Thank you @kristywharvey @gallerybooks and @uplitreads for my gifted book. Today is pub day for this beautiful novel! 🥳

This book is sure to be one of the biggest beach reads of the summer! A genuine story of a mother and her teen daughter who are down on their luck after their husband/father was arrested for financial crimes. They have no where else to turn and limited funds when Charlotte meets Alice and she offers the two ladies a spot in her “mommune.” This is a house of women and their children who need support and help with their families as they go through a difficult time.

This fancy town of Juniper Shores, NC is no stranger to gossip. In fact, they have their own version of Lady Whistledown who is sharing hot gossip and secrets all over Instagram. Do you want to be one of the chosen people who is gossiped about? Or is better than you stay off their radar?

Beach House Rules is incredibly charming and perfect for your beach bag or book club. The idea of the mommune took a little getting used, especially all the rules. But rules create order and that’s what these families need. I love a story about women helping women and found family.

Honestly, half way through I considered DNF, I am glad that I didn’t.

I see this book as three parts. First part, building of the characters, plot and setting. It’s good! I keep thinking there could be something juicy here.

Second part was … too long. Lacked any real events or interesting parts. I thought it was just a bunch of “poor” wealthy white folks that live on the beach whining about their problems.

Last part is like, finally!!! The details come, the good stuff and the book is redeemed.

Advanced reader copy provided by Gallery and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Who’s ready for summer? This book is the epitome of what I think of as a beach (or summer for those of us with no travel plans) read.

I did an immersive read with the book and audio and loved every minute of it. Either way would be a great choice.

I loved that this had two of my favorite tropes: found family and second chances. KWH is so great at writing characters with depth and then interconnecting them in complicated relationships.

I was immediately pulled into the story with the bang of Charlotte’s husband going to jail. I’ll admit to spending the entire book waffling over whether he was guilty. I’m a thriller reader so this struck a chord with me. Add in the uniqueness of this choice versus a divorce, breakup or death to showcase the women of the book.

I loved this cast of characters that were so different but ultimately fit together so well. They were all equally interesting to read. Charlotte trying to hold her family together. Iris coming of age and dealing with the equivalent of new siblings. Alice is the creator of the beach house family and dealing with her own demons. I loved her rumored backstory. I almost wished I had some trauma that threw me in their path and had them scoop me up into their unconventional family.

Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, and Suehyla El-Attar Young narrated Charlotte, Alice and Iris. Their voices fit perfectly with how KWH described the characters and the created the same warm, inviting atmosphere. The audio matched the book.

Whether reading, listening or both, you can’t go wrong spending time with the women of the beach house.

Charlotte's husband is charged with a crime, she knows he's innocent, but she and her daughter have to leave their home, and she needs to find a job. An unlikely woman offers them rooms in her beach house, nicknamed by the locals as a mommune--it's home to several women with children. To top it off, an anonymous poster on social media has shared details about everyone who's anyone in town.
As Charlotte starts to rebuild her life and helps to prove her husband's innocence, she holds her head high in town and makes the best of life, even having fun. There are rules at the house, and after a bit, they're a new way of life. It's a new found family and friendships, and each has secrets to keep, but they have each other's back.
The closer they get to the truth, danger lurks, and finding the culprit will shock everyone. Life at the beach will never be the same.
This is the quintessential summer beach book to read!

“That’s the thing about protection, though. It’s fleeting. Because the people who know best how to protect you also know the very thing that will rip your heart out.”

A story of friendship, family, trust, and resilience, Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey is another stellar summer read!

Charlotte Sitterly has her world knocked out from under her when her husband is imprisoned for a white collar crime, leaving all of their assets frozen. Living in a small, southern beach town powered by insta gossip doesn’t help her situation or her fourteen-year-old daughter, Iris. Fortunately, Charlotte isn’t alone in her plight to navigate a new reality while working through loss. She finds herself landing at the “Mommune,” a fabulous beachfront property with pretty effective rules and an incredible support system for survival.

Beach House Rules is packed with a deep cast of intriguing characters. I wanted to unwind on the beach with the ladies with a glass in hand. No phones needed. Away from all of the drama and gossip. Can we really get away from gossip? Not when there’s someone watching the town’s every move and thrives on sharing all the “TNT and juicy deets.” Is Charlotte’s husband innocent? Is there a black widow looking for her fourth victim? What other seaside scandals have presented themselves?

