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The Hotel by the Bay
Escape to an idyllic getaway by the sea with an emotional family tale from the USA Today bestselling author of Something From Tiffany's, now a #1 Hello Sunshine x Prime Video movie.
The Bay Hotel, perched on a clifftop above the sweeping coastline, was once the heart and soul of seaside town Mulberry Bay. Run by the Harte family, the place was as beloved as cheery landlady Anna, and visitors from far and wide came for the warm welcome and charming surroundings.
The hotel was also once home to sisters Eleanor and Penny, and while Penny still lives close by, it's been some time since Elle has been back.
But following a family tragedy, she is forced to return and confront the life she left behind.
When it becomes apparent that visitor numbers have dwindled and the crumbling building must be sold, the sisters are unprepared by the reaction of their father, Ned, who steadfastly refuses to give up their mum’s legacy, revealing that the family's given up something equally precious in the past.
Can the sisters unite in their efforts to save the hotel by the bay - and in the process, help heal the fractures in their family?
The Bay Hotel, perched on a clifftop above the sweeping coastline, was once the heart and soul of seaside town Mulberry Bay. Run by the Harte family, the place was as beloved as cheery landlady Anna, and visitors from far and wide came for the warm welcome and charming surroundings.
The hotel was also once home to sisters Eleanor and Penny, and while Penny still lives close by, it's been some time since Elle has been back.
But following a family tragedy, she is forced to return and confront the life she left behind.
When it becomes apparent that visitor numbers have dwindled and the crumbling building must be sold, the sisters are unprepared by the reaction of their father, Ned, who steadfastly refuses to give up their mum’s legacy, revealing that the family's given up something equally precious in the past.
Can the sisters unite in their efforts to save the hotel by the bay - and in the process, help heal the fractures in their family?
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2015
2147 people are currently reading
1295 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Hill
131 books1,280 followersMelissa Hill is a USA Today bestselling author living in Ireland’s beautiful County Wicklow. Her page-turning contemporary novels of family, friendship and romance are published worldwide and have been translated into twenty-six languages.
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
January 21, 2019
One and a half stars
The hotel perched on the clifftop, overlooking mulberry Bay had for many years been a valued property and a place of many happy memories for the people in the area. Guests were warmly welcomed by Anna. Harte. The hotel had also been home growing up to Elle and Penny Harte. Elle too off to London but Penny stayed close by. When their mother Anna dies, Elle returns to not only grief from losing her mother but despair at the state of the hotel. It looks like the Harte family will have to sell. Unless they can find a way to save the property and all it means. But will it work? Added to this, Penny uncovers a valuable collection her father had once sold when the family was in dire straits years before. She resolves to do something about that.
This sounded like it would be a charming light read and change of pace after my previous book. Instead it turned out to be rather annoying. I quickly got tired throughout of hearing about what a paragon Anna was and how the hotel was her legacy. Okay, I got it the first few times it was mentioned. It didn’t have to be constantly repeated. Also the emphasis on Beatles songs and getting that collection of records back just annoyed me. I fund myself skimming through much of this book waiting for something to happen. Not sure why I continued to read. Just hoping, I guess something would change. It didn’t. As for the love interest between Elle and her teenage sweetheart became one misunderstanding after another, till I felt like telling them both to get on with it.
Having loved Keep You Safe, the last Melissa Hill book I read, plus one of her others which I enjoyed, I was very disappointed in this one. It felt padded and needed a severe edit. It could have been reduced by half. Add to that that some of the main characters were annoying and hard to like and this just didn’t work for me. Maybe others will react better than I did.
The hotel perched on the clifftop, overlooking mulberry Bay had for many years been a valued property and a place of many happy memories for the people in the area. Guests were warmly welcomed by Anna. Harte. The hotel had also been home growing up to Elle and Penny Harte. Elle too off to London but Penny stayed close by. When their mother Anna dies, Elle returns to not only grief from losing her mother but despair at the state of the hotel. It looks like the Harte family will have to sell. Unless they can find a way to save the property and all it means. But will it work? Added to this, Penny uncovers a valuable collection her father had once sold when the family was in dire straits years before. She resolves to do something about that.
