The Beach Trap by Ali Brady

Two best friends torn apart by a life-altering secret. They have one summer to set the record straight.

When twelve-year-olds Kat Steiner and Blake O’Neill meet at Camp Chickawah, they have an instant connection. But everything falls apart when they learn they’re not just best friends—they’re also half-sisters. Confused and betrayed, their friendship instantly crumbles.

Fifteen years later when their father dies suddenly, Kat and Blake discover he’s left them a joint inheritance: the family beach house in Destin, Florida. The two sisters are instantly at odds. Blake, who has recently been demoted from regular nanny to dog nanny, wants to sell the house, while social media influencer Kat is desperate to keep the place where she had so many happy childhood memories.

Kat and Blake reluctantly join forces to renovate the dilapidated house with the understanding that Kat will try to buy Blake out at the end of the summer. The women clash as Blake’s renovation plans conflict with Kat’s creative vision, and each sister finds herself drawn into a summer romance. As the weeks pass, the two women realize the most difficult project they face this summer will be coming to grips with their shared past, and learning how to become sisters.

Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 14th 2022

 by Berkley Books

4/5 stars

This was an impulse purchase for me, the cover made it look fun, beachy and the perfect summer read.

Told for the POVs of two half sisters, Kat and Blake.  They meet at summer camp, become fast best friends and wham discover they have the same dad.  Each of them feels betrayed by the other and what once was a bubbling friendship shatters. Fast forward 15 years when they are forced together again. With no other option they work together on a project even when they can’t stand being around each other.

The Beach Trap is a story of relationships, not just the one between Kate and Blake but also within them themselves. That summer forces them to take stock of their lives and it was a fun journey to watch. I like the strength of these women and their determination even though they needed to get past the past hurts. I like the ending I think it was a very fitting and worked, it was fun to be on the journey with Kat and Blake.

Allie Brady is a pen name for two friends who each have previous books out in the market. The writing together worked, I didn’t even know it was a duel effort until I was writing this review. 

This book was part of my 2022 reading off my shelf challenge