Thank you, NatGalley, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Gallery Books for an ARC of this perfect summer read in exchange for an honest review!

I found this to be a lovely tale of female empowerment and what is a family. I was a bit hesitant about the story when it started, a house of women and their kids could go cultish or weird very fast, but this did not happen here. There was cuteness and happy feels all around, and a true representation of it really takes a village to raise kids and deal with life. The investigative angle was a bit far fetched and not my favorite part of the book, the highlight is definitely the relationships amongst the house members and not the mystery on the side.

Beach House Rules
By: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Gallery Books
Pub date: May 27, 2025
General Fiction (Adult) / Women's Fiction

Thank you to Kristy Woodson Harvey and Uplit Reads for providing me an advance copy of this book. KWH is the beloved author of so many heartwarming books with coastal settings and memorable characters. In her newest one, she presents the character Charlotte Sitterly, who finds herself staying with her daughter at a beachfront home on the coast of North Carolina. There, she becomes part of a community of single mothers. Amidst mystery and gossip, themes of found family and friendship emerge.

I have no doubt that KWH fans, both old and new, will have this in their summer to-go bags or beside their favorite reading spot in their homes for staycations. I am so glad that I discovered this author through the Friends and Fiction Facebook group.

I received a complimentary advance reader's copy from Kristy Woodson Harvey through Uplit Reads, Gallery Books and  NetGalley. My review is my own.

#BeachHouseRules #KristyWoodsonHarvey #GalleryBooks #friendsandfiction

Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a good read.

Beach House Rules opens with the reader meeting Charlotte and Iris. Charlotte’s husband has been arrested for some monetary issue. She and her daughter Iris are locked out of their house and bank. Charlotte decided to accept housing from an acquaintance at her beach house with other mothers and children who were displaced. Alice owns and runs the house. Her goal is to help them have a family during the hard times. There were rules to follow, not onerous, and people to share and laugh with.

Meanwhile, Charlotte needs a job and she needs to find a way to get people to understand her husband is innocent. The women hatch a plan and everyone is determined to help Charlotte and Iris. Meanwhile, Iris is fighting her own battle with figuring out High School, her life and what is happening in her world. Luckily she has good friends.

One of the obstacles is the @JuniperShoresSocialite instagram account. They seem to be focused on the gossip in the town and sharing it in the most negative of ways. Another obstacle is to prove innocence when it feels like all the cards are against them. Never mind the man in the closet when Iris went to get her shoes and the fact she believes her father is innocent.

I enjoyed the Beach House Rules with all the twists and turns. I like how it was told in various viewpoints of Charlotte, Iris and Alice. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the Beach House with all the characters. The novel reads well with parts of the story unfolding in differing views. Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a good read.

The Queen of Summer Reads is back with another feel-good story of friendship, romance, and beach days with Beach House Rules.

Charlotte's husband is arrested, leaving Char and their daughter Iris locked out of their house with their assets frozen. When she runs into the town's "Black Widow" Alice (rumored to have killed three husbands), Alice offers the women a place to stay at her mommune - her house on the beach where two other moms and their children currently reside. The mommune comes with rules and plenty of town gossip, but it is the best option Charlotte currently has.

Kristy leans heavily into the idea of community in this book, something I think many people wish they had more of. At the Mommune, chores are split, one mom who loves cooking handles all meals and lunch packing, and there is nightly family time on the beach. The families bond without the distraction of cell phones, and everything feels idyllic. Anyone ready to start a Mommune with me??

There is a bit of romance involved as well, following teen crushes and Alice facing whether or not she can find another love after what happened to her prior husbands. To me, the friendships were the true heart of the story.

The story is told via multiple POVs, and the format works beautifully to keep the story moving along. We dip into the world of high schoolers with Iris, learn more about Alice's past, and fight for her husband to found innocent right alongside Charlotte. Their stories tie together perfectly in the end as the grand reveal of what really happened comes out.

