Release Date: September 2, 2021

📖📖📖📖

Harriet’s grandmother recently passed away and after a scary incident with her grandfather, she heads to Montuak to be with her. She is shocked when she finds Mack there. Harriet is trying to make peace with Mack after a painful break up and Mack is trying to heal after the horrors of war. Can they come to an understanding or will they walk away forever?

This book is well written and enjoyable. The characters and backstory have great development and the beach plays a large role in the story. I liked this book but it has a lot of outside emotions going on besides the hero and heroine that I didn’t really care about.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

#bookstagram #netgalleyreads #bookrecommendations #christmasbythecoast #mandybaggot

Cute deep Christmas story with a believable romance. I loved the portrayal of someone with a disability it was completely unique. I found their connection believable and realistic as well. A cute picturesque story !

2.5. I was glad to finish to finish this book. It took me absolutely ages to read it because I wasn't interested enough to keep picking it up. It felt like a bit of a chore to read. I feel like it should have been something I liked but I found it very long, drawn out and extremely predictable. There were some funny and heart warming parts throughout the book that slightly redeem it, but overall it just wasn't for me.

This was just what I needed. This is fun, easy going and sweet read. I really enjoyed reading this book.
4 stRs for me

I'm a big fan of Mandy Baggot's books and Christmas by the Coast was no exception. In fact, I'll go as far as saying, it's my favourite one of her books yet. Mack is a hero to die for and he is 100% my new book boyfriend. Harriet is the sort of person I'd like as a best friend and The Rum Coconut in Montauk is definitely where we would hang out all the time.
There is a real sense of family and community in this book where love and friendship really shine through. Loved it all.

Christmas By The Coast by Mandy Baggot was a fun, light hearted, easy to read book that I enjoyed. Based in The Hamptons I felt I was there. It touched on friendships, relationships full of humour and emotion. Such a wonderful Christmas read.

4.5 Stars

A cosy festive treat that will leave readers with a great big smile on their faces, Mandy Baggot’s Christmas by the Coast is a feel-good charmer perfect for the holidays!

Harriet Cookson knows better than most people just how devastating heartbreak can be. After the end of her last relationship, Harriet had worked hard to rebuild her life. With a dependable boyfriend, a thriving career and a decent flatshare, Harriet’s life is on the up – until she receives news that her beloved grandmother has passed away in the Hamptons. Harriet doesn’t hesitate to drop everything to be with her grieving grandfather who is naturally devastated after the passing of his soulmate. There is nowhere else in the world Harriet would rather be than with her grandfather, but on the sandy beaches of Montauk, little does she realise that she is going to find a lot more than she had initially expected…

Christmas might just be around the corner, but Harriet is in no mood to celebrate – until she spots a face from the past she has never quite managed to put behind her: former solider Mack Wyatt. Although the two of them haven’t stayed in touch, they have certainly never forgotten how much they meant to one another and now that fate has unexpectedly thrust the two of them together, long-buried feelings quickly come rushing back to the surface.

Harriet had convinced herself that her safe and predictable life was the one for her. But now that she and Mack have reconnected, she cannot imagine spending another moment without him. Is Harriet willing to take a leap of fate and a chance on love? Or will her fears and insecurities end up costing her her soulmate?

This christmas by the Coast might just be the start of a beautiful love story that will last a lifetime…

Full of humour, emotion and heart, Mandy Baggot’s Christmas by the Coast is a lovely contemporary romance that is perfect for snuggling up with. Mandy Baggot deftly balances wit and comedy with drama and pathos and she will have readers laughing out loud and reaching for the tissues as they find themselves completely swept up in this spellbinding, uplifting, heart-wrenching and highly satisfying love story.

A delightful festive read that ticks all the right boxes, Mandy Baggot’s Christmas by the Coast is a must-read this winter.

This festive read is certainly one to curl up with. Its central characters are vividly drawn with a shared, interesting backstory and the surrounding cast adds colour and life to the story. I enjoyed the setting in The Hamptons which added a different twist to the Christmas festivities, as led by Harriet's grandmother, you see them recreated. Both Harriet and Mack have an air of vulnerability and you get to see the story through both their eyes.

Another interesting dynamic in the story is Harriet's relationship with Iain, who at the beginning is both her partner and business partner. The reasons for this become clear as the story develops but suffice it to say, that she has to reappraise what she wants from life. Full of warmth and humour, the story manages to tread a path through some darker subjects and show you that life is a hopeful place.

In short: Starting over, second chances.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

Favorite Quotes:

Harriet felt as if someone had pressed halt on life’s stopwatch as her dad’s words rained down on her like the hardest, skin-jabbing, cricket -ball-sized hailstones.

New York was Jude’s reference for the USA as a whole. Harriet was convinced her friend thought the whole of the United States was as small as the Isle of Man and basically only contained one dirty blues bar, an all-day diner and a man selling hot dogs out of a cart next to the Empire State.

Today’s hair arrangement was Medusa meets Daenerys from Game of Thrones.

…you were always the star of your own show… Don’t let anyone make you drop back into the chorus line.

She looked sour, like someone had rubbed a lemon all over her face and then made her swallow it whole.

She watched Mack again, picking up a soft toy the child in the buggy had dropped, dusting it off a little, then handing it back. She almost sensed her ovaries let out a groan…


My Review:

I adore Mandy Baggot’s delightfully clever humor and perceptive storytelling and covet her agile writing style and talent for stringing clever arrangements of words together. Her latest offering is yet another fun and lively tale that alternated between tickling my funny bone and squeezing my heart, and often managed to achieve both at the same time. She is a goddess of inventive yet realistic plot development as well as the creation of eccentric and unconventional characters. I adored these oddly beguiling yet fractured characters as much as their devilishly amusing yet insightfully penned storylines. I would love for her to return to this enticing collection of oddly tuned yet endearingly compelling residents for a sequel.

Harriet is working hard in London as a property investor with her boyfriend. When she hears of her grandmother‘s death she drops everything to fly out to the Hamptons to look after her grieving grandfather.

When she arrives she runs into Mack with whom she had written long letters when he was away at war. He was the love of her life - the one who got away. Now Mack is determined to win Harriet back.

A great Christmasy story that really warms the heart.

This is one of my favorite reading seasons because there is absolutely nothing better than curling up under a fuzzy blanket with a good book A wonderful magical Christmas book. Reminds me of holiday movies but in print. Such a cute story for this time of year.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Harriet receives the devastating news that her Nana Lorna has passed away and so decides to fly from the UK to Montauk to look after her Grandpa Joe. It’s been a while since she’s been there and she’s feels the pain of missing her Nana. But she pulls herself together to deliver a Christmas for the community that her Nana would have been proud of. There’s only one hitch though – the love of her life, the one that go away, Mack appears to be living there……She already has a boyfriend and Mack thoroughly shattered her heart. But as she gets to know him again she finds there are reasons behind it; and as her and her boyfriend drift further apart, and she settles into her Christmas at Montauk – is there a second chance for her and Mack?

I adored this story. I read the first half with tears constantly running down my cheeks and the second half with a warm feeling inside. It really is a wonderful, festive story that will break your heart and then put it back together!

The characters are fabulous. Harriet is a wonderful character, really thoughtful and caring, and I loved that she flew out to look after her Grandpa. She’s fallen into a bit of rut and she definitely deserves more. Madame Scarlett is an absolute legend, as are Lester, Ruby and Grandpa Jo. And even though Nana Lorna isn’t physically there, she’s there in spirit and I adored her. Mack is complex character with his own demons but I loved him from the word go. And both Scooter and Meryl Cheep both need a special mention as their antics had me in stitches!

The setting was fantastic. A beach side snowy Christmas! What could be more different?! It felt exotic but festive at the same time, and the came across really snug which surprised me. It sounds like such a wonderful place with a wonderful community.

And finally the story. The grief in this from the loss of Nana will tug at your heartstrings. I could literally feel the characters hearts aching and it definitely made me cry more than once. But I could also feel Mack’s demons. Mandy does an absolutely fantastic job of bringing the emotions to life, so make sure you have tissues nearby! However, there are also lots of wonderful, lighthearted funny moments, and plenty of moments that will make you catch your breath and warm your heart.

