Whisper Beach: A Novel

Written by Shelley Noble

Narrated by Marni Penning

From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Colors and Breakwater Bay comes this unforgettable story—reminiscent of Kristin Hannah’s beloved novels—of friends, loyalty, and love as three women who are reunited in the idyllic beach town where they grew up are forced to re-evaluate their bonds.

Fifteen years ago, seventeen-year-old Vanessa Moran fell in love and lost her virginity but not to the same boy. Pregnant, desperate, and humiliated, she fled friends and family and Whisper Beach, New Jersey, never breathing a word about her secret to anyone. She hasn’t been back since. Now a professional Manhattan organizer, she returns to the funeral of her best friend’s husband. She intends on just paying her respects and leaving—though she can’t deny she also wants the town to see how far she’s come as a successful business woman. But her plans to make this a short visit fall by the wayside when her girlfriends have other ideas.

Dorie, the owner of the pier’s Blue Crab Restaurant where Van and her friends worked as teenagers, needs help. Dorie’s roving husband spends every penny they make and now their restaurant is failing.

Joe, the boy Van left behind without an explanation, has never stopped loving her. While he’s wary of getting hurt again, he also can’t help wondering what would happen if they took up where they left off.

As the summer progresses and the restaurant takes on a new look, trouble comes from unexpected sources. For Van, this summer will test the meaning of friendship and trust—and how far love can bend before it breaks.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Nov 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9780063074576

Shelley Noble

Shelley Noble is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Whisper Beach, Beach Colors, and The Tiffany Girls, the story of the largely unknown women artists responsible for much of Tiffany’s legendary glasswork, as well as several historical mysteries. A former professor, professional dancer and choreographer, she now lives in New Jersey halfway between the shore, where she loves visiting lighthouses and vintage carousels, and New York City, where she delights in the architecture, the theatre, and ferreting out the old stories behind the new. Shelley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Historical Novel Society.

Reviews for Whisper Beach

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well, I know this sat on my TBR shelf, too long, but sometimes I'm happy to find a happy, feel comfortable, read on the shelf and plow through it, then sad its done! For you that love these type of books, that's all I have to say!

[smallwonder56_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Whisper Beach is a satisfying coming-home novel. Van, the main character, returns to her home town for her cousin's husband's funeral and stays "for a few days". A few days turn into more time, and she has a chance to revisit the things that made her leave and look into herself a bit more. I loved Van's character--a little snarky, intelligent but with a tendency to bolt. It was well-written and better than what you see as standard "chick lit". I enjoyed the book and recommend it to others.

[belvaw_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book as I was prepared to find it boring and lacking a plot. But it was an enjoyable read with a good story line. However, I was a little disappointed in the ending as I felt it needed more development, it kind of left you hanging. I would recommend this one to fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer. I was provided a free copy of this book by the publisher via Library Thing.

[mrsmommybooknerd7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My first book by Noble and it did not disappoint!!! The setting was so perfect, I want to take a vacation at Whisper Beach! But more than the setting was the wonderful story, heartbreaking, honest and powerful...capturing the truth of the depth of friendships and the bonds that even when broken are so strong! 4 stars

[raineybird · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Can you ever really go home, is it really how you remember it? After leaving Whisper Beach twelve years ago Van is returning with her secrets, for the funeral of her best friend and cousins husband. Re-connection is the main focus I saw in this story. Each persons view of the past and what we can learn from listening.I loved the characters, found Whisper Beach a warm and satisfying read.

[haymaai · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received ‘Whisper Beach’ as a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway novel. Although the story is a noble one, I was unable to fully connect with the characters in the novel, causing the story to move along more slowly than I would have liked. The characters, which are not described in much detail, are all flawed in some way and are dealing with issues confronting them in the idyllic town of Whisper Beach. Van Moran, the successful owner of a Manhattan business organizing wealthy clients, returns to Whisper Beach for a family funeral. Upon her return, she must resolve issues that haunt her from the past, namely a mentally abusive and alcoholic father, as well as a boyfriend that she ran out on years ago. While at Whisper Beach, Van stays at the home of Dorie, the owner of the town’s Blue Crab restaurant. Dorie, whose husband has squandered the profits from the business and left town, is saddled with a nearly bankrupt eatery. Together with other friends, Van helps Dorie to reorganize and revitalize the restaurant. This story is about friendship, and how one must embrace the past before being able to move forward into the future.

[fernemysteryreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ever since the publication of Thomas Wolfe’s novel, “You Can’t Go Home Again” the title as a phrase is well-known across the generations even if the individual has never read the novel and knows nothing but the title. “Whisper Beach” provides a twist to become the question, “Can Vanessa ‘Van’ Moran go home again?” A reader quickly becomes engrossed in wonder of all the possibilities as it is learned that Van left her hometown of Whisper Beach without goodbyes 12 years ago and some people think she might even be dead. Van’s cousin Gigi gave her all the money she had saved for nursing school as Van left town but Gigi doesn’t know the true reason Van was so desperate to leave. There’s only 1 girlfriend that knows the truth. As Van returns for the funeral of her cousin’s husband Clay Daly, the plan is simple, attend the funeral, stay a few days for Gigi, perhaps put the old beach cottage that has been passed down through the female generations of her family up for sale, and then enjoy some vacation time as reserved at the 4-star hotel and spa in Rehoboth Beach. Simple. Organized. Planned. Life as Van prefers and has created with the success of her own business, Elite Lifestyle Managers, in New York.I loved this book! “Can you go home again?” A timeless question and this novel reveals the possibilities with thoughtfulness as each relationship that touches Van’s life is explored. The character descriptions are revealed at perfect pace as various encounters begin on Van’s return to Whisper Beach. Van seems not the only one to have secrets. One of the aspects about this novel that I loved the most was the exploration of the human character. How we sometimes presume we know what we know about family and friends when we really know nothing at all about what another has gone through because we haven’t walked all the miles alongside them – we’ve only been with them for pieces of their life journey. How we sometimes are judgmental with the best of intentions but again without all the facts. When we reveal the secrets of our lives to one another and the truth brings not the judgment as anticipated, not the criticism as feared, but we are given acceptance, understanding, and love. I’m sure this novel will bring lively discussion at book club meetings. But, I’m hoping the novel will also be discovered by readers that might not necessarily be interested in book club participation but that would benefit by a little self-introspection before taking the next steps on their own life journey. It is a story that might also offer encouragement, courage and hope to someone wondering if it’s time to unburden their heart and share their secret.The cover art is beautiful in its simplicity and seems to invite each reader individually to the beach and to reminisce of their own past summer experiences at the beach. The cover art then changes to a slightly different scene but as a pen and ink drawing to open each chapter. The author gives credit to The William Morrow Art Department in the acknowledgments and I effusively concur. Simple. Picturesque. Welcoming. I can’t wait to read more of this author’s novels.I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this title as an “Early Reviewer” from Library Thing.

[bnbookgirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the book even though is was a bit "romancy" for me. I was intrigued at how an incident from high school could have such a lasting event of relationships twelve years later. The story does cover some tough issues: alcoholism, abusive relationships, and friendship. Each of the girls in the story is dealing with their own present issues and the past seems to keep interfering with how they deal with them. I found Dorrie's character to be quite interesting, she still had such strong feelings for these girls who worked for her during high school. I was glad that the novel was not wrapped up all neat and tidy. It makes the story much more realistic. I enjoyed the small town beach setting. This is most definitely an easy read and doesn't require a lot of thinking. Makes for a good beach read.

[joyanne-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A story of friends reuniting and facing issues from the past and present. Van returns to Whisper Beach to attend a funeral and to heal from a broken relationship. Seeing her boyfriend with someone else has hurt her deeply. Things happen during her visit that bring an array of emotions. Easily drawn into the story I quickly lost time in reading this delightful book. I was, however, somewhat disappointed the way the ending was wrapped up so fast. Overall, I enjoyed the book, the characters are likeable, the setting is fun, and the experiences are heart felt.

