“The Beach Trap is both a celebration of sisterhood and an unflinching examination of how where we come from shapes who we become…. With an HGTV-worthy plot, heaps of family drama, and a side of romance, The Beach Trap hits the nail on the head when it comes to the perfect summer read. Don’t forget to pack this one in your beach bag!”

—Sarah Grunder Ruiz, author of Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships

“From the deft manner in which the authors shift the narrative between their two protagonists to the dual romances that unfold with just the right dash of snarky wit and sexy sizzle, readers will find The Beach Trap to be an absolute delight.”

—Booklist

“A juicy beach read!”

—Motherly

“Ali Brady…hit the ball out of the park with their debut—the story is just so well done. The writing is vivid, and I felt like I was transported to the beach or living in the beach house. The Beach Trap is a sweet and uplifting story that had me cheering for Kat and Blake to resolve their differences and come to terms with their family’s sordid past. It will be the perfect book to take to the pool or the beach this summer.”

—The Buzz Magazines

“If you’re a fool for HGTV and sibling rivalry novels, toss The Beach Trap into your bag.”

—The Augusta Chronicle

Berkley Titles by Ali Brady

The Beach Trap

The Comeback Summer

Until Next Summer

Battle of the Bookstores

Dedication

For the book people—the readers, the librarians, the booksellers, and anyone who gets lost in big books, big feelings, and big, beautiful endings. This one’s for you.

Epigraph

Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it’s a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it’s a way of making contact with someone else’s imagination after a day that’s all too real.

—Nora Ephron

1

Josie

When I tell people I’m a bookseller, I’m sure they imagine me curled up in a cozy chair reading for hours, sipping coffee and discussing books, or hobnobbing with famous authors at literary events. You know, living the ultimate bookish dream, every breath filled with that intoxicating tang of fresh ink and crisp paper.

What they don’t imagine are the endless hours on my feet, my back aching from hefting twenty-pound boxes of books, or my stomach knotting from the constant stress over razor-thin profit margins and climbing overhead expenses.

Still, there’s nothing else I’d rather do. I love flicking on the lights each morning and gazing at the shelves and stacks, all neat lines and sharp corners. I love unpacking shipments of glossy new hardcovers and recommending my favorites to customers.

But the best part—the absolute, hands-down, best part of running a bookstore—is getting to read books before they come out.