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Beach House Rules
"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.
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.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 27, 2025
2325 people are currently reading
38990 people want to read
About the author
Kristy Woodson Harvey
16 books6,970 followersKristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of eleven novels including A Happier Life, The Summer of Songbirds, and The Peachtree Bluff Series. Many of her books have been optioned or are in development for television and film and have received numerous accolades, including Good Morning America’s Buzz Pick, Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Reads, Katie Couric’s Featured Books, and Joanna Garcia Swisher’s The Happy Place Read. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize.
A Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Southern Living, Parade, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, and many more. She also holds a master’s in English, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature.
Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction with fellow New York Times Bestselling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, and Patti Callahan Henry. She is also the co-founder of the interiors site Design Chic, with her mom, Beth Woodson.
She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband, son, and dog, Salt, where she is (always!) working on her next novel.
A Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Southern Living, Parade, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, and many more. She also holds a master’s in English, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature.
Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction with fellow New York Times Bestselling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, and Patti Callahan Henry. She is also the co-founder of the interiors site Design Chic, with her mom, Beth Woodson.
She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband, son, and dog, Salt, where she is (always!) working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,677 reviews
April 4, 2025
I’m calling it now, THIS is the beach read of 2025. It has every element you want in a beach read: friendship, romance, second chances, mystery, coming of age, drama…perfection!
Audio was so fun with 3 narrators!
Audio was so fun with 3 narrators!
April 29, 2025
Since Elin Hilderbrand has retired can we dub KWH as the new queen of the beach read pls? I LOVE her books and think they’re ideal for summer. They have plenty of depth as well but still feel light enough that you’ll want it in your beach bag and this is another fantastic addition to the authors list. What makes a beach read a standout for me is when there are several elements within the book and you get that here for sure. This is about friendships at all stages in life, there’s a mystery, there is romance, there is family drama, there is a gorgeous summer setting and there is lots of gossipy goodness. You get three POVs, which is always fun, something for everyone and you hear from Charlotte who’s husband was just arrested for fraud, her teenaged daughter Iris and Alice, a woman who takes in strays and helps them get back on their feet. I adored their little commune/mommune and the secondary characters that lived there, they were all colorful and entertaining. Overall this was just really fun and an ideal summer read, don’t miss it!
August 29, 2025
3.75💫
this was fun! i enjoyed this novel and think if you like elin hilderbrand books, you would enjoy this one!
i love books with scandal, drama, betrayal, etc. and this one definitely had scandal written all over it. charlotte's husband was arrested for some type of fraud he committed in his business, and everything was taken from her and her daughter, iris, by the FBI, forcing them to move into this house called the "momune." its essentially a couple moms and their kids living in a house together, performing chores and tasks, helping with homework, and becoming besties. i thought the relationships between the moms and the kids were so fun and i loved watching them grow. iris took it upon herself to try and prove that her dad is innocent, and so her pov was full of little adventures and sneaking around with her new besties. alice was the leader of the momune because it was her house, and she has a huge rumor over her head saying she murdered her past 3 husbands. i also enjoyed alice's pov in the story and seeing her get the happy ending she deserved. this book was full of so many twists i never saw coming, but they were a little cheesy imo. this one was definitely fun, atmospheric, full of drama, and very enjoyable!
this was fun! i enjoyed this novel and think if you like elin hilderbrand books, you would enjoy this one!
i love books with scandal, drama, betrayal, etc. and this one definitely had scandal written all over it. charlotte's husband was arrested for some type of fraud he committed in his business, and everything was taken from her and her daughter, iris, by the FBI, forcing them to move into this house called the "momune." its essentially a couple moms and their kids living in a house together, performing chores and tasks, helping with homework, and becoming besties. i thought the relationships between the moms and the kids were so fun and i loved watching them grow. iris took it upon herself to try and prove that her dad is innocent, and so her pov was full of little adventures and sneaking around with her new besties. alice was the leader of the momune because it was her house, and she has a huge rumor over her head saying she murdered her past 3 husbands. i also enjoyed alice's pov in the story and seeing her get the happy ending she deserved. this book was full of so many twists i never saw coming, but they were a little cheesy imo. this one was definitely fun, atmospheric, full of drama, and very enjoyable!
July 7, 2025
Gossip 💬, betrayal 😬, second chances 💞, and a house full of strong women trying to rebuild their lives? Count me in. The whole “mommune” concept, women helping women through tough times, was something I could totally see myself embracing 🙌.
Charlotte’s fall from riches to rock bottom 💔 after her husband’s fraud scandal had me hooked. I didn’t expect the story to focus so much on Iris and her friends, and a few parts dragged more than I’d like 🐢. Still, the surprise twist at the end pulled everything together and bumped this up to a solid four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Charlotte’s fall from riches to rock bottom 💔 after her husband’s fraud scandal had me hooked. I didn’t expect the story to focus so much on Iris and her friends, and a few parts dragged more than I’d like 🐢. Still, the surprise twist at the end pulled everything together and bumped this up to a solid four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
May 5, 2025
4.5 stars
Charlotte Sitterly is left reeling when her husband is arrested for securities fraud. Charlotte and her fourteen-year-old daughter are displaced when all of their assets, including their home and cars, are seized. Juniper Shores is an affluent beach town and a small community where news travels fast. In addition, there is a journalist and an anonymous gossip Instagram account covering the scandal. Everyone knows their business. While at the bank, Alice Bailey overheard Charlotte is not able to withdraw any money from her account. She steps in and invites her to live at her "mommune" which was a former beachfront bed and breakfast. There are two other women with their children who live with Alice. On their first day, they learn the beach house rules.
What follows is a delightful story of gossip, trust, reputation, public perception, and most importantly, friendship, family, and loyalty. These themes are explored in a very tasteful and sensitive way. There is also mystery and romance involved, and the caution to not be too quick to jump to conclusions and judgment. We would all benefit from living by beach house rules. This book is the perfect beach read and is sure to be one of the most popular books this summer. Don't miss it - be sure to add it to your beach bag along with your sunglasses and a glass of iced tea!⛱️
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Gallery Books, and UpLit Reads for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
#BeachHouseRules #KristyWoodsonHarvey #read #GiftedByUpLit #GalleryBooks #NetGalley #ARCreview #bookreview #BestBooks #bookrecommendations #ContemporaryFiction #BeachReads #anticipatedbooks #2025reads #NYTbestsellingauthor #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #booklover #bookstagram
Charlotte Sitterly is left reeling when her husband is arrested for securities fraud. Charlotte and her fourteen-year-old daughter are displaced when all of their assets, including their home and cars, are seized. Juniper Shores is an affluent beach town and a small community where news travels fast. In addition, there is a journalist and an anonymous gossip Instagram account covering the scandal. Everyone knows their business. While at the bank, Alice Bailey overheard Charlotte is not able to withdraw any money from her account. She steps in and invites her to live at her "mommune" which was a former beachfront bed and breakfast. There are two other women with their children who live with Alice. On their first day, they learn the beach house rules.
What follows is a delightful story of gossip, trust, reputation, public perception, and most importantly, friendship, family, and loyalty. These themes are explored in a very tasteful and sensitive way. There is also mystery and romance involved, and the caution to not be too quick to jump to conclusions and judgment. We would all benefit from living by beach house rules. This book is the perfect beach read and is sure to be one of the most popular books this summer. Don't miss it - be sure to add it to your beach bag along with your sunglasses and a glass of iced tea!⛱️
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Gallery Books, and UpLit Reads for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
#BeachHouseRules #KristyWoodsonHarvey #read #GiftedByUpLit #GalleryBooks #NetGalley #ARCreview #bookreview #BestBooks #bookrecommendations #ContemporaryFiction #BeachReads #anticipatedbooks #2025reads #NYTbestsellingauthor #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #booklover #bookstagram
Read
June 10, 2025I saw someone on Instagram say this was a 5 star read and I just don't even know what to make of that. It was fine but not even remotely in the vicinity of a 5 star book.
May 27, 2025
the setup…
Charlotte Sitterly’s idyllic world in the beachfront town of Juniper Shores, North Carolina is turned upside down overnight when her husband Bill is arrested for financial crimes. She and her teenage daughter Iris find themselves barred from their home, almost penniless with bank accounts frozen and nowhere to turn. But an angel in the form of Alice Bailey comes to her rescue. She owns a former B&B now known as the mommune because it’s shared with two single mothers and their children and invites Charlotte and Iris to join them. Despite Alice’s whispered nickname as the town’s Black Widow (three dead husbands), Charlotte accepts the offer and it is far from the experience she’d imagined.
the heart of the story…
Despite all the town’s rumors about the mommune, it turns out to be a family sanctuary with the women supporting each other in the best of ways. Alice has some unconventional beach house rules and they strongly instill a sense of sisterhood and family that’s not only great for the self esteem of the women but the emotional safety and security of the children. It was lovely to see the women bond instead of fracture, determined to make it all work.
the narration…
Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Suehyla El-Attar Young are the wonderful storytellers for Alice, Charlotte and Iris’s points of view. It was helpful to have distinctive voices for each and they delivered great performances.
the bottom line…
The whole concept of a “mommune” just feels brilliant. I absolutely loved how these women made it work despite their own angst and insecurities at times. There were moments of repetition that slowed the pace somewhat but overall, I enjoyed the story, which also included some snarky comic relief from the gossipy and anonymous Juniper Shores Socialite. The mystery surrounding Bill’s guilt or innocence added lots of intrigue. It works.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Charlotte Sitterly’s idyllic world in the beachfront town of Juniper Shores, North Carolina is turned upside down overnight when her husband Bill is arrested for financial crimes. She and her teenage daughter Iris find themselves barred from their home, almost penniless with bank accounts frozen and nowhere to turn. But an angel in the form of Alice Bailey comes to her rescue. She owns a former B&B now known as the mommune because it’s shared with two single mothers and their children and invites Charlotte and Iris to join them. Despite Alice’s whispered nickname as the town’s Black Widow (three dead husbands), Charlotte accepts the offer and it is far from the experience she’d imagined.
the heart of the story…
Despite all the town’s rumors about the mommune, it turns out to be a family sanctuary with the women supporting each other in the best of ways. Alice has some unconventional beach house rules and they strongly instill a sense of sisterhood and family that’s not only great for the self esteem of the women but the emotional safety and security of the children. It was lovely to see the women bond instead of fracture, determined to make it all work.
the narration…
Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Suehyla El-Attar Young are the wonderful storytellers for Alice, Charlotte and Iris’s points of view. It was helpful to have distinctive voices for each and they delivered great performances.
the bottom line…
The whole concept of a “mommune” just feels brilliant. I absolutely loved how these women made it work despite their own angst and insecurities at times. There were moments of repetition that slowed the pace somewhat but overall, I enjoyed the story, which also included some snarky comic relief from the gossipy and anonymous Juniper Shores Socialite. The mystery surrounding Bill’s guilt or innocence added lots of intrigue. It works.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
dnf
June 17, 2025DNF. This is like when I am craving Cap’n Crunch or Cinnamon Toast Crunch or even, dare I say, a. Brown Sugar And Cinnamon Pop Tart and I take one bite only to instantly recognize the emptiness of the calories. It’s one part sugar and one part disappointment that I took all that effort to procure the sweet thing and now I must get up off the couch and make some avocado toast.
December 14, 2024
In a beautiful ode to friendship, found family, and the power of a community coming together; Kristy Woodson Harvey’s BEACH HOUSE RULES has everything you want in a delicious gossipy summer read.
Full of vivacious characters with larger than life personas, scandalous pasts, and of-course, the natural southern charm you come to expect in a Harvey novel, you will suck down Beach House Rules like a glass of sweet iced tea on a warm summer Carolina day…!
With our main character Charlotte Sitterly’s husband facing finance fraud charges but maintaining his innocence; she’s lost her assets, access to her home, and a way to care for her teenage daughter, Iris. Charlotte and Iris end up under the wing of a woman in town running a “Mommune”; a home where fellow women facing life struggles band together to help the other women raise their children; and while they may be a forced family, they quickly grow and bond and come together to right the wrongs done to Charlotte’s husband.
BEACH HOUSE RULES is the full “vacation read package”; take a trip to Juniper Shores, North Carolina through the pages of Harvey’s novel and she will wisk you away to a charming cozy small town; but there’s someone lurking watching after all the gossip and dirt in her character’s lives… but you’ll have to read to find out who!
Full of vivacious characters with larger than life personas, scandalous pasts, and of-course, the natural southern charm you come to expect in a Harvey novel, you will suck down Beach House Rules like a glass of sweet iced tea on a warm summer Carolina day…!
With our main character Charlotte Sitterly’s husband facing finance fraud charges but maintaining his innocence; she’s lost her assets, access to her home, and a way to care for her teenage daughter, Iris. Charlotte and Iris end up under the wing of a woman in town running a “Mommune”; a home where fellow women facing life struggles band together to help the other women raise their children; and while they may be a forced family, they quickly grow and bond and come together to right the wrongs done to Charlotte’s husband.
BEACH HOUSE RULES is the full “vacation read package”; take a trip to Juniper Shores, North Carolina through the pages of Harvey’s novel and she will wisk you away to a charming cozy small town; but there’s someone lurking watching after all the gossip and dirt in her character’s lives… but you’ll have to read to find out who!
May 29, 2025
After Charlotte’s husband is arrested for securities fraud, she and her daughter are locked out of their house and have no access to their bank accounts.
Charlotte only has enough money to last for a few days. She quit her finance job when her daughter was born and hasn’t worked for years.
What is she going to do?
And did her husband really do this? He is so honest.
As Charlotte is contemplating what to do she is befriended by Alice - a woman who owns a bed and breakfast turned into a mommune where women live together and help each other.
Can she do this? She wants to go back to her own home. Once she stays there, though, it seems like it will be ok.
How does it all turn out for Charlotte and all the women?
We find out in this somewhat confusing read that will have you laughing at the Instagram gossip column of this small town.
I was skeptical about the mommune and wasn’t that engaged with the book.
It just seemed to just drag on and had too many characters to keep track of, but the surprise ending raised the rating up a notch. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
Charlotte only has enough money to last for a few days. She quit her finance job when her daughter was born and hasn’t worked for years.
What is she going to do?
And did her husband really do this? He is so honest.
As Charlotte is contemplating what to do she is befriended by Alice - a woman who owns a bed and breakfast turned into a mommune where women live together and help each other.
Can she do this? She wants to go back to her own home. Once she stays there, though, it seems like it will be ok.
How does it all turn out for Charlotte and all the women?
We find out in this somewhat confusing read that will have you laughing at the Instagram gossip column of this small town.
I was skeptical about the mommune and wasn’t that engaged with the book.
It just seemed to just drag on and had too many characters to keep track of, but the surprise ending raised the rating up a notch. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
April 16, 2025
Kristy Woodson Harvey’s books are a summer staple. When Charlotte and her daughter Iris find themselves out of a home due to an FBI investigation into their husband/father, they take up residence at the mommune—a big house on the beach where a group of moms and kiddos live and do life together.
•
I am so disappointed to say that this absolutely did not work for me. The dialogue was unbearably cringey, the characters were impossible to relate to, and the plot was wholly unbelievable. Calling it a mommune and comparing it to a cult was a risky decision. 😬 The “rules” set by Alice were wild and it was a huge stretch that these other grown, professional women would go along with them.
•
Iris’s involvement as things unfolded was so hokey. The twist involving Alice was pure ridiculous. The final reveal was the last straw. 🫤🙄🙄🙄
•
I liked the North Carolina coastal setting and the Instagram posts, but it just wasn’t enough to redeem the farcical plot. I settled on 1.5 stars rounded up to 2. While this wasn’t for me, I’m so thankful to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review early.
•
I am so disappointed to say that this absolutely did not work for me. The dialogue was unbearably cringey, the characters were impossible to relate to, and the plot was wholly unbelievable. Calling it a mommune and comparing it to a cult was a risky decision. 😬 The “rules” set by Alice were wild and it was a huge stretch that these other grown, professional women would go along with them.
•
Iris’s involvement as things unfolded was so hokey. The twist involving Alice was pure ridiculous. The final reveal was the last straw. 🫤🙄🙄🙄
•
I liked the North Carolina coastal setting and the Instagram posts, but it just wasn’t enough to redeem the farcical plot. I settled on 1.5 stars rounded up to 2. While this wasn’t for me, I’m so thankful to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review early.
May 27, 2025
I'll start by saying that I loved A Happier Life. It was a fantastic book. "Beach House Rules" not so much. The book is about three main characters and their experiences, I can't say it was an interesting read; it wasn't - to me anyway. I'm not much of a Chick-Lit reader and this one got lost, and frankly put me to sleep, with its' self-involved narrators. The only thing that kept me going was the mystery element. The interpersonal relationships and angst - not my thing. I did enjoy the Lady Whistledown inspired Instagram posts - they were wonderful and who the author is was part of what kept me reading.
Charlotte Sitterly, a 38-year-old wife and mother is a former investment banker whose husband has been arrested for a financial crime. Her whole world has imploded. She had limited funds, is locked out of her home and her car was impounded. During a meltdown in the bank, she is approached by Alice with the offer of a place to live. Charlotte is desperate and she and her 14-year-old daughter Iris, accept the invitation and become part of the mommune which also includes two other women and their kids with 45-year-old widow, Alice, as the glue holding them all together. This place is not without its' detractors in the small beachside community of Juniper Shores, NC. But down on her luck Charlotte just needs a place to regroup.
Alice Bailey is a three-time widow. Each of her husbands died in a tragic accident, but that didn't stop the town from labeling her a "Black Widow". She owns a former Bed and Breakfast that is home to her niece, Julie, and her three adorable young girls. Also residing in the house is Grace and her two older children, one of whom, 16-year-old Merit, is the high school heartthrob and star quarterback. Alice has a lot of latent guilt over the deaths of her husbands and feels deep down she may have been the cause of their deaths. She chased away a wonderful guy and has been doing her own form of penitence.
Fourteen-year-old Iris Sitterly is having a really tough time coming to terms with her changed circumstances, from adored only child to having her dad in jail, no money or access to her home. Living at the mommune is just the cherry on top of this awful cake. The only thing that is making it bearable is being close to Merit. As Iris opens her heart to the women and kids living at the mommune, she finds that being part of this family is a special experience.
Life at the mommune can't always be this way. Circumstances change for everyone, but for this brief period in time, it's magic.
3 1/2-Stars
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Charlotte Sitterly, a 38-year-old wife and mother is a former investment banker whose husband has been arrested for a financial crime. Her whole world has imploded. She had limited funds, is locked out of her home and her car was impounded. During a meltdown in the bank, she is approached by Alice with the offer of a place to live. Charlotte is desperate and she and her 14-year-old daughter Iris, accept the invitation and become part of the mommune which also includes two other women and their kids with 45-year-old widow, Alice, as the glue holding them all together. This place is not without its' detractors in the small beachside community of Juniper Shores, NC. But down on her luck Charlotte just needs a place to regroup.
Alice Bailey is a three-time widow. Each of her husbands died in a tragic accident, but that didn't stop the town from labeling her a "Black Widow". She owns a former Bed and Breakfast that is home to her niece, Julie, and her three adorable young girls. Also residing in the house is Grace and her two older children, one of whom, 16-year-old Merit, is the high school heartthrob and star quarterback. Alice has a lot of latent guilt over the deaths of her husbands and feels deep down she may have been the cause of their deaths. She chased away a wonderful guy and has been doing her own form of penitence.
Fourteen-year-old Iris Sitterly is having a really tough time coming to terms with her changed circumstances, from adored only child to having her dad in jail, no money or access to her home. Living at the mommune is just the cherry on top of this awful cake. The only thing that is making it bearable is being close to Merit. As Iris opens her heart to the women and kids living at the mommune, she finds that being part of this family is a special experience.
Life at the mommune can't always be this way. Circumstances change for everyone, but for this brief period in time, it's magic.
3 1/2-Stars
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
April 25, 2025
If I could pack one book in my beach bag for the whole summer, it would definitely be Beach House Rules. 🏖️💙 Thank you, Gallery Books & Uplit Reads, for the gifted copy of Beach House Rules by the lovely Kristy Woodson Harvey {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.27.2025
Pages: 368
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
It never fails — Kristy Woodson Harvey always delivers that book. The one that melts away the winter blues and reminds me that brighter, warmer days are coming. Every spring, I find myself curled up with one of her stories, and this year, Beach House Rules was the one that made me feel all the things.
I’ve adored everything she’s written, but this one hit differently. There’s just something magical about how she weaves together unforgettable characters, an inviting coastal setting, and a heartfelt storyline full of mystery, forgiveness, found family, and deep-rooted friendship. I didn’t want it to end… but I also couldn’t stop turning the pages.
Charlotte and Iris were so compelling, but Alice completely stole my heart. She’s lived through so much and still creates a safe, loving space for others — the kind of person who radiates warmth. Honestly? Growing up in a mommune sounds like a dream come true.
Read if you enjoy:
🫶🏼 Found Family
🥰 Community
🌊 Small Coastal Towns
🔍 Mystery
❣️ Romance (tiny bit)
🤩 True Southern Charm
Beach House Rules was the perfect reminder that healing happens in the community and that sometimes, the best families are the ones we choose. 💛
______
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Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.27.2025
Pages: 368
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
It never fails — Kristy Woodson Harvey always delivers that book. The one that melts away the winter blues and reminds me that brighter, warmer days are coming. Every spring, I find myself curled up with one of her stories, and this year, Beach House Rules was the one that made me feel all the things.
I’ve adored everything she’s written, but this one hit differently. There’s just something magical about how she weaves together unforgettable characters, an inviting coastal setting, and a heartfelt storyline full of mystery, forgiveness, found family, and deep-rooted friendship. I didn’t want it to end… but I also couldn’t stop turning the pages.
Charlotte and Iris were so compelling, but Alice completely stole my heart. She’s lived through so much and still creates a safe, loving space for others — the kind of person who radiates warmth. Honestly? Growing up in a mommune sounds like a dream come true.
Read if you enjoy:
🫶🏼 Found Family
🥰 Community
🌊 Small Coastal Towns
🔍 Mystery
❣️ Romance (tiny bit)
🤩 True Southern Charm
Beach House Rules was the perfect reminder that healing happens in the community and that sometimes, the best families are the ones we choose. 💛
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on StoryGraph:https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
July 30, 2025
A light-hearted story filled with found family, drama and a quirky mommune. The story’s main focus is on the empowerment of female friendships.
Charlotte, Julie and Grace are brought together by Alice at low points in their lives. Alice offers them a place to live while they get back on their feet. They are a crazy bunch with a lot of problems and a lot of kids. The women were relatable and well developed, but Iris was my favorite. Although the story centers around Charlotte’s husband, Bill, who has been arrested for a white collar crime, it’s primarily about girl power 💪.
Perfect book to be read poolside with an Aperol
Spritz.
Charlotte, Julie and Grace are brought together by Alice at low points in their lives. Alice offers them a place to live while they get back on their feet. They are a crazy bunch with a lot of problems and a lot of kids. The women were relatable and well developed, but Iris was my favorite. Although the story centers around Charlotte’s husband, Bill, who has been arrested for a white collar crime, it’s primarily about girl power 💪.
Perfect book to be read poolside with an Aperol
Spritz.
June 29, 2025
I’ve found a new author that I’m loving !! This one wasn’t quite as emotional but still very good!
March 8, 2025
“We hadn’t just survived, we had thrived”
Welcome to Juniper Shores, more importantly, welcome to the mommune!
I cheered for these women individually and as a unit!!
I could not love a book as much as I loved every single page, every character, every storyline, and every characters growth written as only this author can do!!! This is an absolute read!
Welcome to Juniper Shores, more importantly, welcome to the mommune!
I cheered for these women individually and as a unit!!
I could not love a book as much as I loved every single page, every character, every storyline, and every characters growth written as only this author can do!!! This is an absolute read!
June 29, 2025
I am usually a huge fan of Kristy ‘s books but this one was terrible. It read like a YA and was incredibly boring.
January 15, 2026
“The ocean doesn’t ask who you were. It only welcomes who you’re becoming.”
We are headed back to the beach where Harvey delivers a tender story of reinvention, where Charlotte Sitterly’s life crumbles overnight and the only way forward is through the unexpected. With her daughter Iris by her side and nowhere else to go, Charlotte lands in a quirky seaside “mommune” a place where women rebuild, reconnect, and rediscover who they are.
What unfolds is a gentle, soul-soothing journey of second chances, mother-daughter healing, and the quiet magic of community. The women of Juniper Shores, especially the wise and nurturing Alice, remind us that grace often arrives in the form of shared stories, open arms, and salty air.
If you love novels that feel like a fresh start, this one’s for you. It’s a celebration of found family, emotional resilience, and the kind of hope that lingers.
🎙Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, and Suehyla El-Attar Young create a beautiful texture listening experience, breathing life into each character’s journey.
Campbell lends a steady, emotionally grounded voice to Charlotte’s unraveling and rediscovery, while Hutchinson-Shaw captures Iris’s teenage vulnerability and grit with authenticity. El-Attar Young adds a warm, anchoring presence that reflects the nurturing spirit of Juniper Shores.
Together, their performances create a layered soundscape that deepens the emotional resonance of the story. Their voices enhance every moment, every heartbreak and every hopeful new beginning.
We are headed back to the beach where Harvey delivers a tender story of reinvention, where Charlotte Sitterly’s life crumbles overnight and the only way forward is through the unexpected. With her daughter Iris by her side and nowhere else to go, Charlotte lands in a quirky seaside “mommune” a place where women rebuild, reconnect, and rediscover who they are.
What unfolds is a gentle, soul-soothing journey of second chances, mother-daughter healing, and the quiet magic of community. The women of Juniper Shores, especially the wise and nurturing Alice, remind us that grace often arrives in the form of shared stories, open arms, and salty air.
If you love novels that feel like a fresh start, this one’s for you. It’s a celebration of found family, emotional resilience, and the kind of hope that lingers.
🎙Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, and Suehyla El-Attar Young create a beautiful texture listening experience, breathing life into each character’s journey.
Campbell lends a steady, emotionally grounded voice to Charlotte’s unraveling and rediscovery, while Hutchinson-Shaw captures Iris’s teenage vulnerability and grit with authenticity. El-Attar Young adds a warm, anchoring presence that reflects the nurturing spirit of Juniper Shores.
Together, their performances create a layered soundscape that deepens the emotional resonance of the story. Their voices enhance every moment, every heartbreak and every hopeful new beginning.
June 3, 2025
BEACH HOUSE RULES is an emotional story where I laughed, cried and knew that I would be thinking about it long after I finished. The story is well-crafted and emotionally engaging. All the characters in BEACH HOUSE RULES are very relatable and not perfect at all. You can’t help but feel each emotion that these caring people are dealing with. When one of them was happy, I was happy. When Charlotte was crying, I was crying too. I love it when an author does that to their readers. Kristy Woodson Harvey grabs her readers by the heart and never lets them go. I truly was an emotional mess after reading this heart-tugging story of love and finding a way to get through the situation these people were thrown into.
Now that I have read BEACH HOUSE RULES and discovered Kristy Woodson Harvey I’m excited to read more of this new-to-me, auto-buy from now on author. If you are looking for a contemporary read that is filled with heavy subject matter, but still fills you with hope, please take a chance and read BEACH HOUSE RULES.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
You can read my complete review at:
https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...
Now that I have read BEACH HOUSE RULES and discovered Kristy Woodson Harvey I’m excited to read more of this new-to-me, auto-buy from now on author. If you are looking for a contemporary read that is filled with heavy subject matter, but still fills you with hope, please take a chance and read BEACH HOUSE RULES.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
You can read my complete review at:
https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...
May 9, 2025
2.5⭐️
Charlotte and her teenage daughter, Iris, are in the middle of a crisis. Charlotte’s husband, Bill, has been jailed for money fraud, and the girls are down on their luck. In a panic, charlotte agrees to move into a “momune” when a nice stranger, Alice, suggests it may be the perfect t place for the girls to come and get back on their feet.
I love KWH books, but this one just was not for me. I was so weird out by the plot and the idea of a “momune” that it took away anything else I might find I enjoyed about the story. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the genre crossover, and it felt it didn’t really make sense. Iris was trying to solve her dad’s case (at 14 years old) but playing amateur detective, and I didn’t buy into it. Further, I didn’t love any of the characters enough to feel invested. Overall this is one that I didn’t enjoy, but I’ll be hopeful for the next one!
Thank you Simon audio for my audiobook and NetGalley for the eARC.
Charlotte and her teenage daughter, Iris, are in the middle of a crisis. Charlotte’s husband, Bill, has been jailed for money fraud, and the girls are down on their luck. In a panic, charlotte agrees to move into a “momune” when a nice stranger, Alice, suggests it may be the perfect t place for the girls to come and get back on their feet.
I love KWH books, but this one just was not for me. I was so weird out by the plot and the idea of a “momune” that it took away anything else I might find I enjoyed about the story. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the genre crossover, and it felt it didn’t really make sense. Iris was trying to solve her dad’s case (at 14 years old) but playing amateur detective, and I didn’t buy into it. Further, I didn’t love any of the characters enough to feel invested. Overall this is one that I didn’t enjoy, but I’ll be hopeful for the next one!
Thank you Simon audio for my audiobook and NetGalley for the eARC.
May 29, 2025
So so disappointed with this
The whole dialogue was really off putting
I did not like nor find any of the characters believable
This ‘Mommune’ was plain weird To think that independent high maintenance women would just fall into this way of living is plain daft
The plot involving Iris had me holding onto my rolling eyes and saying ‘really’ on more than one occasion
The final reveal was such a let down
I have been looking forward to this for months It was a highly anticipated ‘damp squid’ for me
The whole dialogue was really off putting
I did not like nor find any of the characters believable
This ‘Mommune’ was plain weird To think that independent high maintenance women would just fall into this way of living is plain daft
The plot involving Iris had me holding onto my rolling eyes and saying ‘really’ on more than one occasion
The final reveal was such a let down
I have been looking forward to this for months It was a highly anticipated ‘damp squid’ for me
March 24, 2025
Women supporting women always works especially at the Beach House.
Mom Charlotte and teen daughter Iris are shut out their house after her husband is arrested for stealing millions from his clients.
Alice, widow of three previous husbands knows how it feels to be ostracized and is willing to help them. She’s already helping Julie, single mom of three and Grace, mom of two teens who’s husband left for Tokyo.
Alice owns a house that use to be a Bed and Breakfast, with lots of rooms right on the beach! The small town gossips call it the ‘mommune.’ So, the women embrace it and enjoy living together and helping each other. Everyone benefits.
Each woman’s situation is explained as they all try to move forward with their lives. Charlotte’s determined to show her husband was framed and Live gets the surprise of her life.
Thoroughly enjoyable and heartwarming!
Thank you Edelweiss and Gallery Books.
Mom Charlotte and teen daughter Iris are shut out their house after her husband is arrested for stealing millions from his clients.
Alice, widow of three previous husbands knows how it feels to be ostracized and is willing to help them. She’s already helping Julie, single mom of three and Grace, mom of two teens who’s husband left for Tokyo.
Alice owns a house that use to be a Bed and Breakfast, with lots of rooms right on the beach! The small town gossips call it the ‘mommune.’ So, the women embrace it and enjoy living together and helping each other. Everyone benefits.
Each woman’s situation is explained as they all try to move forward with their lives. Charlotte’s determined to show her husband was framed and Live gets the surprise of her life.
Thoroughly enjoyable and heartwarming!
Thank you Edelweiss and Gallery Books.
May 1, 2025
Looking for a perfect beach read? Looking for a heartwarming book about families and friendships, along with a bit of mystery? Then this is the book that needs to be in your beach bag or carryon this summer! I loved the relationships in this novel—mothers and children, siblings, romantic relationships—all melding together under one roof. But everything is complicated as the adults and children living in the so-called “mommune”, as they all try to figure out what’s best for them! I received an advance reader copy of this book.
May 29, 2025
5 stars.
June 13, 2025
Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey (2025)
11h 43m narrated by Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, and Suehyla El-Attar Young, 368 pages
Genre: General Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
Featuring: Multiple POVs, New York City, New York; Covid-19 Pandemic, Fictional Small-Town North Carolina - Juniper Shores, Social Media, Coastal Town, Scandal, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Tricenarians, Community Living, Broken Homes, Single Moms, Widow, High School, Drama, Gossip, Marital Conflict, Scholastic Setting, Sex - Off Camera, Quadragenarians, Teens, TNT, Prison, Secrets, Romance, Growth, Self-Actualization
Rating as a movie: PG-13
Songs for the soundtrack: "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" by Taylor Swift, "Memory" by Elaine Paige, "Wannabe" by Spice Girls, "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri
Books and Authors mentioned: Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell, Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nancy Drew Mystery Series by Carolyn Keene
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🏡🏖🏫
My thoughts: 2:46:27 Juniper Shores Socialite - There's an LI named Elliott, and my last book had an LI named Elliott. Anyway, I love this book. I'm going to be struggling to finish Sweet Magnolias Book #4 before this one; it's so good! It was so hard to stop here the Socialite is like the desert part of this lineup. I'm saving it for the start of my next session.
📱39% 4:32:21 Iris - This is super cute, but I hope this house splits up, as sweet as it is I see some red flags. I have 3 guesses as to who the Socialite is.
The last book had a hot guy with the last name McDonald, and so does this one. I was wrong about the Juniper Shores Socialite's identity, but I was close. I loved this book; I didn't want it to end.
Recommend to others: Yes! This is the best book this week.
11h 43m narrated by Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, and Suehyla El-Attar Young, 368 pages
Genre: General Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
Featuring: Multiple POVs, New York City, New York; Covid-19 Pandemic, Fictional Small-Town North Carolina - Juniper Shores, Social Media, Coastal Town, Scandal, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Tricenarians, Community Living, Broken Homes, Single Moms, Widow, High School, Drama, Gossip, Marital Conflict, Scholastic Setting, Sex - Off Camera, Quadragenarians, Teens, TNT, Prison, Secrets, Romance, Growth, Self-Actualization
Rating as a movie: PG-13
Songs for the soundtrack: "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" by Taylor Swift, "Memory" by Elaine Paige, "Wannabe" by Spice Girls, "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri
Books and Authors mentioned: Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell, Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nancy Drew Mystery Series by Carolyn Keene
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🏡🏖🏫
My thoughts: 2:46:27 Juniper Shores Socialite - There's an LI named Elliott, and my last book had an LI named Elliott. Anyway, I love this book. I'm going to be struggling to finish Sweet Magnolias Book #4 before this one; it's so good! It was so hard to stop here the Socialite is like the desert part of this lineup. I'm saving it for the start of my next session.
📱39% 4:32:21 Iris - This is super cute, but I hope this house splits up, as sweet as it is I see some red flags. I have 3 guesses as to who the Socialite is.
The last book had a hot guy with the last name McDonald, and so does this one. I was wrong about the Juniper Shores Socialite's identity, but I was close. I loved this book; I didn't want it to end.
Recommend to others: Yes! This is the best book this week.
December 21, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.
I wish Juniper Shores was a real place because it sounds absolutely idyllic, and certainly a B&B on the shore would make for a peaceful vacation. Granted I would only want to vacation since the local gossipy Instagram, which added some great commentary to the events in Beach House Rules, was a little too noisy for me. Suffice to say this book took place in a gorgeous setting, was well structured and written, and its plot was so entertaining I am going to be checking to see if there is any way Kristy Woodson Harvey may make it into a series focusing on other residents in the small island.
The plot focuses on Charlotte, who just saw her husband go to jail for suspected fraud (one of his victims being the local country club, which doesn’t help her position in town). Kicked out of her home with a 14 year old daughter, Iris, to support, and not able to find a job in Finance due to not having worked in 14 years and her husband’s accusation, things look rough for Charlotte. Luckily the mommune is here to rescue her, a collective of Alice (a widow with a beautiful beach house who the Juniper Shores gossip site claims killed her three previous husbands), Julie (Alice’s niece who is a journalist and single mom - and who hasn’t been positive about Charlotte’s situation in the papers in the past), and Grace (a divorced mom and domestic goddess who people are obsessed with on social media). It may be an unconventional setup but the story alternates between Iris’s perspective as she navigates high school, Charlotte’s as she tries to find a way to trust her husband and survive, and Alice’s as she does every good deed possible to clear her reputation. The mommune and some of the kids band together to clear Charlotte’s husband's name, and while the journey is maybe a bit hard to believe, the dynamics of this group make it a highly entertaining one.
This book is more than just fun, we see each lady come into her own and Iris start to work through all those feelings that come up with being a teenager. The support and love all offer each other is truly touching, and you know, maybe I’d stay in Juniper Shores for longer than a vacation after all.
I wish Juniper Shores was a real place because it sounds absolutely idyllic, and certainly a B&B on the shore would make for a peaceful vacation. Granted I would only want to vacation since the local gossipy Instagram, which added some great commentary to the events in Beach House Rules, was a little too noisy for me. Suffice to say this book took place in a gorgeous setting, was well structured and written, and its plot was so entertaining I am going to be checking to see if there is any way Kristy Woodson Harvey may make it into a series focusing on other residents in the small island.
The plot focuses on Charlotte, who just saw her husband go to jail for suspected fraud (one of his victims being the local country club, which doesn’t help her position in town). Kicked out of her home with a 14 year old daughter, Iris, to support, and not able to find a job in Finance due to not having worked in 14 years and her husband’s accusation, things look rough for Charlotte. Luckily the mommune is here to rescue her, a collective of Alice (a widow with a beautiful beach house who the Juniper Shores gossip site claims killed her three previous husbands), Julie (Alice’s niece who is a journalist and single mom - and who hasn’t been positive about Charlotte’s situation in the papers in the past), and Grace (a divorced mom and domestic goddess who people are obsessed with on social media). It may be an unconventional setup but the story alternates between Iris’s perspective as she navigates high school, Charlotte’s as she tries to find a way to trust her husband and survive, and Alice’s as she does every good deed possible to clear her reputation. The mommune and some of the kids band together to clear Charlotte’s husband's name, and while the journey is maybe a bit hard to believe, the dynamics of this group make it a highly entertaining one.
This book is more than just fun, we see each lady come into her own and Iris start to work through all those feelings that come up with being a teenager. The support and love all offer each other is truly touching, and you know, maybe I’d stay in Juniper Shores for longer than a vacation after all.
June 1, 2025
OMG, this book is amazing!!!!!!!! It has everything in a beach read~ friendships, finding yourself, love, drama, and most of all- happy endings!!!!!!
January 2, 2025
Such a fun book that will have you longing for true friendship and the beach! So many twists and turns I didn’t see coming-a real page turner and original, one of a kind story. Loved every second of this one!
May 17, 2025
Charlotte Sitterly's peaceful life in Juniper Shores, N.C., is turned upside down when her husband Bill is arrested for fraud. Former New Yorker Charlotte and her teenage daughter Iris can't access their beachfront home, and the family's assets are frozen. Alice Bailey, a forty-five-year-old widow, offers them a place in her "mommune," a former bed and breakfast now hosting two single mothers and their children. Though unconventional, the beach house provides Charlotte and Iris with the perfect refuge and support system as Charlotte becomes convinced of Bill's innocence and wants to help clear his name. Initially unhappy with her new living situation, filled with rules including limiting use of cell phones, Iris comes to enjoy it, especially with the high school's star quarterback also living there. Meanwhile, everything happening in this small town seems to appear in the anonymous posts of @JuniperShoresSocialite, including gossip and rumors about the "mommune" residents.
Kristy Woodson Harvey consistently delivers engaging and charming books. Beach House Rules, packed with delightful characters, will capture your heart. The women have interesting backstories, each striving to enhance their lives after serious setbacks. I also appreciated the realistic portrayal of the teenagers. This is a story about second chances, friendship, and found family. Save a spot in your beach bag for this warm and uplifting winner.
Many thanks to Gallery Books for the advance.
4.5 stars.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
Kristy Woodson Harvey consistently delivers engaging and charming books. Beach House Rules, packed with delightful characters, will capture your heart. The women have interesting backstories, each striving to enhance their lives after serious setbacks. I also appreciated the realistic portrayal of the teenagers. This is a story about second chances, friendship, and found family. Save a spot in your beach bag for this warm and uplifting winner.
Many thanks to Gallery Books for the advance.
4.5 stars.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
December 31, 2025
The biggest thank you to Gallery for an advanced copy of Beach House Rules and being the first to review this wonderful book!
I'm a huge Kristy Woodson Harvey fan and this was my most anticipated book of 2025 and it was absolutely fantastic! I am so excited to cheer on this book over the next few months until it comes out!
KWH writes the best Southern fiction and I know that her books are going to have wonderful characters, the best small Southern towns, and be full of friendships and family.
This was an unlikely story of friendship and community when everything is falling apart for Charlotte and her daughter Iris. I loved the different points of view from Charlotte, Iris and Alice as this story unfolded.
The Juniper Shores Socialite posts were hilarious and I loved trying to read between the lines on the gossip! The beauty of these 4 women's friendship and the mommune! I loved that they kept on doing what was working for them and trying to ignore the gossip around their unique living situation.
I can't wait for everyone to read Beach House Rules. It doesn't come out until May 27th but I know this is going to be a top book of Summer 2025!
KWH fans are going to love this book and if you haven't read any of her amazing books yet you have time to read some of my absolute favorite books!
To sum it up. Beautiful book about friendship and finding community. 😍
I'm a huge Kristy Woodson Harvey fan and this was my most anticipated book of 2025 and it was absolutely fantastic! I am so excited to cheer on this book over the next few months until it comes out!
KWH writes the best Southern fiction and I know that her books are going to have wonderful characters, the best small Southern towns, and be full of friendships and family.
This was an unlikely story of friendship and community when everything is falling apart for Charlotte and her daughter Iris. I loved the different points of view from Charlotte, Iris and Alice as this story unfolded.
The Juniper Shores Socialite posts were hilarious and I loved trying to read between the lines on the gossip! The beauty of these 4 women's friendship and the mommune! I loved that they kept on doing what was working for them and trying to ignore the gossip around their unique living situation.
I can't wait for everyone to read Beach House Rules. It doesn't come out until May 27th but I know this is going to be a top book of Summer 2025!
KWH fans are going to love this book and if you haven't read any of her amazing books yet you have time to read some of my absolute favorite books!
To sum it up. Beautiful book about friendship and finding community. 😍
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