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Pretty Beach #3.5
A Pretty Beach Christmas
It’s Christmas in the beautiful little seaside town of Pretty Beach and it's doused in twinkly lights and festive cheer. The delightfully romantic story continues as the town dresses up for Christmas and reels us in for all the festive feels.
We follow along with the journey of Juliette Sparkles, resident midwife, who after a horrid divorce and a few years of ups and downs, suddenly has a very nice piece of luck come her way and she moves to Seapocket Lane.
There’s the Pretty Beach Christmas Dance, all the weird and wonderful Pretty Beach Christmas traditions and, well, there may just be an ever-so handsome new resident in town.
Will Juliette surprise not only herself, but all the locals in Pretty Beach and get everything she’s dreamt of this Christmas or will she end up back to square one?
We follow along with the journey of Juliette Sparkles, resident midwife, who after a horrid divorce and a few years of ups and downs, suddenly has a very nice piece of luck come her way and she moves to Seapocket Lane.
There’s the Pretty Beach Christmas Dance, all the weird and wonderful Pretty Beach Christmas traditions and, well, there may just be an ever-so handsome new resident in town.
Will Juliette surprise not only herself, but all the locals in Pretty Beach and get everything she’s dreamt of this Christmas or will she end up back to square one?
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2020
518 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 21, 2025
Another cute Christmas story!
July 19, 2021
I did not finish this book. This is some of the worst writing I've seen. Run-on sentences with no punctuation and end up being an entire paragraph, and OH SO DESCRIPTIVE!
"Juliette had survived the incident with the Baileys and a few days later walked into the Marina Club, signed in, undid her coat, put her scarf into her bag, walked up to the bar, ordered herself a lemonade and joined Holly and Sallie at the table over by the window."
"She stood there sipping on the hot chocolate to give her a bit of energy and chatted with Doris about the goings-on at the hospital, about how Doris had had to take her forty-year-old daughter to emergency with a suspected case of sepsis in her ear from a dodgy tattoo and how she'd decided that she was going to put off her retirement for a few more years because she wanted to buy a caravan further down the coast."
Both of these are entire paragraphs, one sentence!
WHEW. Things like "walked to the car, lifted the handle, opened the door, got into the seat, put the key into the ignition and turned it, put the car into 'drive,' pulled out of the car park..." Okay so I made that one up, but that's how it is throughout. So very descriptive.
One section where a friend calls Juliette and her daughter "my lovelies" in every.single.sentence.
It's just too much. Poor writing; an occasional comma would be nice. Even better, a period to separate a paragraph into two or three sentences.
I don't know when I last didn't finish a book, but it was driving me nuts. Not finishing this book, this series, or anything else by this writer.
"Juliette had survived the incident with the Baileys and a few days later walked into the Marina Club, signed in, undid her coat, put her scarf into her bag, walked up to the bar, ordered herself a lemonade and joined Holly and Sallie at the table over by the window."
"She stood there sipping on the hot chocolate to give her a bit of energy and chatted with Doris about the goings-on at the hospital, about how Doris had had to take her forty-year-old daughter to emergency with a suspected case of sepsis in her ear from a dodgy tattoo and how she'd decided that she was going to put off her retirement for a few more years because she wanted to buy a caravan further down the coast."
Both of these are entire paragraphs, one sentence!
WHEW. Things like "walked to the car, lifted the handle, opened the door, got into the seat, put the key into the ignition and turned it, put the car into 'drive,' pulled out of the car park..." Okay so I made that one up, but that's how it is throughout. So very descriptive.
One section where a friend calls Juliette and her daughter "my lovelies" in every.single.sentence.
It's just too much. Poor writing; an occasional comma would be nice. Even better, a period to separate a paragraph into two or three sentences.
I don't know when I last didn't finish a book, but it was driving me nuts. Not finishing this book, this series, or anything else by this writer.
January 2, 2021
An enjoyable storyline but sadly it drove me nuts that the author constantly repeated the same lines in every chapter about so many things; the characters old life with her ex husband, the decor, wanting a certain house, how perfect her daughter is at oxford...so repetitive. Reminded me of the Little Britain episode where the writer says ‘how many words do I have....the assistant say 150 and the write says...and they kissed and kissed and kissed..::how many now 😂. It is suited to people who like old Mills and Boon type novels where no one questions the reality of plot and needs to be constantly reminded of what was previously said.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2021
Really enjoyed the first two Pretty Beach books but was disappointed with this one. Very badly written, with the author repeating the same lines over and over again. At one stage I thought that if I read the words “pink” or “polka dot”once more I would scream - and the trombones that kept exploding in her head
November 18, 2020
Just couldn't get into this book as too full of describing absolutely everything instead of actually getting into a storyline
December 26, 2021
This has to be the worst book I have read. I could not finish it. The descriptions were so intense they took the enjoyment away from the book. I got fed up of reading about her pink table her pink checked tea towels her pink this and that. We only needed to be told once on each item not every time she went into the kitchen.
