Review 
The Last Beach Bungalow by Jennie Nash, Berkley Books 2008, 265 pages.
The goodreads.com blurb says this: “A poignant novel about a woman who survives breast cancer, only to struggle with what comes next: living.“
MOTIVATION for READING: I enjoyed ‘meeting’ Jennie Nash and her book The Only True Genius in the Family (my review) and wanted to purchase one of her books (I want to support authors so they keep working!) Softdrink recommended this, too. (See her hilarious post on titles.)
WHAT’s it ABOUT: A wonderful husband is building his wife a ‘dream’ home but the wife isn’t so sure what exactly her dream home is… Might it be that last bungalow on the beach?
the NOT-so-GOOD, the GOOD, and my random thoughts and reactions… I didn’t like this one as much as True Genius. (see? I shortened it – hope that’s OK!) I honestly didn’t like April* (the main character) all that much, if at all. I am not sure we would be friends. Oh, I’m sure I would be small-talkin’ at a party with her but I doubt I’d ever meet her for lunch. I probably would be more likely to hang with her bff since she was a realtor and I used to sell houses. And April’s husband was incredible! But anyway, where was ?
Oh, I do want to celebrate her five year mark of being cancer-free and I appreciate that the book was April’s dealing with her LIFE and not just her own image of a cancer survivor, if that makes sense. This truly is a book about figuring it all out. IT ALL being life, goals, dreams and how well we are working for what we really want – Nash is EXCELLENT at capturing day to day with humor and a light touch while still embracing (ugh, is ‘embracing’ the right word? how about) WEAVING in the fact that shit happens and we have to deal. Or should I reverse all that:
Nash is good at recognizing sucky things and making it real without being overly sad or a drag.
She obviously does great research and skillfully captures a time period – recent but easily dated (references to popular culture, for example.) She can really ’set the scene’ of everyday living – how a cafe looks and smells, the feel of lingerie and the atmosphere of shopping for it, etc.
But I still didn’t like April much even though I was touched by the ending and can’t find too much at fault with the portrayal of her as a believable and flawed but and likable character. Yea, by the end, I almost liked April and I was cheering for her. I even cried a little.
And RRRrrrrrrr – I was mad about the bungalow.
Three slices of pie. 
* The girl didn’t like dogs. Dog owners (like me) annoyed her. Oh, come on! Isn’t Oscar just TOO CUTE?!
I haven’t read anything by this author. I think I’ll try True Genius first. I have a hard time when I don’t like the main character much, but it sounds like this is a well-written book.
–Anna
I will not discourage anyone from reading a Jennie Nash novel (I have yet to read her nonfiction) and True Genius is very good! This book is good, too, just not my favorite. Nash is a terrific writer.
I’m with you – I like to support authors and publishers! I haven’t read any of Jennie Nash’s work and think I’d like to start with True Genius too.
Kathy – I can recommend Nash 100% to you knowing what books you like – these are smart, well written and have the perfect balance of humor and toughness. You also are a dog-lover so just read this and brush over those parts! ha.
I just came from Jennie Nash’s blog and she has a great letter posted there from a woman who had read this book and had a very similar experience with a beach house and breast cancer. You should definitely check it out.
Thank you Lisa! I just did (check it out) and you are correct – what a lovely letter!
I also want to add that Ms. Nash has the best Reader Guides, imo and I love the bits about what inspired her to write this book. Very cool.
You beat me to the review again!
But I agree…Last Genius over Beach Bungalow.
I want to read something by Nash too. I think I’ll start with True Genious.
Character doesn’t like dogs!? Although the being annoyed with dog owners does make sense to me what with the title being The Last Beach Bungalow.
Yeah I’m a total b*tch about my dogs but they’re my babies 
There’s more than a few beaches around here and we’ve run into quite a few a-holes who think dogs should not be on “their” beaches! What I love pointing out is that all the salt water beaches here are crown property and available for public use – whether you built a multi-million dollar house or not
Its hard to like a book when you don’t like the main character.
I just finished a book where I hated ALL the characters. Still trying to figure out how (or if) I should review it.
One thing I find difficult about reading more than one book by the same author is when I have to say “I thought B was better than A” which isn’t to say that A was a bad book, only that by comparison, B was better. I wonder how authors feel about reviewers comparing their books like that. Is it like comparing apples and oranges? Or (for you) apple PIE and orange PIE (is there such a thing?)
I think I’ll go to bed now.. yeah, it’s time. I’ve stopped making sense.
Nite!
Hi Care– Just wanted to say that I liked your review, warts and all, and I guess I’m glad my second novel seems better than my first! That means I’m getting better. I have just, just, just finished my third novel — the one whose title is perplexing me — and I am pleased to say that there is a dog very much at the center, precisely because I had so many dog lovers get mad at me for April’s opinion about canines! I thought it would be fun to write a character who liked dogs, then had a very good reason NOT to like them, and them came around again at the end. The dog’s name is Luna — as in Lunatic, and as in moon. The book is due out in May 2010….so stay tuned
Thanks Jennie – oh yes! thank you! I am very excited that you will have a new novel out next year. I was reading somewhere? that you might have a poll to help pick out the title? How about “Lunatic Moon” but that makes it sound like it’s only about the dog and I bet that’s not quite the case.
@softdrink – not a race, not a race.
@Violet – do read True Genius! I think I can safely recommend this considering your reading tastes.
@Joanne & @serena – sometimes it’s the little things – although, liking dogs is a big one for me. I had a few (tiny) things, too which just built into ‘I don’t like this character!’ oh well. I am a responsible pet owner and I do get annoyed with stupid owners who let their dogs run and do their biz w/o picking up after them.
@lisa – tough, isn’t it. Especially when we try to be nice? I think that book comparison is just going to happen when you read multiples. Like Jennie says – as long as they keep getting better and better? It was still a decent book! I just liked True Genius more.
AND YES! I’ve made an orange cream pie (frozen, jello) and an orange meringue pie!