Full disclosure: I haven't read Mary Kay Andrews's novel Beach Town, to which this novella serves as a prequel.

That said, this novella packs quite a lot into 100 pages. Greer is a location scout who has to deal with unreasonable directors, a has-been mother who can't seem to get a new role, and an aging grandmother who keeps getting kicked out of her nursing home. It's a full life, and of course there are a few twists in store...

Andrews's writing is tight and keeps the action moving along. If I'd had a copy of Beach Town lying around, I probably would have picked it up immediately afterward.


I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. ( )

This is an odd little prequel.The second half feels very rushed, like it's trying to cover way too much territory without turning itself into a full length novel. The writing is good, however, and the topics aren't entirely cliche. It didn't make me want to read the book it leads into, so you can call it successful in that regard. ( )

A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Kay Andrews combines her witty trademark southern style with CHANGE OF SCENE, a prequel to Beach Town (highly recommend), coming in paperback format, May 2016 with a sneak preview included- providing insights to the character, Greer Hennessy and what takes her from LA, to Florida’s Northwest Coastal area.

An inter-generational witty tale of three strong women--all with a Hollywood background:

A Feisty Grandmother: A Hollywood career, Dearie (Deidre)—eighty-seven, is still hanging on and gets kicked out of every nursing home. She is a non-conformist and does not follow rules. She is all about having fun. If they do not find her a new home, she will have to move in with daughter or granddaughter, Greer or Lise. Faced with long waiting lists, Lise says no to her apartment since she is doing phone sex. Greer lives in a one bedroom and her grandmother will not make the best housemate. Her grandmother wants in the Motion Picture Home.

An Independent Mother Lise, now too old for Hollywood acting gigs, has turned to phone sex in order to keep up her expensive lifestyle, and pay for keeping her mom in a home. After all, she was performing a valuable service—in her mind it was just another acting gig. Plus she is not herself and her daughter is worried. What secrets is she hiding? What about Cary Grant?

A Tenacious Granddaughter: Age thirty-six, a film location scout, Greer Hennessey was a city girl, born and raised in L.A. She could fake the seasons with spray paint and provide all kinds of movie magic, and props where needed. A talent scout-- her latest project has turned into a disaster. She was accustomed to dealing with difficult people; however, her gift was winning them over, persuading them that her way was the best way.

Greer, is now jobless—turning into one ugly mess, she had allowed herself to get conned on location, there was a fire, and now Hank was blaming her. Now on to the next location and job. Her career, her mom, and now her grandmother to worry about. Trying to find Dearie a place to call home, while trying to take care of finances.

Plus her mom wants her to look up her dad, Clint down in Florida Panhandle. She is looking for a small town beach, laid back location with palm trees, old motels, a pier, with a throw back feeling-- to shoot a film. Did her father even have any interest in reaching out to his daughter?

Three strong independent and funny women, fighting all odds and many life lessons. As always, Mary Kay Andrews has the best summer beach reads, drawing you to the coastal seaside with fun, mischief, and sass.

Highly recommend BEACH TOWN and just finished THE WEEKENDERS, one of her best, coming, May 17 (2016 Best Beach Cover)! Of course, I love books set in Florida and a long time fan of Mary Kay Andrews.

Every time I think of this location she is searching for, I think of Palm Beach County's—1920’s Lake Worth Casino Building and Beach Complex, a throwback, recently renovated.

JDCMustReadBooks ( )

First of all…lightening fast read. Of course, it is a novella!

This started a little slow for me. But, in true MKA fashion, the story twists and turns and soon the reader is enveloped into the plot and there is no turning back.

Greer has made a huge mistake as a movie location scout. And as a result, she looses her job. This leaves her NO MONEY but plenty of time to reconnect with her family.

Dearie is her grandmother and BOY is she a pistol. After getting kicked out of one nursing home, Greer must find her a new place to live. On top all this, Greer finds out her mother has cancer.

I love MKA! All her books are awesome. Great characters, funny and serious all at the same time. This mix is classic MKA and extremely entertaining. I have met her a few times and she is as magnificent as her books.

This is a prequel to MKA’s novel Beach Town. Beach Town will be released in paperback on May 3, 2016.

I received this book from Netgalley for a honest review ( )