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lucyrider's review against another edition
5.0
Making Wishes at Bay View - Jessica Redland
I stumbled onto Jessica Redland's work via Audible when I was looking for something happy to read and I enjoyed "All you Need is Love" back in September last year. Living in North Yorkshire I have a fondness for the North Yorkshire seaside towns and surrounding areas and so I love Jessica's descriptions of the fictional, but very nostalgia inducing Whitsborough Bay setting.
I also loved the narration by Lucy Brownhill and it was fun, lively, but a soothing Yorkshire accent, perfect to listen to when winding down on an evening.
Synopsis from Goodreads "Never give up on a wish for a happy ever after...
Callie Derbyshire has it all: her dream job as a carer at Bay View, finally she has found the love of her life. Everything is perfect.
Well, almost.
Ex-partners are insistent on stirring up trouble, and Callie’s favourite resident, Ruby, hasn’t been her usual self.
But after discovering the truth about Ruby’s lost love, Callie is determined to give Ruby’s romantic story the happy ending it deserves. After all, it’s never too late to let love in again. Or is it?"
I really enjoy Jessica's characters as they are generally well rounded people who are believable with their flaws and positive traits, it makes the fact that some of the situations they find themselves in are a bit more fairytale believable enough to keep you reading along and nodding and smiling. She also depicts some of the less positive characters well, the main villan in this book happens to share their name with one of my less pleasant ex's and I felt myself wanting to shout at him on Callie's behalf!
There were several different plots going on at the same time, but Jessica keeps them all moving at a good pace and avoids any confusing situations. I loved learning of Ruby's life and loves lost, Callie's turbulent love life, family life and frienships as well as Callie's boss "She Devil" and how sensitively a very difficult plot line was depicted.
I raced through this 9hour 16 minute book in only 5 days and would recommend it to anyone who wants a book that will make you both mildly cross and smiling throughout.
4.5 stars, but rounded up to 5 as definitely more than a 4 star read for me.
I stumbled onto Jessica Redland's work via Audible when I was looking for something happy to read and I enjoyed "All you Need is Love" back in September last year. Living in North Yorkshire I have a fondness for the North Yorkshire seaside towns and surrounding areas and so I love Jessica's descriptions of the fictional, but very nostalgia inducing Whitsborough Bay setting.
I also loved the narration by Lucy Brownhill and it was fun, lively, but a soothing Yorkshire accent, perfect to listen to when winding down on an evening.
Synopsis from Goodreads "Never give up on a wish for a happy ever after...
Callie Derbyshire has it all: her dream job as a carer at Bay View, finally she has found the love of her life. Everything is perfect.
Well, almost.
Ex-partners are insistent on stirring up trouble, and Callie’s favourite resident, Ruby, hasn’t been her usual self.
But after discovering the truth about Ruby’s lost love, Callie is determined to give Ruby’s romantic story the happy ending it deserves. After all, it’s never too late to let love in again. Or is it?"
I really enjoy Jessica's characters as they are generally well rounded people who are believable with their flaws and positive traits, it makes the fact that some of the situations they find themselves in are a bit more fairytale believable enough to keep you reading along and nodding and smiling. She also depicts some of the less positive characters well, the main villan in this book happens to share their name with one of my less pleasant ex's and I felt myself wanting to shout at him on Callie's behalf!
There were several different plots going on at the same time, but Jessica keeps them all moving at a good pace and avoids any confusing situations. I loved learning of Ruby's life and loves lost, Callie's turbulent love life, family life and frienships as well as Callie's boss "She Devil" and how sensitively a very difficult plot line was depicted.
I raced through this 9hour 16 minute book in only 5 days and would recommend it to anyone who wants a book that will make you both mildly cross and smiling throughout.
4.5 stars, but rounded up to 5 as definitely more than a 4 star read for me.
thepocketwolfies's review against another edition
3.0
Cute and enjoyable. 3.5 stars
Leaving it at 3 cus I'll likely forget about it in a months time
Leaving it at 3 cus I'll likely forget about it in a months time
aspiereads33's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Infidelity
Minor: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
salimah's review against another edition
3.0
There's a lot about this story (comprised of two novellas) to recommend it; however, the well-meaning, meddlesome heroine at the center is given all the moral high ground despite some supporting characters' very real criticisms of her approach. But, as it stands, any legitimate criticism is voided because the narrative ends enable/validate her methods. The message is that her overreach and lack of tact are always justified. At times, it was too much.
I like it best when characters are given room to evolve without one person being the divine instrument for everyone's growth and evolution. This book might have been even more charming if everyone in Callie's (the heroine's) orbit wasn't utterly dependent upon her to be a moral guidepost/the divine catalyst for change.
And can we stop with some of the unhinged/evil woman tropes this book traffics in? It's even more insufferable that the toxic model in at least one of the instances (the duplicitous friend) is that one needs to forgive and support no matter what someone has done to you because of their past trauma.
I like it best when characters are given room to evolve without one person being the divine instrument for everyone's growth and evolution. This book might have been even more charming if everyone in Callie's (the heroine's) orbit wasn't utterly dependent upon her to be a moral guidepost/the divine catalyst for change.
And can we stop with some of the unhinged/evil woman tropes this book traffics in? It's even more insufferable that the toxic model in at least one of the instances (the duplicitous friend) is that one needs to forgive and support no matter what someone has done to you because of their past trauma.
portybelle's review against another edition
4.0
I do so enjoy Jessica Redland's lovely, uplifting books - indeed her last book, The Secret to Happiness, was one of my absolute favourites of last year.Making Wishes at Bay View was previously published as two novellas – Raving About Rhys and Callie’s Christmas Wish - but I hadn't actually read either of those so this was completely new to me.
Callie was a character I just loved. She worked in Bay View Care Home and what I really liked about her was her obvious care for the patients she looked after. In fact, caring for people was a huge part of Callie's character. Sometimes she seemed to care a bit too much at times and that care wasn't always appreciated. But she was that kind of loyal friend who would always stick by someone and always try to do the right thing.
Ruby was one of the residents of the care home and I just loved her and her friend Iris. Ruby had lived quite a riotous life when she was younger and it was great hearing about her stories. She had a real no-nonsense approach to life even in her later years and just said what she thought which was quite amusing at times. The friendship between her and Iris was touchingly portrayed. She had known sadness in her life too though and with Callie's help she begins to come to terms with her past.
There's a fair bit of romance in this book too and it's not just confined to the younger characters. It was so sweet to see all the developing relationships either new or rekindled. Jessica Redland shows that love can bloom at any stage of life with the right person. However, she also showed what can happen when love goes wrong, when the green-eyed monster rears its head or when someone is badly let down. There is one character in particular who just has no redeeming qualities and seems determined to mess up as many lives as possible whilst blaming everyone else when it all backfires on them!
Making Wishes at Bay View is a lovely read, one which I whizzed through as I was so taken with the characters, particularly Callie. It was lovely to return to fictional Whitsborough Bay again. It may be fictional but it is based on an amalgamation of a few Yorkshire coastal towns and Jessica Redland's affection for these places is clear. Making Wishes at Bay View is a book which is sure to leave you with a warm feeling inside, a proper feel-good piece of writing.
Callie was a character I just loved. She worked in Bay View Care Home and what I really liked about her was her obvious care for the patients she looked after. In fact, caring for people was a huge part of Callie's character. Sometimes she seemed to care a bit too much at times and that care wasn't always appreciated. But she was that kind of loyal friend who would always stick by someone and always try to do the right thing.
Ruby was one of the residents of the care home and I just loved her and her friend Iris. Ruby had lived quite a riotous life when she was younger and it was great hearing about her stories. She had a real no-nonsense approach to life even in her later years and just said what she thought which was quite amusing at times. The friendship between her and Iris was touchingly portrayed. She had known sadness in her life too though and with Callie's help she begins to come to terms with her past.
There's a fair bit of romance in this book too and it's not just confined to the younger characters. It was so sweet to see all the developing relationships either new or rekindled. Jessica Redland shows that love can bloom at any stage of life with the right person. However, she also showed what can happen when love goes wrong, when the green-eyed monster rears its head or when someone is badly let down. There is one character in particular who just has no redeeming qualities and seems determined to mess up as many lives as possible whilst blaming everyone else when it all backfires on them!
Making Wishes at Bay View is a lovely read, one which I whizzed through as I was so taken with the characters, particularly Callie. It was lovely to return to fictional Whitsborough Bay again. It may be fictional but it is based on an amalgamation of a few Yorkshire coastal towns and Jessica Redland's affection for these places is clear. Making Wishes at Bay View is a book which is sure to leave you with a warm feeling inside, a proper feel-good piece of writing.
kbomkelly's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve grown to really like Jessica Redland’s writings. They are the right amount of cute, with some real world mental health topics, and wrap everything up in a nice bow by the end. While some of her books are super light, quick happy reads, others are a bit heavier in the drama and a bit more heart wrenching at times. This book falls into the second category. High in the drama and toxic characters. While the main character wasn’t my favorite flavor for a main character she did stay true to herself. Always reaching out a hand to those in need. While at times it felt like she was just being naive to the ways of the world, she actually was just being a good person by not giving up on those who truly needed her. I can respect that. While this wasn’t one of my favorites of Redland’s books it was still very cute.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Rating: 3.5 stars
ianmcnamara's review against another edition
5.0
The start to what promises to be another wonderful series. I don’t normally read so much by one author without a break however her books have really hooked me in. A very pleasant way of spending a day off sick from work. The characters in this authors work are very well developed and have real floors. Callie was a wonderful character and the way she cared about everyone was so special.
katewhite77's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is romantic fluff, and I loved it.
This is one of the most romantic stories I have read about finding love at what ever life stage you happen to be at.
That is not to say the plot is sunshine and rainbows all the way, it is full of examples of the rich tapestry life can weave.
However the main moral of this book is that compassion and human kindness can conquer most of life's dramas.
This is one of the most romantic stories I have read about finding love at what ever life stage you happen to be at.
That is not to say the plot is sunshine and rainbows all the way, it is full of examples of the rich tapestry life can weave.
However the main moral of this book is that compassion and human kindness can conquer most of life's dramas.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Fatphobia and Sexual content
ellerose21's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25