Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC and Angela Melamud PR, #partner, for the advanced copy of Beach House Rules in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Gallery Books / Simon & Schuster ALC
Published: May 27, 2025
Summary:
“Southern bestselling sensation” (Katie Couric Media) Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with a delightfully moving new novel about a mother-daughter duo learning to lean on their community of women—and each other—after their world is turned upside down.
When Charlotte Sitterly’s husband is arrested for a white-collar crime, she and her daughter Iris are locked out of their house by the FBI and—what’s potentially even worse—thrust into the spotlight of @JuniperShoresSocialite, the town’s snarky anonymous Instagram account. Cut off from her bank accounts and feeling desperate, Charlotte takes up an acquaintance’s offer to stay at a beachfront former bed-and-breakfast that’s home to a community of single mothers and draws plenty of gossip in the small coastal North Carolina town.
Charlotte and Iris find solace and are surprised by how much fun they’re having with the other families despite their circumstances. But when the women discover a secret link between them, it changes everything they thought they knew about the unconventional family they’ve created and leaves them wondering whether their coming together was a coincidence at all. Will the skeletons in the mommune closets help Charlotte and Iris reclaim their place in the Juniper Shores community—or shatter the sisterhood forever?
“Perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Jennifer Weiner” (Country Living), Beach House Rules is a charming exploration of the joy of friendship, the true meaning of family, and reclaiming the power to reshape our own destiny.
My thoughts:
I have been a fan of KWH since her debut novel, Dear Carolina, and I look forward to each and every new book Kristy writes. No one writes Southern Fiction with more heart than she does and this latest one, even with a little mystery and intrigue, still shows that!
What I love most about her books is how much I end up coming to care about her characters, even when I may think initially I won’t, which was definitely the case here. These books have me laughing, tearing up and just genuinely feeling happy once I finish them.
I loved the themes that we find in this one — the found family and community really hits hard as well as love in all its many forms. Having the story told from three different perspectives, and different ages, really allowed a depth of emotions to be shown. The drama that goes on just adds to the infectious read that makes this THE BEACH READ of the summer! Don’t miss out!
Audio thoughts:
This was so fun to listen to, narrated by 3 amazing narrators – Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Suehyla El-Attar Young. Each brought just the right amount of emotion and vibrancy to their respective parts, making this a fun listening experience.
Purchasing from the link below supports independent bookstores and my blog!
