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The Beach Café #4

A Baby at the Beach Café

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A Baby at the Beach Cafe is an engaging short story follow-up to Lucy Diamond's bestselling novel The Beach Cafe.Evie loves running her beach cafe in Cornwall but with a baby on the way, she's been told to put her feet up. Let someone else take over? Not likely. Helen's come to Cornwall to escape the stress of city living. She hopes a seaside life will be the answer to all her dreams. When she sees a job advertised at the cafe it sounds perfect. But the two women clash and sparks fly. . . and then events take a dramatic turn. Can the pair of them put aside their differences in a crisis?

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2016

56 people are currently reading
1104 people want to read

About the author

Lucy Diamond

82 books1,429 followers
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name


First of all, a confession. My name isn’t really Lucy Diamond at all, it’s Sue Mongredien. I’ve used a pen name because ‘Diamond’ is a lot easier to spell and pronounce than ‘Mongredien’ and also because I’ve written lots of children’s books too and wanted to keep the genres separate. (There is actually another Lucy Diamond on Amazon who writes religious children’s books. That isn’t me, though.)

I was born in 1970 and grew up in Nottingham. I read English at Leeds University then moved to London and worked for various publishers before I packed it all in to go travelling around the world for a year and a half. When I came back to the UK, I worked in publishing again, then moved to the BBC. I now live in Bath with my husband and three young children and divide my time between writing and looking after them. You can have a look at my children’s books here.

Favourite things: beaches, holidays, chocolate, wine, reading, Green Wing, bubble baths, sunshine, hearing my children laugh, babysitters

Favourite books: The Magus (John Fowles), The Edible Woman (Margaret Atwood), The Secret History (Donna Tartt), The Colour of Memory (Geoff Dyer)

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5 stars
651 (32%)
4 stars
635 (32%)
3 stars
552 (27%)
2 stars
111 (5%)
1 star
29 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
Profile Image for Erica⭐.
477 reviews
July 4, 2020
Evie now owns the Beach Café as her late Aunty Jo had left it to her, so she and her husband were keeping the café going the way her Aunty did.

Ed was getting concerned about Evie as she was pregnant and hadn’t long to go so he put a job advert in there window for a manager and two helpers.

Helen and her husband had recently moved to Cornwall after selling their pub in Birmingham, but she was bored as Paul had already made friends whilst she was keeping herself to herself and felt like a spare part.

When Helen saw the advert for a manager she knew she could do it and went and applied for it. Evie was furious as he’d taken someone on without her say so, it was her café not his but Ed tried to make her see that they needed help due to their new arrival.

Helen started work, Ed was pleased with how she was doing but Evie was horrified with what was happening and how she was being treated by Helen. So Evie decided enough was enough and that’s when all hell broke loose.
Profile Image for Alison Winter.
146 reviews7 followers
January 24, 2016
As with the other beach cafe books this one just as good; it's a shame it's not longer
Profile Image for Kim.
2,120 reviews64 followers
February 8, 2016
Evie loves her beach cafe and doesn't want to let go of the reins whilst she has her eagerly awaited baby. But when she gets closer to meeting her baby she's told she needs to take things easier and they have to find some new staff. Evie isn't keen on letting someone else run the place and resists the change.

This was a lovely short read- with my much needed return to Cornwall fix. I love this series and Lucy Diamond is such a great author you know that you are going to curl up with a great read.
Profile Image for Rebecca Carter.
154 reviews102 followers
February 7, 2016
This is the third book in the beach cafe series, so it's advisable to read the first two books before picking this one up. A baby at the beach cafe is sadly only a short story, I wish it was longer, but it was nice to revisit Cornwall and some of the people from the previous 2 books. I'm hoping another full length book may be in the pipeline :)
Profile Image for Pauliina.
960 reviews21 followers
December 17, 2021
Näitä lyhytromaaneja pitäisi tehdä enemmän, niitä on kiva lukea, vaikka yksi miinus niissä on: tarinasta suuri osa kerrataan henkilöhistoriana ja vain pieni osa itse kirjan kertomassa tarinassa.

Mutta, tässä on kivaa joulufiilistä, hyviä opetuksia ja erittäin kliseinen ja elokuvamaisen epäaito raskaus- ja synnytyskertomus 😅
Profile Image for Katie.
348 reviews9 followers
April 20, 2020
I really enjoyed this, rated it 4/5 because I didn't like the child birth parts.
Profile Image for Lily.
48 reviews
May 25, 2021
Of all the short stories I've read, this was the clear best. It was actually really good. It's actually book 4 though... oops
Profile Image for Suze.
1,884 reviews1,299 followers
December 27, 2016
Evie is heavily pregnant which means she has to stop running her beloved Beach Café for a while. Only she isn't ready for someone to take over, she wants to keep busy and she doesn't want anyone else to replace her. The baby has its own plans though and Evie has to adjust...

Helen has moved to Cornwall to take it easy for a while. She and her husband need some peace and quiet, but Helen doesn't like to sit still, so she takes a temporary job at the café. She doesn't meet Evie before saying yes to the job though. Unfortunately they don't get along very well. What will happen when they absolutely have to in a moment of crisis?

I've read all of The Beach Café stories, they're simply fantastic. Lucy Diamond brings the café to life so well. It's one of my favorite fictional places as it's so charming. I love the warm and welcome feeling, the café is cozy, it's lively and it's friendly. In other words, the perfect place for people to have a good time. It was fun to read about Evie again. There's also a serious side and Lucy Diamond describes her insecurities and her wishes in such an empathic way. It makes the story realistic and it gives Evie an extra layer of depth. Helen is a kind woman who has problems of her own. There's sadness in her, but also hope. I instantly liked her and think she's a great addition to the story.

A Baby at the Beach Café is another great Beach Café story. If you're a fan of this series you will definitely enjoy reading this story. It can also easily be read as a standalone though. The Beach Café is absolutely wonderful and the stories are all heartwarming and amazing.
Profile Image for Best Crime Books & More.
1,191 reviews179 followers
April 27, 2017
I adore Lucy Diamond's books and was shocked when I realised I had missed this little nugget. I thoroughly enjoyed the Beach Cafe books and was excited to read a little more about Evie and her husband Ed. At only 145 pages it's certainly a short story and I read it in one sitting but it was so nice to be back with the characters. Evie is now heavily pregnant and her husband Ed decides they have to employ a new Cafe Manager for when Evie goes on Maternity leave.

With the Beach Cafe being Evie's baby she is reluctant to allow anyone else to run her perfect little business. When Helen escapes city life by moving down to Cornwall she hadn't planned on working but the opportunity presented itself and both her and Evie are not keen on each other for various reasons. Although Helen could be abrasive as a reader you knew why and actually it was such a lovely story I almost thought it was a shame when it ended as I would have loved to have known more about Helen.

If you haven't read any of Lucy Diamonds books you are missing out. The books of hers I have read to date have been nothing but delightful and the Beach Cafe books are amazing. Definitely a recommended author.
Profile Image for Chloe Stone.
256 reviews3 followers
August 26, 2024
Was lovely reading about Evie and seeing where she was! A perfect quick read, and looking forward to reading the next one! Was nice to be introduced to Helen and hope she features in the next one too! Lucy diamond is an author that’s just so easy and comforting to read.
Profile Image for Kay Townsend.
358 reviews
February 16, 2018
This was another great read by Lucy Diamond. Would definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Norma.
174 reviews8 followers
February 27, 2017
I nice quick read from Lucy Diamond. I will definitely read more of her books.
44 reviews
February 5, 2016
A baby in the beach cafe is the final saga in the beach cafe series by one of my favourite authors Lucy Diamond.
This book is part of the quick reads, so it wasn't a long book. I gave this book 3 stars because i wanted more. I would have love to have known what happened to Helen and whether or not she got her wish, and also see how Evie and Helen's friendship develops.
I hope in the future Lucy Diamond revisits the beach cafe.
Profile Image for Nicola Clough.
879 reviews41 followers
May 29, 2016
An excellent short story filling on with the story from the beach cafe and Evie is living running her cage and is expecting a baby but has been told to put her feet up. Ed suggests getting in another managed to run it for Evie but she isn't so sure but a couple move to Cornwall to have an easier life but Helen struggles with not working so sees the advert asking for a manager so does she get the job and how do things work out for Evie and Ed and really easy read and very enjoyable.
Profile Image for Julie.
Author 5 books229 followers
May 3, 2016
I was sent this book as part of World Book Night so my thanks for introducing me to a new author. It's short and sweet so ideal if you fancy a quick coffee break read yet I found myself thinking about the characters for days afterwards. I haven't read any of the other books in the series but now I want to read them all. I could easily picture the cafe which is a tribute to the author's writing. A really lovely read. May well be planning a trip to Cornwall as a result.
Profile Image for Joan.
296 reviews
May 17, 2016
A Quick Reads, World Book Night book. Not my usual type of reading but quite enjoyable all the same. A story set in a beautiful area of Cornwall which made me wish to visit and have a cuppa in The Beach Cafe.
Profile Image for Hanne.
171 reviews
March 13, 2018
The other books in the series were definitely better. But I like to keep up with characters and enjoy hearing about life at the Cornwall cafe. If there are more small additions like this one I will keep reading. :)
Profile Image for Sarah Broadhurst.
79 reviews147 followers
January 23, 2016
great to return to Cornwall and catch up with Evie and Ed. hope we can revisit again soon
Profile Image for Sophiebeth.
254 reviews
January 13, 2024
'A Baby at the Beach Cafe' by Lucy Diamond is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit, set against the backdrop of an idyllic Cornish village by the sea. The author skillfully captures the emotions of the protagonist, Helen, after experiencing the heart-wrenching ordeal of miscarriages, making this novel a moving and relatable read.

The strength of the book lies in the author's ability to delve into the depths of Helen's emotions with authenticity and sensitivity. The portrayal of her grief, resilience, and the gradual process of healing after miscarriages is handled with grace and compassion. As a reader, you can't help but empathize with Helen's journey, feeling a profound connection to her character as she navigates the complexities of love, loss, and hope.

The picturesque setting of the Cornish village adds another layer of charm to the narrative. The vivid descriptions of the beach cafe and the surrounding scenery create a captivating atmosphere that transports readers to the serene coastal landscapes. The author's ability to evoke a sense of place is commendable, allowing readers to imagine themselves strolling along the sandy shores or enjoying a cup of tea in the cozy beach cafe.

While the novel masterfully captures the emotional nuances of Helen's experience and paints a vivid picture of the coastal village, some readers might find certain elements of the plot to be predictable or familiar within the genre. However, the strength of the character development and the evocative setting compensates for any potential predictability.

In conclusion, 'A Baby at the Beach Cafe' is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that explores the complexities of life, love, and loss. The author's adept portrayal of Helen's feelings after miscarriages, coupled with the enchanting Cornish setting, makes this book a heartfelt and engaging read deserving of its 4-star rating.
Profile Image for Donna.
135 reviews
September 7, 2017
This was a great, lighthearted, easy-read! I generally read thriller and horror novels, but sometimes I delve into the world of romance or light drama stories such as this, just to give my mind a long breath of fresh air! The characters are likeable for their different reasons, and the universal setting of the beach cafe is one that exists in all of minds - from a dream-freedom-desire perspective. I think the big moral of this story is to 'live your life positively and be kind', and the key symbol used in the book to represent this is the shell mobile...a token of luck...which one character passes on to the other for goodwill. In this case it is passed on as a luck token to 'spiritually' help a woman whom longs get pregnant but can't. We can learn a lot about the desire of 'wanting', and how the strong want for something can crush us into darkness if we allow it to. In an age of social media and seeing other peoples material lives on a daily basis, our desires can grow out of control...and this book teaches us that being kind and positive does much more than wishing you 'had' what he or she has. As a reader and a writer, it is always interesting to delve into different genres as they all have different styles and goals and outcomes which can definitely shape your own views and work. Another wonderful book ticked off of the Quick Reads collection!
Profile Image for Patrícia.
27 reviews11 followers
November 22, 2020
𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘊𝘢𝘧é 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘈𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘑𝘰. 𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵, 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘧é, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳. 𝘏𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦-𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘫𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸.

This fourth installment of the series closes (as far as I know) The Beach Café series. It was a cute, easy and fun ride, getting to know Evie, Ed, Cornwall’s amazing sights, and the neighborly feeling of this small town.

The beach café series felt like a cup of hot tea in winters, and an ice cream in summers. Short, enjoyable and light, it’s the perfect read for a reading slump, or a nice afternoon on the beach or by the pool. However, I cannot give a higher rating due to the lack of coherence, lack of depth and lack of character development. I also think that as a chick-lit book, it could have been more comical and more dramatic given that most of the emotions were just approached for a really short time and didn’t have any dimension.

So, if you’re looking for something unpredictable, deep and introspective it might not be a good match. However, if your goal is a quick, easy read, with endearing characters and an amazing scenario, please go ahead - this is your series.
Profile Image for tinalouisereadsbooks.
1,056 reviews14 followers
March 12, 2025
I was given this book as part of world book night 2016 via book group. A very quick read, dobe and dusted in one sitting.

Evie is heavily pregnant and is running the beach cafe with husband Ed. Helen is employed so Evie can take it easy. Both ladies don't seem to see eye to eye.

This book falls into the genre of chic lit which I can read now and then. The book being really thin hasn't got enough for me to sink into. I like to get to know characters and get involved but with thin books I can't.

I don't know if there are more books with these characters as its not an author. I get the impression that if there are they would be too sugary for me. However the plot of this book could be made more sinister and then become a domestic thriller.

A very quick nice read.
Profile Image for mrsljgibbs.
852 reviews33 followers
May 8, 2017
I was in two minds whether to read this book or not, without having read the first one in the series - The Beach Cafe. But I'm very glad that I did because it gave me a little taster of the authors writing style. I will, however, go back and read it now because I absolutely loved this one!!
I loved the setting, in a little seaside village and the main character - Evie, was really nice and I can't wait to find out her back story and how she got to where she is now.
The story all comes together at the end and is very sweet, with the eventual naming of the baby!!
I cannot wait to read more of this series.....
Profile Image for Laura Wooding.
153 reviews
March 15, 2020
5 stars

This is adorable!

I haven’t read The Beach Cafe, but I really want to now. Maybe not right away (spoilers, am I right?) but I will definitely look out for it on my bookish travels.

I love Evie, she is so sweet and I totally get her control freakishness over the cafe. I didn’t really take to Helen straight away, but she redeemed herself of course.

To me this is the embodiment of perfect, feel good chick-lit. I only wish it was longer. I’ve only ever read one other Lucy Diamond book, but this has inspired me to read more. It was a lovely way to round off the weekend and I would thoroughly recommend!
154 reviews2 followers
April 20, 2020
I am a fan of the quick reads series that has been running for many years and this book is another one from the series published in 2016. Having not read a Lucy Diamond book before I was looking forward to trying a new author. The story sees the main character Eve having to learn to take it easy after being café manager from a café that was left to her. Evie ends up having her baby delivered by the temporary manager of the café who has moved to Cornwall with her husband after loosing their baby which comes with its emotional challenges.

A lovely quick read especially for the summer months
Profile Image for Nicola Michelle.
1,873 reviews16 followers
May 21, 2022
I’ve loved these short quick reads of the Beach Cafe series. They’re a perfect hit of lovely contemporary romance and heart warming cafe centred goodness. I honestly wish I could pop into this cafe for a cake and a cup of tea! It’s so cosy and homely. I’ve loved getting to know the characters previously in the other books.

Here we rejoin the now pregnant Evie, who needs to take her swollen pregnancy ankles off the peddles and allow Helen to take over as cafe manager. The two clash, but in a classic case of miscommunication, can they grow to work amicably with each other?

I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a quick but satisfying read. 5 stars for sure.
Profile Image for Neeshy.
15 reviews
January 25, 2022
I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this read, but it was a pleasant surprise and I found myself wishing it was longer. It was beautifully written, I honestly felt like I was on a little beach holiday away and could feel, taste, smell and breathe the surroundings. I love stories that can really transport all your senses, and this was a bonus with an interesting and touching storyline. I found out at the end of the book that this is actually a later one in a series, so I’ll have to work my way back so that I can have more of a nose into Evie’s life!
Profile Image for Amy Perera.
401 reviews2 followers
August 25, 2022
Evie loves running her beach cafe in Cornwall but with a baby on the way, she's been told to put her feet up. Helen's come to Cornwall to escape the stress of city living. When she sees a job advertised at the cafe it sounds perfect. But the two women clash and sparks fly and then events take a dramatic turn. Can the pair of them put aside their differences in a crisis? ✨

This was a short and sweet story but I wanted more. The characters were likeable and I liked Helen’s story, hoping she gets her happy ending eventually. 3 🌟
Profile Image for Julia Nelson.
19 reviews
October 7, 2017
I liked this little book. Easy reading, light and enjoyable. I found it just right for reading during travels, not too much concentration required but entertaining enough.
I have read other Lucy Diamond novels so knew what her writing style was like. I had also already read The Beach Cafe which introduced the main character, Evie, but it could just as easily be read alone.
A lovely setting, nice enough characters, a bit superficial and predictable but sometimes that's all you want.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews

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