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Meet Me at Pebble Beach #1-4
Meet Me at Pebble Beach
Regan is holding a winning lottery ticket.
Goodbye to the boyfriend who never had her back, and so long to the job she can’t stand!
Except it’s all a bit too good to be true…
When Regan gets pranked, she finds herself jobless, homeless and boyfriendless in one fell swoop.
Luckily her friendly seaside community provides a beacon of hope, proving to Regan that sometimes you really can rely on the kindness of others – and one local in particular, a handsome fireman called Charlie, helps Regan realise that this could be her chance for a fresh start.
Armed with a list of ways to change her life, Regan decides it’s time to step out of her comfort zone. Because – as Charlie knows all too well – life is for living . . .
A feel-good summer read, perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Veronica Henry and Cressida McLaughlin.
Goodbye to the boyfriend who never had her back, and so long to the job she can’t stand!
Except it’s all a bit too good to be true…
When Regan gets pranked, she finds herself jobless, homeless and boyfriendless in one fell swoop.
Luckily her friendly seaside community provides a beacon of hope, proving to Regan that sometimes you really can rely on the kindness of others – and one local in particular, a handsome fireman called Charlie, helps Regan realise that this could be her chance for a fresh start.
Armed with a list of ways to change her life, Regan decides it’s time to step out of her comfort zone. Because – as Charlie knows all too well – life is for living . . .
A feel-good summer read, perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Veronica Henry and Cressida McLaughlin.
400 pages, ebook
First published May 28, 2020
241 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
June 4, 2020
A sweet story from Bella Osborne, I have finally finished reading this novel! I approached this story by reading it in three separate parts. This was because I was so keen to get involved in the story, that I thought I could manage the inevitable delay between instalments. However, I must admit, it did lessen my overall enjoyment because of the period between each section. It did take me a while to immerse myself in the last half of the story but I liked it nonetheless.
Osborne successfully captures everything that Brighton is known for. The pebble beach is synonymous to escapism and, in this book, becomes a symbol for peace and happiness. Indeed, Regan’s evening with Kevin and Charlie under the pier shapes her experiences for the rest of the novel and I think it makes her a better, more likeable character. The independent traders and quirky shops that one finds in the streets of Brighton are represented by Regan’s jam and chutney business. I was so pleased to see how she tries to make a success of her business and overcomes many hurdles – including the fact that she is technically homeless and does not have a kitchen to cook her goods in. Finally, the flamboyant personalities are gradually revealed and again, this very much reminded me of walking along the seafront in Brighton.
This is a sweet story but it does have it does have darker moments. It is not all roses and happiness! This makes the plot all the more realistic; tragedy and darkness can strike anyone at anytime. The way that the characters, particularly Regan, overcome these moments creates a stronger character and I felt like I was watching Regan mature over the development of the story. By the end of the novel, she felt like a far cry from the Regan who played silly tricks on her work colleague and did not take life seriously.
Interested throughout the plot, there was nothing I could criticise about the story. I liked the holiday vibe from being set in Brighton, whilst appreciating the realistic hardships that so many of the characters face. As I approached the conclusion of the novel, I did grow concerned that Osborne would leave it on a sad note, however, I am pleased to say that I finished with a satisfying smile on my face. In conclusion, I think it was definitely worth grabbing the instalments available and it will probably make me re-read the book, as a whole, again in the future.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Osborne successfully captures everything that Brighton is known for. The pebble beach is synonymous to escapism and, in this book, becomes a symbol for peace and happiness. Indeed, Regan’s evening with Kevin and Charlie under the pier shapes her experiences for the rest of the novel and I think it makes her a better, more likeable character. The independent traders and quirky shops that one finds in the streets of Brighton are represented by Regan’s jam and chutney business. I was so pleased to see how she tries to make a success of her business and overcomes many hurdles – including the fact that she is technically homeless and does not have a kitchen to cook her goods in. Finally, the flamboyant personalities are gradually revealed and again, this very much reminded me of walking along the seafront in Brighton.
This is a sweet story but it does have it does have darker moments. It is not all roses and happiness! This makes the plot all the more realistic; tragedy and darkness can strike anyone at anytime. The way that the characters, particularly Regan, overcome these moments creates a stronger character and I felt like I was watching Regan mature over the development of the story. By the end of the novel, she felt like a far cry from the Regan who played silly tricks on her work colleague and did not take life seriously.
Interested throughout the plot, there was nothing I could criticise about the story. I liked the holiday vibe from being set in Brighton, whilst appreciating the realistic hardships that so many of the characters face. As I approached the conclusion of the novel, I did grow concerned that Osborne would leave it on a sad note, however, I am pleased to say that I finished with a satisfying smile on my face. In conclusion, I think it was definitely worth grabbing the instalments available and it will probably make me re-read the book, as a whole, again in the future.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2020
Oh I do love a Bella Osborne book, and this is no exception!
Within a chapter or two I was very interested in Regan's story and wow does she go on a journey in this book, including hitting rock bottom after a prank leads her to quitting her job, dumping her boyfriend and as a result losing her home all within a few mins.
Seeing how she deals with that, and how she pulls herself back together and the steps taken to make a wish list written in haste ,to come true! With the help of new and old friends, Regan has a lot of support even if she doesn't always seem to make the best decisions.
This is definitely a book you will enjoy if you love Jam or Hedgohogs - but I promise not hedgehog jam! I won't say why both of these feature quite a bit, but trust me there are all manner of wacky flavoured jams which sounded rather interesting, and amongst other things some incredibly cute hoglets. Oh and Elvis, he's fabulous and is gorgeous,, and a gentle giant, and so mischievous too!
Then there is Kevins' story, which may have you shedding a tear, and the story involving him brings in an important issue, that faces not just Brighton but most places around the world. Oh and Charlie, he is fabulous, I loved Charlie. He's a fireman, he is a rock for Regan, but he also has his own issue and I honestly had no idea how the book was going to turn out, although I'm delighted with the ending.
This is just a really engaging read, it's deep in places, its very lighthearted in places, if best friend Cleo's subject matter for her paintings doesn't raise a smile at least I'd be shocked, and generally its a very well written book that I couldn't get enough of.
Another gem of a book from this talented author.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy, which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Within a chapter or two I was very interested in Regan's story and wow does she go on a journey in this book, including hitting rock bottom after a prank leads her to quitting her job, dumping her boyfriend and as a result losing her home all within a few mins.
Seeing how she deals with that, and how she pulls herself back together and the steps taken to make a wish list written in haste ,to come true! With the help of new and old friends, Regan has a lot of support even if she doesn't always seem to make the best decisions.
This is definitely a book you will enjoy if you love Jam or Hedgohogs - but I promise not hedgehog jam! I won't say why both of these feature quite a bit, but trust me there are all manner of wacky flavoured jams which sounded rather interesting, and amongst other things some incredibly cute hoglets. Oh and Elvis, he's fabulous and is gorgeous,, and a gentle giant, and so mischievous too!
Then there is Kevins' story, which may have you shedding a tear, and the story involving him brings in an important issue, that faces not just Brighton but most places around the world. Oh and Charlie, he is fabulous, I loved Charlie. He's a fireman, he is a rock for Regan, but he also has his own issue and I honestly had no idea how the book was going to turn out, although I'm delighted with the ending.
This is just a really engaging read, it's deep in places, its very lighthearted in places, if best friend Cleo's subject matter for her paintings doesn't raise a smile at least I'd be shocked, and generally its a very well written book that I couldn't get enough of.
Another gem of a book from this talented author.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy, which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 5, 2020
This was a fantastic easy read such a laugh out book at times but heartbreaking at times with plenty of romance and learning to change your life but is it fir the better.
Regan has a boyfriend she's not happy with and a job she wasn't happy in. She has jokes with someone she works with but this day he tells her she's holding a winning lottery ticket so she hands her notice in and leaves her boyfriend. Only to learn it wasn't a winning ticket he called her but it's all to late for her. She meets charming Charlie who teaches her she can change her life and she slowly starts doing new things and starts working on the market she has heartbreak along the way and can she find romance only to realise she may loose it.
Regan has a boyfriend she's not happy with and a job she wasn't happy in. She has jokes with someone she works with but this day he tells her she's holding a winning lottery ticket so she hands her notice in and leaves her boyfriend. Only to learn it wasn't a winning ticket he called her but it's all to late for her. She meets charming Charlie who teaches her she can change her life and she slowly starts doing new things and starts working on the market she has heartbreak along the way and can she find romance only to realise she may loose it.
July 10, 2020
A sweet story of falling love whilst facing a number of hurdles set against the beautiful background of Brighton. However, it's not all jam and hedgehogs, there are some thought provoking parts as the author examines homelessness and society's reaction to the death of an unidentified man. A step up from your average romantic novel.
May 6, 2020
Well this was a wonderful story. Whether you did this novel as four separate parts or devoured the entire things as a whole I am sure that you loved getting to know Regan and travelling around Brighton as much as I did. This book does have something for everyone, a cosy coffee shop, a glamorous travel lifestyle, the idea of starting over and just a touch of romance for more than one of the characters.
Regan was a great character to spend this novel with because she really does start off with a nice life and then loses it all within a click of her fingers. We get to see her at rock bottom and get to see how she copes with that. I love the fact that we never quite knew what she was going to do next and I love that she was a slight fly by the seat of her pants type of character because it meant that she could be tempered by some of the other more organised characters around her in the cast of the book.
Obviously I loved getting to know the other characters in this novel too. They weren't always perfect but they provided a good sounding board for Regan and they were there to help her and bolster her endeavours in life. My favourite secondary character was Elivs, by a mile. I think that dog really came along when we needed him most and I loved watching life change for him as much as it did for Regan.
The setting of this book was great because Brighton is a seaside town but town that has a whole lot more than just beach about it. It allowed Regan to think big and yet have that wild beach there to ground her at the same time. I would love to see how some of the other characters went about town
Regan was a great character to spend this novel with because she really does start off with a nice life and then loses it all within a click of her fingers. We get to see her at rock bottom and get to see how she copes with that. I love the fact that we never quite knew what she was going to do next and I love that she was a slight fly by the seat of her pants type of character because it meant that she could be tempered by some of the other more organised characters around her in the cast of the book.
Obviously I loved getting to know the other characters in this novel too. They weren't always perfect but they provided a good sounding board for Regan and they were there to help her and bolster her endeavours in life. My favourite secondary character was Elivs, by a mile. I think that dog really came along when we needed him most and I loved watching life change for him as much as it did for Regan.
The setting of this book was great because Brighton is a seaside town but town that has a whole lot more than just beach about it. It allowed Regan to think big and yet have that wild beach there to ground her at the same time. I would love to see how some of the other characters went about town
May 1, 2020
Feel-good story about second chances and how winning the lottery may change your life not the way you thought it would!
„Meet Me at Pebble Beach” follows Regan whose life is, let’s call it for what it is, boring and uneventful. She works a dull job she has no enthusiasm for and lives with a boyfriend that scolds her like a child for morning mess at their shared apartment. The only relief are the pranks she and her collegue Alex play on one another. Until they aren’t. Until Regan, thinking she won the lottery, ends up jobless, boyfriendless, apartmentless.
I went into this book expecting a sweet, soft story heavy on the romance. Instead I got one about major life changes and reinventing oneself. The romance component was there, and pretty early on, but there was a twist to it, a bitter-sweet one and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t give me whiplash.
There wasn’t anything particularly wrong with this book but it wasn’t entirely for me. At least not now as I just wasn’t in a mood for this kind of story. I had a bit of a problem connecting to any of the characters. It wasn’t the pacing’s fault because the structure was well thought-through and every twist and turn made sense at the time it happened in the book.
Unfortunately I felt like Regan as the main character was the epitome of naive. Which, really, should have been fine because it was her journey and her time to rediscover herself. Mistakes are made and then we improve upon them – that’s basically how story crafting goes! At the same time I just couldn’t quite understand her. Especially when it came to her love interest. Her decisions and reasoning behind them seemed shallow to me and I couldn’t fully get behind them. Again, that’s a very subjective view and other readers looking for different things could completely disagree with me.
The book is set in Brighton, UK and as soon as I realized that I felt transported back there. As a high school student I had the amazing opportunity of going there on a language course, several times as a matter of fact, and my memories of those stays are one of the fondest I have from teenage years. I recognized some of the places Regan talks about or visits. It was a joy to revisit them on book pages. Because of that I can also attest to the writing quality. Bella Osborne wrote a lovely story about belated self-discovery that had me feeling warm, cozy and craving some of that special unicorn jam, to be honest!
„Meet Me at Pebble Beach” didn’t bring me to my knees or anything but I spent a nice time reading it. Some of the novel’s plot components seemed a bit forced to me, like some boxes had to be ticked off and that is how they were found in the story in the first place. I just would have liked a somewhat more natural transition between the not having a clue and finding out. Then again, it could have been a case of me not reading in between the lines enough.
All in all, I would recommend it to anyone who feels like reading about major life changes, a character who clearly has no idea how to fix her life but starts doing it nonetheless and… Brighton, I guess? For sentimental value, haha. Enjoy!
**massive thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
„Meet Me at Pebble Beach” follows Regan whose life is, let’s call it for what it is, boring and uneventful. She works a dull job she has no enthusiasm for and lives with a boyfriend that scolds her like a child for morning mess at their shared apartment. The only relief are the pranks she and her collegue Alex play on one another. Until they aren’t. Until Regan, thinking she won the lottery, ends up jobless, boyfriendless, apartmentless.
I went into this book expecting a sweet, soft story heavy on the romance. Instead I got one about major life changes and reinventing oneself. The romance component was there, and pretty early on, but there was a twist to it, a bitter-sweet one and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t give me whiplash.
There wasn’t anything particularly wrong with this book but it wasn’t entirely for me. At least not now as I just wasn’t in a mood for this kind of story. I had a bit of a problem connecting to any of the characters. It wasn’t the pacing’s fault because the structure was well thought-through and every twist and turn made sense at the time it happened in the book.
Unfortunately I felt like Regan as the main character was the epitome of naive. Which, really, should have been fine because it was her journey and her time to rediscover herself. Mistakes are made and then we improve upon them – that’s basically how story crafting goes! At the same time I just couldn’t quite understand her. Especially when it came to her love interest. Her decisions and reasoning behind them seemed shallow to me and I couldn’t fully get behind them. Again, that’s a very subjective view and other readers looking for different things could completely disagree with me.
The book is set in Brighton, UK and as soon as I realized that I felt transported back there. As a high school student I had the amazing opportunity of going there on a language course, several times as a matter of fact, and my memories of those stays are one of the fondest I have from teenage years. I recognized some of the places Regan talks about or visits. It was a joy to revisit them on book pages. Because of that I can also attest to the writing quality. Bella Osborne wrote a lovely story about belated self-discovery that had me feeling warm, cozy and craving some of that special unicorn jam, to be honest!
„Meet Me at Pebble Beach” didn’t bring me to my knees or anything but I spent a nice time reading it. Some of the novel’s plot components seemed a bit forced to me, like some boxes had to be ticked off and that is how they were found in the story in the first place. I just would have liked a somewhat more natural transition between the not having a clue and finding out. Then again, it could have been a case of me not reading in between the lines enough.
All in all, I would recommend it to anyone who feels like reading about major life changes, a character who clearly has no idea how to fix her life but starts doing it nonetheless and… Brighton, I guess? For sentimental value, haha. Enjoy!
**massive thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
April 20, 2020
You know when you read a book that you really like, this was the book for me, it made my heart sing. I had everything I wanted food, animals, romance. I really liked Regan as she was all about everyone else apart from herself. I saw myself in her a few times trying to do good for other people. I loved hearing about Elvis the dog, I think he was the star of the show, I can't believe what he had gone through. But good job Regan was there. I think what this story has showed me is that never give up on your dreams. If there is a will, there is a way.
June 17, 2020
This book was loooong but it was good, at the beginning it took me a while to get into the story but then I started to feel every emotion the characters were feeling, I cry, I laugh and I even got mad with a few situations and characters that were not so kind with Regan...
Regan was trying to finally put her life together, her ex-boyfriend was a real loser, her co-workers were not kind and create many troubles for Regan especially that guy Alex he really was a bully and hurt her in so many ways.
I cry with Regan, I laugh and even try to fight in her defense but in the end, she had a few people that really was ready to support her and take care of her.
Favorite character, definitely Charlie, he made everything much better for Regan, and even for us the readers, I love him.
One of the things that I love about Regan is that she was so strong even if she wasn't aware of that, she was bold and she was always there whenever someone needs her like Kevin that story was strong and very sad but i love that Regan was very kind and always had extra love and care for people who needed the most.
I'm ready to do a re-read this book was very enjoyable. This was my first book by Bella Osborne and it was pretty good.
Regan was trying to finally put her life together, her ex-boyfriend was a real loser, her co-workers were not kind and create many troubles for Regan especially that guy Alex he really was a bully and hurt her in so many ways.
I cry with Regan, I laugh and even try to fight in her defense but in the end, she had a few people that really was ready to support her and take care of her.
