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A Beautiful Family

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A Beautiful Family

By: Jennifer Trevelyan
Narrated by: Ruby Hansen
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About this listen

As the long summer holiday stretches ahead, with her older sister more interested in boys, her mother disappearing on long walks and her father, beer in hand, watching the cricket, the youngest in the family often finds herself alone. At the beach, she meets Kahu, a boy who tells her a tragic story. A couple of years ago, a little girl went missing, presumed drowned. But no one ever found her body.

Suddenly, the summer has purpose—they will find the missing girl and become local heroes. With her family caught up in their own intrigue, she is free to diligently search for clues with her new friend. It also means she is the only one to notice her next-door neighbour, in turn, watching them. Among dips in the ocean, afternoon barbecues and lazy sunbaking, their detective work dislodges and brings to the surface shocking discoveries that will change all of their lives forever.

This thrilling debut is an assured, nostalgic meditation on growing up. A time where the space between what is observed and what is understood holds an innocent truth, on the cusp of being overtaken by an adult knowing, seen through the eyes of a brave and funny protagonist, who is worthy of a place in the pantheon of beloved child narrators.

©2025 Jennifer Trevelyan (P)2025 W.F. Howes Ltd Coming of Age Genre Fiction Funny
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Just finished this book, which I absolutely LOVED. Set on N.Z’s Nth Island in the 80’s - lots of brilliant references! - and told through the eyes of a ten yr old girl (similar style to To Kill a Mockingbird, with a beautiful mix of naivety & spirit!). So so good. Narrated on by a kiwi too, which worked so beautifully.

Feels like I’ve just had a trip back to my Walkman using, MickeyMouse-watch-wearing, summertime youth!!

I want a red Walkman now!

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This was such an absorbing listen, I couldn’t stop myself from indulging so long I’d fall asleep and then have to rewind back and delisted to parts I did not want to miss.
Excitement, fear, amusement, it brought it all back especially from the point of view if a ten year old child, knowing and guessing meaning in adult situations. Even the sibling fights felt familiar.
Loved it!

So Kiwi childhood nostalgia

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I enjoyed this very much ..
Through the eyes of a child , i could picture tje beach and the holiday destinations of my childhood.

Innocence

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Beautifully written, with rich content woven through a tapestry of interconnected stories and characters. I was disappointed that none of the stories had a conclusive ending. For me the narrative invites many complex endings or interpretations than are perhaps presumed. I can’t help but feel there may be more beneath the surface. The end left me unsatisfied. But the book is worth it regardless

A very interesting book

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Loved this! Perfectly captures the innocence of childhood and so easy to relate to. A great summer story - poignant and hopeful but scary in parts!

Surprising, nostalgic, innocent and gripping at the same time!

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