Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Summer of Lost and Found.  I usually love MaryAlice Monroe’s summer reads, but this one fell flat for me. It is not a light, uplifting book. It is set in real time during covid with some character from her other books. The story was eh and the characters were blah. I also don’t want to read about Covid. I read to relax and forget what’s going on. I will be neither recommending this book or talking anyone out of reading this book.

Ahhhh, LOVED this book!  Mary Alice Monroe never disappoints and once again, she delivers a great book!  This one centers around Covid-19, which we are all living and don't necessarily want to read about.  However, I enjoyed this one from the first page until the last.  Perfect for the beach or anywhere!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Alice Monroe for me is always a sign that summer is coming!  After navigating our way through such a strange and unprecedented year, I was even more excited to dive into her latest novel!  When I laid eyes on the gorgeous cover and read the title, I just knew this novel would be the comfort read I’ve been craving!  

The Summer of Lost and Found starts in the Spring of 2020 when the COVID19 pandemic started gaining momentum.  Due to the pandemic, Linnea Rutledge find herself without a job and trying to reconfigure her new normal.  What Linnea doesn’t expect is that her love life would take so many unforeseen twists and turns!  

I have to say I adored everything Mary Alice Monroe had planned for this endearing cast of characters!  I honestly LOVE every single character, but Flo holds special place in my heart and for many reasons she reminds me of my Mommom❤️.  I thoroughly enjoyed how well the COVID pandemic was woven into the storyline!  So many times throughout the book I found myself nodding along at some COVID situation that was relatable!  The Summer of Lost and Found is such a wonderful and welcomed distraction from everything!  This 5 star novel should be at the top of your summer reading list!  I haven’t made it any secret that I truly enjoy The Beach House series, but this installment in particular stands out.  I’m not sure if it’s the crazy year we have all had or what, but The Summer of Lost and Found was like chicken soup for my soul.  My new official favorite from this treasured series!

I always grab Mary Alice Monroe's novel as soon as I can. I'm not sure I would have read any book featured around COVID other than one written by a writer of MAM's talents.  And, if course, I enjoyed it.

Something about Mary Alice Monroe books screams summer to me so I treated myself to an escape to Isle of Palms on a freezing snowy day. It made me crave warmer and sunnier days and it was exactly what I needed! I am an avid reader of Monroe's Beach House series and this was a great addition to the Rutledge saga complete with drama, friendships, love, turtles, and yes, even the coronavirus weaved into their story. This series always feels like I'm visiting with old friends. While I usually want a total mental escape from reality while reading, I really enjoyed the COVID-19 pandemic spin in the story and I felt like it made the story that much more realistic and relatable as we've all navigating a tough year. I look forward to sharing this novel with our audience as a "great summer read" and will keep it as a potential book pick for our virtual book club. Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was first intrigued by this novel because it fully captured the entire scope of the Novel Corona Virus or COVID-19. With it affecting so many lives, many readers will connect personal experiences to this lovely novel. It is a light yet refreshing read. On a side note, it is advisable for readers who are new to this series to start at Book One. However, it is not necessary. (One is not missing out if a reader decides to start with this book.) As aforementioned, this story hits home. The characters are just as lost as the world was, looking for answers and making the best of a dreadful situation. Monroe was able to weave metaphors into her work, which allowed her creativity to come alive from the written word. No spoilers here, but I also appreciate the ingenuity her characters utilized to bring together one of the most aspects of today’s time: family. 

With the release date nearing Summer, you don’t want to miss out on this narrative by a beloved author!

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Mary Alice Monroe for an early copy of this book. 

This is the 7th book in The Beach House series and it was so good!!  I have loved all of the books in this series and the author does a great job making sure that they all can stand-alone.

The book begins as COVID is starting to hit in March 2020.  People are trying to return from other countries and some will come down with COVID.  This is a very small part of the book.

This book is about the third generation of the Rutledges from these books...the children of Palmer Rutledge....Linnea and Cooper and their friends.  They have been sent home from their jobs and they are all trying to find some normal in the craziness.  Gordon is trying to come to SC and John is already there so Linnea is flooded with emotions and is trying to figure it all out!!

They all come together and try to support each other during the crazy time.  I group email this is my favorite of the Beach House series.  I was beautifully written and so engaging!!!

This was a good book, but I am not sure I was ready to read a book set in the time of COVID-19 just yet. I felt a little on edge throughout, and it wasn’t the relaxing escape I usually get normally when reading Mary Alice Monroe’s books. I immediately requested it, though, because I love the Beach House books centered around the Rutledge family. 

It is a good book, that shows the family pulling together in one of the most difficult times in recent history. As someone who has lost a parent and grandparent to COVID, I was on edge   with certain things (i.e. the sense of security the characters seemed to feel interacting closely with their “pod”), and really kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. This perspective is definitely more about me than the book, but I do want to throw it out there, in case there are others who might feel the same way I do. 

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe returns us to the Isle of Palm with the continuing story of the Rutledge family. 
Linnea Rutledge is finding her way after being laid off from her dream job at the South Carolina aquarium due to the shutdowns caused by the Corona virus pandemic. With the help of her family especially he Aunt  Cara, linnea spends the summer months recreating and redefining her friendships, relationships, and job at the aquarium.
Mary Alice Monroe's book not only continues the story of the Rutledge family but also what living life during a pandemic means to them all 
I love this book and hope it is not the last in the series.

I didn’t think this book was quite as good as others I’ve read by Ms Monroe, but it is still a good read. It is set in the summer of i2020 when the pandemic changed so many things in our lives. All the characters are likable, some more than others. I was disappointed there was not more time with the turtles as they were hatching. The setting and the storms off the ocean are so well described I felt like I was right there in the storm with the characters. I recommend this series to anyone who likes stories about the ocean and following a fun family. This book can be read as a stand alone, but my suggestion is to start at the beginning of the series.

A book by Mary Alice Monroe always makes it feel like summer. Even though it was cold and icy outside when I read this, I took a well needed mental vacation to the beach. In her new novel, the author takes us back to Isle of Palms and the Rutledge family. I've read every book in this series and felt like I was visiting old friends. The main difference is that this book is written about 2020 and the characters all have the same problems adjusting to the new world after Covid hits as we all did. It's the first book that I've read about the pandemic and the way life changed and thought this added an extra dimension to this family saga.

Right from the beginning, the family is plagued with problems from Covid - Linnea loses her job and is afraid that she won't be able to pay rent on the cottage, David is stuck in England trying to get home to Cara and when he arrives, he needs to quarantine for 14 days so that Cara and Hope don't get sick. Cara asks Linnea to keep Hope at her home while David quarantines to make sure that she stays safe. To top it all off, Linnea's boyfriend, Gordon, is stuck in England and her ex-boyfriend John has moved back in next door to help his mother take care of Flo. When Gordon arrives and John gets out of quarantine, the quest for Linnea's affection grows stronger.

As always in a MAM book, there is information on turtles and turtle nests as well as about the effect of plastic on ocean creatures. She is a real conservationist and it is always very apparent in her books.

This book is a well written story of how Covid and the new rules changed everyone's lives and how difficult it was for many people to endure the isolation that it caused. Hopefully, by the time this book publishes in May, we'll have turned a corner on our battle with Covid and life can gradually return to the new normal.

Thanks to Gallery Books for an arc to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! It was heartwarming and strong. It was exactly what I needed with everything going on in the world! A happy little escape!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Linnea was just furloughed from her job at the aquarium due to the coronavirus. The last thing in the world she wants is a relationship. But fate has other things in mind for her. This book was both engaging and well written.

Mary Alice Monroe delivers another summer treat with The Summer of Lost and Found.  Her books are perfect to tuck into your beach bag or to enjoy in a cozy chair at home.  This book is part of a series that continues to follow the Rutledge family but it can just as easily be read as a stand-alone novel.  Monroe is known for her realistic storytelling with doses of humor and a few lessons thrown in.  This one is a story about family, relationships, challenges and commitment. There are old boyfriends and new boyfriends, a new roommate or two or three and yes, the coronavirus puts in an appearance as well.  It is the first novel I have read that deals with the pandemic and I like how she included the viewpoints of those affected ranging from a six year old child to adults.  This would be a great book club pick and I highly recommend it.  Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my review.  This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon and Barnes and Noble upon the book's publication.

Time to check in with friends at the Beach House and it is 2020 and the pandemic has started. Life is handing Lianne unexpected challenges in  her career, friendships, family, and friendships as COVID-19 changes the world. What will happen as COVID-19 strikes close to home? things get especially trick as her ex and her current boyfriend become part of her pandemic pod. How will they coexist and will she have to make a choice? I was hesitant to read this because the pandemic is still too real but it was like checking in with friends and finding out how they are coping with the pandemic.

“We’ve weathered a lot since the pandemic began. We’ve been frustrated, upset and challenged. But we’ve also been brought together a way none of us could have foreseen.”

Welcome back to Primrose Cottage and catch up with  Rutledge family, during the year 2020 and the beginning stages of the Covid pandemic and how it impacts not only each family member but the world around them.
The Covid pandemic has impacted all of us in different ways and I feel the author has addressed so much of it in this book.  I found it interesting to see how far we have come from the first days of the pandemic and the author had the characters experience the feelings of isolation, worry, fear and depression.  As well as the positive, the gift of time, the time to reflect and redirect your life path, your pod and the family and friends included in that.
I enjoyed this book and catching up with my favorite family

According to her profile: "Monroe is captivated by the beauty and fragility of the wild habitat around her. In particular, the coastal southern landscape became a strong and important focus of many of her novels. Monroe immerses herself in both academic research and hands-on/volunteering to learn about a species or conservation issue. Then, she uses the knowledge and experiences working with animals and the wildlife experts to craft captivating stories that identify important parallels between nature and human nature. Bottlenose dolphins, monarch butterflies, shorebirds, and loggerhead sea turtles are among the wild species she has worked with and woven into her novels."
This shows in her novels in which her most recent book, "The Summer of Lost and Found" builds upon not only the environment, global warming, and the protection of sea turtles but also with Covid and the uncertain outcome of the pandemic and the recession that continues onward.
The novel begins with numerous characters beginning with the lead -Linnea Rutledge- who has just been laid off from her aquarium job. She stuck between a rock and a hard place literally as her current and former love interest gather round during a pandemic. Gordon is her newest partner who has travelled from England to be with her. Meanwhile, John, hasn't left her side and moves in next door to quarantine after returning from California, quite conveniently.
With this noted we then see several other characters introduced to Anna (Annabelle) who was offered a room courtesy of Linnea at the beach cottage. Other individuals such as John's mother's relative who was diagnosed with dementia also is discussed.
The pandemic does create numerous challenges including social distancing on the beach with the turtle rescues to the introduction of relationships or the foregoing of them as the case may warrant.
I absolutely adored the ending with the way in which Gordon came forward proclaiming his career and seeking a relationship all at once while not really offering a relationship towards Linnea but professing a demand.
Her response was PRICELESS! Good for her!
In the end John was still there and who knows what the future may behold but one thing is certain, Life is short!
As I sit here typing this I have pondered the notion of whether or not to take the chance with underlying illness to get the Covid vaccination alongside my elderly mother. While there's not been discussion on this matter here it's something we all must ask ourselves as the pandemic rages on especially those of us that are high risk individuals.
I pray we all end this journey together and in good health. For those who have lost the battle you are gone but never forgotten.
As someone who has repeatedly dealt with pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, COPD, Asthma, allergies, and the like for the past 20 years I sympathize with those unable to simply take a breath. Upon receiving the flu/pneumonia shot I was sent to the ER with a racing heart. I was informed I had sinus tachycardia even though I've had a bubble echo cardiogram with no sign of heart problems, yet, still suffer from wheezing, coughing, etc.
Please take care of yourselves as you never know when it may be your last.
This book will have you addressing the importance of relationships, healthcare, our global warming of even just 1 degree, and so much more.
It was an eye opening read that will warm your heart and shed joy to all.
Thank you to M.A.M as she's known in the book world, to her pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Mary Alice Monroe returns to Sullivan’s Island and the Rutledge family in The Summer of Lost and Found. It’s the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and there are new things to learn: quarantine, masks, social distancing and where to find toilet paper.

Because of the lockdown, Linnea Rutledge has been laid off from her dream job at the aquarium. She has offered a room in her beach cottage to her friend Annabelle (now Anna) and is hoping that Gordon, her love of last summer, will be able to return from England. Meanwhile John, who ended their long term relationship shortly before she met Gordon, is back on Sullivan’s Island and planning to stay to help his mother take care of a beloved relative with dementia. Linnea can’t help having strong feelings for John but she can try to hide them.

The Summer of Lost and Found is also a summer of discovery. Like all of us, the Rutledges learn what is really important; love, family, friends and kindness. This is a slow moving, beautifully written jewel. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Mary Alice Monroe for this ARC.

Mary Alice Monroe returns to her beloved Beach House series and the characters her readers know and love of Cara and Linnea Rutledge in her forthcoming novel “The Summer Of Lost and Found”

What is different about this book however, is that our beloved fictional characters are set in the real world timeline of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, with the novel beginning with Linnea being laid off from her dream job at the South Carolina aquarium due to shut downs, and slowly over the course of the novel the characters learn everything about the world had to learn like social distancing, face masks, and spending time with only those in your household pod. I did miss the turtles though. There was very few turtle ladies scenes in this book due to the characters not having large gatherings, so that was the biggest difference that it didn’t feel like a “Beach House” book til more towards the end.

While I read novels to escape daily life and it was a bit tough to be hit with corona virus, covid-19, did you wash your hands, keep 6 feet away, on every few pages of the book, underneath that all there is a heartwarming, beautiful, touching story of hope and resilience here for a family undergoing tough changes, and this particular novel centers on Cara’s niece Linnea’s struggles to find herself and what her future in this world will be. With Mary Alice Monroe’s trademark warmth and heart, including a few tears, this novel will be a great beach read for the summer.

4.5 ⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy.

I love the cover and chapter art.i loved the name Linnea. Linnea works at an aquarium. I liked the descriptions. Linnea is furloughed and in financial trouble due corona virus. I liked the characters. I liked reading about linneas troubles.