I’d give this 4 or 4.5 stars out of 5. I really enjoyed this book! Normally I take my time with a good read but once I got into this book, I could not put it down!

I liked that the book was told through both Caroline & Aidan’s perspectives, however I did find some parts confusing, as stated by others below, some parts didn’t match up and had you guessing which person/part was true/actually happened. I think the book was a bit longer than needed to be (341 pages but I feel 300 or less would have been better - in some parts I did find it dragged a little, but only for a few minutes).

Overall, a great read! This is my first Michele Campbell book, but I just picked up a few more of hers. If they’re anything like this book - Ive found a new fave author!

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Who can you believe when both people are convinced they are telling the truth??

PLOT SUMMARY: Caroline is devastated. She is certain her husband of twenty years, Jason, is having an affair. If it’s not an affair, then why is he acting so strange? Why did he advise her to divorce him, and then drain their accounts of money? Confused and in pain, she heads to the local bar and picks up a handsome young bartender. Revenge was temporarily great...until it wasn’t. The bartender, Aidan, becomes obsessed with Caroline and she’s terrified about what she has invited into her life. Is it possible she just made everything worse?

But is all as it seems? Alternating chapters from Caroline and Aidan’s perspectives only serve to complicate matters until no one is sure where the truth lies, or who is telling it.

PROS: Fast paced, electric and FULL of surprises!

CONS: Sort of frustrating actually to read one chapter, only to have it totally contradicted. I just wanted to shout - what is going on????

YES or NO: It’s a YES for sure - a book that delivers this type of reaction deserves to be read.

4 Stars

Agree with a previous review, it started out very captivating but 1/3 of the way in I hated the main characters, was skim reading because of the overuse of the same phrases. The unreliable narrators weren't enjoyable for me, it was confusing and yes the ending was cliche and left me asking a lot of questions. Haphazardly written and feels like it was thrown together just to get a "twist" at the end that didn't really make any sense to me, grasping at straws. I wouldn't recommend.

This book was ridiculous to read. The characters were one dimensional and stupid. And the narrative lacked plausibility. I skimmed through most of the book and was glad when it was over

Sorry, I couldn't get into this one. The author used trite cliches and over used phrases throughout to the point of tedium. Not believable or enjoyable.

Great psychological thriller. Two very different narratives unfold, leaving the reader to guess which one, if either, is reliable.

A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell is a psychological thriller that is unpredictable. Caroline Stark is a happily married woman who has recently moved into her dream home: a high-end beach mansion in the Hamptons. A house-warming party turns into an embarrassment when Caroline and her husband have a loud argument about "the other woman". Caroline soon turns to Aidan, a local bartender and ex-con for solace and a short sexual relationship soon ensues. Although many of the characters are not likable, the reader's interest is maintained throughout by the many plot twists. Who is the good person, who is the bad, will change from page to page and you will not know who to cheer for. Who will commit a crime? Who will be blamed for the crime? Who will be the victim of the crime? Meanwhile, in the background, a hurricane is brewing. Suspense abounds.

Very good and catching from the start. The story line keeps you going but the end was a cliche. Overall it was a good starter mystery.

Loved this mystery! This is the author’s third book and all have been fantastic and hard to put down! Love the way the plot twists and turns and you are left practically to the last page to solve the crime! Highly recommend!

When two unreliable narrators get together.....