This is a perfect beach read, especially since it is based in Devon and focuses on people staying at a chalet at 23 The Strand.
I love the way all the individual stories are linked together from start to finish.
There was one or two stories that I wasn't keen on and must admit skipped some pages as they were quite repetitive.
Saying that I did enjoy this book.

An unusual format which is like a series of interlinking short stories, all based around a particular beach hut on the English Riviera. It was a really enjoyable read and I looked forward to finding out about each new occupant of no23. I would definitely recommend this as a summer read.

This book was interesting, each chapter was about a different character.

Each chapter is about a different person staying in Chalet 23, and even though some of them are slightly interlinked, to me, this felt like a series of short stories rather than a novel.
A quick, enjoyable read though

I love the idea of this book, that the people who stay in this holiday home leave a gift, note, card or similar for the next people. 8 like the pay it forward premise a lot. And I liked some of the characters and their backstories but not all of them. I understand that for the purposes of writing a book each resident must have an end to their story but, for me, it didn’t always work. I5 often did but not always. I will def8nitely read more by this writer as overall I enjoyed most of th8s book

Serena Ross aka Martha, escapes to number 23 after cutting her ties with her acting career and nearly causing a marriage split during said career she flees back to the UK in order to rethink on where life should be leading her next. After dying her hair and using contacts, she's sure she's unrecognizable.



She finds number 23 homely and falls in love with it its also near number 20 where Hugh, a nature photographer is staying with an injured leg.



She later leaves a gift and message to the next visitors.



Cally arrives with her husband and two young sons where she gets a break from worrying about a lump she has found on her breast. She finds the gift and decides to also leave a gift to the next guest after finding the necklace Martha left behind signed her real name.



Arthur arrives and strikes up a bond with Hannah a new widow and her young son whom need a break. Arthur never had children and lost his wife years previous. They all find comfort in each other.



There's also Ana, looking for work and a new life, Stella a stay at home mum to three kids and more in this book which depicts a trail of visitors and the gifts they leave in the chain of visitors that stay at number 23.



I really loved this book as it reminded me of Cressida McLaughlin's Blue Moon Guest House series which I loved too! This book showed how a break and escaping the normal day to day life can help gain perspective on situations and events we're dealing with in our lives. Each story was touching and hit quite serious topics during the whole novel showing the array of issues people find themselves dealing with.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

I'd never heard of the author Linda Mitchelmore but seeing this cover on Netgalley I couldn't refuse it. The cover is absolutely stunning, the ombre sky, the pretty houses all drew me in and I was so eager to read it! The title of the novel itself doesn't give much away but again is intriguing so couldn't wait to delve in.

It wasn't my most favourite story but was still enjoyable all the same. It's about a summer house (called 23 The Strand, funnily enough) and it's about the people who stay there. It was summery and I did like reading about the characters and their lives. It has a slightly different usual storyline but was so interesting and it actually has a beautiful reasoning behind it.

Overall, I did enjoy it. Just wasn't one of my faves. I'd be interested to read more by this author however.

23 the Strand is a small chalet that sits on the Devon coastline and we follow the story through May to September.

Each resident at 23 the Strand is looking for something they feel is missing in their lives, the first resident, an actress is in hiding from the press, her two weeks at 23 the Strand gives her the space to decide what direction she wishes her life to take. After her holiday is over she leaves a small gift for the next resident and this sets a tradition for those that follow her.

A lovely light hearted story with some entertaining characters which was a pleasure to read.

Summer at 23 Strand is a cute, chick lit novel. It would be the perfect book to take on a holiday! While some of the characters were favorites of mine, the majority of the novel made me "feel good". I'll take that as a win!

Sun, sea and the British coast! Come again you hear me say but nonetheless ooohhh I do like to be beside the seaside (sorry). The story begins with an actress hiding from scandal and has taken refuge in the scenic west coast of England. During her two weeks stay she embraces the sudden holt to her alternative life and starts to ponder what does she wants. Along the way she potentially find true love? After her stay she leaves a present for the next guest and that embarks a chain reaction for future guests.

The first chapter, with the famous Serena Ross wasn't to my liking saying that I enjoyed the flow which led me to carry on reading the book. In my opinion the first chapter didn't feel as compelling as for a realistic scenario. My favourite chapters were with Cally and Ana - their stories felt personal and the author, Linda Mitchelmore, really embodied the emotions with the words.

This little chalet on the seafront has experienced a lot of characters, the ups and downs and to be honest it's inspired me to go on a little holiday of my own!

The premise of this book sounded like a fun read but the execution was sloppy. All of the stories were just too saccharine for me, fake sweet. Too tidy and swept up after a 14 day period.

The book follows a beach chalet during the summer from May to September and profiles the occupants that stay there for a fortnight at a time. After the first occupant leaves a parting gift for the next visitor, the tradition continues on through the summer. Though some of the gifts are not well thought out.

Overall this was just not for me. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and actually found a few of them quite annoying.

I hadn't heard of this author but lived the look of the cover and had heard so much about the book. So glad I read it as such an amazing story with great characters and how a holiday home can become a place for people who have problems to go and decided themselves and move forward and heal. Perfect summer read and to escape to the seaside.
It starts with Martha who is an actress but needs to escape the real world and the press and she finds this little holiday chalet and she's told when she arrived it might be up for sale but she escapes she starts to heal and decide what she wants from her life but when it's time to leave she leaves a note to the next person and a gift for them and this becomes a magical tradition for the who summer long as different people arrive as they are wanting to escape as well a really good read.

What a lovely idea to write about the people who spend two weeks one summer in the beach hut, 23 the Strand. By the end of the book I wanted to sit on the veranda with a glass of wine, eat fish and chips and visit the local cafe. I loved the idea of a present for the next people to,rent it and enjoyed finding out each person/families story. Also loved the end when we learnt the final chapter in everyone's story.

Its not a book I would read again but having said that I did enjoy meeting the characters and was able to picture in my mind the sandy beach, harbour and the beach hut.