There's something about reading a Mary Alice Monroe book that makes me feel like I am visiting friends. On Ocean Boulevard gave me this feeling from start to finish.

This book catches us up on the members of the Rutledge family and educates readers on sea turtles and ocean pollution. I enjoy books that teach me while entertaining me and this book definitely foots the bill. In fact, I found myself researching 4Ocean after reading about them in the book and am fascinated by the work they do.

This book has a nice, steady pace which I found relaxing. It would be a perfect weekend or vacation read. I felt like I was on the beach with the turtle teams while being comfy in my house.

If you love stories about southern families then this book is for you! Another winner from Mary Alice Monroe!!

I have to be honest, I really enjoy reading Monroe’s books but I probably do not remember them very long after I read the last page. Is there a beach house included? Check. Does it take place in a balmy southern locale? Check. Do the characters weather their various storms without too much trouble? Check. Did I enjoy reading it? Absolutely.

Love this series so much!
A story of friends and family renewing friendships.
Watching sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach and watching the little turtles making their way to the ocean.
I fell in love with the low country of South Carolina once again reading On Ocean Boulevard.

I did not realize this was a part of a series. I have not gotten to read the other books in the series so I could not start this one without reading the others.

Mary Alice Monroe never disappoints! I love that she always has strong women as characters that are able to overcome what ever is thrown their way. This was a great summer read!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I tried to read this a few times and could not get into it. Once I was able to obtain the audiobook, I enjoyed this book immensely. Great story and characters leave you wanting the sand, surf, and turtles.

I typically read Mary Alice Monroe every summer and always look forward to her next book. But last summer’s reading, with the pandemic, was so disrupted that I missed reading this one. Usually I enjoy saving them to read in an Outer Banks beach house we stay in, but that didn’t happen last summer. Now, as things start returning to normal post-pandemic, we’re back at the beach house, and MAM’s next book in the series (for which I also have an ARC) will be released on Tuesday. So it was way past time to read this one!

I love love love the focus on sea turtles in MAM’s books. I’ve learned a lot about a very intriguing species. And they give a realistic view of working with a conservation nonprofit. This book, however, felt like a bit of a transition in the Beach House story: it’s wasn’t all about Cara and wasn’t all about Linnea, and I think suffered from that a little bit. Sometimes I felt like it was mostly setting up the next installment (which I now get to read right away, so we will see if I’m right.)

For feel-good Southern fiction and likeable characters, Monroe is still a great choice, and I’ll still keep reading her every summer (or make up for it if I don’t!)

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Let me start by saying I did not realize that this book was part of a series, even thought I had read one of the previous books in the series without knowing it.
Linnea is moving back home to South Carolina. She lost her job and broke up with her boyfriend and is now going back to live live with her parents, who are going through their own issues. While she is going through a tough time, Linnea is happy to be near her family.
Cara is Linnea's aunt and is due to get getting married soon which is causing her stress. Her brother, Linnea's dad, is building her new house which is also causing her to stress out.
When there is an illness, the family has to pull together and lean on each other the way only families can do in a time of need.
While I enjoyed the book, it felt a bit all over the place, with all of the stories and lessons throughout (Cara, Linnea, plastic, turtles, etc.) I felt I definitely would've enjoyed the 6th book and some of the other characters if I would've read the series in order as I should, which of course is nobody's fault but my own. Overall, a decent read.
Thanks to Mary Alice Monroe, Gallery and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

Mary Alice Monroe writes from the heart and a real love for beaches, especially the South Carolina Low-country. This is a continuation of the Rutledge family. It is always great to see what they are up to. Plus I love all the turtle talk. I would love to see them come to life and head for the ocean. I’ve become invested in these people and I’m sad to see there is only one book left in the series. This book will stay with me. It touched my heart. I highly recommend it.

I can never get enough of Mary Alice Monroe's books. I love that they always feature strong women who are enduring life's atrocities while keeping themselves, their families, and their households together. Cara has returned to South Carolina, looking forward to her second marriage. But there are issues within the family and before they can move on, they must all come together to deal with an illness and continue to support each other through the hardships. I just love her books!

Classic Mary Alice Monroe here. I love all of her previous books and this one does not disappoint. Set in low country per usual. Who can't use some southern charm, sun and sand in 2020? Get your flip flops on and read this one with an umbrella drink. You will love it.

Your going to need at least a few tissues to read Mary Alice’s latest book. Once again, she will sweep you away to the Lowcountry where you will find familiar faces, places and animals. This is so much more than a beach read though. She focuses on the relationships between and among women. Friendships that are so important to each of the central characters and help them all find their voices. Once again we are treated to the loggerhead turtles and given more of an insight to what happens on the turtle team, the turtle hospital at the downtown aquarium, the conservation groups locally, and the wonderful restaurants that serve local seafood. She ties in protecting our oceans and ways the ladies (and really all of us) can volunteer at beach sweeps and do our part for the animals that live in there.
And of course, there is a story. One of hope, and courage, for reminding us all- that we have a voice and sometimes the easy choice in front of us isn’t necessarily the right one. Enjoy this one, I tried to read it slowly as now I know I’m going to have a wait for her next book. And that thought makes me want to cry (again)!

Fun summer read. I enjoy books set in South Carolina. I love this series and the characters in it. It feels like coming home when reading this series. Another winner.

A very entertaining beach book that keeps your attention about various family members in South Carolina.
Once you start, you don't put it down Very enjoyable

A lovely addition to this series by Mary Alice Monroe. I believe I have missed one in the series, but I was able to track with the characters and didn't hinder reading this.novel. This book mostly follows Linnea who is returning to the island after her life falls apart a bit on the west coast. Aunt Cara is who she wants to see the most and Cara becomes her mentor in life and career. Characters are wonderfully written and the setting of the island is beautiful portrayed and described. A lovely summer read and great series.

Gallery Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of On Ocean Boulevard. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

On Ocean Boulevard is a continuation of the Beach House series, focusing on Cara Rutledge and her niece Linnea. Cara is having second thoughts about her elaborate second wedding, while Linnea is trying to find her place back in the low country after a breakup.

The turtles are a central theme once again, which is a little repetitive if readers are familiar with the series. There is the requisite family drama, including too many side plots to count. As real life can be chaotic and messy, the author does capture that aspect well. I am not sure how relatable Cara and Linnea are, as everything seems to fall into place so easy for the women. On Ocean Boulevard is definitely a beach read, not just for the setting. It is not too involving or in depth, easy to put down if something better comes along. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend On Ocean Boulevard to other readers.
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Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Ok, I’ve read some of MAM’s books- but I don’t think I’ve read any in the Beach House series- which I think I must have overlooked this book being a part of- since I was completely WOWZA about this cover. Fun fact: I’ve always wanted to live in a beach town for a few weeks each summer, getting around in a cute little car like that.

So, anyway- for me- there was some backstory that I was not aware of- but for the most part- you can read this as a standalone.

What I liked:

Well the cover. And how can you NOT like it? It just screams SUMMER.

Linnea. I really liked her character.

The family. These people love each other, drive each other crazy, and don’t always see eye to eye. But they are there for each other.



Bottom line: I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had been reading some of the earlier books in the series, but it was still a good book.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

A return to Sullivan Island and fans have been waiting to see if Cara's wedding is all they anticipated. Cara's family has decided to build a new home on Ocean Boulevard. As they prepare for the wedding and new home, a health crisis strikes making the family pull together once again to weather the storm.

On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe is an amazing story in a beautiful setting. Fans of high quality women’s fiction will not be disappointed. This book, like the others written by this author, has the familiar pattern that has made this author so popular. In her books, characters are flawed, life isn’t perfect, but hope and love abound. This is the perfect beach read or the perfect anytime read. I loved it! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.