[judithdcollins · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A special thank you to LibraryThing and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. A long-time fan of talented Shelly Noble, she once again delivers a story from the heart, WHISPER BEACH, an ideal summer beach read of complex relationships and friendships.Vanessa (Van) lived at Whisper Beach, an idyllic beach town, growing up with a difficult childhood-- her dad an abusive alcoholic and in addition, she blamed him for her mother’s accidental death. A cousin, Gigi gave her money to escape the town and she moved to Manhattan, attended school, and later she became successful with her own business as a professional organizer. She never wanted to return to this place of bad memories. Now, she receives the news from Gigi, her cousin’s husband has died and she returns after fifteen years to Whisper Beach to support her cousin. She plans for a quick visit to Jersey Shore; however convinced by Gigi and her friends Suze and Dorie to spend her vacation in Whisper Beach.While in town she stays Dorie, owner of Blue Crab Restaurant, where she worked as a teen at the famous pier restaurant. Dorie was always there for her when she was younger. Van intends to only stay for a weekend, but her plans fall by the wayside as the troubles of this coastal town draw her beach, so she stays to help repair the restaurant before it goes into bankruptcy.As they begin repairing the restaurant, she runs into her ex-boyfriend and he is ready to pick back up where they left off. Something happened years ago—the night when she saw Joe and someone else in his truck. Soon memories will return of the anger and rage she has pent up. Vanessa will need to face her past, as we meet all the people who crossed her path. As the restaurant begins to thrive and Van reconnects with old friends, trouble comes from an unexpected source and she realizes she must face the decisions of her past or sacrifice this new life she has so carefully built. Lots of drama as each of the friends have issues; however, everything may not be as it appears. Can each of them move on and leave the past behind? Noble sets the mood for an intriguing and mysterious story of something happening years ago. Slowly each character and a story unravels as we come to terms with the abusive memories from the past.A heartfelt story of friends, reuniting in this idyllic beach town on the Jersey Shore, as they reevaluate their loyalty and friendship to one another. The books sets itself up for a continuation, so hoping to see more to come!

[whitreidtan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

We are created by many things: our upbringing, our experiences, the people who influence and shape our lives for better or worse, expectations, and more. Each of these things plays some part in who we become and how we view the world. But sometimes we have no desire to revisit the things that forged our character, preferring to sweep the past under the rug and push forward to the future, even if we really do need to face our pasts head on. The main character in Shelley Noble's newest novel wants no part of the memories or reality of her past but she's going to be forced to confront both.Vanessa Moran was raised in Whisper Beach. He father was an alcoholic and she's always blamed him for causing her mother's death and for his inability to love her. In order to survive, Van created a family of her own: Dorie, the owner of the Blue Crab Restaurant who not only gave the teenaged Van a job but also loved and advised her as a surrogate mother; her cousin Gigi, who was her best friend and was the person their whole group protected in all her sweet helplessness; Suze, the rich girl who was a constant disappointment to her mother but was loyal to her friends at the Crab; Dana, the good time girl who always had a bit of an edge to her; and Joe, Van's boyfriend and love of her life who folded her into his large and welcoming family. But when Van saw Joe in the backseat of his truck with Dana atop him, she made the mistake that would propel her away from Whisper Beach and the people she thought she knew. She got drunk, slept with a college boy whose name she never even knew, and ended up pregnant. When her father called her a whore and threw her out, with a little help from Gigi and Suze, she left town and built herself a life in Manhattan, cutting all ties with Whisper Beach. Now a very successful professional organizer proud of rising above her roots, she is reluctantly being drawn back to her hometown for the funeral of Gigi's husband. She has no intention of staying and dredging up all the things she'd rather keep buried. She'll go to the funeral and then head further down the shore to take her vacation in a place that doesn't remind her of what she once lost.But things rarely go as planned and Van discovers that she cannot leave her old friends high and dry again. Dorie is on the brink of losing the Blue Crab. Suze is frantically waiting for the second piece of a grant application that will allow her to take time off to write a book to further her academic career. Gigi is a fragile mess. And Dana, who Van wants to see almost as little as she wants to see Joe, turns up at Dorie's door badly beaten up by her cop boyfriend (and not for the first time). Van might have abandoned them once, but this time she'll try to help everyone fix their lives before she goes. As she wades into the challenges facing her old friends, she is still determined to ignore her own unresolved issues from the past, especially the issue named Joe because that one just hurts too much. Whisper Beach is a small place once the tourists go home though. Van finds she can't run forever, she's tentative but still strangely comfortable with Joe, and there's more than one side to every story, even those she thought she knew the truth of.The large ensemble cast leads to a plethora of story lines which are sometimes short-changed but in the grand scheme of things each of the plot threads needs to be there to further the story and reveal something about the friends and about Joe. The many characters are clearly unique and recognizably different from each other, not only in their professions and descriptions but also in their personalities. Van, as the main character who has risen above her unhappy upbringing is mostly sympathetic but occasionally she's incredibly frustrating too. The plot is generally predictable but in general the book is an easy, quick, and satisfying read that leaves just enough open at the end to allow for a sequel or just for the reader's imagination to create a perfect, feel-good ending for herself. Whisper Beach is a warm sunny day of a read about mistakes, friendship, repairing the hurts of the past, and moving on into a clearer future and readers will enjoy turning the pages as they dig their toes into the sand this summer.