Willa raised her sister Harper and brother Lucas after their mom died when she was thirteen and their dad fell into alcoholism. Now adults, Willa and Harper are room mates and Lucas is happily married. Willa runs the local coffee shop and Harper's a yoga instructor who takes on life in a big way because the shadow of leukemia is always hanging over her. She encourages Willa to take a risk with Sean, a handsome photographer and things are looking good for the two of them but he travels a lot. Then, sadly, Harper's cancer returns and the sisters have to brand together even more tightly. No spoilers from me but Macomber readers know that this will swing on family ties, faith, and redemption. It's a clean romance too. The characters are nicely done and I found myself wrapped up in them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. One to hug.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has got to be the most gut wrenching book I've read in a long time. I finished this book two days ago but I could not write a review without crying. I sat and sobbed when I finished this book. This book deals with family, love, and loss. An excellent book, very well written with outstanding characters but wow does it pull your emotional strings. Debbie Macomber never fails to entertain! Enjoy! 📚

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Along-Beach-Novel-ebook/dp/B07TPFVG4X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=A+Walk+Along+the+Beach+Debbie+Macomber&qid=1594227079&sr=8-1


Ok, why is is that the latest books that I have read have Ironic titles?
I actually really liked this book, despite it being so sad! The best part about this book is that it is written in loving memory of the author’s friend who passed away from cancer. This friend writes under the pseudonym Christina Skye. I was fortunate enough to have read The Knitting Diaries that was a compilation of three books; one by Debbie Macomber, one of my ultimate faves-clearly, one by Susan Mallery, another of my all time faves and then Christina. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to read anything else by Christina Skye, but I am now going to add to my to read list as soon as I finish and catch up on all of my ARCs!! I am so honored to have received this book, as like I said, Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors! I have read 107 of her books! This book toggles between the point of view of Willa and Sean, the two main characters in this book. Willa owns a coffee shop named Bean There in Oceanside, Washington, on the coast. We begin the book with Harper, Willa’s sister Harper pointing out a cute patron at the coffee shop. After a coffee mix-up, Harper tries to set the two up, not so successfully. Despite Willa being Harper’s sister, she is more like her mom, as she has had to step into the place when their mother died of a brain aneurysm when Willa was thirteen. Willa stepped up and took care of their older brother, Lucas, Harper and their dad. We learn that Harper has been leukemia free for three years and is planning on climbing Mount Ranier that summer and had been training for this. After taken on the mother role for so long, how can Willa not worry about her sister, especially since she is also her roommate. We learn that Sean is a photographer who does NOT like coffee, however he has frequented the shop because he liked Willa and was trying to work up the nerve to ask her out. Sean also was a playboy baseball player in his hay day. Sean finally gets up the nerve to ask her out and it is a little baffled and not at the right time. Sean is about to head out on assignment to Manila. It is quite the way to start a relationship, with two people on opposite sides of the world. We are taken on the adventure of their long-distance relationship, families meeting after a potential disaster and illness at the max. I love how much research that Debbie does for her books. She may or may not have been to some places, however with her descriptions, she definitely takes us there! I am so grateful that Debbie is back writing after her hiatus to grieve her friend! I look forward in celebrating Christina Skye’s life by reading her books!

Oceanside, Washington. A small town where neighbors look out for each other, where the local veterinarian rescues dogs and places them with people who need love, where the local doctor makes house calls and there’s always a cup of coffee with your name on it at the local shop. In A Walk along the Beach, Debbie Macomber takes us back to Oceanside and reintroduces some of the characters we met in Cottage by the Sea. However, this is a standalone novel centering on family drama and relationships and it is an excellent one.

From an early age, Willa Lakey has had a difficult life. Her own mother’s death and her father’s descent into grief and alcoholism have put her in charge. Now the successful owner of coffee shop Bean There, she still mothers her younger brother Lucas and Harper, her sister and roommate. She and Harper became especially close after Harper survived leukemia soon after their mother’s death. While Harper is the outgoing sister, Willa has always been shy and reserved. That changes when she meets Sean O’Malley, a handsome ex-professional baseball player who is developing a career as a freelance photographer. Although they are very different, they are deeply attracted to one another but as their relationship deepens, an unexpected tragedy will test their love.

