Reading Kristy Woodson Harvey's latest release is a new summer ritual for me, and Beach House Rules was a great escape into a lifestyle I'll never experience - beachside home, communal living with a group of women and their children, scandal, and secrets galore.
Alice, a 45-year-old widow, created a mommune in her large beach house, welcoming women and their children in times of crisis. They prepare meals, do laundry, parent the children, and follow a set of community rules.
Charlotte and her daughter Ivy are invited to stay at Alice's home when their husband/father is incarcerated for a serious financial crime, leaving them with no access to their home or possessions. Is Alice's household as dysfunctional as local gossip claims or will Charlotte and Ivy find peace and comfort amidst the uncertainty?
I love that the mommune was inspired by the author's deep friendships that began years ago with a group of moms taking daily beach walks with their small children. The novel includes elements of women's fiction, romance, mystery, and coming-of-age. Each adult, and some of the children, have their own story with conflict, secrets, and surprises. I could never predict where the plot was headed, and that really held my interest. I was very surprised by one twist in particular, and enjoyed the ending. Was everything in this novel realistic? No - but it was very captivating.
Many thanks to Gallery Books for the review copy of this novel about supporting one another through good and bad times and finding family in the most unexpected places.
Alice, a 45-year-old widow, created a mommune in her large beach house, welcoming women and their children in times of crisis. They prepare meals, do laundry, parent the children, and follow a set of community rules.
Charlotte and her daughter Ivy are invited to stay at Alice's home when their husband/father is incarcerated for a serious financial crime, leaving them with no access to their home or possessions. Is Alice's household as dysfunctional as local gossip claims or will Charlotte and Ivy find peace and comfort amidst the uncertainty?
I love that the mommune was inspired by the author's deep friendships that began years ago with a group of moms taking daily beach walks with their small children. The novel includes elements of women's fiction, romance, mystery, and coming-of-age. Each adult, and some of the children, have their own story with conflict, secrets, and surprises. I could never predict where the plot was headed, and that really held my interest. I was very surprised by one twist in particular, and enjoyed the ending. Was everything in this novel realistic? No - but it was very captivating.
Many thanks to Gallery Books for the review copy of this novel about supporting one another through good and bad times and finding family in the most unexpected places.
