NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Two sisters must learn from each other’s strengths and trust in the redeeming power of love in a touching new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber. The Lakey sisters are perfect opposites. After their mother died and their father was lost in grief, Willa had no choice but to raise her sister, Harper, and their brother, Lucas. Then, as an … brother, Lucas. Then, as an adult, she put her own life on hold to nurse Harper through a terrifying illness. Now that Harper is better and the sisters are living as roommates, Willa has realized her dream of running her own bakery and coffee shop, bringing her special brand of caretaking to the whole Oceanside community.
Harper, on the other hand, is always on the go. Overcoming a terrible illness has given her a new lease on life, and she does not intend to waste it. When Harper announces her plan to summit Mount Rainier, Willa fears she may be pushing herself too far. Harper, for her part, urges Willa to stop worrying and do something outside of her comfort zone—like taking a chance on love with a handsome new customer.
Sean O’Malley is as charming as he is intriguing—a freelance photographer whose assignments take him to the ends of the earth. Soon Willa’s falling for him in a way that is both exciting and terrifying. But life has taught Willa to hedge her bets, and she wonders whether the potential heartache is worth the risk.
Life has more challenges in store for them all. But both sisters will discover that even in the darkest moments, family is everything.
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Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 4
Have tissues handy.
This was a different sort of book from what I’ve come to expect from Debbie Macomber. I don’t read too many of her books any more as they have gotten a bit too sweet for my tastes. This one deals with some pretty heavy stuff and there probably should be a trigger warning on it.
I tried to read this book not long after I was granted a review copy from NetGalley but I just couldn’t get into it. I recently found that my library had a copy of the audiobook and decided to give that a try. My husband and I like to listen to audiobooks in the car and we listened to this one together. We both enjoyed I for the most part.
I’d never listened to any books performed by Roger Wayne or Sandy Rustin. I enjoyed both performer’s voices, particularly Roger Wayne’s and I will look for more books that he’s performed.
The book is about a family that is struggling. After the mother dies the father turns to alcohol and nearly destroys his relationship with his grown children – two daughters and one son. It’s also about the deep love and friendship between the two sisters. After their mother’s death, one sister fights a battle with leukemia and the father once again turns to alcohol while the other sister tries to hold the family together and run her own business.
But not all of the story is depressing. There are light moments when one sister adopts a cat. And there are sweet moments between the other sister and her budding romantic interest. Thing go awry with their relationship for various reasons but they eventually get a satisfying HEA.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
Any book of Debbie Macomber is always worth reading. She’s one of my favorites.
This book was a bit choppy not her best work but an okay read.
Very enjoyable and moving tribute to a friend. Explores loss and grief, family, and love. I just felt perhaps a little unnecessary hitch between two characters before their final resolution.
I couldn’t stop reading this book. I love the style of writing by Debbie and I was crying at the end. A must read for anyone who loves Debbie.
I love the author her books are very uplifting
What an amazing book. I have to admit, it wasn’t what I expected, but I really picked it up because of the author. This was an wonderful read. I made me laugh, smile, cry, and sigh. Willa lost her mother as a young teenager. She took her place and “mothered” everyone when her father couldn’t cope. She especially took on the responsibility of watching over her younger sister Harper. Harper was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was a teenager and Willa has always worried about her. Harper is the vivacious, pretty sister (or so Willa thinks). Then Sean comes into Willa’s life and sweeps her off her feet. This books has highs where all is well and then come the lows where Willa struggles. This is a story about surviving and growing and learning to let others in. Wonderful.
I love Debbie Macomber and the way she can tell a story. She always reels me in and keeps me turning the page. The characters are flawed as we all are but there is love in the people of the story. Wonderful, heart warming, and oh so emotional.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and offer my honest review of this book.
Easy and enjoyable read.
An emotional book. Sisters Willa and Harper have gone through the worst together and now are ready for good things to happen. For Willa, she has opened her own coffee/bakery. She enjoys seeing the people come in everyday. Harper is the risk taker. She has gone bungee jumping and plans to climb Mt. Ranier. This has Willa’s spidy senses going off. Now Sean O’Malley comes in everyday for coffee and a cinnamon roll. He does this because Willa has captured his heart. As a photographer he travels the world but Oceanside is home. So Harper, ever playing the matchmaker, decides they would be perfect for each other. It all starts with A Walk Along the Beach. Falling in love was the easy part. Dealing with his job not so much, especially when she needed him the most. Can Willa open her heart to love again? Is is worth the risk when it was just ripped out? Will Sean have the patience to wait this storm out and be there for her?
Very well written and holds your attention. Very well worth the read!
Good story, good plot and good setting. Another winner from this popular writer!
This book was good, but so emotional for the last half. Debbie Macomber is a great writer of women’s fiction and really brings her characters to life. I was invested in the story of sisters Willa and Harper and their lives. I was rooting for them throughout the whole book. Definitely need some tissues while you are reading this book.
This is one of Debbie Macomber’s Best Books Ever! I would Highly Recommend it!
I Loved this story, even though it had a very sad/tragic and tear-jerking part near the end of the book. The whole book was very well written and it made me feel everything the main character was feeling and going through.
I loved the very close-knit family, the group of close friends and townspeople who were there to help when needed and the beach-town setting.
Macomber’s books are always good reads, and this one is no exception. The book deals with one family’s struggles with the death of a dear sister/daughter. Cancer: It’s a topic that most of us have to deal with at some point, so it is good to think about.
I enjoyed this book very much. Slow start but a paw turner once the story got going
Heartwarming and sweet journey filled with interesting and engaging charters, witty dialog, fun twists and emotional turns. Highly entertaining adventure from beginning to end and so hard to put down.
I really like Debbie Macomber’s books and imperfect characters but nothing prepared me for all the emotions I felt with A Walk Along the Beach. Waht a beautiful journey!
First, because the book has two parts: the first one has a great focus on the friendship and affection between the two sisters and on winning Sean and Willa’s love; in the second part, we already have an even greater focus on Willa.
This is one of those kinds of books that we can’t talk about much, because everything can be a spoiler and it’s also the kind that we want to read slowly, enjoying every moment and suffering in every situation presented.
I loved seeing again the characters of A Cottage by the Sea
4/5 stars
Love her books
A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber is a novel that surprised me greatly. I have to be honest, as a long time fan of this author’s work, I will pick up any book by this author and read it without question. So, the title of this book made me think that it would be the perfect summer beach read. So, I took it along to the beach this summer. And it blew me away! I truly believe that this author’s books keep getting better and better, which is hard to imagine because they have always been characterized by stellar storytelling. Here, in this particular novel, Ms Macomber sets herself apart by creating highly developed characters and a story charged with intense emotion. I cried quite a bit while reading this story. While it is not exactly light-hearted, readers of women’s fiction and romance will love this book. But I believe that this book would appeal to many, many readers. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
I absolutely love to read Debbie’s books. There is not a single one of her books that have read that I have fallen in love with! She has a way of writing that makes you feel like you are just another one of her great characters! Thank you Debbie for writing such great bookS for us tor fall in love with!!