This sounded like it would be a charming light read and change of pace after my previous book. Instead it turned out to be rather annoying. I quickly got tired throughout of hearing about what a paragon Anna was and how the hotel was her legacy. Okay, I got it the first few times it was mentioned. It didn’t have to be constantly repeated. Also the emphasis on Beatles songs and getting that collection of records back just annoyed me. I fund myself skimming through much of this book waiting for something to happen. Not sure why I continued to read. Just hoping, I guess something would change. It didn’t. As for the love interest between Elle and her teenage sweetheart became one misunderstanding after another, till I felt like telling them both to get on with it.
Having loved Keep You Safe, the last Melissa Hill book I read, plus one of her others which I enjoyed, I was very disappointed in this one. It felt padded and needed a severe edit. It could have been reduced by half. Add to that that some of the main characters were annoying and hard to like and this just didn’t work for me. Maybe others will react better than I did.
September 19, 2015
Lovely story but sadly missing the classic Melissa Hill twist I have come to love.
December 31, 2015
Well. I have enjoyed previous Hill books, so I picked this one up for some light entertainment. But I just found it tiresome, cliched and lazy. Everything was signposted a million miles out. There were no surprises. Some of the issue was personal taste - I can't stand the Beatles, so that part of the storyline was just lost on me. Although I blasted through it quickly, it left me with the same feeling as eating takeaway food - sick, overfull and slightly ashamed.
September 7, 2015
this author never let's me down good old Irish chic lit loved it there definitely is room for a follow up
January 18, 2016
3.5 stars
I received this novel through NetGalley for an honest review.
This was an enjoyable read.
At the core of the story are the two sisters, Elle and Penny. They had drifted apart as Elle movef to London where she was an architect, whereas Penny stayed in Mulberry Bay, the picturesque little village by the sea.
The sisters are brought together by their mum's sudden death. Filled with grief, they discover they have to find a way to save the hotel their family owned.
Will they manage to restore the now decrepit hotel?
This was a feel-good novel, well written, with a HEA. It's a book about family and about community.
Recommended: Perfect for a holiday read.
Cover: 4 stars
I received this novel through NetGalley for an honest review.
This was an enjoyable read.
At the core of the story are the two sisters, Elle and Penny. They had drifted apart as Elle movef to London where she was an architect, whereas Penny stayed in Mulberry Bay, the picturesque little village by the sea.
The sisters are brought together by their mum's sudden death. Filled with grief, they discover they have to find a way to save the hotel their family owned.
Will they manage to restore the now decrepit hotel?
This was a feel-good novel, well written, with a HEA. It's a book about family and about community.
Recommended: Perfect for a holiday read.
Cover: 4 stars
September 28, 2015
"All of these things contributed to the feeling once again that the Bay Hotel was more than just a place, it was somewhere where people's dreams were made a reality."
The Hotel on Mulberry Bay is a very light, easy and enjoyable read - a weekend escape that can easily be picked up and put down as real life demands.
Full review at:
http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
The Hotel on Mulberry Bay is a very light, easy and enjoyable read - a weekend escape that can easily be picked up and put down as real life demands.
Full review at:
http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
January 2, 2019
I wanted to like this book way more than I did, the cover is so pretty and I was hoping the content would be just as appealing.
It wasn’t a bad read, it was just not very exciting, I found myself willing it to end. A little bit tiresome for my likings.
It wasn’t a bad read, it was just not very exciting, I found myself willing it to end. A little bit tiresome for my likings.
August 19, 2016
Very enjoyable story but, I felt that the names of the characters were the wrong way around, this made me at times muddle them up so had to recheck parts of the book.
October 18, 2023
Was a good read that ended well.
January 11, 2024
Although this was slow to get going I loved the storyline.
Very well written, conjures up some lovely sea views.
Very well written, conjures up some lovely sea views.
April 18, 2017
Recensione completa su
Café Littéraire
Il Bay Hotel è il fulcro attorno al quale si sviluppa questo romanzo, il centro della vita a Mulberry e il luogo che ha assistito allo sbocciare di mille e mille storie, che ha consacrato la nascita di amori, che ha visto coronarsi sogni di vita, l'avverarsi di obiettivi e traguardi.
Il romantico e decadente edificio, posto a picco sul mare, svolge il ruolo di vero protagonista, una presenza a cui non solo la famiglia Harte, ma l'intero paesino è legato da un affetto profondo e indissolubile.
Perché quando la vita scorre e il tempo passa, l'unica cosa che resta sono i ricordi, e i più belli, quelli indimenticabili, sono tutti lì, tra quelle mura rivestite da carta da parati ormai consunta.
Anna, moglie di Ned e madre di Elle e Penny, è la persona che gli era maggiormente legata, il cuore pulsante della struttura, quella che gli ha dato vita, rendendolo molto più che un semplice albergo, ma una casa, una parte fondamentale e speciale della vita di chiunque avesse avuto il piacere di soggiornarvi.
Quando Anna viene a mancare, le vite dei suoi cari, pur avendo preso strade diverse, tornano a unirsi al Bay Hotel.
Non è tanto per Anna e per la sua improvvisa assenza, che la famiglia torna ad essere tale, ma per salvare l'albergo e i ricordi ad esso connessi. O meglio è l'albergo probabilmente a salvare la famiglia.
L'impresa di riveder risplendere l'hotel, vederlo tornare agli antichi fasti e salvarlo dalla bancarotta dà modo agli Harte di ritrovarsi, superare gli ostacoli che l'orgoglio e i piccoli segreti avevano, con gli anni e i silenzi, creato.
Melissa Hill ha scritto una storia che definirei perfettamente estiva.
Leggera, malinconica, dotata dell'immancabile lieto fine, ma probabilmente eccessivamente banale e prevedibile.
I protagonisti non suscitano grande simpatia o empatia, fatta eccezione per Anna, che purtroppo il lettore non ha tempo di conoscere, tutti gli altri sembrano sempre remare a sfavore di se stessi.
I loro comportamenti sono esasperanti, irrazionali, infantili e sciocchi, ma la cosa più deludente è stata la descrizione dei sentimenti che, siano di dolore per la morte di una madre, di paura per l'angoscia di perdere tutto, o di dolore per un amore represso per anni, non sembrano essere raccontati con sincerità.
In fin dei conti si può definire una storia carina, una lettura poco impegnativa da portare in vacanza, ma non molto di più.
Il Bay Hotel è il fulcro attorno al quale si sviluppa questo romanzo, il centro della vita a Mulberry e il luogo che ha assistito allo sbocciare di mille e mille storie, che ha consacrato la nascita di amori, che ha visto coronarsi sogni di vita, l'avverarsi di obiettivi e traguardi.
Il romantico e decadente edificio, posto a picco sul mare, svolge il ruolo di vero protagonista, una presenza a cui non solo la famiglia Harte, ma l'intero paesino è legato da un affetto profondo e indissolubile.
Perché quando la vita scorre e il tempo passa, l'unica cosa che resta sono i ricordi, e i più belli, quelli indimenticabili, sono tutti lì, tra quelle mura rivestite da carta da parati ormai consunta.
Anna, moglie di Ned e madre di Elle e Penny, è la persona che gli era maggiormente legata, il cuore pulsante della struttura, quella che gli ha dato vita, rendendolo molto più che un semplice albergo, ma una casa, una parte fondamentale e speciale della vita di chiunque avesse avuto il piacere di soggiornarvi.
Quando Anna viene a mancare, le vite dei suoi cari, pur avendo preso strade diverse, tornano a unirsi al Bay Hotel.
Non è tanto per Anna e per la sua improvvisa assenza, che la famiglia torna ad essere tale, ma per salvare l'albergo e i ricordi ad esso connessi. O meglio è l'albergo probabilmente a salvare la famiglia.
L'impresa di riveder risplendere l'hotel, vederlo tornare agli antichi fasti e salvarlo dalla bancarotta dà modo agli Harte di ritrovarsi, superare gli ostacoli che l'orgoglio e i piccoli segreti avevano, con gli anni e i silenzi, creato.
Melissa Hill ha scritto una storia che definirei perfettamente estiva.
Leggera, malinconica, dotata dell'immancabile lieto fine, ma probabilmente eccessivamente banale e prevedibile.
