I have learned in life that family doesn’t always have to come from blood. Sometimes, best friends and their own kids feel more like family than your own. Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey definitely proves that point. In the perfect beach house, with imperfect people, the “mommune” was created.

It’s a perfect blend of friendship, family, mystery, humor, romance, and drama. In the truest sense, it shows how a small-town community can come together when times are tough.

My Thoughts on The Beach House Rules:
I love when books blend many different genres and themes together. While showing the drama of four different women in their lives, almost any reader can connect to some part of the story line. My favorite character in the story, though, was Iris, Charlotte’s teen daughter. I love a good coming-of-age romance, and her wit and intelligence just added more depth to her character.

There’s a good mystery of whether Charlotte’s husband committed the fraud or whether he is innocent. As a reader, you also try to figure out who is behind the snarky Instagram account. I cracked up each time the author of the account signed off a different way.

It is fun to read about female relationships. I wanted to wrap myself up with a quilt on the beach, and drink a glass of wine with these four women. They each have their own drama that brought them to the mommune, but they always have each other’s backs.

The book tied up nicely at the end. But that is where my one star went down. It had a satisfying resolution, but it was a little repetitive of how it tied up. Some things were explained where the reader should have been able to just infer. That being said, I truly did love this book. It is going to make a great summer book for the beach.

Would you be able to live in a house like the “mommune”? I definitely would! I could help with the children’s homework, if someone else is willing to do the cooking and cleaning. 🙂

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Kristy Woodson Harvey for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

This book is all about found family. Charlotte and her daughter, Iris, move into the mommune after they are kicked out of her home due to an ongoing investigation against her husband Bill. Right away they find a new home, family, and friends. I loved how the women supported each other and helped each other rise up in various ways. Each character was going through something on their own and needed the other three women to work through the problems. The character development was spot on. I enjoyed reading this book, but at some points the story dragged a bit. The Juniper Shores Socialite chapters were fun and reminded me of Gossip Girl. This will be the perfect summer read.

My first time reading Kristy Woodson Harvey did not disappoint! I think Beach House Rules is a must read this summer. I absolutely love found family stories and this one is unforgettable. I found myself smiling and laughing the entire time. There was the perfect bit of mystery and intrigue mixed in as well. If you are a fan of Elin Hilderbrand’s storytelling you will adore this. I truly loved every single character! The Juniper Shores Socialite blurbs mixed in were delightful. This book will be out on May 27th and is absolutely worth a preorder. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Every year around this time, I find myself eagerly anticipating a new book from @kristywharvey and Beach House Rules did not disappoint! This story had it all: friendship, found family, a touch of mystery, and a hint of romance. I was completely swept up in it. This is definitely one you’ll want to pack in your beach bag this summer!

I really enjoyed the “gossip girl” esq vibe of this one. It was very different than all of KWH others, but I still enjoyed it. The “twist” towards the end wasn’t my favorite and was a little too out there for me. I loved the friendship that was build between all of the moms and the kids.

A huge thank you to KWH and the publisher for this e-arc!

Kristy Woodson Harvey never disappoints, especially for a good pool/beach read. She is a must-read author for me, and Beach House Rules just affirmed that status. I enjoyed so many aspects of this book: female friendship, found family, romance, a little mystery, and the beautiful North Carolina coastal setting. Be sure to add this book to your summer stack for a fun and heartwarming reading experience!

I love Kristy's books during spring and summer. Beach House Rules was the perfect book to begin summer with!

I liked the idea of this book - the women down on their luck who move into a home together with their kids. They work together to support one another - I loved the strong and supportive women. The families we create vs the families by blood. I thought that the characters were all enjoyable and dynamic and there was a ton of growth between them. I just found that the book moved slowly. I wanted a little more "drama" in the story - not necessarily between the women, but more in their lives and their stories. The stories were all difficult in their own way, but I did not feel like they were the focus of the book, so it seemed like details were not always there. It would have supported the relationship between the women more if there was more feeling in the other parts of the book. Overall a cute read that would be perfect for a summer beach day!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey. I liked the book but the storyline did take me awhile to get into. The author knows how to write a good book.

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!

