This Was Not the Plan by Cristina Alger is an excellent beach book. The story of newly widowed Charlie and his five year old son Caleb hinges on the never ending work/life balance conundrum. Charlie is up for partnership at a white shoe Manhattan firm where he has worked crazy hours for ten years. Fortunately his sister Zadie helps with Caleb. Life take some turns fairly quickly and the characters have to adapt. There is ample humor, a lot of tender heartedness and some very good writing between the book covers.