Thank you to Gallery for the ARC. All opinions are my own

Thank you UpLit Reads, Gallery Books, and Kristy Woodson Harvey for my #gifted copy and thank you Simon Audio for my #gifted listening copy of Beach House Rules! #beachhouserules #junipershores #uplitreads #giftedbyuplit

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧-𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐰, 𝐒𝐮𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐚 𝐄𝐥-𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐫-𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 - 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰!

𝟱★

Grab your beach/pool bag and this book and get ready for the perfect summer read! When I think of Kristy Woodson Harvey, I think of the start of summer, and she has done to again with this book! My only regret this time was not being able to read it on my beach vacation this year! If you have not yet read a KWH book yet, please pick this one up! KWH is the queen of summer reads and if you love Elin Hilderbrand books, you will love this one!

After Charlotte’s husband is arrested for a white-collar crime, she and her daughter Iris are locked out of their house by the FBI, with all of their assets frozen, and the two have nowhere to go. As if things couldn’t get worse, it’s the talk of the town on the town’s anonymous Instagram account @JuniperShoresSocialite. Desperate for help, a woman from town offers to let Charlotte stay at her beachfront home. To her surprise, she’s not the only single mother staying there. Charlotte and Iris soon learn to love the mommune community, but it doesn’t take long for secrets to come to the surface that could change everything.

⛱️Found Family
⛱️Lots of Gossip
⛱️Women’s Fiction
⛱️Beach Setting
⛱️Friendship
⛱️Mystery
⛱️Coming of Age
⛱️So Much Charm
⛱️The Perfect Summer Read

🎧The audiobook is narrated by three amazing narrators who did such an amazing job bringing this story to life. I would highly recommend this one on audio if you are looking for a beautiful audiobook performance by Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, and Suehyla El-Attar-Young! 5★ performance!

Posted on Goodreads on May 27, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 27, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 27, 2025
**-will post on designated date

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

I wish I could have read this one on the beach with my toes in the sand!! A fun, found family story which includes gossipy socialites, hidden secrets, lies, crime, with a little bit of romance all rolled up into one to start the summer off with a bang. This is the perfect summer read for one hand and would pair nicely with a nice fruity drink in the other or even a nice summer bookclub book.

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Beach House Rules” was such a fun summer read! This genre-bending novel is the perfect beach read for fans of women’s fiction, mysteries, found family, and coming-of-age novels. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, which were each read by a different narrator. The setting was so fun, and I loved all the small town drama. I also really liked that this book focused on female friendship and mother-daughter relationships. Overall, a great summer read. This was my first KWH book, and I will definitely be reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @uplitreads @gallerybooks @kristywharvey for my #gifted copy. Not only does this cover scream summer beach read, but the story is SO good! Think Gossip Girl meets Lady Whistledown in coastal North Carolina. The drama, the gossip and the mystery will have you turning pages so fast! I finished this book in a day!

Beach House Rules follows Charlotte and her daughter Iris as they find out Charlotte’s husband was arrested for fraud + is in jail. With no place to go, Charlotte says yes to a random invitation to stay at a beach house where 3 other women and their children also live. Dubbed the “mommune”, these women welcome Charlotte + Iris into their house + life.
But will a deep secret change the mommune and their friendships forever? And what will happen if Charlotte is able to prove her husband is innocent?

I have come to look forward to Kristy’s new books each year. She has quickly become one of my favorite women’s fiction authors. Her books always feature strong female friendships, family ties, a little mystery, a little romance, all while taking place in beautiful southern towns.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I found myself wishing Juniper Shores were a real place—it sounds like the perfect seaside escape. A cozy B&B by the ocean would be my ideal vacation spot. Although, I’ll admit, the town’s lively (and nosy) Instagram gossip account—while a clever and entertaining narrative touch—might be a bit too much for me in real life! That said, the setting is beautifully described, the writing is sharp and well-paced, and the story was so enjoyable that I’m sincerely hoping Kristy Woodson Harvey turns this into a series featuring more of the island’s charming residents.

The heart of the story centers on Charlotte, whose life is turned upside down when her husband is arrested for alleged fraud—one of his victims being the local country club, which doesn’t exactly earn her much sympathy from the townspeople. With her 14-year-old daughter Iris in tow, Charlotte is forced to leave her home and finds herself unable to return to the finance world after a 14-year hiatus and the shadow of her husband’s scandal.

Enter the “mommune”: an unconventional but incredibly endearing trio of women who take Charlotte in. There's Alice, a widow with a stunning beach house and a reputation muddied by rumors (three dead husbands will do that); Julie, Alice’s sharp-tongued journalist niece and single mom who hasn’t exactly painted Charlotte in the best light in her writing; and Grace, the domestic goddess and divorced mom who’s something of a social media darling.

The novel alternates perspectives between Charlotte, her daughter Iris (as she navigates high school and adolescence), and Alice, who’s on a quiet mission to restore her own reputation. Together, the women (and their children) form a found family of sorts, even teaming up to help prove Charlotte’s husband’s innocence. While parts of the plot stretch believability, the relationships and character growth are so compelling that it’s easy to suspend disbelief.

Ultimately, Beach House Rules is more than just a feel-good beach read. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and the power of community. Each woman finds her own strength, and Iris’s coming-of-age journey is heartfelt and real. By the end, I wasn’t just ready to visit Juniper Shores—I was wondering if I might stay a little longer.

Definitely all the vibes for a beach read! Taking place in a small coastal North Carolina town. The novel centers around Charlotte and her daughter Iris. Their perfect lives are overturned when Charlotte’s husband, Bill, is arrested for financial fraud. With a full investigation taking place and Bill behind bars , their assets are frozen and their home is locked. To add to the unfortunate circumstances, they find themselves being reviewed by a local anonymous Instagram account, @JuniperShoresSocialite .
With nowhere else to turn, Charlotte and Iris are invited to stay at a beachfront former bed-and-breakfast, now home to a community of single mothers. Which happens to be in their neighborhood. This “mommune” offers them a sense of belonging, despite their challenging circumstances.
As much as I enjoyed this book I could not give it a five star rating because the side characters have so much happening that it was a bit confusing.
However, Harvey masterly tied it all together.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for the digital ARC in exchange for my review.

Charlotte’s life takes a complete turn when he husband is arrested and her bank accounts are frozen. She has no where to turn for safety for herself and her teenage daughter. A meltdown at the bank introduces a mysterious character, Alice, who has the answer to Charlotte’s problems. She offers a place to live and a support system at the “mommune” as her large house is called. A safe haven for women and their children in times of trouble. But can Charlotte trust Alice and these women? Are the rumors true that Alice killed her husbands? How does she prove that her own husband could never commit fraud? Kristy Woodson Harvey delights us with a story about strength, friendship & the power of women. I couldn’t put this book down!

Four women brought together by unfortunate circumstances. They find that together they are stronger than they thought but sometimes having a village makes the going easier.

I’ve been a fan of this author for a while. Her love for the South comes shining thru in all her books. This is another fun read centering around women empowering women, the importance of friendship and digging deep when you have no other choice. It’s full of southern charm and hospitality. Yes, while some situations are slightly far fetched others may hit close to home. This book is full of secrets, mystery and love. Likable characters that you can’t help rooting for. So, grab your swimsuit and beach towel and take a trip to Juniper Shores, NC.

Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

⛱️ Is Carolina the new Nantucket? Kristy Woodson Harvey’s consistently excellent southern beach reads are certainly filling a hole left behind by Elin Hilderbrand’s retirement from beach novels. Her newest is out today! Thank you to @uplitreads for my early copy.

⛱️ This book has the coastal feel, and the high drama necessary for a great beach read. It’s chock-full of great characters who grow and learn, and get into a little mischief along the way.

⛱️ Oh, and can we get a moment for this spine? 😍

⛱️ This is my third book by this author and she will continue to be a summer staple for me as long as she wants to keep writing these beach-bag-worthy gems!

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 are in a mess. Their family funds are blocked and Charlotte has not worked in years. Luckily, Alice Bailey steps up and takes these two into her home…or mommune as she likes to call it. Little do these two know, the friends in this home will be their saving grace.

I loved Charlotte’s strength. She struggles for sure but she is not down for the count. And Iris! She is not weakling either. She is determined to find out what happened that caused her dad to get arrested. And this leads to some unique situations!

Now, this does read a bit like a coming of age story. It focuses on Iris and her friends more than I expected. This is minor…just something that I noticed.

Need a beach read that takes you on quest for the truth…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.