This story, about a group of family members and friends who form a "pod" to ride out the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, is obviously chick lit. But it has an engaging plot and appealing characters that drew me in. The story takes place in the low country of South Carolina at a time before we knew much about the virus, before high-quality masks were readily available so people made their own, and before there were Covid tests. It's a time many people might not want to remember. But the group that forms a "pod" to shelter with safely comes up with strategies to get through those dark times and learns in the process that family and relationships are all that matter.

I found the writing to be somewhat inconsistent. Sometimes the characters didn't speak as if they were real people. For example, the protagonist, a low country native, said at one point: "You should marry Pandora. She's rich. And I think she rather fancies a title." What American says that someone "fancies" something, particularly a southerner from South Carolina? As a writer myself, those inconsistencies were glaring to me.

However, I have to say I enjoyed this book because the story was, at its heart, engaging and the characters were appealing. I cared what happened to them, and that propelled me through the book quickly.

Such such such a miss for me. I was so disappointed. This sat in my TBR pile longer than I prefer so I pulled it out and I didn't need to. So much space filling. I skimmed chunks and chunks. We're a couple years out of the pandemic so it didn't hit me hard like I read in some of the other reviews but so much of this didn't feel plausible. I didn't like anyone. I loved Linnea and Cara in the previous books I read and couldn't stand either of them in this one. Anna was just too much. I could go on, but I won't. Just pass this one up.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6094190374

I read this on the recommendation of a friend. The Summer of Lost and Found is an excellent book that kept me interested and entertained as I saw another snapshot of how Covid affected other parts of the world and the population at large. As she diligently follows quarantine, Linnea faces the challenges that touched everyone and tries to see the bright sides. She will find companionship in the animals of the sea and love through glimpses of her neighbor's life. The story gives an emotional feel to a world thrown into chaos.

Another perfect summer read! It captures and brings back all the feelings, anxiety and turmoil we experienced in the summer of 2020 as we coped with Covid-19. She's one of my fave authors and this is just another reason why MAM is a go-to author for someone looking for a comfortable, easy breezy beach read. I highly recommend!

The biggest drawback in this book are the endless allusions to and talk about Covid and the pandemic. It overshadowed every page and the plot. The story begins with Linnea Rutledge losing the job she loved at the local aquarium due to the Covid required closings. At home, her aunt tells her to continue living in her little cottage and worry about the rent payments (her aunt owns the cottage) when she is in a better financial situation, for which Linnea is very grateful. The story moves on to cover those who are or might be afflicted with Covid who must quarantine, per government guidance. Not to mention everyone being mindful of social distancing and masking. As time passe, Linnea takes in her young niece, whose father is in quarantine due to potential exposure to Covid. Linnea is also having a difficult time because her ex has moved in next door at his mother’s house because of his potential exposure to Covid. Then there is Linnea’s current beau coming home from England to continue research in the area. How do Linnea and the rest of her family and extended family ever survive this Covid time? The story covers all that and more.

As I said, Covid permeates this book. It brought back memories of social distancing, masking and quarantines we all knew so well. I did enjoy watching Linnea’s interchanges with her ex and how he also became a much-needed friend to her young niece. It was likewise interesting to experience a family as supportive and accepting as this one, regardless how tough things became. The book was interesting but will never be one of my favorites, and I have read just about everything this author has written. I just wish she had not put so much emphasis on Covid and the pandemic, since, in my opinion, it detracted from such a good story. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

This was such a good book. I couldn’t put it down. I love reading anything by Mary Alice Monroe and this one did not disappoint.

Another good story from Mary Alice Monroe. Coming of age tale of the young adults; dealing with the pandemic and affairs of the heart.

This is the seventh book in the Beach House series. It was so interesting to read because it is the first book I’ve read that addresses the pandemic. It starts in March 2020 just as the United States started to shut down. Over a year later, it still seems so surreal to read about what we are living through.

**This book felt a little extra special to write about because we found a sea turtle crew on the beach two nights ago. They are monitoring a nest that should be hatching any day now. I hope it happens while we are here 🤞🏽 **

Mary Alice Monroe is one of my favorites and yet again, she didn't disappoint.

This tale took place during Coronavirus times, so the family is faced with many of the same things we all were faced with. There are jobs that are affected, family members stranded in other parts of the world, financial situations.

You will find smiles, tears, stressors that may be far too familiar to you, but you won't be disappointed with this story and again, this author always makes it worth your while to try out one of her books.

