Set in a small North Carolina Coastal town, BEACH HOUSE RULES by Kristy Woodson Harvey follows the story of a mother and daughter whose lives are turned upside down. When they find refuge in a beach house with a community of single mothers and their children, they learn that sometimes what you need in the middle of a life storm is a totally new perspective.

When Bill Sitterly is arrested for financial crimes, Charlotte and her daughter Iris are locked out of their home and their assets are frozen. Charlotte knows she has to do something, but when finding employment becomes a fruitless effort, she accepts an invitation from the black widow in town – Alice Bailey. Alice owns a beachfront house where several women have found a place to raise their children during family turmoil. The house provides structure, a sense of family, shared chores, and forced family time. Although a little unusual, Charlotte and Iris start to enjoy their time at the dubbed “mommune.” But Charlotte is determined to prove her husband’s innocence, and her daughter Iris has the same plan. As life whirls on around them, new relationships form, healing occurs, resolves strengthen, and Charlotte and the rest of the women learn what they need to do to move forward in life.

Reading BEACH HOUSE RULES is like settling in for an enjoyable sun-drenched feet-in-the-sand summer escape filled with female friendship and family strife. The story unfolds at a relaxed pace, inviting readers into the intertwined lives of four women—each on a journey to reshape her life—with Charlotte Sitterly taking center stage. The unconventional “mommune” serves as a compelling backdrop, used effectively by the author to explore the strength of the female community—without ever becoming preachy. An anonymous social media account based in Juniper Shores adds a clever narrative thread, offering playful summaries of recent events. Meanwhile, the financial crimes element brings a welcome layer of suspense, with young Iris stepping into the spotlight as she pieces together the mystery. The novel concludes with a satisfying twist involving one of Alice’s deceased husbands, neatly tying up the story’s many threads. BEACH HOUSE RULES is an ideal beach read, offering just the right mix of female friendship, family struggles, small-town gossip, a charming coastal setting, and a touch of redemption.