Beachside Beginnings

I’ll admit, I was skeptical when I first pressed play on *Beachside Beginnings*. A novel about running a beachside inn? That’s a niche so specific it could’ve been a snooze-fest. But Meg Price’s narration pulled me in within minutes, her crisp, warm delivery turning what could’ve been a dry premise into a delightfully immersive experience. Angela and Lydia are the book’s beating heart—Angela, the no-nonsense pragmatist with a soft spot for strays (literal and human), and Lydia, the free-spirited optimist who believes every problem can be solved with a potluck. Their dynamic is one of my favorite parts of the book; it’s messy, supportive, and achingly real. Price nails their dialogue, giving each woman a distinct cadence that makes their exchanges feel like overheard conversations rather than scripted lines. That said, the pacing occasionally stumbles when Baker lingers too long on descriptions of the inn’s decor or the local flora, which, while atmospheric, sometimes slows momentum. The romance subplot between Lydia and Patrick also feels a bit rushed, as if Baker was eager to get to the next big conflict. Still, Price’s performance makes up for these hiccups. Her rendering of Patrick—a grumpy, recently divorced man who’s equal parts charming and exasperating—is especially noteworthy. He’s the kind of character who could’ve come off as a cliché, but Price’s nuanced portrayal keeps him grounded. By the final act, I was fully invested in whether this ragtag group could save the inn, and that’s a testament to both Baker’s storytelling and Price’s magnetic narration. If you’re in the mood for something cozy but not saccharine, with enough emotional depth to feel satisfying, this is your audiobook.