Favorite character, definitely Charlie, he made everything much better for Regan, and even for us the readers, I love him.
One of the things that I love about Regan is that she was so strong even if she wasn't aware of that, she was bold and she was always there whenever someone needs her like Kevin that story was strong and very sad but i love that Regan was very kind and always had extra love and care for people who needed the most.
I'm ready to do a re-read this book was very enjoyable. This was my first book by Bella Osborne and it was pretty good.
May 29, 2020
First of all I have to say that I have devoured this book in one day. I have thoroughly enjoyed the story, it is fast paced but not complicated to follow. The characters are fabulous and I have had every emotion going whilst reading it. I have actually shed tears and whooped and smiled throughout. Lots of little things happening all the time to keep you interested with lots of little twists thrown in too. Would definitely recommend this book to others and will be reading more from this author. Thank you to netgalley and the author and publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest opinion.
October 15, 2020
More like a 3.5 - strangely the title and cover of this book had literally nothing to do with the story but it was still a lovely read, but quite sad in places. I did think there was too much going on that didn't all get wrapped up or pull together but I'd definitely read more by this author and it was a nice ending.
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January 16, 2023It a really good read enjoyed it more than I thought I would
March 27, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can receive your copy here : https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Me-Pebble...
You can receive your copy on April 2, 2020.
This is my intro to Bella Osborne. Why she has not been on my radar prior to now is a HUGE issue! She is AMAZING! I cannot wait to finish my to read list to get more of Bella Osborne onto my list! She may be bumping some other authors, so they better look out and step up their game!
This book is just what we need right now, humor, romance and more. We begin the book with Regan waking up with a half-eaten kebab as a pillow. Seriously, I want to be her BFF! If I woke up on that, I know the night before had a story and it was a pretty darn good one! She is then interrupted in her slow reconstructing the night before by her being reminded that she had to take Cleo to the airport. Wow, this is some start. You better put your seatbelt on, strap in, because we are in for some ride with this author. I love her antics, her start, her style. Can the author be my BFF instead? I am available to Zoom, facetime, skype during this Quarantine so you can bounce ideas off of me, make me laugh, cry, etc. PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE!!! Regan also almost leaves the house WITHOUT PANTS! The start to this book is just PHENOMONAL! PANTS! YUP! I have almost done that- you CANNOT leave the house in BOY SHORTS! NOT APPROPRIATE attire, under any circumstances, especially now in QUARANTINE. I no longer have a Quaranheiny, it is a GIGANTIC heiny! OK, first chapter and we have a half eaten kebab, no pants, carpet burn on a nose, a forgotten mobile, double parking and more. Woah BABY! I need a serious airbag!
This book was so much fun and exactly what I needed right now, the only thing that I have negative to say about it was that there was not enough of it! PLEASE GIVE ME MORE! PLEASE CONTACT ME AND WE CAN FACETIME, ZOOM, GOOGLE HANGOUT, you name it, please slide into my DMs! You are my new fave!!! James Patterson, you may be replaced as my favorite author. I may have read 200 + of your books, but Bella had me by the cajones from page 1! If you are bored during this Quarantine, guess what, I have found the answer!
You can receive your copy here : https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Me-Pebble...
You can receive your copy on April 2, 2020.
This is my intro to Bella Osborne. Why she has not been on my radar prior to now is a HUGE issue! She is AMAZING! I cannot wait to finish my to read list to get more of Bella Osborne onto my list! She may be bumping some other authors, so they better look out and step up their game!
This book is just what we need right now, humor, romance and more. We begin the book with Regan waking up with a half-eaten kebab as a pillow. Seriously, I want to be her BFF! If I woke up on that, I know the night before had a story and it was a pretty darn good one! She is then interrupted in her slow reconstructing the night before by her being reminded that she had to take Cleo to the airport. Wow, this is some start. You better put your seatbelt on, strap in, because we are in for some ride with this author. I love her antics, her start, her style. Can the author be my BFF instead? I am available to Zoom, facetime, skype during this Quarantine so you can bounce ideas off of me, make me laugh, cry, etc. PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE!!! Regan also almost leaves the house WITHOUT PANTS! The start to this book is just PHENOMONAL! PANTS! YUP! I have almost done that- you CANNOT leave the house in BOY SHORTS! NOT APPROPRIATE attire, under any circumstances, especially now in QUARANTINE. I no longer have a Quaranheiny, it is a GIGANTIC heiny! OK, first chapter and we have a half eaten kebab, no pants, carpet burn on a nose, a forgotten mobile, double parking and more. Woah BABY! I need a serious airbag!
This book was so much fun and exactly what I needed right now, the only thing that I have negative to say about it was that there was not enough of it! PLEASE GIVE ME MORE! PLEASE CONTACT ME AND WE CAN FACETIME, ZOOM, GOOGLE HANGOUT, you name it, please slide into my DMs! You are my new fave!!! James Patterson, you may be replaced as my favorite author. I may have read 200 + of your books, but Bella had me by the cajones from page 1! If you are bored during this Quarantine, guess what, I have found the answer!
May 19, 2020
In this novel, we meet Regan, a gal who is down on her luck trying to figure out her next move after a fake lottery win prank gone wrong. Looking for work, a place to live & purpose in her life, she meets hunky fireman Charlie. Regan goes on a journey of self discovery and empowerment, learning along the way that there are indeed good people who care to help others & that she, too, can make an impact in others’ lives.
To be honest, this wasn’t my favorite book. I really struggled with Regan as a character - I found her to be kind of shady & whiny. But I did love the relationship she had with Kevin & Elvis — it was so incredibly touching and sweet. I like the themes of helping others & loving life in the moment; a light and easy read for these weird corona times! However, I really disliked the writing. I found it to be kind of choppy & disjointed.
All in all, the book just didn’t land for me. Maybe I need to read some of Osborne’s others!