Debbie Macomber knows how to pull every emotion out of her readers and A Walk along the Beach does that! However, this is far from a simple romance. She gives us characters with depth who sometimes make wrong decisions. She has created the town where we all want to live but shows us how life is not always perfect there. Debbie Macomber has written over 150 books, I’ve read a lot of them and I could never give one of them less than 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Debbie Macomber for this ARC.

I received this copy from netgalley. I love her book's.
great story. I can't wait for more.
I love the cover, really pretty.

Another great book by a wonderful author. This one made me smile, care about the characters and everything in between. Sad, happy, romance. Highly recommend this book and author, a great summer read.

This was a story that evoked many emotions in me. Debbie Macomber is an author that is able to bring her characters to life on the pages of her books. This one seemed even more so. Having personally experienced the feelings brought on by losing her best friend to cancer (hence the dedication) she brought Willa and Harper to a real life situation in this story. Willa acted like a mother figure to both Lucas and Harper after losing their mother at a young age. Pressure and responsibility feel heavy on Willa’s shoulders after Harper was diagnosed with leukemia five years ago. Willa always felt weight being lifted and stressed relieved each time she strolled along the beach. Harper survived and took life “by the horns” so to speak, bungee jumping and mountain climbing. Willa was forever worrying about Harper even though she was now over twenty one. Willa owned her own coffee and pastry shop that was frequented by many of her community. I enjoyed the character of Sean as a love interest for Willa also. He was an aspiring photographer which brought conflict to their relationship. Be sure and have a box of tissues on hand because you’ll need them several times, sad tears as well as happy tears. Great story that flowed smoothly among turbulent waters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley but was not required to write a review.

I always love Debbie Macomber's books but let me just tell you this one is a tear jerker! There were times in this book that I was literally crying while reading it and I hardly ever do that. This is a great story and I promise you will get caught up in the life of these characters and want to know how things are going to turn out for all of them. Debbie Macomber has definitely written a story with heart and one that you will not soon forget.

Willa had to grow up way before her time when her mother passed away from cancer. With a brother and sister to help care for, Willa has always had that mothering and caring spirit for her family. Willa learned to cook and care for her family while her father was turning to the bottle for his comfort and pretty much leaving them to fend for themselves. Willa now owns her own coffee shop and had made a name for herself in the town of Oceanside. Willa doesn't talk to her dad much anymore but she and her sister Harper live together and her brother Lucas is not far away in Seattle. Willa is close to her brother and sister. With Harper living with Willa she can keep a close eye on her after her battle with leukemia a couple of years prior.

Harper is very outgoing and wants to push herself to try new and challenging things. This drives Willa crazy since she is so mothering to her. Harper tries to tell Willa in a nice way to stop being so mothering but it is just comes natural for Willa now. Harper is not one to stay in a relationship with any guys she dates for very long. Harper is the "pretty one" of the sisters and Willa knows that if they are out together, she is going to get the guys.

Sean is a former famous baseball player that blew his knee out and has had to make a profession change. Sean now is a photographer that travels to different countries tying to get that one photo that will make his career take off. When Sean spots Willa in her coffee shop one day, he knows that she is the one for him. There is a magnetic attraction between them for Sean that he can not resist. Will he be able to convince Willa that they are meant to be together? Willa is a very reserved woman when it comes to dating and seeing men. This is not going to be an easy task for Sean. Is Sean willing to do everything possible to win Willa over? Maybe even give up his hopes of being a professional photographer?

This book takes you on a roller coaster of emotions as you go along a journey with these characters. All of the characters are so likeable you will immediately fall in love with them. Although I wanted to just shake Willa by the shoulders sometimes, I did really like her too. A lot of soul searching goes on with the characters. You will not want to put this book down once you start reading it! Highly recommend this read for sure!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks for Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book!

“A Walk Along the Beach” was an emotional roller coaster of laughter, love, hope, and tears. Always a fan of Debbie Macomber she did not disappoint.

A beautiful story of family and love!

I absolutely loved this emotion filled book. From light humor that made me smile, to heart break regarding what this family has already survived, to destruction at what they currently face, I experienced every emotion as each of these characters struggled along this journey.


