This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Carousel Beach

Summary: A cryptic letter on her grandmother’s grave and a mysterious inscription on a carousel horse leads artist Maya Brice to Hank Hauser, the ninety-year-old carver of the beloved carousel she has been hired to restore in time for its Fourth of July reopening in her Delaware beach town. Hank suffers from Alzheimer’s, but on his “better” days, Maya is enthralled by the stories of his career. On his “off” days, he mistakes her for her grandmother–his secret first love.

While stripping chipped layers of paint from the old horse and peeling layers of fragmented memories from the old man, Maya untangles the intertwined secrets of love, heartbreak, and misunderstandings between three generations of strong willed women.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

When Orly sent me this book, I immediately fell in love with the cover. Like crazy in love. It’s so charming, so optimistic, so magical.

But Orly’s book, with its charming and magical cover, deals with some topics that bring darkness to the characters’  lives.

 

What I liked:

The cover. LOVE.

Maya and her grandmother’s relationship. I loved it and wished I could have taken a carousel ride with both of them.

Maya and her brother’s relationship. While brothers are required by law to be annoying to their sisters- there was moments of insightfulness in their interactions that only someone who can love and annoy you in the same breath could reveal.

 

Bottom line: For me, the cover set my mind to easy-breezy beach reading. Frolicking on the sand, an ice-cream cone melting down my arm, and the heady aroma of tropical smelling sunscreen tickling my nose. However, this book deals with some hard topics and Maya- who at times I found myself rooting for and other times- wanting to shake her and say “This is your life and you are just standing by!” Carousel Beach is worth reading- for Orly’s ability to make you think about these characters and their actions long after the last page is turned.

 

*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

 

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*Have you added Carousel Beach to your “Want To Read” list?*

 

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T