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for the gifted copy!
To be honest, this wasn’t my favorite book. I really struggled with Regan as a character - I found her to be kind of shady & whiny. But I did love the relationship she had with Kevin & Elvis — it was so incredibly touching and sweet. I like the themes of helping others & loving life in the moment; a light and easy read for these weird corona times! However, I really disliked the writing. I found it to be kind of choppy & disjointed.
All in all, the book just didn’t land for me. Maybe I need to read some of Osborne’s others!
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for the gifted copy!
May 3, 2022
First of all, the title makes no sense. I have no idea what Pebble Beach is; it does not play into the story at all. Then, the main character is so awful. The only redeeming quality she has is her compassion and friendship with Kevin (the homeless man). She is straight-up stupid. Who dumps their boyfriend and quits their job without confirming that their lotto win is real? Even if she had actually won the lotto, it’s not like they were going to give her 20 million dollars that day. I had major anxiety for her living in her friend’s studio where she was not allowed to be. The romance between her and Charlie does not draw the reader in at all. Several times, when Charlie randomly showed up, I thought, “who is Charlie?”, and then remembered he was the love interest. It’s a quick read, and the idiot does get slightly more tolerable toward the end of the book. But I wouldn’t waste my time reading it again.
August 20, 2022
A terrible person who takes no responsibility for her actions gets all manner of unrealistic happy endings simply because that's the genre this book is in. Not my cup of unicorn jam.
June 8, 2020
Regan's life - with a boring job, uneventful, and with an obnoxious boyfriend - is about to change, because Roegan has just won a lottery. So she quits her job, ends things with her boyfriend and moves out of his flat. Only then it turns out Robyn hasn't won the lottery... She has to think, and quickly, what to do now, get a new job and find a place to live. But it's not so easy. And on top of that there is also Charlie whom she's just met, when she tried to bite her friend's from work, Alex, head off... Well, on the other hand, Robyn's life is not boring and uneventful...
Regan was a character that I couldn't completely put my finger on. On the one hand she was lively, hilarious and open. On the other hand, she's an adult but still goes through life without thinking, offering only minimal forethought (or any). Some of her decisions and reasoning didn't sit with me at all, I couldn't get behind them. I had a feeling that the constant wrecking ball she experiences in her life is of her own doing because she never has a plan, she never thinks things out. Nevertheless, her evenings with Kevin and her life - approach made her a much more likeable character. And I liked the fact that she, actually, never gave up! There was not a hurdle that she wasn't able to overcome, and even the fact that she was technically homeless didn't stop her from starting her own business. A business that she needed a kitchen for. And what was also nice, was the fact that Regan was developing and growing throughout the whole story - she was still hot-headed and often made up her mind on impulse but in the end I had a feeling that she's also matured, without losing her spontaneity and inner joy.
The romance aspect was truly well written. There was this usual will they/won't they but you actually couldn't be sure if they will because of one very important problem. I personally kept everything crossed for the happy ending because I loved Charlie, however the author has written her story in such a way that you could expect any ending.
I was very thankful for the setting in this story - Brighton, a lovely seaside town that also showed the other, darker side. The writing is of a very high quality, beautifully capturing the setting but also going deep on feelings and emotions. It's vivid and colourful and the whole story is easy to read.
There were moments that the book was too dramatic for my liking, as if the author tried too much, but it must be the old cynic in me that made me roll my eyes at the drama. Don't get me wrong, pretty please, I know what the author wanted to achieve here and the things she has written about ARE very important and thought - provoking but maybe I simply didn't expect them in this kind of book? I was all about sunshine, butterflies and bunnies (or hedgehogs in that case) and the dark side of the story simply took me by surprise and yes, it felt a bit too forced. Nevertheless, the story of Kevin broke my heart a little, and the scene when he tries to protect himself will stay with me probably forever.
Altogether, it was a lovely, emotional, funny and also poignant book about second chances and that there is always a way out. It will make you smile and it'll give you a pause for thought. It's not all sugar - coated bed of roses but it's also about homelessness and terminal illness for example, but written with a light touch. I enjoyed it and spend some relaxed hours in the characters' company. Recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 28, 2020
This is the first book I read by Bella Osborne. I have seen so many great reviews of her work, that I definitely had her on my "need to read" list. I absolutely love her writing style, character development and plots.
I am so fond of the characters Ms. Osborne has created. Regan has a heart of gold and follows it, but keeps making decisions with her good nature instead of what is in her best interest. I keeping telling her, “oh no!, do not do that!”, but she just keeps going forward into situations that make me shake my head. I was hoping she will land on top and all her good deeds will have her a winner by the end of the book.
Charlie is a gem, trying to protect others even though he is not well. Kevin and Elvis (his dog) stole my heart almost from when they were first introduced.
Once finished reading, all the pieces to the puzzle of the plots came together magnificently! This was my introduction to Bella Osbone's writing and I definitely have found a new favorite author. I was engrossed in the story from the beginning! The author has done a fantastic job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat waiting to see how the story will end.
Ms Osborne writes about life's everyday situations, some happy and some sad, and makes the reader feel better in the end, since they are not alone with the ups and downs of life. Her characters find a way to move on, and this shows the reader that they can also.
My feelings come from how the world is currently. I read this in March 2020, at the height of the COVID19 virus hitting the US. It is a time of stress and I was finding it difficult to read anything. This serial was a lifesaver to me. I was able to escape the real world for a while and that is a sign of a tremendously talented author, that they can create a world you can dive into and have a place to be refreshed.
I want to thank Avon Book UK and NetGalley for giving me this much needed escape by reading the Advance Reader Copy. My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC.
I am so fond of the characters Ms. Osborne has created. Regan has a heart of gold and follows it, but keeps making decisions with her good nature instead of what is in her best interest. I keeping telling her, “oh no!, do not do that!”, but she just keeps going forward into situations that make me shake my head. I was hoping she will land on top and all her good deeds will have her a winner by the end of the book.