We know she lives in Pretty Beach but 6 times in 1 paragraph she mentions Pretty Beach by name, 3 times in 1 sentence. And as for Luke in a few lines she mentions his grey jumper 3 times.
I don't need to know the name of every street she walks down every time she leaves the house but the author has to tell you.
This book was the most obnoxious book I have ever come across and I don't think I shall read any more of her books it would put me off reading for life.
We know she lives in Pretty Beach but 6 times in 1 paragraph she mentions Pretty Beach by name, 3 times in 1 sentence. And as for Luke in a few lines she mentions his grey jumper 3 times.
I don't need to know the name of every street she walks down every time she leaves the house but the author has to tell you.
This book was the most obnoxious book I have ever come across and I don't think I shall read any more of her books it would put me off reading for life.
January 5, 2025
This book was not well written, it was wildly predictable and redundant. The author's obsession with pink was weird and really not very much happened at all. But...it was everything I wanted for the holidays. It was easy to imagine the quaint town of Pretty Beach and it was fun to imagine Juliette's day-to-day as a midwife.
It was mindless and oddly satisfying. It was silly, but got me into the spirit of the season. What can I say? I'm a sucker for these books this time of year.
I won't tell you Babbington is a good writer, but for what I was looking for she delivered and sometimes that's all you need from a book.
It was mindless and oddly satisfying. It was silly, but got me into the spirit of the season. What can I say? I'm a sucker for these books this time of year.
I won't tell you Babbington is a good writer, but for what I was looking for she delivered and sometimes that's all you need from a book.
October 24, 2020
I absolutely adore the Pretty Beach series and “A Pretty Beach Christmas” is a true delight - read mostly snuggled up on my sofa, wrapped in a fleece blanket and sipping a frothy hot chocolate.
This time we veer away from Sallie and Ben and focus more on Pretty Beach’s bubbly midwife Juliette. We hope she can find her happy place and be truly happy....
The author writes so well that the reader really feels like they know the characters and long to live in Pretty Beach too.
I cannot wait to indulge in A Pretty Beach Dream and all the others that follow.
This time we veer away from Sallie and Ben and focus more on Pretty Beach’s bubbly midwife Juliette. We hope she can find her happy place and be truly happy....
The author writes so well that the reader really feels like they know the characters and long to live in Pretty Beach too.
I cannot wait to indulge in A Pretty Beach Dream and all the others that follow.
March 21, 2024
This one was a real struggle. The overall premise is cute, cutesy, and perfect for a vacation read…especially if you love Christmas romance.
The writing, bah. Run-on sentences and an obnoxious obsession with repeating the minutiae of the main characters life. The reader is bombarded with the fact that the main character used to be married to a politician, had to watch her weight to the point of unhealthy, is out of that marriage, no longer lives in ‘that’ flat, and is now healthier, curvier sand happier - ad nauseam. Bah. Bah.
The writing, bah. Run-on sentences and an obnoxious obsession with repeating the minutiae of the main characters life. The reader is bombarded with the fact that the main character used to be married to a politician, had to watch her weight to the point of unhealthy, is out of that marriage, no longer lives in ‘that’ flat, and is now healthier, curvier sand happier - ad nauseam. Bah. Bah.
November 7, 2025
A Pretty Beach Christmas
A loved this book. Juliet has low self a steam about herself because of her ex and his expectations of what's, but Juliet and her daughter move after her divorce and are doing just fine, then a handsome new man moves in just down the road and her work place. A romance is sparked and life is more beautiful and clear. I enjoyed every single thing about this book. A book you don't want to put down. So cozy up with your favorite brew and enjoy.
A loved this book. Juliet has low self a steam about herself because of her ex and his expectations of what's, but Juliet and her daughter move after her divorce and are doing just fine, then a handsome new man moves in just down the road and her work place. A romance is sparked and life is more beautiful and clear. I enjoyed every single thing about this book. A book you don't want to put down. So cozy up with your favorite brew and enjoy.
January 18, 2022
I enjoyed the characters but descriptions of pretty twee girly stuff continuously was far too waffly by far for me and has put me off reading the rest of the series. But I am going to give another book a go just in case the character doesnt encompass all things pink and polka dots. I love vintage myself but this was far too over the top
January 24, 2023
A Pretty Beach Chrustmas
A new author that I am thrilled to report I enjoyed reading and eager to read more of her books. Being an American her style and use of descriptive phrases. Her words come to life and the story unfolds and you simply cannot put the book down. Thank you Polly Banning ton for becoming my new favorite author!
