Love all of Mary Alice Monroe! Her books are fun and eady to read. I just re-read this book at a beach weekend. It was the perfect companion as I watched the waves roll in.

The Beach House series has long been a favorite of mine, and this is no exception. Well written with dynamic characters and vivid descriptions of both people and places, this novel is a satisfying read for anyone who loves family stories and beachy settings.

One of the things I love about Mary Alice Monroe is that her books often weave together similar experiences from different generations of the same family. In this case the through-line is sea turtles, and their conservation, and I liked the way the protection of the turtles echoed the maternal protection between the characters.

If you've seen the Hallmark movie "The Beach House," this is the book it was based on. The movie was cozy and entertaining. The book is rich and rewarding.

You will not be disappointed.

Mary Alice Monroe has done it again. In the series that I personally hope never ends, we are treated to Cara Rutledge "heading home to nest" with her 1 year old daughter Hope. Back at primrose cottage, she settles in to Lovie's home and the reader is treated to the multi generational span of formidable women. Emmi and Aunt Flo are next door, her niece and a firecracker herself, Linnea (Palmer and Julia's daughter) moves in for the summer to help with Hope, and Heather is nearby living with her husband and son and father as she paints shorebirds.
As you turn the pages you can almost smell the pluff mud wafting up from the lowcountry as the dolphins playfully splash through the water. The turtles are once again another main character of her book, as we learn more about the turtle team and the momma
turtles and the tracks they make as they nest.
And although it is considered a beach read, there is some drama. Palmer and Julia's son, Cooper, is going through a difficult time. Cara is trying to forge a new life as a widow and a mother and balance working and home and new relationships and families. Linnea is trying to find her next step in life and is ready to be an adult and fly the nest which could mean taking a different path than her parents did.
I don't want to give anything away, but I finished the book with a smile. I love reading about Isle of Palms and Charleston as a local and Mary Alice brings the area and the places and businesses and restaurants to life. It's all real. What she describes so well and so vividly you could see for yourself! And that is what makes her writing so special, so honest. She writes from her heart and shares her world so that the reader can escape into it. Or if you really want, come on down and experience it for yourself!

Every year I look forward to the new Mary Alice Monroe book. This didn't disappoint! I was so happy to visit the Isle of Palms with Cara.

A great read that was food for my soul. I adored all of the characters (except her brother hahaha) and I cannot wait for the next story to come out.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2370616596

It took me awhile to pick up this book to read and I am glad I did. The continuing saga of these women against the beautiful backdrop of the low country keeps me wanting more. They have become almost like family as I see them grow and change with each installment, yet staying together and depending on each other like any true family would. I wish the characters would have the happily ever after they deserve, but the lesson I am learning is that you have to make the most out of the life you are given. Focusing on what you do not have only leads to more sadness.

Great captivating and emotionally satisfying read; I finished it in a day. First, how can you not enjoy a book that is so richly detailed in the setting of the South Carolina islands. Cara returns to her family beach house to begin a new chapter in her life while dealing with her family's issues. Cara came across as a strong woman who was not too emotionally scarred from her past which many lead characters in these types of novels tend to be, so that was refreshing. I was easily able to enjoy her character and interactions with friends and family. Linnea was also a really well developed character in the novel. A great summer read that will leave you satisfied and wanting to visit the beach yourself.

Another great read from lowcountry favorite Mary Alice Monroe. Take it to the beach, and get your summer started .

I was able to read an ARC of this novel thanks to the publisher and author. It exceeded my expectations. I've read the whole series and they've each been better than the last. This one was not an exception. The story brings together Cara, moving home after the adoption of a child, and Linnea, coming home after graduation from University of South Carolina. They must both find themselves in different ways and the ocean and beach cottage have their own ways of doing this. Mary Alice Monroe pulls on the heart strings with this one. I laughed, cried, and cringed from parts of this amazing and raw novel.

I honestly couldn't get into this story. If you like quick, simple, beach reads it's probably for you but I've been reading so many thrillers that I wanted more from it. #netgalley #Beach HouseReunion

Beautiful stories of the beach house in south Carolina and the family and familes who go there. Monroe makes everyone want to travel to the Carolinas.

I have read all of her Beach Books and was happy with this follow up of a great series.
I also watched the movie but as always the BOOK is always better.... JMO

This is a great story!

My emotions were all over the place. I never wanted the story to end. Cara and her family had so much going on. The has family secrets and heartache to work through, before they could get to the moving on.

This story was wonderful and I would strongly suggest this to my family and friends.

Linnea Rutledge has graduated college and heads back to her family home set in Charleston. She knows her family has certain expectations about her future to and especially to uphold family tradition but she feels adrift and as soon as she sets foot back home she sees tension between the family members. To clear her head she decides to spend the summer at her aunt’s beach house.

For Cara Rutledge, having Linnea around will be a welcome addition to her house. Since her husband’s death she has slowly been taking steps to move on in life. One of those major steps is now being the mom to a beautiful little girl. With Linnea helping out with babysitting, maybe it’s time for Cara to think about her career and the future.

The two women despite very different stages in their lives are learning about family and what matters. They both meet new friends, reconnect with the ocean and the beautiful sea turtles and most importantly they learn to make choices for themselves even if it goes against the family tradition.

This was a light read but had enough characters and issues to keep the story moving forward. Whether you have already taken your summer vacation or not, this would be a good read to make you feel like the beach is just steps away from your door.

Gallery Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Beach House Reunion. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Readers are brought back to the Isle of Palms with Cara Rutledge, joined at the beach house by her niece Linnea and a new member of the family. Surrounded by the memories of her mother and all of the peace that the beach has to offer, will Cara be able to move past her grief and open herself to the possibilities of future happiness?

Beach House Reunion will be considered a feel good novel for some, but I found it to be predictable and flat. The story of the Rutledge family was presented in a soap opera fashion, taking away the premise and the plot. The clichés were so thick, you could brush them away with your hands. The notion that Southern children must obey and live their parents' dreams is so outdated and not in keeping with modern society. Cara Rutledge preached to her brother regarding allowing others to live their own lives, yet she did not follow her own advice. The ineptness that Cara showed in the beginning regarding Hope was ridiculous, especially considering the fact that the pair had settled in together in the weeks before. Readers who are familiar with the characters should read Beach House Reunion only to catch up with the series, but may be disappointed with the quality of the book.

I loved this book and felt right at home since I've lived in Charleston (actually on Rutledge St) and spent many a day at Isle of Palms. Mary Alice Monroe made me feel like I was right there. Her descriptions of the area and the people were spot on. A heartwarming read as we follow Cara and her return to her beloved family beach house after the death of her husband Brett. She was only 53 and had adopted a little girl. Since her niece has been unable to find a job after graduating from college, she agreed to be a nanny. A beautiful story of love, family, history, grief, and restoration. I read a reader copy via Net Galley and voluntarily chose to write a review. I have not read the other books in this series, but will definitely do so now.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

After adopting baby Hope, Cara Rutledge feels pulled to return to her Isle of Palms home to raise her among family. She decides to work from home to be with Hope but finds it hard to focus on work while tending to Hope's need for attention. Cara's niece, Linnea, has just graduated college and is unsure what to do with her college degree. Linnea offers to move in and help with baby Hope while Cara works. Being at the beach house and helping with the Turtle Team gives Cara a chance to decide what she wants to do with her life.

This book was the fifth book in the Beach House series but was easy to read as a standalone. I enjoyed this story with its focus on relationships (between family, friends, and those with the potential to be more) and the facts about sea turtles included at the beginning of each chapter. As you might expect from a book with Beach House in the title, this would make a perfect beach read. The story makes me want to go back and read the first four books in the series.

Mary Alice Monroe's familiarity and love for the South Caroline lowcountry comes across with great emotion in "Beach House Reunion." The story of several generations of beach lovers is laid out for readers in a genteel manner while also providing awareness of the loggerhead turtle's habitat. The novel is a "must have" for a summer tote bag.

Beach House Reunion is light and breezy and was a joy to read. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

I did not realize this book was part of a series, but I still really enjoyed the story and characters.

I loved the depiction of Charleston and that there were generations of characters. There's someone for every reader to relate to and enjoy. I especially enjoyed the main character, Cara, a new (older) mom spending the summer in her beach house with her niece and daughter.

This book is really about family and relationships more than a tight plot, but it's very enjoyable to see these women grow.