On Ocean Boulevard

It’s been a couple of years since the last entry (Beach House Reunion) in the author’s “Beach House” series, but Monroe includes enough information to bring new readers up to speed without alienating fans of the series. The story involves the Rutledge family, as usual, but this time centers on Linnea as she returns home to the South Carolina barrier islands without her boyfriend or a job. Her parents are starting over on Sullivan’s Island in their small beach house, struggling to get out from under a bankruptcy and hoping her father remains sober. Her Aunt Cara is having trouble juggling her full-time job, a young child, and her upcoming wedding, so she’s happy to offer Linnea an internship at the aquarium. Linnea also gets involved with the turtle ladies and a good-looking visiting professor from England. A worsening case of dementia, microplastics in the ocean, and, of course, the turtles add a serious note to this charming Lowcountry novel.