It was wonderful to go back to Primrose Cottage on Isle of Palms near Charleston, SC , and catch up with what's going on in the Rutledge family. As I read this book, I felt like I was spending time with old friends at the beach. This is a story about love - love of family and love for the world that we live in.

The Rutledge family was an old and respected family in the history of Charleston. Cara is living on the Isle of Palms in her mother's old beach house. She in learning how to be a mother to her adopted daughter and is in the process of planning her wedding to David whose main goal in life seems to do whatever he can to make Cara happy. She is fretting over the wedding, over the time she gets to spend with her daughter and over family issues. Her niece Linnea has just returned from California after losing her job and ending her relationship. She is unsure of what she wants to do next and how she fits into her family. When a terrible illness affects Cara's daughter, it makes everyone re-evaluate their plans for the future and make changes to help them all become happier. This is a season of return, rebirth and growth for Cara and Linnea as they face the future.

This is a beautiful story of love and family, new beginnings and learning to live in the future instead of the past. As with all of Mary Alice's books, her love of the environment shines through her novel. In this book, it's the loggerhead turtle and every chapter starts with a fact about sea turtles. There is also a lot of information about how pollution - especially plastic - in the ocean hurts the turtles and other sea animals. So along with my mental trip to the beach, I was able to learn more about sea turtles! I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe re-visits the Rutledge family on the South Carolina islands. I love the characters in this novel and their relationships with each other. This book can be read as part of the Beach House series or as a stand alone. Monroe's characters face lost love, unexpected life obstacles, hope and triumph as she weaves together their stories with environmental concerns of plastic in our oceans and their impact on the Rutledge's sea turtle research. I'm truly hoping there is another Beach House series in the works to follow these beloved characters! Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Pub date: 5.19.20.

Having read the other books in the Beach House series, it was wonderful to revisit Primrose Cottage and see what everyone has been up to. Cara is engaged to her wonderful man David. Linnea is headed back home after living in California with John. The Turtle Team is still tracking and saving the sea turtle population in South Carolina.

If you haven’t read any of this series, do not fret. You can pick up one book and follow along as well as starting at the beginning. Mary Alice Monroe is wonderful at weaving all the threads of the previous stories together. Yes, it’s nice to get to know everyone and their history, but there isn’t a burning need to do so. You will learn everything you need to know about where they’ve been.

One of the nice things about these books is the time that Monroe takes to educate us about the issues with the sea turtle population. She also explains about preservation and what we can do to help. These glorious old creatures deserve a fighting chance to survive, and through education, we can save them. I like when a book weaves in current day issues, and in this case, actually lets us know how to make changes that can help.

This will be a fabulous beach read, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Personally, curling up with a summer read in the middle of winter works for me too. It’s nice to imagine the ocean breezes when there is snow on the ground. No matter when you pick this one up, it is going to be a book you will remember.


4.5 stars


This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 5 May 2020 .

An appealing tale of strong South Carolina women who are environmentally active, particularly with protecting turtles and their hatches. Not only did I enjoy the characters and their interaction, I also learned a great deal about turtles.

On ocean boulevard is a story of family, love, and legacy. Linnea is returning home from California with her tail between her legs. She finds solace with her parents, her Aunt, and the sea. Coming home is the balm that heals all wounds. This story bounces between Linnea and her Aunt Cara. There is so much going on with the Rutledge family.

This is the second book I have read from this author. While this book is part of a series, any reader can step into the story wherever you begin. I really enjoy this author's ability to draw her reader into her story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All reviews are mine.

The moment I read the first page I knew I was hooked. On Ocean Boulevard takes you on a journey through the low country of South Carolina. The characters become your family and friends. The beauty of Charleston and Sullivan's Island truly takes your breath away. I have followed the Rutledge family from Mary Alice Monroe's first book, The Beach House, and was thrilled to be able to continue the journey. Cara Rutledge is getting married, her niece Linnea has returned from California and new friends are discovered. The sea turtles, who nest on Sullivan's Island each summer, continue to be an important part of the rebirth and growth. It's a beautifully written story with so much heart and soul. Mary Alice Monroe does an amazing job of interweaving the lives and the beauty of the low country with real issues in our environment. This is a story you do not want to miss. I can't wait to see where her next book will take us.

Every book by Mary Alice Monroe is a romantic ode to the low country where setting is just as important a character as the women that fill the pages. If you are brought to this book for the scenery, you certainly won't be disappointed. While I did find the plot to be a little bit lighter than some of the other books in this series, there is nothing boring about this set of characters and the place they call home.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Mary Alice Monroe's low country stories are always fantastic! You get a little bit of everything from family drama, love, loss, friendship and always some sea turtles. This story had two main characters on different paths-Cara, the would be matriarch of the Rutledge family and Linnea, her niece. Both are strong women who have suffered losses and continue to grow and learn from them. They both find their grounding in South Carolina where their pasts are. I loved this story and can't wait until her next one!

I’ve read all the previous books in this series so I was excited to have the chance to read an early copy. It was like visiting old friends once again. It touched on some current issues. It felt true to her previous ones in this series.
I loved it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

I have read everything that Mary Alice Monroe has written (even a Forward in another book!)
I was thrilled to read this book. I also love the movie - "The Beach House" - one to watch!

Cara returns home to Charleston Shores
Returns to Beach house state of mind
Learns that words are powerful tools

We all have struggles along our journeys

Others listen to your definition of yourself!

I loved this book, I am looking to the next book she writes ...

While this book is part of a series, you do not need to have read any other of the books to understand and enjoy this charmer from Mary Alice Monroe.

After losing her job and breaking up with her boyfriend in California, Linnea Rutledge returns to her family on the outer banks of South Carolina. With her family's fortunes in flux, Linnea understands the need for a job, but finding one in environmental science is rare. Meanwhile, her aunt, Cara, is nervous about her second wedding, and, of course, it's turtle season. The women will need each other as each moves to a new life chapter.

I have only read one other of these books, and I find Mary Alice Monroe to realistically capture women of all ages and create a satisfying read. I am looking forward to reading the others and catching up with the beach house women.

Thanks to NetGalley.com, the author and publisher for my copy.

Mary Alice Monroe writes some of my very favorite Southern fiction beach reads. She can keep returning to the Rutledge family forever and I will keep reading. We get to continue following Cara on her journey of motherhood and marriage. I was thrilled to learn more about Linnea as well. I always enjoy how Mary Alice Monroe infuses her love of sea turtles and conservation in her novels. I don't feel it is heavy handed and it is such an important message to get out there. She also skillfully manages to weave in main characters from some of her other popular series. So glad I got to read this summer read in February - provided a much needed boost this winter.

Mary Alice Monroe is one of my favorite authors, and this latest novel did not disappoint! Reading On Ocean Boulevard is like settling down for a nice long visit with old friends you haven't seen for a while. These characters just brim over with real emotions, concerns, and problems. I loved the way each chapter begins with a tidbit of information about sea turtles.

I totally loved spending time in the low country with Cara, David, Palmer, Julia, Linnea, Emmi, Flo, and the whole Routledge family. Turtle season is in full swing when Linnea returns home after leaving California and tries to find herself after ending her relationship with John. Jobless and rudderless, she moved home with Diana and Palmer. A perfect story with a perfect ending, that leaves the door open for another book in the series (I hope!).

Returning to the Beach House series is like returning home. You are welcomed at the Beach House by Cara, which is planning her wedding to David. You are invited in to Emmie's home, who is struggling with Flo's advancement in age and corresponding ailments. You are embraced by Linnea, who just returned brokenhearted from California. You have come to know and love all these characters so they feel like family. Their struggles are your struggles. Their achievements are yours as well. They introduce you to new friends and neighbors and take you with them on their life's endeavors.
This story, like all of the Beach House books, makes you long for the beach and makes you want to move to South Carolina. On Ocean Boulevard, brings you further into the Rutledge family drama, while also educating you on the plight of the turtles and the danger of plastics in the environment. This book makes you laugh and makes you cry, all while making you feel cozy and warm, as though surrounded by friends. Mary Alice Monroe has given us a second home in this quick, perfect for the beach or anywhere, book.
Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy of the book.

This just wasn't one of my favorites. It seemed to shove "Save the Earth" and "Vaccinate Your Kids" down your throat. I am for both of those things, but it just didn't sit well with me.
Also, Hope was four at Coney Island, then five with her twin bed, and then four again.

I have all the other books in this series. I have to say that the ending on this one was perfect!! However, I found myself getting annoyed with Cara in this book. She didn't seem to be staying true to who she is/was, Her "going along" with the big wedding just didn't feel like the same Cara. I know that she has changed and grown since losing Brett and adopting Hope.

I adored Linnea yet again in the book. I was happy to see her find her plan and to stay where she was and focus on herself. I was sad that she and John had parted ways in this book. I did enjoy the new friends she made in this book. Pandora was delightful if a little spoiled and Gordon was sweet and charming.

I love Mary Alice Monroe's book and would recommend them to anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my ARC of On Ocean Boulevard. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another great Mary Alice Monroe read. This one has all the familiar characters, Cara, Palmer , Hope, Limnea, Sullivan’s Island and the beach.
I devoured this book in one sitting.

I love this book and love this author! I love the Beach House series. This is a relaxing easy read on the beach or curled up on the couch. I am from South Carolina and love reading books written by fellow South Carolinians. Something magical happens reading about families returning to the beach house. She develops the characters and vividly brings them to life while describing the beach and the old beach house as to take the reader along. She shows us that people are not perfect nor are their lives but one can weather the changing tides of life.

A wonderful story of family set in South Carolina. Although this is a stand-alone novel, the characters are well known from other Mary Alice Monroe books. Strong women and their families are the focus, and Sea Turtles are also featured. The story touches on many aspects of life; Alzheimer's, job and relationship loss, substance abuse and the impact of our world on the environment. Rich descriptions of the beauty of South Carolina should help bring this book to the top of your must-read pile.