A new author that I am thrilled to report I enjoyed reading and eager to read more of her books. Being an American her style and use of descriptive phrases. Her words come to life and the story unfolds and you simply cannot put the book down. Thank you Polly Banning ton for becoming my new favorite author!
November 14, 2023
Pure Magic!
I just love everything about this series of books. The beautiful surroundings the marvellous and believable characters and the magical aura that is Pretty Beach. I have become such a fan of Polly that I eagerly await each new book and devour it in one session ! Keep them coming p!ease !
I just love everything about this series of books. The beautiful surroundings the marvellous and believable characters and the magical aura that is Pretty Beach. I have become such a fan of Polly that I eagerly await each new book and devour it in one session ! Keep them coming p!ease !
October 29, 2020
Really loved this story, it made easy, feel good reading. It’s made me want to put up my Christmas tree 🎄 and decorations, and it’s only October! My first time reading a book by this author and can’t wait to read my next.
November 21, 2020
A magical instalment in the Pretty Beach series. I love Polly Babbington’s writing and this story of Juliette and Luke is just wonderful. The descriptions of Pretty Beach at Christmas is beautiful and I can’t wait to read more about this location.
January 14, 2021
Sparkles christmas
Juliette ins falling for Luke and taking it slowly but it's Christmas and things happen at Christmas that don't happen any other time. Will they be happy ever after or are there secrets to unfold.
Juliette ins falling for Luke and taking it slowly but it's Christmas and things happen at Christmas that don't happen any other time. Will they be happy ever after or are there secrets to unfold.
December 19, 2021
Enjoyed this book but the author did go into a lot of detail repeating it quite often. However, overall a good light hearted read. Looking forward to reading other books in the Pretty Beach series.
December 27, 2021
Full of sugar, spice and Christmas cheer. An idyllic village is the perfect setting for romance, friendships and activities in the run up to the big day. This book certainly takes the reader away from the stresses of the festive season.
December 7, 2023
Super cute story that has more to come (but I won’t read them right away because they aren’t holiday ones :-) Fun little ocean front community with a cool set of characters that made me want to hang out with them at a local pub.
July 29, 2024
glad to have it end
The book was 3/4 over before the wife news got out and made it interesting. Before that it was a lot of her drinking and repeating. I think the trilogy could have made one interesting book. I won’t know for sure because I won’t be reading any more of it.
The book was 3/4 over before the wife news got out and made it interesting. Before that it was a lot of her drinking and repeating. I think the trilogy could have made one interesting book. I won’t know for sure because I won’t be reading any more of it.
December 19, 2025
Cute Christmas story based in England. There were some cute descriptions used in British terms that were charming! The main characters Juliette and Luke were interesting. There was humor, romance and life in a small beachside town that made the story enjoyable.
November 2, 2020
🎄🎄🎄🎄
A lovely festive treat, with a lovely ending. Thank you Polly, looking forward to reading more of your books now.
A lovely festive treat, with a lovely ending. Thank you Polly, looking forward to reading more of your books now.
November 7, 2020
Pretty Beach
Lovely series of feel good books - perfect for a bedtime read - looking forward to the next one 👍🏻
Lovely series of feel good books - perfect for a bedtime read - looking forward to the next one 👍🏻
December 20, 2020
Great read
Great books love the stories. Look forward to reading more of your books love the series can’t put them down
Great books love the stories. Look forward to reading more of your books love the series can’t put them down
February 20, 2021
This really relaxing read about a single mum rebuilding her life and letting love back in. Settle down and snuggle up.
May 9, 2021
Great
Another perfect one in the series. Ghey just get better and bettrr. I am totally hooked. An absolute must read.
Another perfect one in the series. Ghey just get better and bettrr. I am totally hooked. An absolute must read.
August 2, 2021
Another great read
Enjoying getting to know the characters and story line and how they fitted into the village. Looking forward to reading more .
Enjoying getting to know the characters and story line and how they fitted into the village. Looking forward to reading more .
August 17, 2021
I'm loving Polly's books. The story lines are great as are the characters. Unexpected twists to the story take you by surprise. So descriptive too! I've read 4 now and onto the next!!
September 19, 2021
Great book
November 12, 2021
Lovely Christmas story
Loved the setting for this story. Enjoyed the characters building their relationship slowly. A shame about the hiccup, but all good in the end.
Loved the setting for this story. Enjoyed the characters building their relationship slowly. A shame about the hiccup, but all good in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews