Cover Image: A Walk Along the Beach

A Walk Along the Beach

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Member Reviews

A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber is a heartwarming story of family, love and perseverance.

Following the tragic death of their mother, Willa and Harper Lakey were suddenly left to face the world alone. However, the Lakey sisters have remained inseparable since, with quiet and demure Willa relying on Harper’s adventurous and courageous nature to lead them both forward.

Just as it looks as if Willa is beginning to come into her own, a new challenge appears in the form of a handsome customer with an eye for the Lakey sisters. Harper’s encouragement for Willa to take a chance on love ultimately helps both of the sisters discover how deeply family bonds can go.

What follows is an inspiring and often emotionally gripping journey for both sisters as they come to terms with a shocking event that threatens to tear them apart. As the challenges become tougher and tougher, they come to understand that while the darkest times can be the most difficult, they can also lead to the most beautiful rewards.

A Walk Along the Beach is an uplifting read, showcasing the remarkable power of friendship, hope and the bonds of sisterhood. Fans of family dramas will not be disappointed with this uplifting novel.

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As with all Debbiesbooks I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Such a lovely book to read. A real feel good story, The book was very well written

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When I received an ARC of this latest read by Debbie Macomber it filled me with excitement.
I loved the way in which the author brings this beautiful story to life is remarkable.

This book certainly takes you on an emotional rollercoaster as the story progresses. From heart ache, to feeling your heart warming up once more, this book certainly has all the right ingredients to make it an absolute page turner.

The detail to both the setting in which this story takes place, and to that of the characters was perfection. Debbie always manages to produce characters you can't help but fall in love with, and the characters in this wonderful book are certainly no different.

I smiled, I cried, and I found myself well and truly immersed in this book. An absolute must read that was impossible to put down.

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Whenever I receive an ARC for a Debbie Macomber book it makes me smile... largely due to one of my friends telling me that I'm her new claim to fame because she knows someone who has reviewed a Debbie Macomber book. I mean... I'll take it!

I started reading A Walk Along the Beach expecting a light holiday read, nothing too heavy; a sweet, heartwarming story. I can honestly say, I got a lot more than I bargained for.

Debbie Macomber's latest book pulls you in, makes you fall in love, breaks your heart and gives you a nice big hug at the end of it. When you read this book, be ready to feel a huge mix of emotion. I'll warn you now... I cried!
Macomber has a skill for creating well developed characters who you become whole-heartedly invested in. Sisters, Willa and Harper, are complete opposites. They can get on each other's nerves and drive each other crazy, but their love and bond is stronger than any other. It's bound to be after everything they've faced together.

I don't want to say too much and give away any of the story... but if you love a heart-wrenching story and want to fall in love with some beautiful characters, then this is for you!

I'd love to hear what you thought if you've read this book yet... or if you have another Debbie Macomber fave - leave a comment below.

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A very charming read, sweet, engaging, great characters, and a wonderful story that flowed wonderfully and kept me interested until the very end.

A really lovely read.

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I was so sad to read Debbie’s introduction to this book where she told us she had lost her close friend to cancer and was going to stop writing for a year and then she wrote this book. Well, it is completely written from the heart and without giving any spoilers had me sobbing my way through this book. Such a beautifully written book.

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Very emotional book, contains a love story but also the relationship between two sister. Well written and very enjoyable. Keep the tissues handy. Great read.

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A walk along the beach - Debbie Macomber
From the blurb:
💜💜💜
Sisters Willa and Harper mean the world to each other.

Inseparable since the loss of their mother as teenagers, the Lakey sisters are perfect opposites. Quiet, demure Willa has always admired Harper's sense of adventure. She enjoys her peaceful routine as a café owner in their coastal hometown of Oceanside.

When a handsome customer shows interest in Willa, Harper urges her sister to take a chance on love.

Then Harper receives crushing news that threatens to bring everything to a halt. Only by supporting each other will the sisters be able to face the trials to come. And though the time ahead may be tough, Willa and Harper will discover that the darkest times can lead to the most beautiful rewards.

💜💜💜

I really enjoyed this one, I have read others by Debbie Macomber before and thoroughly enjoyed them. She manages to capture your interest with heart grabbing storylines and loveable characters. I did have a little blub at certain parts of this story. Willa has become a mother to her younger sister after their mothers death and I completely understand the way she worries for her and reacts to the situation they find themselves in. If youg are looking for a book that tugs at your heart strings this is the book for you!