Willa won my heart almost immediately as she has lived a life that the faint of heart would not be able to endure. As the rock of her family, she doesn’t ask for more, but when the opportunity for more in her life presents itself in the shape of Sean, she takes the chance.


Initially, I was rooting for Sean, but this is not your typical sweet and easy romance. He makes decisions that I struggled with along with Willa. And while she definitely made him work to resume his place in her life, I was unsatisfied that nothing had really changed in that department as these are actions he continues to make. I did love the way he “courted” her which is why his decision seemed to be against the very character he was created to be in the beginning.


This has multiple layers to the plot that calls into play a variety of choices each of these characters must make and the consequences of those choices. I recommend that you have a box of tissues handy as you’ll definitely need them. This is basically steam free although this couple do have a few moments together that will allow the reader to recognize they have chemistry between them.

Gorgeous cover, delightful scenery and Debbie Macomber...three things to entice a reader to check out the story between the covers. I enjoyed this book for many reasons, not the least of which is how family dynamics come into play. This could be any family who has had grief come uninvited to the table. Willa quickly cast off the role of big sister to Harper when their mother died. Their father was unavailable and their brother left home to join the service. Willa quickly stepped up to fill the gaps to be everyone and everything to her sister. Harper, having survived a devastating illness, took charge of her health and broke some hearts along the way. Now, she feels, it is time for Willa to take a look at relaxing enough to find love. After all, her sister gave up so much to take care of her and it was past time for Willa to really live.


Sean O'Malley caught Harper's eye as being a perfect match for Willa. Unable to think of herself beyond running her business, Willa has no designs on Sean. Harper is an incorrigible matchmaker, and the rest, as they say, is history. Except, life has a way of tossing a curve ball and the story has a few balls that are tossed in the air to make things interesting.


There are many ways this story could have gone. The characters are in no way one dimensional. I laughed and I cried when I read this book. When it gets down to it, if a book has just part of a character the reader can identify with, it is a good study of human nature. This is a love story, yet not just romantic love, although it is definitely a romance, but the love of family is central to the theme and it is very refreshing. A Walk Along The Beach will fill your heart as it entertains you. I heartily recommend this book. I received an advanced reader copy for an honest review, but all opinions are mine.

Harper and Willa Lakey are very close sisters. Along with their brother Lucas they are a happy family. Willa runs a coffee shop and is enjoying life since raising her siblings. Lucas is engaged to a lovely young woman and Harper has beat cancer and is determined to climb a mountain. Willa is dating Sean, a photographer who travels the world on photo shoots. When disaster strikes this family they must support each other. I loved this story but be aware you'll need a box of kleenex. The characters are all someone you could know and befriend. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Found this to be an emotional roller coaster from start to finish. The story line is filled with sadness, determination, worry, strength and love. The characters have amazing connections throughout and grab at your heart strings. Make sure to have tissues ready! Fantastic read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book; all opinions expressed are my own.

Willa has been like a mother to her sister, Harper, once their mother died. She has tended for her sister through cancer before and then discovers it has returned. This was heartwarming and showed the power of love for family. Family can be a rock during tough times. I loved the interaction between Willa, her siblings and their father.
Sean is looking to start a new career as a photographer. He had to set his priorities in order - his job or his woman. He loves Willa but will his actions match up to that declaration?
I enjoyed the read although I questioned Sean's actions a lot - meaning, I didn't see his growth as a character by the end of the story. I felt Willa had a big heart and I wasn't sure if he truly truly deserved it.
Thank you, Netgalley for this ARC.

