CINNAMON BEACH

Secrecy and deep sorrow complicate new beginnings in Kamata’s novel, told through the eyes of three women.

In 2021, Olivia Hamada, a newly unemployed American living in Japan, is grieving the loss of her brother, Ted, and hiding her divorce from everyone—including the 18-year-old twins whom she had with her Japanese ex-husband. It’s been more than a year since Ted’s unexpected death and pandemic travel restrictions have lifted, allowing Olivia, a former English-language writing instructor, and her children to travel to the United States to spread the last of Ted’s ashes and spend the summer with his widow, Parisa Hubbard, at her idyllic South Carolina beach house. Parisa, a successful fashion designer whose creations are inspired by her South Asian heritage, is ready to embrace a fresh chapter, but, fearing that she’ll upset Ted’s family, she keeps her big plans to herself. Lastly, readers meet Sophie, Olivia’s deaf daughter, who attends a specialized high school with only 12 students and is craving new experiences. Her wish is granted when she meets the eye-catching Dante, sparking a sweet, summer romance. Sophie vows to keep the relationship hidden, but this proves to be surprisingly difficult. When Olivia has a run-in with Devon Richards, a now-famous country singer from her past, she’s unable to resist their sizzling mutual attraction, which they must keep secret. At times, Kamata’s novel leans too heavily on backstory. However, the short chapters dedicated to each character, and tender moments interspersed with messy, rom-com-worthy entanglements, will keep readers intrigued. Lush images of sand and surf offer a breezy escape from tougher emotional scenes: “Farther up the beach, beyond the waving grass, people were gathering on decks and porches, firing up their grills, popping open bottles of beer, hanging their wet towels over railings.” References to Japanese and Indian traditions also enrich the pages. Kamata delicately weaves heartbreak with humor throughout the story, and authentically captures the complex inner lives of women at various stages navigating wildly different obstacles.

A touching tale that balances love, loss, and family drama.