If you’re looking for your next gorgeous, festive, snug romance with plenty of emotion, a fabulous setting and a brilliant storyline, then you should check this out. Highly recommended by me.

Harriet is working as a property developer with her partner Iain but there is no spark in her life and she is settling for second best having lost the love of her life years earlier. When her beloved grandmother dies unexpectedly she flies out to Montauk in the Hamptons to look after her Grandpa Joe and suddenly she is being pulled back into the life of her childhood summer holidays.......and is real love knocking on her door?

Another lovely book by Mandy Baggot, as always full of great quirky characters to support the main cast and a lovely warm feelgood vibe to the story. Perfect Christmas read

The clocks have now changed and the evenings are drawing in. We survived the Halloween weekend so now thoughts can legitimately turn to Christmas! No Christmas season would be complete without another festive Mandy Baggot contemporary romance. It is no ordinary love story though and feels like a big Father Christmas all encompassing hug.

In Christmas by the Coast we find ourselves in The Hamptons. A place that I fell in love with binge-watching the ABC series Revenge. It ran for four seasons and if you haven't watched it then it is well worth joining Disney Plus for a bit so that you can enjoy the sights of Montauk and its environs. But I digress!

Harriet Cookson has a good life in London sharing a flat with her best friend and running a property business with her long term, and dependable, boyfriend Ian. Just before Christmas her beloved grandmother passes away and she drops everything to go out to support her grandfather and be with him for the funeral. Life has got in the way a bit and it has been a few years since she has been over to Long Island to visit them at their waterfront Tiki bar, The Rum Coconut. (Again on the Revenge theme I was seeing in my head the Porter's Stowaway Tavern in the harbour with added parrots for good luck!)

As she arrives in Montauk she is shocked to come face to face with "the one that got away". An ex US soldier called Mack Wyatt who broke her heart and left her reeling many years earlier. The end of that relationship had nearly finished her and she can't believe that in the middle of her grief he is back there in her life.

As Mack realises the error of pushing Harri away all those years ago he is determined to try and win her back and to show her that her settled and solid existence in London is just that, an existence, when she should be living her dreams.

Settle down in your favourite comfy armchair with a mug of steaming hot chocolate and allow yourself to be swept away by the sights and sounds of the Hamptons, a welcoming small town community and a love affair to die for.

Supplied by Net Galley and Aria & Aries in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour for this book launch.

UK Publication Date: Sept 2 2021. 412 pages.

I had tears rolling down my face numerous times while reading this story. Harriet has flown into the Hamptons for Christmas to help arrange her beloved grandma’s funeral.

There, she bumps into Mack, a veteran amputee who used to correspond with Harriet during his time in Afganistan. As they begin to reconnect over various Christmas festivities, they deal with the heaviness of grief and ptsd.

I absolutely loved this novel by Mandy Baggott, it gave me all the feels and more!

Mandy Baggott takes the reader to Long Island, just off the coast of New York, in this festive, fun read. Not only has the author injected so much festive jollity in the story making us feel so nostalgic but the author has also touched on some serious issues of grief, loss, PTSD all dealt with grace and sensitivity.

Harriet is devastated to learn of the sudden death of her beloved grandmother, who lives overseas in Long Island. A place that Harriet has spent many summers with her grandparents enjoying all that the area has to offer whilst wrapped in the comforting love of her family. Feelings of grief are mixed in with guilt and regret for having not visited in the last 3 years. Harriet’s life over the last few years has been difficult, her heart and dreams had been broken and she fell into a steady business/relationship with Iain. This new relationship helped a little in mending parts of her heart but there are still pieces of her heart that remain with a long distance love she had for an American soldier.

Arriving in Long Island with Iain to help her grandad at such a sad time brings back all the love she had for this wonderful place. The locked door to her dreams feel like they want to emerge once more but does she dare to dream again?

Mack has lived on his boat moored in Long Island for a few years now following his medical discharge from the army. He’d remembered this place of Montauk, off Long Island that had been so warmly spoken of by the penfriend he hoped would one day become more. but since his traumatic accident whilst on tour of duty overseas he’s left with both physical and mental scars. so when he sees a young woman that had plagued his dreams for so long he questions whether he is of right mind.

Harriet is shocked to discover Mack is living near her grandparents and is consumed with a myriad of emotions.

Christmas by the Coast is such a beautiful story leading up to the festivities of the season which bring a warmth back to the hearts of many that are dealing with life’s many emotional challenges.

Harriet thinks she has it all. After suffering heartbreak in life, she has now got a nice dependable boyfriend with whom she runs a property developing business. But her life is thrown into turmoil when her grandmother passes away and she travels to the Hamptons to be with her grieving Grandfather. When she gets there, she sees a familiar face in the crowd, the ‘one that got away’, who is dealing with his own traumas. We get to know their history through the letter that they used to exchange and through the other characters who make up this tight knit coastal town of Montauk.
Harriet throws herself into organising Montauks Christmas preparations which is something that her grandmother had been previously in charge of and through her interactions with the coastal community we are introduced to some wonderful characters who make up the town including a very special parrot!
I would say this is a story about grief, new beginnings, celebrating life and second chances. It made me laugh but it also packed an emotional punch at times. Another thoroughly enjoyable read from Mandy.

Fancy a festive trip to the Hamptons? Let Mandy Baggot take you there with ‘Christmas by the Coast.’

Harriet hasn’t been to visit her grandparents for a while when a tragic event means she must take the journey back to their Tiki Bar in Montauk. Whilst her reason for having to travel is sad, it was a real treat to hear about traditions for the festive season. It sounds so much fun, I’d love to experience them.

Whilst she is visiting and supporting her Grandfather again, fate plays it’s hand and when a blast from the past throws her life into turmoil, Harriet must take a look at what is most important to her and her dreams. Is Harriet ready to make big life changes?

Harriet’s boyfriend, Iain, isn’t the most endearing character you could meet, and in my opinion she could do so much better.

There are moments of sadness, grief, loss and despair but also moments of absolute joy, humour and happiness. It’s festive, romance and a story of self discovery all rolled into one. You will have all the warm and fuzzies with this read. Mandy Baggot never fails to whisk you away or give you a story full of heart and charm. With a cast of interesting and highly amusing characters, you will be laughing one minute, and feeling nostalgic for your own festive traditions the next.

An absolute treat and highly recommended.

Christmas by the Coast by Mandy Baggot is a festive read that will whisk you off to the Hamptons, on Long Island, New York state. It’s not, however, the opulence one would expect in the Hamptons, because it is set in Montauk, and centres around a tiki bar, and the locals in December, rather than the vacation set who head from their luxury lives in Manhattan to spend their summers in the multi-million dollar mansions in the Hamptons.

I have to say I adored the location of this story, and the way it captured the winter weather conditions in a beach setting. The tiki bar, complete with a parrot called Meryl, was the perfect level of kitsch for the setting. When Harriet arrives in Montauk for her grandmother’s funeral complete with her boyfriend (and business partner) Iain, she finds herself coming face to face with ‘the one that got away’, ex-soldier Mack. I have to admit I was not particularly keen on Iain from the outset, he was so focused on the business side of their relationship and was completely oblivious to the pain that Harriet was experiencing from the loss of her Nana. However, I fell for Mack from the very beginning and I loved the fact that he was a disabled veteran. Although it takes a while before Mack feels able to open up about what lead to him losing part of his leg in Afghanistan, I think from the very beginning of the story we see Mack as a caring, open, personable man who is so much more than his disability. I think Mandy Baggot handled this perfectly, and I think Mack might well be one of my favourite book boyfriends!

I loved the additional characters in this story, from Joe, Harriet’s grandfather, Ralph her hippy-ish father, Jude her flatmate back home, Ruby, Lester to Madame Scarlet and Scooter the dog! Between them, they all added depth to the story.

I enjoyed the different events that were hosted at the tiki bar, and I loved the idea of the cocktails that were created.

This wonderfully festive read (albeit not so traditional with cocktail creations and clam bakes) was a tale of second chances at love, as well as second chances in family life, with forgiveness and redemption at its’ core.

I love Mandy Baggot's books and feel this one is the best I have read. Wonderful narratives and descriptions. Highly recommend.