Willa, Harper and Lucas are siblings. Willa is the oldest and had to grow up fast when their mom dies and Dad gets lost in grief. Now adults, Willa works long hours to keep her small coffee shop and bakery afloat, She is fierce in her caring and mothering of her younger sister Harper who in is remission from leukemia. Life is rolling along sweetly. Sean enters Willa's life and they begin and struggle with a new relationship. Willa is fun loving and Lucas is dating the love of his life. And just like that, life changes! I have never cried more over a book! Reading this story you just know that Debbie Macomber has loved and lost someone to cancer. I cried because it was heartwrenching to relive my own experiences with cancer. If you haven't love and lost someone to cancer, you are blessed and this story will give you a new level of empathy and love for your fellow humans. I could not put this book down! This is a beautiful, well written story that everyone ought to read!
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The small town setting that Debbie Macomber is famous for was front and center in the book. You have Willa who owns a local coffee shop and bakery, who has been the mother figure for her sister Harper after their mother passed. They also share an apartment. Harper has beat Leukemia and seems to be living life to its fullest by planning to climb Mount Rainier. Willa gets nervous when she seems to be acting differently with worries that the cancer is coming back.

Harper has pushed Willa to notice the man who has been coming in everyday for coffee. When Sean a photographer comes in Harper pushes him to have a seat and helps by being a matchmaker for the two of them. Their relationship builds fast and fierce.

The relationship is very chaste for those that worry about that, though it was a little disappointing for me.

Some very heavy moments and they were handled well and fully developed.

It was a heartbreaking to read some parts, while other parts gave me hope. I don’t want to give too much away with this review, but if you like Debbie Macomber’s other books you will most likely like this one. The writer tackles some hard subjects, there may be triggers for some. I think this turned out beautifully written.

A very good story and very emotional. Sean is so endearing when tries to ask Willa for a date. Harper is so brave. When their mother died, Willa took charge. She became a mother to Harper because their dad couldn't bear losing his beloved wife and their older brother joined the military. Then Harper was diagnosed with leukemia. She has been cancer free for three years, but something isn't quite right with her now. When Sean shows an interest in Willa, Harper is the first one to encourage the relationship. Sean travels so much and isn't always there when Willa needs him. When Harper gets sick again Sean is out of the country and Willa needs him with her, not half way across the world. Will Sean be able to convince Willa that she needs him in her life and that he will be there for her? Willa thinks that loving someone hurts too much and isn't sure she wants to be in love.

This book is a another winner for Debbie Macomber.

It comes along in our lives when the nation is troubled by pandemics and the worry of loved ones.

Sisters Willa and Harper live in Oceanside where Willa more of a comforting homebody owns a cafe, and her sister Harper is the more adventurous type.

When a man Sean, shows interest in Willa. The hopeful Harper urges her sister to take the initiative towards the handsome man, in a loving manner.

Sadly cancer survivor Harper has her cancer return to fight again, bringing forward the true meaning of love and the comfort of a loving family.

This story rang true for me as my younger sister, just became a cancer survivor only months after losing our mother in a house fire, when her robe caught on fire. The true meaning of a loving family pulling together put us all on the long road to recovery.

Excellent story line and full bodies characters pulling on heartstrings.

Buy yourself a copy and enjoy it to the fullest.

Also shared with Goodreads.

This is a very emotional read that covers what a family goes through when a family member is diagnosed with a serious illness. The Lakey family has been through a lot starting with the loss of their mother years before. Willa became a substitute mom when their father was so depressed that he disappeared in a bottle of alcohol. Willa, brother, Lucas, and youngest sister, Harper are close, brought closer when Harper is diagnosed with Leukemia. She is a spunky extravert, has been free of cancer for three years and wants to conquer the world, starting with climbing Mt. Rainier. Lucas and Chantelle are to be married in the near future. Willa has a successful coffee shop, Bean There. When Sean O'Malley walks in her shop, the two are drawn together. But Sean's career as a photographer takes him around the world, especially when Willa needs him. Their dad is doing better with a steady job, trying to stay away from the bottle.
Life is going good for the Lakey family until it isn't. This story rings true with real characters that are relatable and a situation all too common, unfortunately. Set in Oceanside, on the lovely coast of Washington state, a walk along the beach is an important place to think and get away. We also see familiar people recurring from the prior story, Cottage by the Sea. Emotions run the gamut: happiness, fear, sadness, hope, anger, forgiveness, faith, and above all, love. Debbie Macomber has dedicated this heartfelt story to a best friend that she lost to cancer, another author that I read years ago, Christina Skye. This is a sad but uplifting story of hope and new beginnings.
I received a complimentary ARC from Random House Publishing and Ballentine Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.