Charlie is a gem, trying to protect others even though he is not well. Kevin and Elvis (his dog) stole my heart almost from when they were first introduced.
Once finished reading, all the pieces to the puzzle of the plots came together magnificently! This was my introduction to Bella Osbone's writing and I definitely have found a new favorite author. I was engrossed in the story from the beginning! The author has done a fantastic job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat waiting to see how the story will end.
Ms Osborne writes about life's everyday situations, some happy and some sad, and makes the reader feel better in the end, since they are not alone with the ups and downs of life. Her characters find a way to move on, and this shows the reader that they can also.
My feelings come from how the world is currently. I read this in March 2020, at the height of the COVID19 virus hitting the US. It is a time of stress and I was finding it difficult to read anything. This serial was a lifesaver to me. I was able to escape the real world for a while and that is a sign of a tremendously talented author, that they can create a world you can dive into and have a place to be refreshed.
I want to thank Avon Book UK and NetGalley for giving me this much needed escape by reading the Advance Reader Copy. My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC.
May 28, 2020
I absolutely love Bella Osborne's books and could not wait to read Meet Me at Pebble Beach - the cover is utterly lovely and so is the story. There is so much to the storyline and many vital issues are addressed.
In Meet Me at Pebble Beach we are introduced to the lovely Regan, who in an instant loses everything in her life - her boyfriend, her home, her job and her life and although it is the worst thing that happens to her at the time, with the amazing Charlie by her side, she picks herself up, chases her dreams and makes a much better life for herself. The book is set in Brighton and the descriptions of the area made me want to go there for a stroll along the beach and pier!
There are heartbreaking moments in the book which will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. The very hard hitting and very important issue of homelessness was a large part of the storyline and it was written about so well. So many other issues were addressed from serious devastating illness, setting up your own business and the guidelines needed to running a business from your own home, injured animals and the way the vets and the community help you out in times of crisis.
The characters were all superb and given so much depth. I loved the relationship with Kevin and Elvis was Regan's best friend at her very worst of times. I loved Cleo - she is a fantastic friend who will always be there for Regan. The relationship between Regan and the lovely Charlie was very hard at times but all turned out very well in the end and they both have a second chance at life and grab it with both hands together - they are the perfect couple and have such a bright sunny future ahead.
A 5 star read that will have you take you through every emotion and will have you smiling and laughing too - highly recommended!
In Meet Me at Pebble Beach we are introduced to the lovely Regan, who in an instant loses everything in her life - her boyfriend, her home, her job and her life and although it is the worst thing that happens to her at the time, with the amazing Charlie by her side, she picks herself up, chases her dreams and makes a much better life for herself. The book is set in Brighton and the descriptions of the area made me want to go there for a stroll along the beach and pier!
There are heartbreaking moments in the book which will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. The very hard hitting and very important issue of homelessness was a large part of the storyline and it was written about so well. So many other issues were addressed from serious devastating illness, setting up your own business and the guidelines needed to running a business from your own home, injured animals and the way the vets and the community help you out in times of crisis.
The characters were all superb and given so much depth. I loved the relationship with Kevin and Elvis was Regan's best friend at her very worst of times. I loved Cleo - she is a fantastic friend who will always be there for Regan. The relationship between Regan and the lovely Charlie was very hard at times but all turned out very well in the end and they both have a second chance at life and grab it with both hands together - they are the perfect couple and have such a bright sunny future ahead.
A 5 star read that will have you take you through every emotion and will have you smiling and laughing too - highly recommended!
August 31, 2021
I’m going to keep this review short and sweet – just like this book. After spending a few days reading thrillers and murder mysteries, it was a relief to pick up this utter heart-warming book. I absolutely loved Regan’s character and the journey that she went through – although it was a clichéd journey but that comes with this comfort genre. Her friendship with Kevin was honestly my favourite thing about this book which makes the ending bitter sweet.
And Charlie, Charlie, Charlie – I loved him. He was so encouraging of Regan despite what he’s going through and as a result, is apprenhensive about starting a relationship. But that doesn’t stop them falling for each other and I love how you can see it within the little gestures and actions, rather than big romantic gestures.
I also loved the side characters, Penny and Cleo – Cleo I related to incredibly as she was full of anxiety and panic and I think it’s so important to highlight this in books. The added bonus to this book is the little whodunnit about half way through.
One thing I would have liked, though it was there subtly, was seeing an improvement in the relationship with Regan and her dad!
And Charlie, Charlie, Charlie – I loved him. He was so encouraging of Regan despite what he’s going through and as a result, is apprenhensive about starting a relationship. But that doesn’t stop them falling for each other and I love how you can see it within the little gestures and actions, rather than big romantic gestures.
I also loved the side characters, Penny and Cleo – Cleo I related to incredibly as she was full of anxiety and panic and I think it’s so important to highlight this in books. The added bonus to this book is the little whodunnit about half way through.
One thing I would have liked, though it was there subtly, was seeing an improvement in the relationship with Regan and her dad!
February 17, 2023
I chose this book to read as a Buddyread with my bestie, we hadn’t read anything from this author before and didn’t know much about the story either.
This story was definitely not what i was expecting but i absolutely loved everything about it. I think i was expecting a light, fluffy chick lit but what i got was a feel good, deep, twisty turny, wonderful, memorable story and it was very well written.
Meet Me At Pebble Beach was full of great characters, who all had their own stories to tell and slowly but surely all the stories come together and we get the bigger picture.
Reagan was a wonderful main character and once she knew what she wanted, she went out to get it and she was so loving and caring too.
During the last couple of chapters my heart was pounding because there were so many twists and turns and just when you thought the story was going to go one way, whoosh, it went in another direction and made me dizzy and i loved it!!
This was an amazing book and i may just have found my new favourite author and i cannot wait to read more of her books…….
This story was definitely not what i was expecting but i absolutely loved everything about it. I think i was expecting a light, fluffy chick lit but what i got was a feel good, deep, twisty turny, wonderful, memorable story and it was very well written.
Meet Me At Pebble Beach was full of great characters, who all had their own stories to tell and slowly but surely all the stories come together and we get the bigger picture.
Reagan was a wonderful main character and once she knew what she wanted, she went out to get it and she was so loving and caring too.
During the last couple of chapters my heart was pounding because there were so many twists and turns and just when you thought the story was going to go one way, whoosh, it went in another direction and made me dizzy and i loved it!!
This was an amazing book and i may just have found my new favourite author and i cannot wait to read more of her books…….
May 28, 2020
Meet Me at Pebble Beach started life as a four part series which is how I first started to read it. I found it to be warm and funny and was soon drawn into Regan's story. Her life is catapulted through a huge change at the beginning and the people she knows are also established vividly and you are aware that they all have their own backstory. You learn quite a lot about Regan’s inherent kindness and warmth so you are rooting for her from the start.
Set in Brighton, you get to meet some great characters as Regan starts to reinvent herself and start again. A romcom which is full of fun, nevertheless, you find some more sombre issues there, such as homelessness. You know from the cover, that this is ultimately going to be a heart-warming tale, full of life.
In short: Love and friendship by the sea
Set in Brighton, you get to meet some great characters as Regan starts to reinvent herself and start again. A romcom which is full of fun, nevertheless, you find some more sombre issues there, such as homelessness. You know from the cover, that this is ultimately going to be a heart-warming tale, full of life.
In short: Love and friendship by the sea
June 20, 2020
I really enjoyed the first two parts to this story and was glad to be able to read the whole book and see how everything worked out.
Regan works hard to get her life back on track after mistakenly thinking she had a winning lottery ticket and giving up her job and her boyfriend and with that her home.
She has a heart of gold, getting coffee every day for a homeless man with a huge dog called Elvis, who is a great character in his own right. She meets a gorgeous man but there seem to be obstacles to the course of true love.
I loved the way that the characters lives cross in unexpected ways. You are willing Regan on all the way through- hoping she'll get to check out her bucket list.
I always love Bella Osbornes books and can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.
Regan works hard to get her life back on track after mistakenly thinking she had a winning lottery ticket and giving up her job and her boyfriend and with that her home.
She has a heart of gold, getting coffee every day for a homeless man with a huge dog called Elvis, who is a great character in his own right. She meets a gorgeous man but there seem to be obstacles to the course of true love.
I loved the way that the characters lives cross in unexpected ways. You are willing Regan on all the way through- hoping she'll get to check out her bucket list.
I always love Bella Osbornes books and can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.
May 27, 2020
Regan didn’t immediately appeal to me. I’m a neat freak and sympathised with Jarvis, her ultra tidy boyfriend, but she redeemed herself, within a few pages, with her caring attitude and sense of humour. Regan thinks her life is changing for the better then it doesn’t, but maybe, it does? Just when you think things may be okay fate intervenes.
Humour and poignancy give way to darker issues and real sadness as this story progresses. Regan and Charlie’s conflicted romance forces her to concentrate on finding a new career and move her life forward. Kevin and Elvis are poignant characters and easy to empathise. Friendship, humour, mystery, romance and sadness are all integral to this story.
Regan grows in insight and understanding as she faces heartbreak and tough choices. Her honesty endears her to her friends and the reader. The book concludes with questions answered, mysteries solved and an innate sense of justice.
With relatable characters, humour, poignancy, romance and secrets, this story engages from its exciting beginning, through heartbreak to its positive ending.
I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Humour and poignancy give way to darker issues and real sadness as this story progresses. Regan and Charlie’s conflicted romance forces her to concentrate on finding a new career and move her life forward. Kevin and Elvis are poignant characters and easy to empathise. Friendship, humour, mystery, romance and sadness are all integral to this story.
Regan grows in insight and understanding as she faces heartbreak and tough choices. Her honesty endears her to her friends and the reader. The book concludes with questions answered, mysteries solved and an innate sense of justice.
With relatable characters, humour, poignancy, romance and secrets, this story engages from its exciting beginning, through heartbreak to its positive ending.
I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 25, 2020
Such a wonderful book, a lovely positive read, not as lighthearted as you think,, lots of substance here. A thought provoking read with lots of heart, a bit slow to start but I found I still didn’t want to put it down. I loved Reagan and Charlie, such a wonderful cast of supporting characters too. A lovely read with real heart.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
June 14, 2022
i didn't plan it this way but what a great beach read. if you are looking for one of those. 1 through 4 books in this bad boy. i did do a buying where Amazon says by this amount and get a credit. so i did that this book. so fun!! great read. so fun. enjoyed it. i see this was summer 2020. but i am reading it is June 2022. friendship fiction. British humor. what are you looking for? check this one out. i loved it!!
May 21, 2020
YAY! This is the whole Pebble Beach series in one volume so if you, like me, only read one of the novellas or not any of them, you are in for a treat. Regan is in a mess. A big mess. She believed a prank lottery ticket and quit her job. Then she discovered that her boyfriend was a rat. This is both a romance and a change your life story. She moves to Brighton and reorients herself. She makes new, good friends and meets Charlie, the firefighter. All good. Oh, and there's Elvis the dog! There isn't much to say about this except that it's light, it's fun, and I respect the fact that Osborne was able to shift how I felt about Regan (she was annoying at first). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A beach or garden book for sure (although I read it on a grey rainy day).
May 21, 2020
This is the full-length version of the four-part serial released earlier - Meet me at Pebble Beach.
