“The Beach House” by: Mary Alice Monroe

Recommended Age: CANNOT RECOMMEND

496 pages

Description: Twenty years ago, Caretta Rutledge left her Southern roots far behind for a successful career as a businesswoman in Chicago. But an unusual request from her mother—coming just as her own life is spinning out of control—has Cara heading back to the scenic Lowcountry of her childhood summers.

Before long, the rhythms of the island open her heart as she repairs the family beach house, becomes a bona fide “turtle lady” and renews old acquaintances long thought lost. But it is in reconnecting with her mother that she will learn life’s most precious lessons—true love involves sacrifice, family is forever and the mistakes of the past can be forgiven.

My Rating: 0/5

—READ/REVIEWED THROUGH CHAPTER 8—

I am so sad! As a South Carolina native who went to school in Chicago (AND is named Kara), I loved the description and really wanted to enjoy this book. It covers good themes and things that need to be discussed, but there was WAY too much filth in between. Furthermore, I found the “Christian sayings” sprinkled in amidst curse words and immoral conduct to be highly offensive and irreverent.

Unfortunately I cannot recommend this book.

Notable Quotes:

“Strength without flexibility makes one hard.” (Page 88)

Things to be aware of in “The Beach House”:

Language:

(-2 stars)

• 3 “stupid”
• 10 forms of “d**n,” “go****n,” or “da**able”
• 7 uses of the Lord’s name in vain
• 1 “dumb”
• 13 forms of “what the hell,” “where the hell,” “hell” or “hellish”
• 1 “cursing” (no elaboration)
• 1 “bastard”
• 6 forms of “b***h,” “b***hes,” or “son of a b***h”
• Name calling including: “pig,” “pig-faced”
• 1 “jeez”
• 4 forms of “s**t” or “s***ty”
• 1 “idiot”

Violence:

• Strong themes of domestic abuse (all to women by men - typically those they are romantically involved with).

Romantic Content:

(-2 stars)

• A character’s face and, later, the character’s outfit is described as “sexy”
• A character “gets herself pregnant.”
• A character has a “‘live-in’ boyfriend”
• “Getting mates” is mentioned.
• A teenage girl hides condoms in her dresser.
• Prostitution is alluded to
• An affair is heavily alluded to
• A woman notices her chest getting larger and thinks that a certain male character would have liked that. 
• Cheating is obvious.
• Young teenagers kiss (the same boy).

Spiritual Content:

• Prayer is unashamedly shared! However, one character prays, “The Bible says You never close a door without opening a window.” While this is a “Christian” saying, it is found nowhere in Scripture.
• A character claims he/she used to curse God.

Additional Notes:

• Alcohol is regularly consumed (gin and tonic), liquor stores and bars are mentioned, a character is likened to a “drunken sailor.”
• Addictions to alcohol and cigarettes are mentioned.
• A man seems angry that a woman “kept” her baby. A mention of “Your bod. Your life.” (-1 star)