Beach House Rules
- Judith D Collins
- May 26
- 7 min read
Updated: May 27
Narrators: Cassandra Campbell, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Suehyla El-Attar Young Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN: 978-1668074800
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: 05/27/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
“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 Rulesis a charming exploration of the joy of friendship, the true meaning of family, and reclaiming the power to reshape our own destiny.
Praise
"Charming and beachy in the best way, Beach House Rules will appeal to those looking for an escape with emotional depth."
― Booklist, starred review
“Beach House Rules will rule the beach-read season!"
-- Shelby Van Pelt, New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures
“I love, love, loved Kristy Woodson Harvey’s BEACH HOUSE RULES! It’s the heartfelt and dramatic story of Charlotte and Iris Sitterly, a mother and daughter who find themselves struggling at a crossroads in their lives. They join a group of single mothers, forming a remarkable “mommune,” and through the power of friendship and love, they persevere and even triumph as a family, solving a mystery along the way. Take this book to the beach and you won’t stop turning the pages!”
-- Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of The Unraveling of Julia
"A book where women raise their kids communally by a beautiful Carolina shore, lifting each other up to be their best selves - while a 14-year-old Nancy Drew-wannabe tries to free her dad from prison - complete with burner phones, an all-knowing social media account, and a character with the nickname, "Anally?" Sign. Me. Up. Funny banter, big heart, classic Kristy Woodson Harvey. Here's one for the top of your summer stacks!"
―South Main Book Co., Salisbury, NC
"I loved the premise of Kristy Woodson Harvey's BEACH HOUSE RULES. It really is the perfect beach read. The concept of a mommune with women who quickly became friends was so fun and moving. If you like found family, mother-daughter relationships, and a bit of romance, you'll love this book.”
--Pamela Kelley, bestselling author of The Nantucket Restaurant
My Review
The Southern Queen of Beach reads and NYT Bestselling Author (long-time favorite), Kristy Woodson Harvey, returns following A Happier Life with her latest—a simply irresistible, charming, unputdownable, and hottest beach read of the season— BEACH HOUSE RULES.
Top beach read of 2025!
When a husband is arrested for a white-collar crime, the wife and daughter are locked out of their home by the FBI. They find solace and much more at a local B&B for single moms in this coastal North Carolina town with plenty of gossip, fun, scandal, and commentary from Juniper Shores Socialite: @junipershoressocialite (check it out on IG).
About...
IG @junipershoressociate Juniper Shores, NC. Sharing bad behavior and delicious drama in North Carolina's most exclusive zip code. DM with tips, pics, and juicy deets.
Alice Bailey runs a local former B&B on the beach; however, she has turned her home into a 'Mommune' for single moms to help them get back on their feet. This unique concept is a shared living space where single mothers can support each other, share responsibilities, and rebuild their lives. It started when she took in her niece, Julia (journalist), and three children after a messy divorce.
Grace (Growing with Grace) is a cool it mom (with millions of followers on IG) with a heartthrob teen son and daughter who also reside there. When Alice sees Charlotte at the Suncoast Bank and overhears the conversation about her financial situation, she invites Charlotte and her teen daughter, Iris, to move in.
Charlotte Sitterly is accustomed to the finer things of life, but now her husband, Bill, is in the middle of an FBI investigation for a white-collar crime. She must move out of the house with her teen daughter, Iris. She does not know whether to support her husband or not. Some think she knew about the fraud. She didn't.
They are lucky to be taken in by this diverse group of ladies who share housework, childcare, cooking, homework, and chores. Alice has specific beach house rules— they must turn off their phones during dinner and stay off the remainder of the evening. (great rule). They also have family beach time.
At first, things are awkward, and Iris is not happy about the rules, but when she discovers Grace's hot teen son, who lives there as well, she is excited.
Between the ongoing juicy gossip and scandal from Juniper Shores, with their wild conspiracy theories about Alice murdering her three husbands (and who is next), Charlotte's struggle to find a job while her husband is in jail, all while trying to prove his innocence, there's never a dull moment. Add in the fun and drama with the teens, mystery, romance, and you've got a story that's as entertaining as it is enlightening.
Let the games begin! Who will solve the mystery of the white-crime?
My thoughts...
In Kristy's classic signature style, she has brilliantly crafted another bestseller, which I adored! BEACH HOUSE RULES would make a great TV series (think Grosse Pointe Garden Society, which I love).
BEACH HOUSE RULES is a delightful summer read that resonates with its fresh, timely, and clever narrative. I enjoyed the POVs from Alice, Iris, and Charlotte. (Great job with the teen's POV as well as the adults).
Filled with humor, mystery, and plenty of Southern sass, it's a must-read for anyone who appreciates the complexities of family, the power of female friendships, and the resilience of the human spirit. Don't head to the beach without this gem in your bag!
BEACH HOUSE RULES introduces a fabulous cast of characters, both teens, moms, and friends. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that family is not always blood-related, and sometimes the best family is the one we create for ourselves.
As I have said from Kristy's debut and every book since (I have read them all), Kristy is a superstar. She writes from the heart of real Southern women and their challenges, and her love of her coastal town and family shines through every page. So happy to be a part of her journey from afar. As I said from the beginning, she is a mix of Dorthea Benton Frank, Mary Kay Andrews, and Emily Giffin with her own winning signature style.
Get this treasure on your summer list!
On a personal note:
I resonated with this story so much. I had to laugh as I once lived temporarily (many years ago) for a few months in the historic Beverly Hills Inn B&B (prime location) in Buckhead (Atlanta), GA, when I moved back to the area as Associate Publisher for Atlanta Business Magazine. My condo off Peachtree in Midtown, a few miles away, was not ready yet, so I lived in the inn for several months. It was so much fun, and the owner and his girlfriend gave me the complete history, plus fun brunches at the Ritz-Carlton.
History: The Beverly Hills Inn began as a historic apartment building for widowed women in 1929. It later transitioned into an 18-room bed and breakfast in 1982, and now functions as private townhomes and gardens. The building is known for its alleged haunting, with reports of ghostly apparitions, orbs, and whispers attributed to the former residents. Specifically, three widowed women are said to linger around the third floor. (I got to tour this one)! Reading this story reminded me of those times and the special people I met there.
Audiobook...
I can't wait to listen to the audiobook narrated by Cassandra Campbell (fav), Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Suehyla El-Attar Young.
Recs...
This stunning beach read (cover crush) is for fans of the author and those who enjoy works by Mary Kay Andrews, Elin Hilderbrand, Emily Giffin, Viola Shipman, and Rochelle B. Weinstein's We Are Made of Stars. (featuring another inn in the Mountains of NC and spunky teen daughter).
Special thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for paperback and digital ARC copies in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Kristy, for the shout-out (truly honored)! I always look forward to your next adventure!
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
Top Beach Read of 2025
About the Author
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including The Wedding Veil, Under the Southern Sky, and The Peachtree Bluff series, which is in development for television with NBC.
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 online and print publications, including Southern Living, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, Domino, and O. Henry. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Her books have received numerous accolades, including Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Beach Reads, Parade’s Big Fiction Reads, and Entertainment Weekly’s Spring Reading Picks.
Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. She blogs with her mom, Beth Woodson, on Design Chic, and loves connecting with fans on KristyWoodsonHarvey.com. She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband and son where she is (always!) working on her next novel.