I protagonisti non suscitano grande simpatia o empatia, fatta eccezione per Anna, che purtroppo il lettore non ha tempo di conoscere, tutti gli altri sembrano sempre remare a sfavore di se stessi.
I loro comportamenti sono esasperanti, irrazionali, infantili e sciocchi, ma la cosa più deludente è stata la descrizione dei sentimenti che, siano di dolore per la morte di una madre, di paura per l'angoscia di perdere tutto, o di dolore per un amore represso per anni, non sembrano essere raccontati con sincerità.
In fin dei conti si può definire una storia carina, una lettura poco impegnativa da portare in vacanza, ma non molto di più.
June 13, 2023
"The escapist summer read" means leave your brain turned off when you read this book. First off, there were numerous typos and other errors which always turns me off in a book. The plot is completely predictable, the main character, Elle, annoyed me with her negativity about herself, and the other characters were forgettable. And the events and timeline were so unplausible. For example, the hotel and gardens had to be completely renovated and the necessary crews were on site the very next day to work on it and everything was completed in a couple of weeks.
November 10, 2015
I received this via net-galley. I was so excited to get it. It sounded great. It isn't. I've tried to finish it. I can't. Every time I attempt my eyes glaze over within a few minutes. I made it about 75% into it, but even that 75% was skimming most of the time. Every cliche that there could be is included in this book, with none of the warmth or romance or particularly pretty writing that you need for those tired plot tropes to work. There was perhaps a glimmer of hope with the Beatles collecting sub-plot, but it wasn't enough. (If I'd been advising the author I'd have suggested she make this the focus/main plot.) Elle, the main character, was boring and predictable. I much preferred her sister, Penny, but it wasn't enough. Sorry but Hotel on Mulberry Bay didn't live up to my expectations (or the recommended retail price).
February 7, 2017
Well! What can I say? I usually love Melissa Hill books but found this one quite a slog, and felt that a lot of the story was padding.
Ned and Anna have been married for years and run The Mulberry Bay hotel, she Anna suddenly dies and her daughter Elle returns from London for the funeral to find the hotel run down and ram shackled. Together with her sister Penny they try and find a way to salvage it.
The whole Beatles sub plot I found both annoying and boring.
All in all I was sadly disappointed in this book as I usually love Melissa Hill.
Ned and Anna have been married for years and run The Mulberry Bay hotel, she Anna suddenly dies and her daughter Elle returns from London for the funeral to find the hotel run down and ram shackled. Together with her sister Penny they try and find a way to salvage it.
The whole Beatles sub plot I found both annoying and boring.
All in all I was sadly disappointed in this book as I usually love Melissa Hill.
December 31, 2015
Another brilliant book by Melissa Hill, who I always enjoy. Was an absolute pleasure to read, and gave a great taste of small Irish seaside town life. There is a hint of a big secret in the blurb, and I was delighted that it wasn't the sort of secret I was expecting, and was a great secondary storyline.
September 16, 2025
SOLO PER L'AUTRICE
Anche questo romanzo della Hill mi ha lasciato l'amaro in bocca: la storia è infatti terribilmente scontata e piatta, senza che ci siano colpi di scena a ravvivarla. In parte, però, è stata colpa mia perché ho scelto di leggerlo solo a causa dell'autrice, mentre invece la trama non mi aveva incuriosita nemmeno un po'.
Anche questo romanzo della Hill mi ha lasciato l'amaro in bocca: la storia è infatti terribilmente scontata e piatta, senza che ci siano colpi di scena a ravvivarla. In parte, però, è stata colpa mia perché ho scelto di leggerlo solo a causa dell'autrice, mentre invece la trama non mi aveva incuriosita nemmeno un po'.
January 31, 2016
My first read of Melissa Hill. This is a good family drama, with it's ups and downs, quirky people and the community spirit best known of small towns set in a beachside setting. I really enjoyed the personalities of the Harte family and their friends.
September 30, 2016
The story wasn't awful, but the terrible editing and proofreading (at least in the edition I read) was so distracting, I couldn't get enough into the story to feel sympathy for the characters. Also, the Elle/Rob storyline was absolutely wrung dry, it went on waaaaay too long.