4/5 ⭐️
Recommend ✅

#netgalley #debbiemacomber #awalkalongthebeach #reading #books #bookworm #booklover #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookdragon #booklove #bookreview #thereisalwaystimeforbooks #booknerd

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Warning I adore Debbie Macomber this review will not be unbiased in anyway, shape or form. Debbie is just pure magic, anything she writes I will love and this is no exception , as always amazing relatable characters that are fully fleshed, wonderful relationships, friendships, community and so much so I usually want to move to these communities, if only I could. This is an emotional read, it was heartbreaking at points and I used quite a few tissues, but what I love about Debbie is she always brings hope, pure uplifting hope and she does it so well. Debbies books remind you that love can conquer nearly all and we need that at the moment.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

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An uplifting and heartfelt book about love, friendship and the bond between two sisters who've faced the tough times together. Yes there is romance but the real love story, for me, was the love between the two sisters Willa and Harper. This is not depressing though and I thoroughly enjoyed this great beach read.

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Two sisters couldn’t be more different: reserved and demure Willa, and outgoing and adventurous Harper. Yet their love for each other is undeniable. Willa, with some ‘help’ from Harper, takes a chance at a different kind of love with a good looking customer who frequents her cafe. But then personal tragedy strikes Harper, testing all of Willa’s relationships.

I’m not kidding when I say that this book made me cry. It’s both heartbreaking, and beautiful. While some of the dialogue was a little cheesy, the story made up for it. It’s a great reminder of the power of love, which I think we all need this year.

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Debbie Macomber never fails to deliver emotionally charged and heartwarming novels that will keep you hooked.
This one is no exception: great character development and storytelling, a great cast of characters, a rollercoaster of emotions.
It was an excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are min

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Another great book from Debbie. A real rollercoaster of emotions felt throughout this book. Not quite the light airy read you expect from the cover.

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I don’t even know how to bring my thoughts of this novel to the surface. To say I was emotionally blindesided by the storyline would be an understatement. To say that i was emotionally bereft by what I read, would also be an understatement. And, you guessed it, to say that i absolutely loved Debbie Macomber’s new novel would be an understatement.

Several chapters from the end of the book, my heart smashed into millions and millions of pieces. Emotion spilled from my eyes like a waterfall – I couldnt control the sobs that took over my body at that very moment. What a moving, poignant, thought provoking piece of writing.

If you’ve ever been affected by cancer, both first hand or via a loved one, then you will no doubt be able to resonate with Willa and the heartbreak that surrounds herself and her family. Debbie Macomber makes it clear at the beginning of the story that she has recently been affected by the tragic loss of a loved one, and i truly felt that loss through the power of her words. Strong words, such as those in this storyline, cannot be forged, nor can they be googled, they need to come from the heart of the author and that is exactly what happens here.

Cancer is a strong subject at the heart of ‘A Walk Along The Beach’, yet so is love and the hope at finding that special someone despite having had your heart broken in the past, whether that is at the hands of a two legged friend, or four.

Debbie Macomber is exceptionally talented, a force to be reckoned with, and one of the very few authors who have touched my soul so deeply that they left an imprint of substantial size.

‘A Walk Along The Beach’ needs to have its moment on the big screen for sure but, until that time, this novel needs to have its moment, multiple times, on people’s bookshelves and in readers hands. I absolutely cannot recommend this book enough – undeniably one of THE best books I have EVER read (and I’ve read a few!)

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Escaping into the pages of a Debbie Macomber novel is one of life’s greatest pleasures and this talented writer is on top form with her latest poignant and uplifting page-turner, A Walk Along the Beach.

Willa and Harper are sisters who have always been there for one another. Always there with a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, Willa and Harper are as close as two sisters can possibly be. Together during all the highs and the many debilitating lows, like the death of their mother, their father’s alcoholism and Harper’s illness, the girls have stuck by one other and weathered many storms together. While Willa is happy running her coffee shop, Harper is always going on some wild adventure. Whether it’s climbing mountains or bungee jumping, after her bout with illness yoga teacher Harper is a daredevil who thrives on adrenaline and is forever chasing her next hit – which causes Willa no end of worry as she is always terrified that her sister will end up hurting herself or worse.

Romance is the last thing on Willa’s agenda. She has her coffee shop, her family and her baking, she certainly does not want or need anything else in her life – until photographer Sean walks through the doors of her café. While Harper is all for her sister asking him out, Willa prefers to err on the side of caution. Yet, there is something about Sean which Willa finds intriguing and she cannot help but wonder whether she might find the courage deep within herself to tell the mysterious photographer that she is drawn to him and would like to see where their obvious attraction will take them. But just when it seems that the stars have finally aligned, fate pulls the rug out from under Willa and Harper’s feet yet again…

Willa has always worried about her sister, but lately her concern for her sibling has intensified. While Harper has always chased adventure, lately nothing seems to sate her desire for adrenalin. Willa wonders whether her sister is keeping something from her – a concern which is justified when Harper receives some crushing news that threatens to bring everything to a halt. However, it is during these dark times that Willa and Harper realise that even when all seems lost and uncertain, love will always find a way.

When a book has got Debbie Macomber’s name on the front cover, readers know that they are in the hands of a virtuoso and this phenomenal storyteller certainly does not disappoint with her stunning new novel, A Walk Along the Beach. Poignant, emotional and dramatic, A Walk Along the Beach is sure to have readers reaching for their tissues, but this is not a sad book rather it’s an uplifting and heart-warming tale about family, loyalty and love that will linger in reader’s minds and hearts long after the last page is turned.

A perfect summer read by one of the world’s favourite storytellers, Debbie Macomber has another blockbuster on her hands with A Walk Along the Beach.

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A tale of love, of loss and of hope.

Debbie Macomber tells an excellent story and this is no different.

Willa has spent much of her life caring for her younger sister, Harper. Sean comes into her life but of course the path of true love never runs smoothly!

An enjoyable yet emotional read. I shed a few tears!

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Reading a Debbie Maccomber novel is like sitting down with a best friend you get everything you expect and then some.

A Walk Along the Beach follows the story of Harper as she navigates her life and is forced outside of her comfort zone by sister Willa. The role of protector to her brother and especially her sister Willa is a hard one to shake. Harper has spent most of her adult life being a sort of surrogate mother to sister Willa and brother Lucas after their mother died of cancer, her sense of responsibility compounded even more when sister Willa was diagnosed with cancer too.

I found reading A Walk Along the Beach was like stepping inside a virtual reality but with characters I felt I already knew and loved. The sisters were at total ends of the spectrum personality wise. Their characters shaped by the lives they’d lived growing up. Harper solid, dependable and cautious. Willa, flighty, outgoing and daring. Brother Lucas, solid and dependable but living away from the sisters not as close or invested in their day to day lives, despite that it was very easy to see how much they loved and cared for each other.

This was a book about taking baby steps outside of your comfort zone, about learning to let go, to trust, to accept as well as give love and support. It was about grief and sadness, hope and happiness. It’s about learning to let others share the responsibilities and allowing yourself happiness too. Its about being their for your friends but also letting them be there for you.

The story ebbed and flowed with every emotion possible. I smiled and laughed as well as quietly crying and then noisily sobbing before returning to the happy smiling - the pace, content and story was pitched perfectly. The more I read the more I loved it. As ever Debbie Maccomber has nailed reality in both the story and setting as well as the characters, I was invested in the whole package 100% and felt sad when I turned the last page and had to leave Oceanside and it’s residents behind.

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A Walk along the Beach sees a welcome return to Oceanside in the Pacific North West, back to the small coastal town we first discovered in Cottage by the Sea. I liked the fleeting glimpses of those characters we met previously in Cottage by the Sea, especially Doctor Annie and her husband Keaton, but of course, it is Willa, Harper, Sean, Bandit the dog and Snowball the cat who stole my heart in A Walk along the Beach.

In this visit to Oceanside we meet sisters, Willa and Harper Lakey. Willa runs Bean There, a thriving coffee shop, whilst Harper teaches yoga and fitness classes at the Oceanside Fitness Centre. Both women are extremely supportive of each other and their love shines through, especially as Willa has always looked after her younger sister. Harper is determined to set Willa up with a suitable date, and Willa is equally determined not to be pulled into any of Harper’s scheming ideas, but then fate has a nasty way of interfering and both Willa and Harper have some life challenges ahead of them.

This is a lovely story, desperately sad in places, I definitely needed a whole box of tissues, but throughout the book, the message that we should cherish those who are important to us comes across loud and clear. In any other writer’s hands this story could come across as mawkish and sentimental, but this is just so beautifully written that even the sad bits were totally enjoyable.

A Walk along the Beach is a love story, between siblings, boyfriend and girlfriend, fathers and daughters but mostly it’s about sisters, supporting, arguing, being there for each other, and the ultimate sadness of having to let go of someone when with every ounce of strength you want to hold them forever in your heart ♡

There’s something about reading a Debbie Macomber book that is exactly like taking your favourite fluffy blanket, a family size packet of chocolate biscuits and retreating to your most comfortable armchair. There is never a moment when the warmth of the story doesn’t pull you into a make believe world which is always totally believable.

Despite the tears, I closed the book with a massive sigh of pleasure

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I love walking along the beach, and I loved the very first book by Debbie Macomber I read last year, so when the invite appeared in my inbox, I knew this book was for me. I didn’t even check the blurb before signing-up, how adventurous of me! But I was sure neither the beach nor Debbie would let me down. Had I seen the word “romance” on the page, I might have been scared a little. I take my romance with a high dose of realism.

Realism, feelings and oh, the amazing confusion of life. Yes, they all are in A Walk Along The Beach! Served with a delicious slice of life at a café. This novel was pure entertainment, but it was not just that.

Willa and Harper are sisters, and as often, they are very different. I found them both adorable from the beginning. Harper, loud and full of life, trying to push her sister in a handsome guy’s arms, and poor Willa doing her best not to let anyone know she’d actually really like to get to know the lucky one better.

Sean, with a heavy history and an exotic job as a photographer, who seemed cute and funny. Our first moments together were fun and light. Just what I needed. Or so I thought. I began to suspect there was more to the novel than romance when the actual romance began much earlier than it usually would. Aren’t they supposed to struggle like hell before getting together? I was no fool, though, and knew that nothing would roll smoothly. Nothing ever does. Even the most perfect moments are imperfect in their own way.

Willa feels her heart beat faster and in rhythm with someone else’s, but it doesn’t last long before it gets shaken and then broken. Then, the word “romance” takes a different meaning. This book is not simply about a woman and a man finding their one and only. The core of the book is love itself. Sisterly love, above all, family love, pet love, friends love.

So I didn’t mind the quick start, and all the struggles couples-to-be face in predictable romance novels have nothing against the fights everyone has to face in A Walk On The Beach. Health issues, the bottle, and the endless expectations VS reality of a relationship, to name a few. The latter element is what I found to be the most compelling. It challenged me to try and understand choices that I would and would not have made. I like to be reminded books help us be more open-minded, less rigid and sure of ourselves about any situation. Would I have forgiven? Would Willa had been happier if I’d had it my way?

Harper and Willa’s relationship is the glue keeping the pages of the book together. Their love is tender, raw, pure. My heart laughed with them, it stopped when their lives took turns we hadn’t seen coming, and it was left in a million pieces on the floor. Debbie Macomber held my hand through what I believe to be the most difficult situation anyone can deal with. She helped me face it, she didn’t allow me to recoil, and even if it was painful, I am glad I went through the entire journey.

A Walk Along The Beach is a real life story about finding love, losing it, and surfing every wave coming our way.

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Don't be deceived by the gorgeous, whimsical cover of A Walk along the Beach as between the pages lies a heartwarming, but also heartbreaking, read that will have the reader going through every feeling and emotion along with the characters. Debbie Macomber is an author well known for her slow-burn romances, small town community and feel-good reads but there was so much more depth in store. I guess I should have twigged as to what lay ahead when I read the dedication and introduction from the author herself.



Sisters Willa and Harper have always been each others supporter although Willa is the quieter, more sensible of the two with younger sister Harper being the free-spirited one who wants to live life to the full rather than settle down. At first I thought Willa was an older character than she actually was but it's because of the circumstances of their past that she had to grow up before her time, she needed to step into the mothering role if you like to support the rest of her family.

I have to confess there were times that I could feel myself getting really frustrated with Willa with the way she was treating everyone, especially Sean, but then I realised that this was her introspective way of coping with her fears and emotions. She's always been a solitary person so she struggled to open up and share the burden with others who wanted to be there for her. At the same time there were times I thought Harper was completely selfish in not taking anything too seriously but this was her own way of dealing with the situation she found herself in.

One of the things I enjoy when reading a Debbie Macomber book is the community feel that she evokes so it was great to be back in the familiar setting of Oceanside so I could visualise the much needed solace that the beach provided when it was needed, a place to go and vent frustrations and let the tears flow when needed. And of course it was lovely to have a reunion of sorts with old friends, Annie and Keaton and Mellie and Preston, albeit in the background.

I was actually quite surprised at how emotive a read this book actually was, I certainly didn't expect to go through the wringer as much as I did and I can honestly say there was one particular moment that definitely had me welling up and it's very rare that I physically cry when I read a book. Make sure you have tissues ready if you choose to add A Walk along the Beach as part of your reading this Summer.

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