of going against the status quo in her town and at her high school. Her decision affected the rest of her life as she worked to find a place of peace in her life.

Nikki was the daughter of the man who runs the local surf shop. She's surfed from a young age and feels peace when she's out on the ocean. The town views her as being from the wrong side of the tracks and when she receives a scholarship from the prestigious Thornton Academy for high school, she is ignored and looked down on by many of the rich and famous students for being a townie. She decides to work harder than everyone else and ends up as the valedictorian of her graduating class. Her commencement speech has been approved but she goes off script. Her best friend had just died and his death was being covered up by the board and their rich benefactors. She doesn't get her high school diploma and her college scholarship and acceptance are rescinded. Just when things are at their worst and she is longing to get out of the small town, she is accepted into the world surf tour and falls madly in love with another surfer and they move to Australia. Her life becomes full of travel and surfing competitions and she gradually loses touch with most of the people at home. After 15 years, her boyfriend/husband dies in an auto accident and she realizes that she has nowhere to go except to go home to the town that she couldn't wait to leave years before. As she deals with her grief, she begins to accept her town and her family and friends but still doesn't know where she belongs. Will Nikki be able to settle down in the beach town where her friends and family live or will she leave to try to find what may be a happier life?

Nikki was a great main character and was willing to speak out against what she felt was wrong no matter what the consequences were to her and her life plans. She had a great affinity for nature and was the most calm and happy when she was out in the ocean on her surf board. I wish that the author had gone into more detail about her time in Australia with Johnny but even without that piece of the story this was a nice summer read. It was the story about discovering love and family after questioning it for years and it was the story of re-kindling friendships and finding new love among old friends. Put this one in your beach bag to read at the pool or the beach. ( )

Welcome to Beach Town by Susan Wiggs is a highly recommended coming-of-age novel.

Alara Cove is a California beach town known for its surfing and small town charm. Nikki Graziola, the daughter of a surfer, grew up in her dad's beach side trailer park. She became a scholarship student and valedictorian at the prestigious Thornton Academy, when, instead of her approved speech, she exposed the school's cover-up of a hazing incident that left her best friend dead. The school refused to give Nikki her diploma, even when other students came forward. She left her dreams of college behind and ended up marrying a professional surfer and becoming one herself. A tragedy has her returning to Alara Cove fifteen years later only to see the same wealthy family still controlling the town.

The novel is divided into four parts. Part one grabbed my attention and made me care about Nikki, while part two was less successful. The narrative picks up later in the novel and eventually reaches a satisfying conclusion. The plot is going to wander about quite a bit in the middle, however, before events eventually tie up all the loose ends. Set some disbelief aside, keep reading, and most readers are going to enjoy this novel as a great summer read.

As a character driven novel, the main focus are the people and you will care about them, flaws and all. All the characters are distinctive and believable. The descriptions of the beach town of Alara Cove, surfing, and making art will resonate with interested readers. Welcome to Beach Town is an enjoyable novel from start to finish if you just go with the flow.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/06/welcome-to-beach-town.html ( )