Enjoy!

We have reached the point where the pandemic is written about as everyday life in novels. There are a lot of mixed opinions on this, and personally, I find it strange when I book takes place in 2020-2022 and doesn't include mention of life during covid times. I think this book was well done. It wasn't so much about the devestaion from the virus, but more of the quarentine life. I enjoyed reading the love drama, and the craziness of quarentines and it actually makes for a great summertime read!

This was such an easy and quick read. This was the first book I read that was set during the Coronavirus pandemic and I thought the author made it very relatable. The story was sweet and I’ll be sure to read more books by the author!

Mary Alice Monroe's The Summer of Lost and Found was a romantic, beach read with a mix of pending tragedy. This was the first book I have read that had the pandemic we are living through right now tied into the storyline. The characters' struggle with the stress of job loss, sickness, and love confusion was felt through Monroe's realistic descriptions.

I didn't realize this was in a series until I looked it up before starting to read it. The novel was perfectly fine to read out of order, but I will definitely go back to #1 so I can learn more about the Rutledge family in Charleston, South Carolina.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

I typically enjoy a good summer read by Mary Alice Monroe. However, this one did not appeal to me. I think the biggest issue for me was it was set during COVID. If this had been written several years after COVID is (hopefully!!) over, it might have been a more pleasant read. The returning characters are well developed and it helps if you’ve read earlier books in the series. I missed the focus on the turtles and nature conservancy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

A look with how to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. I really enjoyed this book as I have the others in the series.

The Summer of Lost and Found is the seventh book in a series that features the Rutledge family. Linnea Rutledge has just been furloughed from her dream job at the aquarium because of COVID-19. Complicating matters, she discovers that her ex-boyfriend is living in quarantine next door. Without a job or prospects, will family come to the rescue with a plan that benefits them all?

Because this book takes place during the height of the pandemic, the author tries to include the wide range of viewpoints expressed by real people. Coming off as preachy in places, the author does a disservice to the beach read that The Summer of Lost and Found should have been. It was not wrong to include the current crisis into the book, as even fiction does not exist in a bubble. However, too much of the story focused on those aspects instead of the continuation of the Rutledge family saga. The progression of the characters is minimal and the story itself a bit lacking, in my opinion. Readers who are familiar with the characters can use the opportunity to catch up with the Rutledges and their friends, but those new to the series should not start with The Summer of Lost and Found or they may not read further.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Summer of Lost and Found by NetGalley and the publisher, Gallery Books. The decision to review this book was entirely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for my honest review. If I am being completely honest here, I believe I got this author confused with another author I have read other books by. I don't really know this author and wasn't sure what to expect but I have to say that I don't believe I got it. The basic storyline and characters were good but the fact that much of the book is about living through Covid while we are all actually STILL living through Covid kind of threw me off. I'm sorry but I am going to need quite a bit of time after this pandemic before I am ever ready to read about what happens as people try to adjust to life staying apart and wearing masks...losing their jobs...quarantining and everything else that I have witnessed in my own life for the past year and a half. Maybe if I had read this book later on down the road I would have connected with it more but for right now, all I can give it is 3 stars.

I’m rating this in the spirit in which I believe it was written - a very light, breezy read. Predictable, lots of potential conflict thrown in but a cotton candy tale. I truly enjoyed the way the author built the setting in South Carolina- the sand, the sea, the storms. Solid beach read that tried a bit too hard to weave in Covid, but in a non-stressful manner.

I enjoyed revisiting the Rutledge family. Set off the coast of South Carolina, Sullivan’s Island, and the Isle of Palms during the pandemic.
This story pulls you in because obviously you automatically can relate to quarantining, travel restrictions, separated from loved ones, job loss and social distancing.
Linnea will pull at your heartstrings, you’ll be there right along with her going thru many of the same emotions and challenges with humor weaved in between. After all is said and done the book is ultimately about family, friendship, loyalty and love. Looking forward to reading more about this family in the future. Perfect summer read, cozy rainy day reading, actually any time reading!

I cannot give a review as I won't be reading this book. It is part of a series and I do not want to start a series.

Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to read this ARC for an honest review. This is book #7 in the Beach House series and it did not disappoint! I love revisiting the Rutledge family in Charleston SC but this story has incorporated COVID and I think it handled it well. I have read the entire series and look forward to seeing new books come out each year. I highly recommend this author!