I've followed the author since her first release and have been so pleased to see a progression in the quality of her writing and story-telling as she has gone on.
I'm more than delighted to say that with this novel, Bella has taken That step up. Not only is this of her normal enjoyable quality, but this novel has a hard-hitting message about the state of the homeless. That is all I shall say about the story, except that it is the story of Regan who finds a prank comes back to hit her in a big way.
My thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the reading copy.
I've followed the author since her first release and have been so pleased to see a progression in the quality of her writing and story-telling as she has gone on.
I'm more than delighted to say that with this novel, Bella has taken That step up. Not only is this of her normal enjoyable quality, but this novel has a hard-hitting message about the state of the homeless. That is all I shall say about the story, except that it is the story of Regan who finds a prank comes back to hit her in a big way.
My thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the reading copy.
May 7, 2020
At first glance this is your typical rom-com. Regan is stuck in a job she hates and in a relationship that's going nowhere. Then she is tricked into thinking she's won the lottery and quits both her job and her boyfriend before discovering the terrible truth. Left jobless, boyfriendless and homeless, she must find a way to get her life back. Can the handsome stranger who she meets on the same day be part of that life? so typical rom-com then?
Actually it's not. it is so much more. With a storyline that dwells on how easy it would be for any of us to become homeless, there is also a heavy focus on how homeless people are viewed and treated in our society through the character of Kevin. This side of it gave pause for thought and there were times when I cried. However, this isn't a depressing book, just thought provoking in places.
There is also a real mystery element to the story when Regan is determined to solve a real-life crime when the police don't seem able to and I enjoyed trying to work out who the culprit was (but failed).
I loved Kevin, Elvis and Cleo but at the start of the book I struggled to like Regan> However, as her story developed and her real commitment to Kevin and Elvis was shown, I really warmed to her.
Overall, its really funny but also heartbreakingly sad but with a huge dash of hopeful thrown in. I loved it.
Actually it's not. it is so much more. With a storyline that dwells on how easy it would be for any of us to become homeless, there is also a heavy focus on how homeless people are viewed and treated in our society through the character of Kevin. This side of it gave pause for thought and there were times when I cried. However, this isn't a depressing book, just thought provoking in places.
There is also a real mystery element to the story when Regan is determined to solve a real-life crime when the police don't seem able to and I enjoyed trying to work out who the culprit was (but failed).
I loved Kevin, Elvis and Cleo but at the start of the book I struggled to like Regan> However, as her story developed and her real commitment to Kevin and Elvis was shown, I really warmed to her.
Overall, its really funny but also heartbreakingly sad but with a huge dash of hopeful thrown in. I loved it.
May 3, 2020
Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Regan is pranked thinking she won the lottery, she loses her boyfriend, her job and the place she lives all in one fell swoop. After a certain incident, she meets handsome firefighter Charlie who helps her see the good in each situation.
I found Regan to be annoying throughout a lot of the book. Shes in her twenties but she seems so clueless about life. I kind of wanted to slap her and tell her to get her sh*t together. I couldn’t get over how she wouldn’t tell her best friend Cleo her problems, while Cleo told Regan ALL of hers. She seems to not really think things through at all, causing a constant wrecking ball in her life. She did finally seem to get her act together and was able to accomplish big things. On the other hand, I loved Charlie. He was such a good guy and was going through a lot in his life. I totally understand why he acted the way he did. Overall, it was a good story & I give it 3.5 stars.
When Regan is pranked thinking she won the lottery, she loses her boyfriend, her job and the place she lives all in one fell swoop. After a certain incident, she meets handsome firefighter Charlie who helps her see the good in each situation.
I found Regan to be annoying throughout a lot of the book. Shes in her twenties but she seems so clueless about life. I kind of wanted to slap her and tell her to get her sh*t together. I couldn’t get over how she wouldn’t tell her best friend Cleo her problems, while Cleo told Regan ALL of hers. She seems to not really think things through at all, causing a constant wrecking ball in her life. She did finally seem to get her act together and was able to accomplish big things. On the other hand, I loved Charlie. He was such a good guy and was going through a lot in his life. I totally understand why he acted the way he did. Overall, it was a good story & I give it 3.5 stars.
April 19, 2020
Meet Me at Pebble Beach by Bella Osborn is a full length, stand-alone romance novel.
Meet Me at Pebble Beach was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package. - the author.
Regan is a heroine who's difficult to like at first. She's high maintenance, annoying, full of self pity. And she loves to prank her co-worker. But when the prank fires back on her, she's out of all, no job, no boyfriendand no home anymore. What to do?? Easy peesy, go home to daddy - nope doesn't work either.
Then she meets a real good guy, only he has his own baggage to carry - and oh girl, what baggage that is, sorry not sorry, no spoilers here. Only so much, he' the perfect flawed boyfriend and I want one of my own.
Meet Me at Pebble Beach is a high on drama, fast paced read that let me fall in love with maybe 50 precent of the characters and 100 percent of the story. I liked the meet-cute and the plott-wist just fine. It's a wonderful book with a touching story.
I recommend the book, 4,75 stars.
Meet Me at Pebble Beach was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package. - the author.
Regan is a heroine who's difficult to like at first. She's high maintenance, annoying, full of self pity. And she loves to prank her co-worker. But when the prank fires back on her, she's out of all, no job, no boyfriendand no home anymore. What to do?? Easy peesy, go home to daddy - nope doesn't work either.
Then she meets a real good guy, only he has his own baggage to carry - and oh girl, what baggage that is, sorry not sorry, no spoilers here. Only so much, he' the perfect flawed boyfriend and I want one of my own.
Meet Me at Pebble Beach is a high on drama, fast paced read that let me fall in love with maybe 50 precent of the characters and 100 percent of the story. I liked the meet-cute and the plott-wist just fine. It's a wonderful book with a touching story.
I recommend the book, 4,75 stars.
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