This is my 1st book that mentions Coronovirus! I always thought it takes YEARS to write a book but I guess not. Mary Alice Monroe is a fabulous author and I love reading her books! This is my 6th book by her. This one just did nothing for me. I DNF at 50%. I feel like we’ve lived enough with Covid and I don’t want to read about it all over again. Just not for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

The Summer of Lost and Found is the latest addition to author Mary Alice Monroe’s Beach House series. This book, unlike any book I have seen, is very reflective of what our planet has endured during 2020. Our characters are on Isle of Pines, off the coast of Charleston, SC, when the pandemic begins in March of 2020. Our primary character, Linnea Rutledge, and many of her colleagues, have been furloughed from the aquarium since it has been closed to the public. But Linnea, unlike so many of her colleagues, has been embraced by her Aunt Cara/landlord and told not to worry about rent, just take care of her other expenses.

When Cara’s husband, David, returns from England and goes into quarantine and then takes ill, Cara offers Linnea a stipend to care for their daughter Hope until David is well and it is safe to bring a compromised child home again. Being out of work and loving her little cousin, Linnea is happy to accept but had no idea how much energy childcare would take.

Meanwhile, Linnea tries to follow suit with her aunt and her dear grandmother Lovie and offer the small beach house as a refuge for, first, her colleague Annabelle who is also out of work, and then her brother, Cooper who is home from Oxford once he has quarantined. At the same time and at the house next door to Linnea her former boyfriend John, the one she left the Lowcountry for and moved cross country to San Francisco, has come to stay in his mother’s guesthouse as he too quarantines after having been exposed to the virus.

The family/friend group of Cara, David, and Hope, Linnea’s parents Palmer and Julia, her brother Cooper, Annabelle, the family next door, including Aunt Cara’s best friend Emmi Peterson, the elderly Flo Prescott who lives with Emmi, and, of course, the almost persona non gratis, John Peterson. Later, after their quarantine periods are completed, to join the “pod” are Gordon Carr, a PhD marine researcher from England and Linnea’s new boyfriend and Pandora James, another English friend of Linnea’s.

This story highlights the careful way in which folks had to negotiate the pandemic. It shows the love and care for one another while still highlighting the fears and steps taken to protect one’s self and others. It also shows how folks cared for the mental health of one another during a very dark time, including finding joyful ways to bring the group together. Main character Linnea is a vehicle for character study of a young person that 2020 put in limbo. Her career is stymied, but can she reinvent herself and what she offers? Her love life is thwarted, first by her former love being nearby, then by her current boyfriend’s requests when he arrives, and finally by the secrets revealed. As the story unfolds, it has a message of understanding for everyone from every age group and walk of life. And, like with the pandemic itself, the next chapters in the dynamic characters of the Beach House series are yet to be written.

I very much enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it!

Beautifully written
Full of compassion
Timely and courageous

An amazing pandemic story about the Rutledge family as they go through challenges and upheaval in this quarantine world.

I loved this heart warming story about the realities of what we all harrowingly went through this past year, where the complexities of our personal and professional life were tested, and bonds broken or strengthened. In a gorgeous setting of a small island town, you will enjoy reading about courage, generosity and resilience that will inspire the best of us through this remarkable storytelling that is signature to Mary Alice Monroe.

I had been waiting to read a novel such as this! Please don’t miss this!

During the COVID-19 pandemic Linnea has been furloughed from her job and now lives in the beach house owned by her Aunt Cara. With no job at the moment and now taking care of Aunt Cara's daughter Hope, the last thing she needs is to find out that her ex John is quarantining next door. Having left her battered and bruised heart at John's doorstep as soon as he dumped her and bought her a one-way ticket back home, she wants nothing to do with him and wishes her boyfriend Gordon is not overseas. Things take a startling turn when Hope and John begin passing notes to each other, and Linnea can't help but to remember the John she used to know. They somehow manage to become friends again and when Gordon arrives, Linnea is stuck trying to decide what she wants out of life.

This is the first book I've read from this author and was not aware this was part of a series. Without reading the other previous books this one was easy to follow and not confusing. Linnea did things and went go along with everyone else's decisions, not really putting her foot down more firmly or saying no. When her friend Pandora shows up and openly flirts with Gordon, Linnea just shrugs her shoulders and doesn't confront her or say anything. Towards the end Linnea is finally sticking up for herself. There were many other POV's in the book with the previous characters from the series, each dealing with their own family problems. I like how the characters were not perfect and they all had baggage. Overall the book was good and the storyline flowed well. Looking forward to reading the next one.

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book.

I realize now that this was part of a series, but didn't realize it at first. I think it did well as a standalone. The story takes place at the beginning of Covid, so if you don't want to read about what we've all been going through, you'd be better off skipping this one.

The story deals with relationships--all sorts of relationships. Linnea is the main character and she has some sort of relationship with all of the other characters. Some are family, some friends and a couple are men that she had romantic relationships with. The Summer of Lost and Found was a story of love, caring, compassion, choices, friendship and forgiveness.

I really admired the love and caring between the generations of this family. I wish we all had that!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Gallery Books and NetGalley.

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe

Dear Fellow Reader,

Summer is coming and it is time to get ready with a beach read. I do not consider the term beach read a derogatory term. I love a good beach read.

And I do have a love for the Rutledge Family that make up the Beach House Series by Mary Alice Monroe. I was so glad to see that there is a new book. We are now learning about the third generation of the family that has been a South Carolina family for generations. Linnea Rutledge was a vital part of the last book and is the star of this book.

In The Summer of Lost and Found, we find Linnea arriving home from the job she loves totally dejected. COVID has hit and she has been laid off work. She and her friend Annabelle are both without work and money. Linnea calls her Aunt and Landlord Cara right way to tell her that she isn’t in a position to keep up with the rent. Cara gives Linnea a few ideas for work but also tells her that they will work it out. But then she drops what Linnea feels is a bomb. John Peterson is back next door to Linnea. The man that she thought she loved, the man she moved to California to be with, the man that broke her heart is next door? She hopes that he is leaving soon because her long-distance love, Gordon will be back from England soon. It feels strange to have the two of them so close.

And then David gets COVID, and Linnea has to really pitch in to help with Hope. They are all afraid for the little girl after her illness. Keeping her safe is a big concern.

The book takes us through their summer of COVID. To keep all of them safe, they form a pod in the neighborhood and do everything they can to stay safe. Linnea will learn to be able to do what is right for her and new love is found. It is everything you want from a beach read. The story moves along at a good pace and you learn more about familiar characters.

While you might wonder if it is a little soon to be reading about COVID, I don’t really think it is in this story. While it had an influence on the story, it wasn’t a main character. It was more of a vehicle for the story than a lead.

I enjoyed the book. I was happy with the character development and didn’t feel that anything was out of place. The characters continue to grow and expand. Linnea is growing up and learning what she wants and doesn’t want. I’m sure a little sand in between the pages won’t hurt the book at all.

Thanks for reading.

This is the newest in Mary Alice Monroe’s books about the Rutledge family of Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms, SC. Linnea Rutledge, granddaughter of the family matriarch, has been laid off from the Charleston Aquarium due to COVID. She retreats to the family cottage and invites a coworker and her brother to stay with her. Her ex boyfriend is quarantined next door and her present love interest arrives from England. Monroe does an excellent job of presenting a contemporary story about life in COVID while still bringing in the beauty of life in the Low Country and Rutledge family’s beloved sea turtles. She presents an excellent “cozy read” with both returning and new characters. I have enjoyed all of these books and this is no exception. I thank Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Exceptional story, as always, from Mary Alice Monroe. This book delves into relationships, losses, and love during the Covid pandemic. The writing is outstanding with amazing characterization! First book I've read that centers around the pandemic and was done extremely well. Monroe never fails to get you involved with the plot whole "heartedly".

I was given an ebook ARC by Netgalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.

It was a pleasure to return to the Rutledge extended family in the low country in this book. Mary Alice Monroe has combined her love for turtles and nature with heartfelt relationships all set in the pandemic. This is the first book that I’ve read dealing with all the concerns and restrictions that we’ve all been living with. And I like the advice Linnea received, trust your instincts and take it one day at a time.

Thanks to Gallery Books for and advanced copy of The Summer of Lost and Found.

I am a big Mary Alice Monroe fan and love the Beach House series, but I really struggled with The Summer of Lost and Found.. The covid pandemic was the big storyline of the book and as much as I tried I just didn't want to read about the pandemic yet.

The Summer of Lost and Found is the story of family dynamics during a pandemic. Mary Alice Monroe continues her beloved Beach House series and the saga of the Rutledge family as the 2020 pandemic causes the world to shut down. The setting off the coast of South Carolina, Sullivan’s Island, and the Isle of Palms, is where MAM weaves low-country charm and the magic of a beach house with family relationships during quarantine, job lay-offs, travel restrictions, and handling commitments. The beauty of the island beaches, wildlife, and even “Frogmore Stew” combined with old and new relationships makes for an endearing, satisfying saga. What’s important is “family weathering a storm with compassion, camaraderie, ingenuity, commitment, friendship, fun, and most of all love.” Take a walk on the beach, soak up tidbits on king tides, loggerhead turtle habitats, sea oats, dunes and fiddler crabs-all while gleaning wisdom from several generations of Southern women; “If it’s not one thing, it’s another!”

It was good to be back with the Rutledge family and the Beach House folks. Come join them as they deal with problems and life during the wonderful year of 2020. As in real life, I felt the different emotions that the family was going through. Linna is the star of this book to me. She is going through so much and I felt like I was right there with her. These characters are wonderful and I love hanging out with them. I look forward to seeing them again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Linnea had her hands full, but there was always time for something else or so she thought. But over time she got burned out, and things start falling apart. She received some wonderful advice, life lessons, and some amazing words of wisdom that put the pandemic and herself in a whole new perspective.
The story is her journey and what happened that challenging spring and summer with the pandemic going on. This story was inspiring and as many are still going through the pandemic, the lessons and reading a different perspective is calming and enlightening. One in particular is to Be A Turtle. They have been around for over a hundred million years, and they survive because they follow their instinct.
When Linnea is challenged, she begins to change and what she discovers is what she lost and what she has found.
I received an ARC from Gallery Books through NetGalley.

This book is contemporary fiction and could be considered a beach read, but it is by no means “light reading.” Set during the Covid-19 pandemic in the picturesque Isle of Palms, this book captured me via the plot, although all of the details about the pandemic were off-putting for me. There is the uncertainty, the worry, the quarantines, mask-wearing and social distancing, all included in the pages of this novel. Fortunately, the author managed to include a plot about choices, family relationships and love relationships that were interesting enough to keep me reading regardless of the Covid-19 hovering throughout the book. Linnea Rutledge is furloughed from her job at the Charleston Aquarium due to the pandemic and has no plans for what to do with her time since her boyfriend Gordon is stuck in England because of Covid-19. Her former boyfriend John is quarantined next door but is sending her missives in the form of notes in paper airplanes. This part was somewhat humorous and I did look forward to the new ways that John kept finding to communicate with Linnea. The descriptions of the setting and characters are vivid and each character is portrayed in a three-dimensional way that allowed me to get to know them well as I read the book. The theme of getting closer to the ones you love during the pandemic runs throughout the book and touched my heart. But the underlying angst caused by Covid-19 made it difficult for me at times to pick up the book and continue reading. However, I found that like most people, I do enjoy a story involving love, family, a beach house and sea turtles.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This is a Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction/Chick-Lit that takes place during the beginning of covid-19. I was surprised that I enjoyed this book because I thought that the covid-19 parts would really upset me. I have to say in the beginning the covid-19 parts bother me, but the storyline pulled me in. I liked the characters, and I felt the books was written well. I enjoyed the southern parts of this book. I have to say the ending felt very rushed to me, and I did not love the ending. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Gallery Books) or author (Mary Alice Monroe) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This is the first book I have read in the Beach House series. I wanted to read it because I have heard so much about it from the Fab Five of Friends and Fiction on Facebook that Mary Alice Monroe is a part of. I had a hard time in the beginning with all the characters. They were brought in quite quickly and it took me awhile to put them all together as to who was related to who and who was the Mom, Aunt etc. Once I got that all figured out I really enjoyed he book. Having it set in 2020 with COVID 19 at the helm only made the book more real. It was all about choice and family and the love of family. How everyone helps each other out in time of need. Isn't that what life and family is all about? Mary Alice hit the nail on the head with this book. I highly recommend if you are looking for great summer read that will warm your heart.
Thanks to #Gallerybooks, #netgalley and @maryalicemonroe for an ARC of this lovely read.

The Summer of Lost and Found, by Mary Alice Monroe will definitely be one of 2021's favorite beach reads.

Being set on the Isle of Palms, off the coast of the Carolinas, Ms. Monroe revisited the Rutledge family of her Beach House Series. I have never read any books from the Beach House Series, but was able to jump right into this book with ease. The book is set in pandemic laden 2020, which kind if made me question if this is what I wanted to be reading about since I read to escape what us going on in the world and my life. As the book progressed, I found that I was less bothered by the pandemic and more interested in the actual story. Mary Alice Monroe has a way of writing her characters that make them totally feel alive. Although it all takes place in just one summer, all the emotions & interaction between the characters makes it seem like you have known them much longer. The descriptive setting transports you to the island and you will feel like you experienced the turtle hatchings and trek to the water for yourself.

Whether you read this at the beach or somewhere totally unrelated to the beach, this is a book you will not want to miss!

Book Review: The Summer of Lost and Found, by Mary Alice Monroe, publication date May 11, 2021
Having read all of the Beach House series, I was excited to see that MAM had continued the story line with the familiar and familial characters. Cara, Linnea, Emmi, Flo, John figure prominently in the story – which details how the Covid virus has impacted their lives and community.

Both Linnea and her friend Anna lose their Aquarium jobs due to its Covid shut down and Linnea offers Anna the opportunity to stay with her to help save money during the difficult time. Her former beau, John, comes home to stay with his mother to help take care of Flo – whose Alzheimer’s disease is becoming increasingly difficult and sad for all. Linnea’s boyfriend Gordon has an opportunity to come back to SC for a project – so it all gets very cozy in their “pod.”

While some may have disliked the story due to its overwhelming influence by the Covid experience, I found it to be a real example of how families coped and tried to stay safe – amidst the difficult disease.
It was encouraging despite the difficult circumstances they all faced and while I didn’t enjoy it as much as the other Beach House series books, I found it relevant and thoughtful and provided a way forward perhaps for those dealing with similar circumstances.

Having lived through the pandemic, I didn't feel like I was ready to read about this tumultuous time. However, in typical MAM style, she draws together the need for family first and friendships that develop into family members. Each book in the Beach House series takes the point of view of one of the Rutledge family members, The summer of Lost and Found speaks to how the entire family works to service the craziest summer in one hundred years. Each book adds an incremental character in the Rutledge family and this book brought Anna into the story. The emotional roller coaster that Mary Alice Monroe takes you on is just like all of her other novels. Take your mask off and enjoy this story.

This book is an excellent mix of living at or visiting the beach, dealing with Covid restrictions, family and romantic relationships, and sea turtles!! This is one of my absolute favorites of Mary Alice’s books!!