Mary Alice Monroe

The Book Club seemed like a perfect summer beach- read, and with that title, I was sure it was a good choice. Unfortunately, this one was not one of my favorites by this author. The story had two too many characters. Gabriella and Midge never got a fully developed story- Gabriella getting the short end more than the rest- but Midge’s part was a head scratcher- awkward and vague- and didn’t add a single thing to the story.

On top of that, I struggled with some of the dated messaging. Women who dutifully stayed at home, raised children and ended up at a crossroads later in life is not necessarily a terrible character study, but it was a bit heavy handed at times and/or cliched, as well. I didn’t like Annie most of the time, though of course I did soften towards her as her thread developed.

Eve was the focal point of the novel. I did like the way her story played out in the end, though her daughter was almost too good to be true sometimes.

Still, the main theme of the novel wasn’t really about all the personal dramas so much as it was about friendship. Women who stepped up for each other during times of crisis, who listened and cared, forgave, and supported each other, sticking together, forging a bond that could survive whatever the future held for them.

It is hard to not to like stories like this one- especially when you couple friendships with good books. Though not as well written or emotional as other novels I’ve read by Monroe, at the end of the day, it was an absorbing story with many satisfying qualities.

Liked it but didn't love it.

3 stars… (more)

I read the fourth book in the Beach House series, Beach House for Rent, by Mary Alice Monroe, several years ago, and have finally made my way back to the series. I decided to read the first book, The Beach House, to see how things started. Reading a beach-themed book in July seemed like the best idea. It worked out perfectly, as The Beach House takes place over the course of one summer in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

Caretta Rutledge, is called from her home in Chicago to visit her mother at the family beach house. Cara’s life has just taken an unexpected turn, so a visit to the Lowcountry is perfect timing. The relationship between her and her mother is strained, so it takes the women time to open up to one another about why Cara’s visit has been requested. Time and the healing attributes of the beach house help Cara process what happened in Chicago and navigate upcoming life-changing experiences. Over the summer, as Cara and her mother work on their relationship, Cara rekindles old friendships, takes on repairs to the beach house, and becomes a turtle lady.

Mary Alice Monroe has written a beautiful story that gets better with every page. This is definitely a Chick Lit novel, considering the presence of romantic relationships. I enjoyed my fictional time at the beach house, weathering the storms with these ladies and experiencing their joyful celebrations. My favorite character was Cara’s mother, Lovie. She shared a lot of wisdom with the younger female characters and navigated her own life-changing experience with grace. I like how Monroe paralleled the characters' stories with the lives of the Loggerhead turtles. It was educational and sentimental. She even closes the book with helpful tips for visitors to the Lowcountry so that the turtles can continue to flourish.

I purchased the audiobook of The Beach House with my Audible subscription. Surprisingly, Mary Alice Monroe narrated this audiobook. She did an excellent job changing her voice for each character. It was a pleasure to listen to her read her own story.

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A Book And A Dog… (more)