It’s been rainy and dreary in NYC this week, so what better way to escape to warmth than with Kristy Woodson Harvey upcoming read!

If you liked Elin Hilderbrand’s Silver Girl or stories of women starting over when their husband pulls a “Madoff” - or if you just love a good beach read - this one’s for you!

Thank you @gallerybooks for my early reading & listening copies, this is easily my favorite novel yet from @kristywharvey ! BEACH HOUSE RULES which publishes May 27, 2025.

This novel just hits all the right spots and is perfect for a summer read, as only KWH can do. It centers around the unexpected crumbling downfall of Charlotte and Iris’ lives. All of which brings them to the “Momune” on the glassy coastline shores of Juniper Shores.

The Momune becomes a hub of friendship, love, understanding and unending support.

Grace + her children, Julia + her children, Charlotte + Iris, plus Alice all living in a coastal former bed and breakfast.

What I didn’t expect was the mystery churning and evolving like waves of the sea around these women. I really liked it!

The story really feels like it is fleshed out well, I felt connected to each of the women living at the Momune and the troubles within their lives. Life is messy and it is a beautifully written piece of Southern charm and literature and showcases Kristy’s growth as a writer.

LOVED IT!

It's never summer without a KWH novel, but this might've been one of my least faves. I loved the Mommune but this one got a little far-fetched and I had to suspend some disbelief. It was "lighter" (Dare I say, sillier) than her past novels and while it wouldn't stop me from reading whatever she writes next, it's not a standout.

Kristy Woodson Harvey has become a must read author for me! I loved the southern beach town setting! The characters are fantastic, I liked the bit of gossip from the town that was woven into the book. Also the women supporting each other was fabulous. The 3 perspectives we get are Iris, Alice and Charlotte and I liked all of them. I also loved the title of the book and how it is woven into the story. I love a good title meaning! Add this book to your beach bag and your beach read TBR! Its fantastic!

This is the perfect beach read for summer! In true KWH style, I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters, storyline, and setting. At times aspects of the story felt a little far fetched but I still loved it. This is a story about motherhood, friendship, and finding your village to help you along the way.

I wanted to love this one, but I found the teenagers to be really hard to read. Their dialogue made me cringe at times and I didn’t like their entitlement or behavior. Then once the main heartthrob dropped his big secret, I was out. DNF at about 75%.

Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers another perfect summer escape with Beach House Rules—a sun-soaked, heartwarming tale of second chances, sisterhood, and small-town secrets. Set in a charming North Carolina beach town, this story follows a mother-daughter duo who move into a mommune (a shared home for single women raising their families) and find unexpected love, friendship, and healing. With multiple swoon-worthy romances, nostalgic high school bonds, and a juicy gossip column that gives Gossip Girl vibes, this book is pure coastal magic. KWH’s writing is as comforting as a seashell-strewn shoreline, blending drama, humor, and heart in a way that lingers long after the last page. If you love found family, beachy settings, and stories about strong women lifting each other up, don’t miss this one!

I liked this! I think some of Harvey's other books I enjoyed better, but I was still entertained and kept reading to figure out if Bill really was guilty or not! This is a contemporary fiction novel, but with some mystery and a little romance spritzed in. I enjoyed all of the characters, the unique plot, the "mommune" concept, and the various POVs including Charlotte, Alice, and Iris, and of course the Juniper Shores Socialite! Definitely a fun and light summer read that I'd recommend.

I always know when spring is here because we get another great book by Kristy Woodson Harvey! Beach House Rules is her latest and centers around Charlotte and her daughter Iris. When Charlotte’s husband is put in jail on charges of embezzlement, Charlotte has to turn to some unlikely women in town to save herself and try and clear her husbands name.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
This book has it all! It is beautifully written with great female friendships, family drama, a little teen angst and a couple of fun mysteries to be solved. Juniper Shores sounds like the perfect beach town to escape to - but beware as with any small town, the gossip is juicy! What resonated with me most was the sense of found family and community - something Harvey writes so well!

With a full cast of narrators, the audio was wonderful and definitely helped pass the time on my commute to and from work!

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 site 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. I loved it and highly recommend it. 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.

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