If there’s one author who never fails to capture the heart and soul of the South, it’s Kristy Woodson Harvey. As a longtime fan of her beautifully crafted stories, I couldn’t wait to dive into BEACH HOUSE RULES, her latest novel brimming with charm, resilience, and the kind of friendships that feel like family. Set against the stunning backdrop of North Carolina’s coast, this book introduces readers to a captivating “mommune,” where unconventional bonds are formed, secrets unfold, and small-town gossip takes on a life of its own. In this week’s Jen’s Jewels, Kristy shares the inspiration behind her latest must-read, the magic of fictional settings, and a sneak peek at what’s coming next!
Jen: What inspired BEACH HOUSE RULES, and were any real-life events or people influential in shaping the story?
Kristy: Throughout the summer of 2023, I kept seeing articles and TV clips about “mommunes,” which are essentially moms who move in together with their kids for both parenting and financial support. I thought it was a cool idea, but it didn’t occur to me that it could be book material for me. As I was driving home from camp drop off one morning, I heard an interview with two women on a radio show who had started their own mommune—and someone called in to criticize, calling the idea “unnatural.” It made me wonder… What would people in a small southern town, where everyone has an opinion about everything, say about a mommune? And what would the disparity between the truth and public perception be? The idea took off from there! I don’t think there are any real people in this book, but my own group of girlfriends certainly played a role in shaping the relationships between the women.
Jen: The North Carolina coast comes to life so vividly in BEACH HOUSE RULES, - what inspired you to create Juniper Shores as the setting for this novel?
Kristy: Setting is often really clearly and sharply formed for me before I even sit down to write. This setting was funny because I knew it; I recognized it. It was Atlantic Beach, NC, where I spend every day during the summer, but with some very distinct features of Seaside, FL—the Airstream Village, for example. Ever since I wrote my Peachtree Bluff Series, I’ve loved fictional settings. They’re very freeing. So I just went with it!
Jen: Let’s talk about Charlotte’s journey. How does she cope with her present circumstances?
Kristy: Charlotte comes into this novel a bit of a loner who, self-admittedly, has never seen the true value in female friendships. Let’s just say, all of that is about to change. When her back is up against the wall, and she truly has nowhere to turn, this surprising group of women really saves her.
Jen: The anonymous @JuniperShoresSocialite account adds a fun yet mysterious element to the story. How did that idea come about?
Kristy: @JuniperShoresSocialite didn’t come about until maybe the third or fourth draft of the novel. I was trying to incorporate the idea of Southern small-town gossip in a new way, but it wasn’t quite hitting hard enough. It needed a finer point. There were also a few darker elements in this book that I wanted to lighten up. The idea of an anonymous, snarky Instagram account that could become the voice of the people and lighten the mood achieved both purposes at once!
Jen: Which character was the most fun to write and why? Did any of them surprise you as the story unfolded?
Kristy: I loved writing Iris and being back inside the head of a teenage girl. At first, I wanted to punctuate how difficult her change in life circumstances was, but, really, kids are so resilient. Dramatic, but resilient! So, it was fun to see how her focus could still be on the cute boy she has a crush on, and how her friends are going to receive her given her family’s fall from grace despite her worries about her dad and her future.
Jen: If you could spend a day in the “mommune,” what would be on the agenda?
Kristy: I’m a big “around the breakfast table” person, so I would definitely want to be there for a lazy Saturday morning with Grace making some incredible pancakes and everyone laughing and sharing stories about their weeks. Then, I’d want to walk on the beach, shop at the Airstream Village, maybe grab some lunch, and spend an afternoon on the beach with the mommune ladies. (Rosé slushie in hand, of course!)
Jen: Your novels explore themes of family, friendship, and reinvention. What draws you back to these themes in your writing?
Kristy: I honestly just do not know. Isn’t that strange? I have a very large, close-knit, and pretty conventional family, so I’m not sure why I’m so enthralled by the idea of how we create unconventional ones, but there is no doubt that that theme pops up again and again and again in my books. I think as I get older, I have been so interested in how friendship evolves in my own life, so that is a natural thing for me to explore. And I think we’re always reinventing ourselves! As people, as writers, as mothers, as spouses. Whatever it is we’re doing. Deep down, I’m terrified of being bored or feeling “stuck,” and writing these women who constantly turn the page reminds me that, whenever I want to, I can do the same thing!
Jen: Are you currently working on a new project? Can you share any hints about what’s coming next?
Kristy: Yes! I have finished two novels for 2026. I can’t share too much yet, but my Spring book is about a NICU nurse who forms a really special attachment to an abandoned baby. And I will say… My nurse is brand new, but my two other protagonists in this novel are secondary characters from a former book, so that was very fun! And my fall 2026 book is still a secret for now, so stay tuned!
Jen: What’s currently on your TBR stack? Any books you’re especially excited about?
Kristy: Yes! I loved Kristin Harmel’s THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU, so I can’t wait for that one to release in June! And Lisa Scottoline’s THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA is next on my nightstand. I am so, so excited for it!
Jen: What’s something about you that readers might find interesting or surprising?
Kristy: Some readers might not know that, before I was a writer, I worked in finance. Which was very, very helpful for this novel since it’s about a financial crime! I got to use my background for the research and had plenty of sources!
Jen: It was such a pleasure chatting about your new book! Thank you for joining me, and best of luck with your fabulous release!
Kristy: Thank you so much, always, for having me, Jen! It was such a treat to be here with you and share with your readers!
“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.
Women's Fiction Contemporary [Gallery Books, On Sale: May 27, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book , ISBN: 9781668074800 / eISBN: 9781668074824]
Great Summer Read Where Friendships Become Family
Settle in for an Enjoyable Sun-Drenched Feet-in-the Sand Summer Escape
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly best-selling author of nine novels including Under the Southern Sky, The Peachtree Bluff Series, and The Wedding Veil. Her Peachtree Bluff Series is currently in development with NBC with Kristy as co-writer and co-executive producer. She is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing, a finalist for the Southern Book Prize, and her books have received numerous accolades including Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Beach Reads, Entertainment Weekly’s Spring Reading Picks, and Katie Couric’s Most Anticipated Reads.
She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life. Design Chic is the inaugural member of the design blogger hall of fame, sponsored by Traditional Home, and winner of Amara’s Best Luxury Blog, as chosen by Roberto Cavalli. She also loves connecting with readers her website.
Harvey is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism and holds a master’s in English from East Carolina University, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including Southern Living, Traditional Home, Parade, USA Today, Domino, Our State and O. Henry. She has been seen in Today.com, Women’s Health, The Washington Post, US News and World Report, The Huffington Post, Marie Claire’s The Fix, Woman’s World, Readers’ Digest, Bustle, New York Live and North Carolina Bookwatch, among others.
Kristy is a co-founder and co-host of the hit weekly webshow and podcast, Friends & Fiction, with fellow authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel and Patti Callahan Henry. She is a proud member of the Tall Poppy Writers, serves on the board of The University of North Carolina’s Library Board, the Beaufort Historical Association, and is a member of the University of North Carolina’s Women’s Leadership Council. She is a frequent speaker at fundraisers, book conferences and private events. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and ten-year-old son where she is working on her next novel.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, "Serendipity by the Sea," secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido's talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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