A Walk Along the Beach: A Novel

Debbie Macomber

Jul 2020 · Sold by Ballantine Books

About this ebook

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 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.

Ratings and reviews

A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber takes readers to Oceanside, Washington. The Lackey family has had its share of tragedies over the years and now they are all on the right track. Willa has the bakery/café she has dreamed of and it is popular with the locals. I liked the strong characters the author created for this story. Willa became the “mother” of the family after their matriarch died when she was thirteen. She was there for her younger sister, Harper when she received her treatment for leukemia. Willa worries that Harper will have a reoccurrence and tends to hover. Harper is full of life and always on the move. She is training with a group to climb Mt. Rainier at the end of the summer. Harper pushes her sister into dating freelance photographer, Sean O’Malley. Loving someone is a risk because you never know how it will turn out. A Walk Along the Beach is an emotional novel. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing. We see a close-knit family and community that rally around each other. I found it to be a realistic novel. Life is never smooth sailing and that is true for our characters in this story. The developed characters had good traits and weaknesses. Alcoholism, illness, long distance relationship, and financial troubles are some of the problems our characters deal handle in the story. I did feel that it was rushed at the end and I would have liked an epilogue that showed how the family was doing in a year or two. A walk Along the Beach is a lovely story, but I do not feel it compares with some of Debbie Macomber’s other novels (especially A Blossom Street Novel series). I did like how Willa enjoyed walking along the beach to clear her head and how it felt soothing to the soul. I know I find looking at the Gulf of Mexico to be soothing. A Walk Along the Beach is a poignant tale with a cute kitten, a clever canine, a preoccupied photographer, a fraught father, and a caring community.

4.5 stars. A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber is a poignant novel of family and love. Willa Lakey is the owner of a popular coffee shop and shares an apartment with her younger sister, Harper. The girls’ mother passed away when they were young and Willa becomes the family caretaker. Their dad falls apart and after graduation, older brother Lucas joins the Army. Willa takes on more of a mother role after Harper’s leukemia diagnosis and although her sister is now healthy, she cannot help but worry about her. Harper is living life to its fullest and she tries to play matchmaker for Willa with coffee shop customer Sean O’Malley. Willa is resistant at first, but she finally decides to give Sean a chance. But their budding romance is challenged by Sean’s long stretches away from home due to his career that occur just when Willa needs his support the most. Can Willa overcome her fears and give her relationship with Sean another chance? Willa is quiet and works long hours at her coffee shop. An introvert, she has forced herself out of her comfort zone and she enjoys her daily interactions with her customers. Willa has not had much time for dating and she is very resistant to Harper’s attempts to convince her Sean is interested in her. She is a little shy and unsure of herself but she cannot deny she likes Sean. But will he convince Willa to give him a chance? Sean is a passionate freelance photographer who has worked hard to establish himself. Although photography was not his first career choice, he is much happier with his new life. Sean has not dated for quite some time and he is very nervous about asking Willa out on a date. Surprised when she finally says yes, Sean is not quite as forthcoming about his past as he should be. Sean and Willa’s relationship is surprisingly laidback and quite comfortable. They spend quiet evenings together and talk for hours. Willa is not happy when Sean must leave for weeks at a time but she understands this is part of his career. However, Sean is not always great at communication and he tries to avoid conflict. A family crisis becomes a pivotal point for Willa and Sean is regretful but will his remorse be enough for Willa? A Walk Along the Beach is a heartfelt novel that tugs on the heartstrings. Willa, Harper and Sean are vibrantly developed with relatable flaws and strengths. The storyline is well-developed and moves at a brisk pace. Debbie Macomber brings this deeply affecting novel to a bittersweet yet heartwarming conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this captivating novel. I received a complimentary copy for review.

I love this author's stories and this one is true to her style. Two sisters Willa and Harper share an apartment, have always been there for each other, be each others haven in a storm. Harper however has gone through so much for being so young and Willa is constantly worrying over her like a mother hen. Their brother Lucas is around but he hasn't been able to be as hands-on in their lives. After Harper is given a clean bill of health she makes plans however that do not include big sister Willa. So Will takes a bit of time for herself and falls madly for a man who keeps entering her coffee shop. Will he be her light in the upcoming storm? Absolutely heartfelt, gut-wrenching story. I love the journey the story takes us on. It truly could happen to anyone of us.

About the author

Debbie Macomber, the author of It's Better This Way, A Walk Along the Beach, Window on the Bay, Cottage by the Sea, Any Dream Will Do, If Not for You, and the Rose Harbor Inn series, is a leading voice in women's fiction. Thirteen of her novels have reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and five of her beloved Christmas novels have been hit movies on the Hallmark Channel, including Mrs. Miracle and Mr. Miracle. Hallmark Channel also produced the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, based on Macomber’s Cedar Cove books. She is, as well, the author of the cookbook Debbie Macomber’s Table. There are more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide.