71 books
—
3 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “On Ocean Boulevard (Beach House #6)” as Want to Read:
On Ocean Boulevard
(Beach House #6)
by
The New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Guests returns at long last to her beloved Beach House series in this breathtaking novel about one family’s summer of forging new beginnings against the enduring beauty and resilience of the natural world.
It’s been sixteen years since Caretta “Cara” Rutledge has returned home to the beautiful shores of Charleston, South C ...more
It’s been sixteen years since Caretta “Cara” Rutledge has returned home to the beautiful shores of Charleston, South C ...more
Get A Copy
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published
May 19th 2020
by Gallery Books
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
On Ocean Boulevard,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Cathy
Not really, but there are many references to characters from previous books. I always try to read series in order.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of On Ocean Boulevard (Beach House #6)

On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe is a 2020 Gallery Books publication.
A comforting return to Sullivan’s Island
Linnea Rutledge returns home to South Carolina's Sullivan’s Island after having left home full of verve and ambition, and high on love. With her relationship in tatters and her career plans squashed, Linnea feels like a failure and must face down her humiliation. However, Linnea quickly adjusts to familiar surroundings and feels certain she is where she is supposed to be. However, ...more
A comforting return to Sullivan’s Island
Linnea Rutledge returns home to South Carolina's Sullivan’s Island after having left home full of verve and ambition, and high on love. With her relationship in tatters and her career plans squashed, Linnea feels like a failure and must face down her humiliation. However, Linnea quickly adjusts to familiar surroundings and feels certain she is where she is supposed to be. However, ...more

A delightful story of new beginnings for the Rutledge family.
SUMMARY
Linnea Rutledge returns to Sullivan’s Island near Charleston, South Carolina with her tail between her legs after losing both her job and her boyfriend in San Francisco. The first place she stops after her flight lands is Primrose Cottage to see her Aunt Cara. She’s been homesick for the Atlantic Ocean and she needed advice from Cara, who sixteen years ago had also returned to the island after losing a job.
Cara is busy panickin ...more
SUMMARY
Linnea Rutledge returns to Sullivan’s Island near Charleston, South Carolina with her tail between her legs after losing both her job and her boyfriend in San Francisco. The first place she stops after her flight lands is Primrose Cottage to see her Aunt Cara. She’s been homesick for the Atlantic Ocean and she needed advice from Cara, who sixteen years ago had also returned to the island after losing a job.
Cara is busy panickin ...more

Captivating, heartfelt, and sentimental!
On Ocean Boulevard is an enchanting, tender tale that sweeps you away to the idyllic South Carolina Lowcountry and immerses you into the lives of the Rutledge family and all the wounds, secrets, smiles, tears, compassion, strength, and loyalty that surround them.
The writing is fluid and clear. The characters are multi-layered, resilient, and authentic. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel into an optimistic, heartwarming tale ab ...more
On Ocean Boulevard is an enchanting, tender tale that sweeps you away to the idyllic South Carolina Lowcountry and immerses you into the lives of the Rutledge family and all the wounds, secrets, smiles, tears, compassion, strength, and loyalty that surround them.
The writing is fluid and clear. The characters are multi-layered, resilient, and authentic. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel into an optimistic, heartwarming tale ab ...more

I don't know if I didn't like this book because I should have read the other's in this series, or if I didn't like this book because it was a convoluted mish-mash of storytelling.
I did learn a whole lot about the loggerhead turtles, and I did get pounded with eco politics - so those two issues cancel each other out.
There were so many story-lines that I wasn't quite sure just who this book was supposed to be about -I had thought it was supposed to be about Linnea. Still, it really wasn't; it was ...more
I did learn a whole lot about the loggerhead turtles, and I did get pounded with eco politics - so those two issues cancel each other out.
There were so many story-lines that I wasn't quite sure just who this book was supposed to be about -I had thought it was supposed to be about Linnea. Still, it really wasn't; it was ...more

This is my most cherished summertime series (as is the Lowcountry Summer series by this same author.) I’ve enjoyed reading all these books and can’t recommend them enough. The latest one, On Ocean Boulevard, is book six in the Beach House series where turtle season is in full swing along the South Carolina coastline, and challenging times have taken hold within the Rutledge family.
Palmer and Julia are no longer residing in their grand estate on Tradd Street. Cara is under pressure and running on ...more
Palmer and Julia are no longer residing in their grand estate on Tradd Street. Cara is under pressure and running on ...more

We are back with Cara and the Rutledge family in Charleston, South Carolina.
Cara returned to her roots sixteen years ago. Since then she's married, been widowed and has a baby! She has been through some of life's cruelest situations. Now, she is still working at the aquarium and turtle rescue as well as planning her own wedding! Yes, Cara is getting married again.
Now it's time for her niece to come home. Linnea went to California with big dreams of a career and hopefully a husband. Neither has h ...more
Cara returned to her roots sixteen years ago. Since then she's married, been widowed and has a baby! She has been through some of life's cruelest situations. Now, she is still working at the aquarium and turtle rescue as well as planning her own wedding! Yes, Cara is getting married again.
Now it's time for her niece to come home. Linnea went to California with big dreams of a career and hopefully a husband. Neither has h ...more

Having been born and raised in the Northeast, stories set in South Carolina’s Lowcountry are about as far as I can get from what I know. Which is why I started reading Mary Alice Monroe’s Beach House series in the first place. On Ocean Boulevard is the sixth book in the series. And while it could certainly stand alone, it helps to have read some or all of the other books. Reading this book was a comfort and a delight. Nice to get back into the lives of people you’ve come to know.
We are back on t ...more
We are back on t ...more

Mary Alice Monroe has turned into one of my favorite writers! I think it is partly because she cares deeply about the environment and the plight of the Loggerhead Turtles.
This story is about the women of Sullivans and the other area islands. They have been involved in protecting the Loggerheads for many years. Cara, newly returned from California, becomes involved with the cause as soon as she gets back. But, she's jobless and homeless so her family becomes involved with her life, as all famili ...more
This story is about the women of Sullivans and the other area islands. They have been involved in protecting the Loggerheads for many years. Cara, newly returned from California, becomes involved with the cause as soon as she gets back. But, she's jobless and homeless so her family becomes involved with her life, as all famili ...more

On Ocean Boulevard is a nice addition to Mary Alice Monroe’s Beach House series but I can’t help but feel it is running out of steam. This one felt like an end to the series. I thought the story was sweet and heart warming but all the romance elements between both Cara and Linnea’s partners felt very forced and rushed.
3.5 stars ⭐️
3.5 stars ⭐️

From a historical perspective, to the environmental, to the political and everything in between this book on the beloved Charleston SC homestead is rooted in values, honesty, and integrity.
It's that Southern drawl that appeals to the readers. The down home country feel, the old fashioned rooted family, the 'sisters before misters' feel.
Readers are in for a treat as Cara is coming back home because she has a wedding coming up.
Her niece Linnea returns on the verge of a new career while developing ...more
It's that Southern drawl that appeals to the readers. The down home country feel, the old fashioned rooted family, the 'sisters before misters' feel.
Readers are in for a treat as Cara is coming back home because she has a wedding coming up.
Her niece Linnea returns on the verge of a new career while developing ...more

This is my most cherished summertime series (as is the Lowcountry Summer series by this same author.) I’ve enjoyed reading all these books and can’t recommend them enough. The latest one, On Ocean Boulevard, is book six in the Beach House series where turtle season is in full swing along the South Carolina coastline, and challenging times have taken hold within the Rutledge family.
Palmer and Julia are no longer residing in their grand estate on Tradd Street. Cara is under pressure and running on ...more
Palmer and Julia are no longer residing in their grand estate on Tradd Street. Cara is under pressure and running on ...more

Feb 10, 2020
Sherri Thacker
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
netgalley-books,
5-star-books-that-i-loved
Nothing like a book written about Charleston, the beaches surrounding Charleston, and turtle nesting to get me out of this blaah winter mood I’ve been in (it’s so cold outside today) ... Mary Alice Monroe knows how to pull you into a story!! Another great book! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Review Coming!

Unfortunately, I just found this SO disappointing. To be blunt, this book seems to be written for the boomer demographic. There is an OBSESSION with houses, buying houses, switching houses, building houses, having two houses, even giving a house to someone as a gift...I can't believe anyone under the age of 50 resonates with that. Linnea, one of the main characters, is supposedly 25 and is a bit better, but as an actual 25 year old, her portrayal rubbed me the wrong way as superficial and jarrin
...more

I found this book to be a bit didactic about certain things: plastic in the ocean, vaccinating children, illegal immigration, among other things. I actually didn't disagree with any of it, but I feel like she overdid it a bit. There was also a lot of talk about rich people and what they were wearing, the colors, the designers, what-have-you, in addition to how their houses were decorated, what colors, blah blah blah. A bit too much of that as well. However, there were likable characters and some
...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Your going to need at least a few tissues to read Mary Alice’s latest book. Once again, she will sweep you away to the Lowcountry where you will find familiar faces, places and animals. This is so much more than a beach read though. She focuses on the relationships between and among women. Friendships that are so important to each of the central characters and help them all find their voices. Once again we are treated to the loggerhead turtles and given more of an insight to what happens on the
...more

Linnea returns home to Sullivan's Island with her tail between her legs. Not only is her relationship over, but her job that she relocated for is no longer. Now she is returning home to live with her parents and start fresh. Things are going somewhat well for the Rutledge family. Cara, Linnea's aunt, is balancing the job of being a mother to a young child, working a full-time job at the aquarium, and planning a wedding. Cue all the stress. Then there's Linnea's parents who have relocated from th
...more

On Ocean Boulevard by author Mary Alice Monroe highlights the second chance at love and a new marriage for Cara Rutledge. This book can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, but fans of the generations of Rutledge Family drama will enjoy reading about much loved characters. Several events are happening on Sullivan's Island during this season. Most of the book is about life situations as the generations age and grow. Emmi is helping Cara to finalize her wedding plans, Linnea returns with a broke
...more

Mary Alice Monroe never disappoints!!!!!!!!!!! I love her Lowcountry series and this new one was just as great and wholesome as the others!!!!!!! I love how you can fall right in love with her characters and fall right bck into their lives no matter how long it is between books!! She continues the series with Cara Rutledge and this adds in her grown up nieces story also. I give this one a definite 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for my honest review

I love Mary Alice Monroe, gravitating toward her titles, and each new book in the Beach House series. Reading each new book in the series is like coming home again; reuniting with familiar characters, and diving into their new adventures. My “hopes”( Cara Rutlidge’s daughter’s name) were high, but I was let down, almost immediately.
The story was boring, frankly. I found the writing simple, the story formulaic, and predictable. Everything was too perfect; her other stories were more than one dime ...more
The story was boring, frankly. I found the writing simple, the story formulaic, and predictable. Everything was too perfect; her other stories were more than one dime ...more

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 loved it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

Time and place are so adequately described in On Ocean Boulevard. The main characters, Linnea and her Aunt Cara were featured in depth, so I’d definitely say it’s a chick lit book. I never did learn how to pronounce Linnea’s name correctly. The story was a bit predictable and sappy, but still a worthy read for the information about Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms In South Carolina.

I love books that are set in beach communities because they make me feel as though I am there, hearing the ocean and feeling the sun. On Ocean Boulevard is set in Charleston North Carolina, and though I’ve never visited, I’m attracted to the Southern charm described in books. This is the sixth book in the Beach House series, but it can certainly be read as a standalone.
The story centres around two female protagonists, Cara Rutledge, and her niece Linnea. Linnea returns to Charleston after a two ...more
The story centres around two female protagonists, Cara Rutledge, and her niece Linnea. Linnea returns to Charleston after a two ...more

3.5 The newly released On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe is the latest (6th) entry in her Beach House series. But - you can read it (and the others) as stand alones.
On Ocean Boulevard is set on the beautiful shores of South Carolina.
Through good fortune and bad, three generations of the Rutledge family end up back on Sullivan’s Island at the same time. Cara has weathered much in her life, but she's at a joyful point - remarriage to a man she dearly loves and the joy of being a parent to yo ...more
On Ocean Boulevard is set on the beautiful shores of South Carolina.
Through good fortune and bad, three generations of the Rutledge family end up back on Sullivan’s Island at the same time. Cara has weathered much in her life, but she's at a joyful point - remarriage to a man she dearly loves and the joy of being a parent to yo ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Escape this Summer? | 1 | 3 | Jul 28, 2020 12:17PM |
Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of nearly 30 novels and children's books, including THE SUMMER OF LOST AND FOUND, on sale May 11, 2021.
More than 7.5 million copies of her books have been published worldwide, and she’s earned numerous accolades and awards, including: Induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame; the Southwest Florida Author of Distin ...more
More than 7.5 million copies of her books have been published worldwide, and she’s earned numerous accolades and awards, including: Induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame; the Southwest Florida Author of Distin ...more
Other books in the series
Beach House
(6 books)
Related Articles
Mateo Askaripour is a Brooklyn-based writer whose debut novel, Black Buck—which Colson Whitehead calls a “mesmerizing novel, executing a high...
75 likes · 9 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Research has found perceiving nature’s beauty to be a significant predictor of life satisfaction. In other words, the more one perceived nature’s beauty, the more one reported life satisfaction.”
—
1 likes
“Local fishers, coastal communities, businesses, and the tourism industry are already seeing the negative effects of climate change. This means the destruction of coastal and marine ecosystems threatens the security of around 40 percent of the world population.”
—
0 likes
More quotes…