October 26, 2016
This book kind of disappointed me. All the previous books i've read by Melissa Hill sucked me into the story and had me shocked at the end but the one was kind of bland.
The story was predictable and though I kept waiting for the excitement to happen, it never did.
The story was predictable and though I kept waiting for the excitement to happen, it never did.
October 2, 2015
I was so disappointed in this book. I read Melissa's A GIFT TO REMEMBER and loved it so much. This was just a let down unfortunately.
January 8, 2016
Really disappointing- decidedly average, predictable & actually skipped pages at the end. Doesn't compare to her other novels!
May 13, 2016
The cover is extremely lovely and appealing. The storyline wasnt what I expected either but no doubt many will find it a nice read set amongst seaside Ireland.
February 4, 2018
lovely easy to read, if somewhat predictable ending
August 12, 2020
It was ok but went on a bit I lost interest after a while but did finish it
September 27, 2022
Not my favorite of Hill’s books but a good enough summer read.
March 22, 2021
This book is focused around a hotel & the characters, a widowed dad, two daughters, Elle & Penny, & their “friends”, Rob & Colin, respectfully. The mother, Anna, has just passed away & no one feels they can replace her when dealing with the hotel guests. The hotel is starting to show its age .& needs updating. The new bank manager refuses to give the Harte family a loan to improve things. Elle has been living in the city & decides to move home to Mulberry Bay. She feels responsible for the bank refusing to give their family a loan. Colin is a guest & a writer. His reservation was overlooked whenPenny canceled reservations so they could do some improvements. Penny has not dated; however, she & Colin enter into a wonderful relationship. Elle & Rob had dated in high school but broke up when Elle left town for college. Both of them still have feelings for each other. There are twists & turns throughout the book. Interesting read!
January 16, 2018
Immersion into the Harte family
Mulberry Bay takes you heart and soul into the imperfect life of the Harte family story. Engaged in the life of each family member even the person at the center who is no longer alive. The family changes and grows and becomes closer then ever. They truly discover who they are or find themselves again. Through the reconstruction of the family home and beyond that life becomes real. Loved the strong development of the characters and story a truly gifted author and a joy to read.
Mulberry Bay takes you heart and soul into the imperfect life of the Harte family story. Engaged in the life of each family member even the person at the center who is no longer alive. The family changes and grows and becomes closer then ever. They truly discover who they are or find themselves again. Through the reconstruction of the family home and beyond that life becomes real. Loved the strong development of the characters and story a truly gifted author and a joy to read.
January 29, 2023
listened to this on audiobook, it made for a nice easy read whilst travelling to and from work.
Lovely story with likeable characters, it was great getting to know them all. It was a little predictable in places but it didn't put me off and I still enjoyed it. The location of Mulberry Bay certainly sounded very picturesque.
If you are a fan of The Beetles, then you will love and be able to relate to all of the song references throughout the book which does play an important role within the story
Lovely story with likeable characters, it was great getting to know them all. It was a little predictable in places but it didn't put me off and I still enjoyed it. The location of Mulberry Bay certainly sounded very picturesque.
If you are a fan of The Beetles, then you will love and be able to relate to all of the song references throughout the book which does play an important role within the story
July 1, 2025
Relaxing undemanding read perfect for those warm summer afternoons. Mum’s just passed, Dad’s a kleptomaniac hoarder of first edition Beatle LPS.The two daughters are chalk and cheese - one’s stayed at home, the other’s forged a career in the big city. Both are unattached and have backstories. Then there’s the conundrum - what to do with the hotel on the cliff? A run-down village heritage site. Dad doesn’t want it, sis1 lacks the skills to make a go of it and sis2 has the skills but her life’s elsewhere. A fairly predictable denouement.
November 9, 2016
The book was predictable and a bit boring. I felt that there was nothing challenging to the reader. Ellie's dramatic life change was not described as dramatic as it should have been. Although she was going back to where she belonged she had to give up a career she spent her life dreaming about. This was not depicted as expressively as it could have been. I felt Ned was a "loose", non-descriptive character. Most of the characters lacked substance and depth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews