Where the Rivers Merge is a multigenerational, coming-of-age novel that follows the life of 88-year-old Eliza and her family's beloved land, Mayfield. The novel is a love story to South Carolina and has similar vibes to Where the Crawdads Sing. Eliza recounts her childhood growing up in the early 1900s to her granddaughter and her best friend's granddaughter ,as her childhood land is being passed on to the next generation. This one will pull on your heartstrings as Eliza's family is torn apart by war and broken dreams. The story leaves off with many questions, as the sequel, Where The River Ends, is set to come out in 2026. I am looking forward to continuing to read Eliza's story. The story started a little slow, but Covey's story drew me in. The narrator's southern accent reflects that of Eliza's, who narrates the story. The narrator used different tones for each character and their ages, which kept my attention and made the story easy to follow. I recommend this story to lovers or historical fiction or those interested in the early 1900s. 4.5/5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

What a story!!

This one brings us back to 1908, in the Deep South, with a very wealthy family. Mind you, this was in the times of segregation, when it was not considered “acceptable” to befriend anyone with a dark skin tone.
Eliza is the young girl on the plantation. She has two older brothers. Her family works (or helps) on the plantation…at least Eliza and her brothers…. Her Mom was definitely the one who came from money!

We basically follow along with her story as she grows up… from 1908 to 1988… I think?!

At a very young age, she becomes friends with another little girl when she gets lost. She does not see a difference in skin color… and wants to go back to play with her. Her Mom and Dad are very much SPLIT on this decision….

As Eliza grows up, the war is raging, and she goes through MANY hardships…but for me, the way that her father treated her, as opposed to her brothers… after ALL that she did, was horrible!!!

But, it seems to have made her much stronger… in the ways of life.

This was both a heart-warming and heart-breaking book! It made me LOL on occasion, and then brought me to tears a moment later…

It was also sweet to see that many of Eliza’s traits did not change over the years…

I will warn you that I did not realize that this was book # 1, so when it abruptly ENDED, without giving me answers I so desperately needed, I was shocked!! (And Sad…) I’m not sure when book # 2 is coming out, but it will not be soon enough for me!!

#WhereTheRiversMerge by #MaryAliceMonroe and narrated beautifully by #Jenna Lamia, #CassandraCampbell and the author herself.

**** This has NOT YET BEEN RELEASED, so look 👀 for it on 5/13/25!!! ****

All the stars for me!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫💫💫💫💫🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HarperAudioAdult and #HarperMuse for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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I did a combination of digital and audio for this book. The audiobook was narrated by Jenna Lamia, Cassandra Campbell and Mary Alice Monroe. The narration of the younger and older main character, Eliza, were really good. I loved the countrified accent of the younger version and the more sophisticated voice of the older Eliza. It really brought the story to life.

This historical fiction was a dual timeline of the life of Eliza. It is basically the elderly Eliza telling two female family members the story of her life. All this is going on while her son is trying to get her kicked out of her own company because of her age.

Eliza grows up in the south on an isolated manor. Her best friend is African American at a time when that just could not happen. The story gives insight into that complicated, yet simple relationship. It also deals with gender expectations and family conflict because of it.

I really loved this book and hope the author writes more of this type. Her character development was exceptional and these characters will stay with me for a long time.

Thanks to William Morrow and Harper Audio for the copies. All thoughts are my own.

I loved everything about this audio ARC of #WhereTheRiversMerge that was provided by #NetGalley. The narrator had a wonderful knack for seamlessly blending all of the voices of the different characters in the book. I loved the dual timeline and the plot that unfolded involving Eliza and the history of her home, Mayfield. I will absolutely be buying anything this author writes!

Well crap, be warned, this novel is a part one of two. Now I’ll have to wait for the rest of Eliza Rivers’ story.

Alternating between 1908 and 1988, we follow Eliza’s deep-rooted love for her ancestral home, Mayfield, located just outside Charleston, South Carolina. As a child, Eliza enjoyed a fun and somewhat carefree upbringing, often exploring the estate to the dismay of her mother, who favored their more refined residence in Charleston. But when the Great War breaks out, Eliza’s world shifts dramatically. Her dreams are derailed, and she quickly learns the harsh constraints of a patriarchal society.

Eighty years later, Eliza has lived a full and eventful life. Determined to protect Mayfield from her only son, who wants to develop the land, she enlists the help of a trusted family lawyer to preserve the estate and its surrounding lands for future generations. As she shares the stories behind Mayfield’s murals with her great-niece and granddaughter, Eliza recounts her life with honesty—its greatest joys and deepest sorrows. This cathartic conversation not only connects the generations but also offers Eliza a renewed sense of hope for the future.

With rich descriptions of the South Carolina coast, Eliza’s story is a powerful portrait of a woman fighting to protect her heritage. The family drama is both poignant and stirring, leaving no doubt of Eliza’s fierce resolve and good intentions. I look forward to part two of her enduring legacy.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and of course the author Mary Alice Monroe for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Where the Rivers Merge is out on May 13th. All opinions are my own.

My first book by Mary Alice Monroe and oh my goodness...this multigenerational story in the Low Country, going back and forth between the early 1900s and 1980s, had me absolutely transfixed.

In 1908, Eliza Rivers is a young girl living at her family's estate Mayfield, full of life and wanting a life of nothing more than riding horses and living at her beloved Mayfield. Family expectations, first loves, war, and duty quickly create barrier for Eliza to live out her dream.

In 1988, Eliza is now in her 80s, and she finds Mayfield is at risk of being lost at the hands of her own son. Reconnecting with two young members of her family to try to save Mayfield from its demise, she begins to tell the story of the Rivers family...

First of all, Mary Alice Monroe, where have you been in my reading list? I will absolutely be reading more of your books. The storytelling was beautiful, a perfect balance of dialogue, descriptions, and character development. I love that the estate felt like a character on its own. Eliza's spirit was catching, and I was happy to ride along as she came of age in the early 1900s.

I went into this book blind, so I HAD NO IDEA it was part one of two! I will be eagerly waiting for the second book and putting it in the hands of every library patron looking for a family saga!!!

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio and NetGalley for the advanced audio copy of this book.

Where the Rivers Merge is a lovely story with nice, descriptive writing. I loved the strong female main character and getting to follow the story of her fascinating life. It's a moving read with lots of interesting historical detail, and I'll definitely be recommending it to fans of generational sagas.

Where The Rivers Merge AUDIO by Mary Alice Monroe is the fist chapter in a saga, related mostly in the form of stories told by the eighty-eight-year-old protagonist to her granddaughter and her great niece. Eliza is the head of the Rivers/DeLancey family. She is also the Chairman of the Board for the corporation that owns Mayfield. Her son is looking to unseat her. Money. She is tired so she left the annual meeting before lunch and brought home with her two young women who are interested in her stories, stories that stretch back to 1908, a time when their world was changing. Eliza was what modern people would call a tomboy and her best friend was a young black woman who loved on the property. Through her stories the young women not only learn the history of the place, but how it has shaped this impressive old woman.

Her father was an impoverished landowner who married for money and probably more than once regretted it. His wife was never happy at Mayfield and finally used Eliza as an excuse to move back into her parent’s mansion and resume her life in city society. Eliza was never happy away from Mayfield or from Covey. She managed to bring Covey to the city with her, although the restrictions between races were much more defined there. Covey, however, shown. This is a complicated story with a plethora of characters, all of whom have importance in the overall. It is not always a happy story, as world war threatens, and poverty is always at the door, but it is a story well told. Any story that covers eight-eight years is a saga. Slice of life with multiple plots as the years fly by. Excellent, realistic characters and a life well-lived.

Narrators included the author, Jenna Lamia, and Cassandra Campbell and it was a magical grouping that told the story with dignity and aplomb. This was a wonderful story to begin with and these voices made it more so.

I was invited to listen to Where The Rivers Merge by HarperAudio Adult. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarperAudioAdult #JennaLamia #CassandraCampbell #MaryAliceMonroe #WhereTheRiversMerge

Where the Rivers Merge is difficult to review because it isn't complete, and when I say that I mean this is the beginning of a series and I didn't know that going in. If I had known that from the beginning, I think I would have had a different view on the writing/view of the book.

This was eloquently written with exquisite detail and thought into the various descriptions throughout. My frustration comes in when there is what seems like so much focus on parts of her life that we get absolutely no answers to in this book. Her lost friendship and her marriage are almost a total mystery, and I was waiting to hear about that for a few hours. That was my main let down with this book, I think I wanted more answers than it was going to give me, not knowing there is at least one more on the way.

I originally rated this a 4 ⭐ book. And I think I will leave it there, even with my criticisms of the book. I really would rather give it a 3.5, but as we all know there is no half star rating system here or on most other rating platforms.

I enjoyed Where the Rivers Merge and the intertwined stories of Covie and Eliza. The novel leans more heavily on Eliza’s perspective, delving into her life and relationships. I found the characters engaging and appreciated how Eliza and Covie were able to rise above the social expectations of their time to form a genuine friendship.

However, I was a bit disappointed by the abrupt ending, which leaves readers waiting for the next installment to find out what happens next. Still, as a story about love, loss, and finding the strength to move forward, this was a compelling and worthwhile read.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Fantastic read, with warm, richly written characters in a story you don't want ever to end.

Where the Rivers Merge is Mary Alice Monroe at her finest—an immersive, heartfelt story that captures the complicated ties between family, land, and legacy in the American South. This first installment of a two-part saga introduces readers to Eliza Rivers, a fierce and free-spirited woman determined to protect her family’s cherished home, Mayfield, from both natural and human threats across the turbulent 20th century.

The novel moves between two timelines: the present day in 1988, where an 88-year-old Eliza fights to preserve Mayfield against her own son’s ambitions, and the past, beginning in 1908, where young Eliza grows up defying expectations in a changing world. Through these parallel narratives, Monroe shows how family stories and personal choices ripple across generations, just like the rivers that carve the Lowcountry landscape.

Monroe’s writing brings the South Carolina ACE Basin vividly to life—the marshes, forests, wildlife, and even the rice fields feel tangible and real. Her passion for ecology and conservation runs through the story without ever feeling preachy. Instead, it’s woven naturally into Eliza’s character, making her fight to save her land feel deeply personal and resonant.

Eliza herself is the beating heart of the novel. She’s stubborn, imperfect, and unshakably loyal to what she loves. Her journey tackles hard issues: gender roles that try to box her in, racial divides that complicate her friendships, and the constant push-pull between tradition and change. Watching her grow from an adventurous child into a commanding matriarch feels honest and earned.

The story isn’t without its frustrations. Some readers may find the early chapters slow as Monroe lays the groundwork for decades of storytelling. The dual timelines, while rich, sometimes steal momentum from each other. And it’s worth noting: this is only the first half of Eliza’s story. The novel ends with a lot left unresolved, setting the stage for the sequel, The River’s End, in 2026. Readers who prefer complete closure might find the cliffhanger frustrating.

Still, Where the Rivers Merge is a beautifully told, emotional experience that lingers long after the final page. It’s a story about finding strength in your roots, fighting for what matters, and understanding that sometimes the greatest legacy is the land itself. Monroe’s move into historical fiction feels natural—her attention to emotional truth and environmental detail makes this one of her best works yet.

Highly recommended for fans of multigenerational sagas, Southern fiction, and strong female leads who refuse to be forgotten.

My favorite Mary Alice Monroe book by far. However, it is the first of two books. I was not aware of that and am disappointed. I wish I had known as I prefer to read them back to back.

This is the story of Eliza Rivers and her beloved family estate, Mayfield. Told in dual storylines. The 'present day' is in 1988, where eighty-eight year old Eliza is telling her story to a granddaughter and niece. She begins her life story in 1908, when she was eight. This first book takes you until just before The Great Depression. During these first 20ish years, Eliza goes through typically coming of age things, with a lot of racial and gender challenges thrown in.

I loved Eliza's story thus far, though it was all very predictable. However, I look forward to the next book- especially how they weathered The Great Depression.

Jenna Lamia and Cassandra Campbell narrate the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I did really enjoy the story like of Eliza and Covie. I loved that this book challenged social norms of the times. However I felt this book was slow in pace. I just couldn't seem to really get engrossed in the book. I wish there was just something else to draw me in. Over all I would give this book a 3.5 star rating.

4.5 stars
This was my first Mary Alice Monroe read, but it certainly won’t be my last! Especially since Where the Rivers Merge turns out to be part one of a two-part story, something I didn’t realize when I was granted an advanced reader copy by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for my honest opinion of the work.

I found the characters to be well crafted; I was invested in many of them by novel’s end, and I’m eager to meet up with them again to see their fates. I thought the book moved along quickly, never losing my interest.

One of the reasons I was excited to listen to the book is because Cassandra Campbell is one of the narrators; she voices the elder Eliza. The story switches between Eliza in the early 1900s and Eliza in the late 1900s. I also really appreciated the afterword read by the author on the reasons for her writing the novel and her research into the setting, which was painted vividly throughly the story and was arguably one of the characters in the story.

I’m very eager to read the conclusion of this story. But it is only because this is part one that I won’t be recommending it to my book club.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this absolutely wonderful book.
This book was glorious.
I laughed , I cried, sometimes both at the same time.
I will definitely be recommending to everyone.

This is a lovely book and an enjoyable read. It explores some the difficult concepts of expectation vs desire, racism vs friendship, and the evolving relationships of family. I wish the author’s note had come at the beginning of the book so that her passion for ecology and conservation was forefront; as it was, I found the 1988 storyline unnecessary. On another note, I listened to the audiobook and the narration of Jenna Lamia was absolutely perfect.

An engaging story

Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe is a heartfelt novel about love, healing, and second chances. With lyrical writing and a strong sense of place, Monroe draws readers into a moving journey of emotional growth and renewal. The characters feel real and relatable, and the story’s message about the power of love and forgiveness is both uplifting and inspiring. A beautifully told, satisfying read for fans of emotional, character-driven fiction.. I cannot wait to read the second installment of Eliza’s masterful storytelling!

Audiobook

Told between dual timelines, Mary Alice Monroe takes her readers through the life of Eliza Rivers, the matriarch of a vast land in South Carolina. Through her youth, friendships, first love, and heartbreak, Eliza tells stories to the next generation, hoping they fall as in love with her home as she has.

A beautifully told tale transports you back in time. The story of a woman nearing the end reminiscing about her past is not groundbreaking material, but the writing invests you all in the same. As a reader, I could tell what heartbreak was coming and when, but I still wanted to hear about it. The story ends with a to be continued in the second book, which was a little frustrating, but I will look forward to the second part of Eliza's story when it comes out.

This advanced listening copy is courtesy of Netgalley and Harper Audio Adult. All opinions are my own.

A saga that stretches over several decades in South Carolina. The story of Eliza Rivers the daughter of owners of the Estate of Mayfield. The many changes in the world she lives in told in a dual timeline. Touching many topics and events going on during her 88 years. From segregation, WWI, love and loss, friendships and the everlasting love of Mayfield. I missed that fact that this is book one and looking forward to the next book. This would be a wonderful mini-series! The audiobook was excellent, I didn’t realize that Mary Alice Monroe was so multitalented. Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. I truly enjoyed reading and listening to this book. All opinions expressed are solely my own. #WheretheRiversMerge