How to read all Mary Alice Monroe books in order

Mary Alice Monroe is a bestselling author, and she wrote numerous series.

An introduction to Mary Alice Monroe’s writings

Mary Alice Monroe wrote numerous books and series, and she is an American author living in South Carolina, and she spent some time in the Isle of Palms. One of the most interesting things about her work is that she often draws parallels between human nature and nature.

Her stories often deal with important topics such as sickness, pollution, environmental problems, troubles single mothers go through, and many more. It’s interesting to explore these fictional stories that still bear a powerful message.

Author Mary Alice Monroe won numerous awards, was noted as one of The New York Times bestselling authors, has appeared in Charleston Home and USA Today, and is a conservationist.

The Beach House series

The Beach House series is one of the first series you can check out by Mary Alice Monroe. It started in 2002, and there are seven books in it. The story is about Caretta Rutledge and her return to her childhood home.

She spent so much time away from home, and once she returns to her mother’s request, she feels reborn. The story also talks about endangered sea turtles, and Cara’s quest to save them.

The Islanders series

The Islanders is a bit shorter series, and there are only two entries. The main character in the story is Jake, and he is an eleven-year-old boy. He needs to deal with all the emotions after his father was wounded in Afghanistan, and she spends time with his grandmother.

The story is aimed at young adults, and it can be perfect for people looking for children’s books. The second part of the story came out in 2022, and it continues the story of Jake Potter.

Lowcountry Summer series

The next popular series by Mary Alice Monroe is Lowcountry Summer, which is a collection of five books. The series started in 2013, with The Summer Girls. It is a story about three half-sisters and their grandmother. The story is mostly set on Sullivan’s Island.

At the beginning of the series, Dora, Carson, and Harper are scattered across the country—and their grandmother is determined to help them rediscover family bonds. The series has elements of romance, and it is a thrilling adventure you will need to check out.

In what order should I read The Beach House series?

If you are interested in learning more about Mary Alice Monroe’s work, you will need to know about the proper reading order. Especially when it comes to The Beach House series. There are seven books in it, and you should read them in publishing order.

Chronological order of The Beach House books

So, where do you start? Which one is the first book in the series, and do you need to read them in the publishing order?

• The Beach House (2002)
• Beach House Memories (2012)
• Swimming Lessons (2007)
• Beach House for Rent (2017)
• Beach House Reunion (2018)
• On Ocean Boulevard (2020)
• The Summer of Lost and Found (2021)

As you can see, the story in The Beach House books is not in chronological order. This means that you will need to check out Beach House Memories after the first entry since the novel explores events from 1974.

Publication order of The Beach House books

As for the publication order, the first book in the series is the same, but there are a few changes compared to the chronological order of the story.

• The Beach House (2002)
• Swimming Lessons (2007)
• Beach House Memories (2012)
• Beach House for Rent (2017)
• Beach House Reunion (2018)
• On Ocean Boulevard (2020)
• The Summer of Lost and Found (2021)

Reading the series in either way is a good option. Many people prefer exploring the series in publication order, even though the story might not be linear.

Publication order of other Mary Alice Monroe books

The Beach House series is just one of many options you can check out, and if you don’t feel like reading the series, you can go for any other Mary Alice Monroe wrote.

The Islanders series order

As mentioned earlier, The Islanders series is shorter, and there are only two books in it.

• The Islanders (2021)
• Search for Treasure (2022)

It is also one of the newest series Mary Alice Monroe wrote. The books were written with Angela May.

Publication order of Lowcountry Summer books

The publication order of Lowcountry Summer will allow you to go through the entire series with ease.

• The Summer Girls (2013)
• The Summer Wind (2014)
• The Summer’s End (2015)
• A Lowcountry Wedding (2016)
• A Lowcountry Christmas (2016)

The chronological order is the same as the publishing order.

Publication order of standalone novels

Finally, you can check out Mary Alice Monroe’s standalone novels.

• The Long Road Home (1995)
• Girl in the Mirror (1998)
• The Book Club (1999)
• One Summer’s Night (2000)
• The Four Seasons (2001)
• Skyward (2003)
• Sweetgrass (2005)
• The Secret We Keep (2005)
• Time is a River (2008)
• Last Light Over Carolina (2009)
• The Butterfly’s Daughter (2011)
• Second Star to the Right (2013)
• The Summer Guests (2019)

Naturally, you can read her standalone novels in any order. Most stories are focused on strong Southern women, and they take place in South and North Carolina.

She is also one of the authors of Reunion Beach: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank, along with Elin Hilderbrand, Adriana Trigiani, and Patti Callahan.

Picture books

You can also check out the picture book Mary Alice Monroe wrote, which is a part of the Life Cycle series.

• A Butterfly Called Hope (2013)

The pictures in the book were taken by Barbara J. Bergwerf.

Non-fiction books

There is also a non-fiction book which is a companion story for Swimming Lessons.

• Turtle Summer: A Journal for My Daughter (2007)

Once again, the pictures were taken by Barbara J. Bergwerf.

Audiobooks collection of Mary Alice Monroe

One of the simplest ways to go through Mary Alice Monroe’s work is to listen to audiobooks.

Speechify

Speechify is one of the best audiobook platforms you can find today. It’s easy to use, it’s versatile, and you will get access to a huge digital library filled with the latest titles, including many of Mary Alice Monroe’s enthralling book series.

You can start with Mary Alice Monroe and explore other writers in the same genre, or listen to thousands of other book titles. The options are limitless.

FAQ

What should I read if I like Mary Alice Monroe?

The Beach House series is the most popular series by Mary Alice Monroe, and you can start with the first book from 2002 called The Beach House.

What is the latest novel by Mary Alice Monroe?

The latest novel, Search for Treasure, was published in 2022.

What is the first book in the series of Mary Alice Monroe?

If you are looking to read The Beach House series, the first book is from 2002, and it bears the same name as the series.