WHERE THE RIVERS MERGE is another beautiful novel from beloved storyteller Mary Alice Monroe. Monroe's interest in conservation and her love of the natural world shine throughout the narrative. Eliza is a wonderful and endearing protagonist -- a true free spirit. Her son is the villain here - consumed by greed. Their battle over Mayfield plantation makes for an engaging page-turner. The setting is lovingly conveyed with just the right amount of sensory details, and the dual timeline format works well. While some may find the ending to be abrupt, it sounds like perhaps there is a sequel in the works.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Mary Alice Monroe delivers another engrossing novel. This one is told in dual timelines so the reader can begin to know and understand the motivations behind the main character, Eliza. We meet her as an 88 year old woman and then delve into her background as she narrates her early life growing up on a rice and horse farm. Eliza is a feisty non conformist and as the reader delves into her early years, it is apparent that she was influenced by the constraints of growing up in the early 1900’s. She defied the role of women and the racial divides of the south as a woman growing up in that era. This shaped her as an adult.
The author always weaves in lessons about animals and nature in all her books and this one dealt with horses and land conservation.
The ending was a bit too abrupt even though I know it was to prepare the reader for Book 2: The Rivers’ End. I will definitely be anxiously waiting for it to be published.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC.

This book is so beautifully written that I could not put this book down. This is a dual time line that takes place in present time and back in the early 1900s that describes the lives of Eliza and her family and friends. This multi-generational book allows Eliza to tell her life story to her granddaughter and great niece about her history at Mayfield. It is a wonderfully written book. I will patiently await the second book. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to read this book.

This was a great start to a book. Sadly it ended 3/4 of the way through the story. Where was the ending?

Mary Alice Monroe takes us once again to the beautiful low country of South Carolina. Where the Rivers Merge is a lovely, lyrical, and poignant, yet heartbreaking dual timeline story of Eliza Rivers and her beloved ACE basin. Thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Mary Alice Monroe is one of my favorite authors so I was excited to see that she has written this new novel. And truth be told, it is the first installment of a two-part saga. I love it. Monroe details a rich description of Charleston and its surrounding area that transports the reader there. A saga told looking back from 1908 covering 80 years, we hear the tale of the Rivers family, their joys and yet many tragedies too. Eliza is a force to be reckoned with and shows how women in society have evolved. As a young girl she was generous of heart, idealistic, and saw no boundaries for her best friend, Covey, although she was naive in her beliefs. But she stayed true to herself as a young woman and later a much older woman, fighting for the right of nature and others. I like how Monroe takes you on a journey with the characters of the book. I really look forward to the completion of this tale. Many thanks to #netgalley #wheretheriversmerge #maryalicemonroe for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe is something different from her usual fare. I enjoyed the setting and history of the ACE Basin. The characters were well defined and enjoyable. Overall the story reminded me of others in this genre but I look forward to the next part in Rivers Edge.

This is a split-timeline book that follows the life of Eliza who grew up on a horse and rice farm in South Carolina. Eliza was raised to be a proper southern girl and she only wanted to ride horses and run through the forest. The current timeline is her son is trying to take her beloved Mayfield away.

I lived near Charleston and her descriptions of the area were on point.

This book was fabulous. The writing was fabulous, the characters well-developed. I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my gosh, this book! I live in SC myself, so reading this book was so comforting and cozy to me. I loved Eliza’s free-spirit and really felt a connection to her, as I am the same way. This book wasn’t just great because of where it took place, but because of all the life lessons and information I learned while reading it. I will be sharing this book with everyone I know and letting them know they need to read!

this is a duel timeline story. Eliza grew up on the Mayfield plantation, as she turns 88, she fights to keep it out of the hands of her greedy son.

Written eighty years apart, this lovely story tells us of Eliza’s beginnings at Mayfield. A place she loves beyond words.

Eliza does not conform to the unfair ways of society and family in a time when only men inherited the family manse. But no one loves this land the way she does. Eliza wants to protect it. Her brother would sell it.

Eighty years later and her son is trying to take it from her. Lucky for her, she has two strong women ready to fight by her side.

I absolutely loved this book, the way my mother and I loved all her books. Although my mother left this earth a couple of years ago, I thought of her so many times reading this book and was thrilled the Pinckney’s were included. She would have been happy to see her people in one of Monroe’s stories.

It’s always a pleasure!

NetGalley/ William Morrow May 13, 2025

Monroe is a master storyteller. She had a way of weaving a. Book that so captures a time and place that you feel like you are there .
I loved this book she creates stories dealing with families that aren’t contrived and I love that .
This is a must read . Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

This is an excellent book that follows the life of a woman who grew up on a horse and rice farm near Charleston, South Carolina. The only daughter of a woman to whom society was important she was expected to adhere to society’s expectations for young women, Eliza would rather ride a horse and run through the forest. The book is narrated by Eliza and she tells the story of her life and her efforts to put some of her land into conservation for future generations. This is a book that I think will be enjoyed by anyone liking fiction, and particularly fiction set in the southern US. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have loved all of Mary Alice Monroe's past books and this one did not disappoint! The storytelling was excellent with beautiful imagery leading me to be hooked from the beginning. The only problem is waiting until the next book comes out.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I have read books by this author before, but I have to say this by far is my new favorite. I enjoy dual timeline stories and this one did not disappoint, the story of Eliza, Tripp, and Covey was heartwarming, interesting, and very well written. I enjoyed all the characters, but especially Eliza whose love for Mayfield , the land and all it represented was inspiring. I enjoyed the author’s writing style , it was very descriptive, I felt like I was there. I highly recommend this book, it ended quite abruptly, but in the author’s notes she said a sequel is coming, I look forward to reading it.

I love this author, I have read every book that she has written.. This one did not disappoint. Set in both Charleston and the low country of South Carolina, the reader meets Eliza in the present, who is retelling her story to her granddaughter and grand neice. Jumping back to the period before WWI, we find Eliza as a young feisty woman, who defies the norms in her family and her relationships. The Jim Crow era, the horrors of WWI, and what the role of women in that time period are all explored. The only problem that I had with the book is the sudden ending. Will there be a sequel?

A sprawling affecting saga of family and the land.
Interesting dual timelines--initially I felt more connected to the present day story, but as the historical storyline progressed felt deeply invested in its emotional telling.
The ending felt a bit abrupt, but the revealing Author's Note explained and left me eager for the sequel.

With thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-ARC.

I was so excited to see a new Mary Alice Monroe book that I did a happy dance. She's becoming one of my new favorite authors.
This book I really did love. There's nothing like family history and knowing where you come from.
I especially loved it when Savannah took an interest in her grandma's stories and the home she grew up in. I didn't much care for her greedy dad though..selfish man.
Monroe's descriptions made me feel like I was there in the plantation with Eliza and her family.
Eliza's my favorite character of course because her storytelling reminds me of my grandfather's stories.
So I resonated with this story a lot. This will be my favorite book by her.
Your heart will rejoice with Eliza and break with it down through the generations of family.
5 stars from me for an excellent read.
I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Add this book to your “Want to Read” list and buy it as soon as it arrives from the publisher next spring. I read an ARC and throughly enjoyed this book. It’s a wonderful novel in a stellar setting. The protagonist’s life story growing up on a rice and horse farm in South Carolina is engaging. I grew to care deeply about every thrilling personal victory and tragic heartache. Just when I anticipated one plot twist the tale would go to an unexpected but pleasantly surprising new place. The story had great pace and while I’ve grown lukewarm about split time novels this one really sings! All historic details were accurate and made this time period in the Low Country of South Carolina’s coast come alive.
The author, Mary Alice Monroe, tells us in her notes this is a story about conservation and love of land. She certainly delivered on this and so much more! I look forward to the sequel.
#WheretheRiversMerge

A beautiful setting for well-crafted characters. Monroe has created a meaningful story that got all the emotions out of me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.