This book is set at the beginning of the pandemic. It is very realistic in how the author deals with the pandemic and how it affects the characters. New friendships are formed, new romances too. There are challenges for the characters but there is also some humor. The book is part of a series but could easily be read as a stand alone.

I started reading this book on Thursday and finished on Saturday afternoon of the same week. Does that tell anyone how gripping it is? (This was only part time reading too). I am a follower of Mary Alice Monroe and this book is just as wonderful as all the previous ones. The reader gets drawn into the relationships of the characters and you just have to see what happens next.
With 2020 being a real pandemic year, it was amazing to see “the pod” portrayed in a way we can all relate to. As you read the book you will understand. No spoilers allowed!
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me early access to the book.
All you readers out there that love reading about life in the low country of SC, preorder your books now. You won’t be sorry!

Mary Alice Monroe’s “The Summer of Lost and Found” is the newest installment in her “Beach House Series”. The third generation of the Charlestonian Rutledge Family dominates this story thru the eyes of Linnea Rutledge who returns after what she sees as a failure, to the Low Country to reclaim her life and values. The author artfully uses the worldwide Pandemic as a supporting character and exposes the reader to the many moods that affect everyone. Linnea attempts to fall into the footsteps of the Rutledge matriarchs before from her grandmother, Lovie and Aunt Cara by using Primrose Cottage as a shelter to all during Covid Virus times. However, with the pressure of unexcepted job status, romantic conflicts, mask wearing social distancing, dire health issues, and questioning her goals, will this break Linnea for good? This story reminds us to remember that we should be respectful of the different perspective to every situation and to be patient even it isn’t the outcome we wanted. Mary Alice Monroe does a masterful job storytelling about compassion, respect, and compromise during a major epidemic from the perspective of several generations. Be prepared to experience numerous emotions in this novel I highly recommend.

I didn’t realize that this was part of a series but I think it works as a stand-alone too. I found that you get enough of a hint that there was more to the story in the past. It intrigued me enough to want to go back and hear those stories.

I agree with other readers about incorporating the pandemic. It feels early since we aren’t out of it yet and it isn’t escapism because of that. It did feel very relatable though. There are some people who really struggled over the last year. I wish they had dug into that with Anna a bit more. There are others that took every opportunity like Linnea but we’re still a little stuck.

Overall, an easy enjoyable read.

Notes:
- did anyone else worry when Linnea couldn’t smell the flowers?
- why did we never hear from David again? I thought it would be nice to hear from him, especially as someone that used to be on the road all the time.
- why did Hope get the measles?!? I probably have to go back to earlier books to understand it but annoyed me

Another great summer read in this series by Mary Alice Monroe. Her books scream summer at me and I found this one to be a fun and relatable read as we have been traveling through this pandemic. I will continue to check out anything that Monroe writes! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Summer of Lost and Found, by Mary Alice Monroe, is the newest book in Monroe's Beach House series. While it would be an enjoyable read as a stand-alone, it is like a visit to old friends when you have read the others. It is so good to catch up and follow the families and friends and their relationships. Throw in love of all levels/kinds and a few turtle nests, and you have a great beach/pool read. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC ebook version of this book in exchange for my honest review. I always look forward to an easy read from Mary Alice Monroe and this one did not disappoint!

A great summer read that is reflective of the time period. I loved the character and how coming together helped them find their own path. It was the first novel I have read that was set during the pandemic and was spot on to what life felt like for all. Wonderful read

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe is an excellent book that showed the redemptive power of family and friendship. As always, Monroe includes the perfect elements to keep the reader absolutely enthralled —- family drama, romantic interest, fabulous geographic locations, wildlife references, and relatable characters. Seriously, this is a book that you will start and finish all in the same day. Carve out some time so you are ready!

The book opens with a strong female character, Linnea Rutledge, in March of 2020 losing her job due to the Pandemic. The reminders of all we endured are played out for the characters; financial uncertainty, lack of tests, quarantining, death, social distancing, limiting outings, and cessation of travel. But, in this book it was showcased by your trusted and well known Rutledge family and their friends. This is the seventh book in the Beach House series. I think you could read this book as a stand alone, but I love the series so much that I will recommend you grab them all.

Linnea has a great support system around her of family and friends. As the story progresses we can not help but cheer for her strength in handling the hardships of the Pandemic. The strength of character she gained from her grandmother, Lovie, is in full view. I would be remiss if I did not mention a bit of a love triangle is present in this book for Linnea. The return of her much loved John and new love Gordon definitely keep you guessing,

I want to applaud Monroe for her respectful handling of the difficult challenges that COVID brought into our world.

Monroe as usual provides outstanding storytelling with a few twists and a satisfying conclusion to much of the drama. Of course, you have a bit of a cliffhanger at the end to keep you eagerly awaiting the next installment. She tells this story with grace and true empathy. There is a richness and a joy that leaps off of the pages despite the damage and the fallout that COVID caused to the much beloved Rutledge clan and the entire world.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

I have read other Mary Alice Monroe books but none of the Beach House series. I feel this can easily be read as a stand alone. I was not “grabbed” by any of the characters though. I know the area of IOP and I love books set in the low country area of SC. I had little bits here and there of southern culture but I feel like it was just a rushed book to get out during the pandemic. In the acknowledgments, Monroe states that she “let go of the process that works for me and went boldly into the story” and I feel that was evident.

Now, onto the pandemic. We are living it, it is all over tv in my favorite shows, it is all over social media, it is affecting my children’s education. Yes. I read, as many others do, to escape. And I feel like this book jumped the gun. I feel like everything was so overly dramatic. And it was mentioned time and time and time again.

I will continue to read Mary Alice Monroe books, but this one isn’t one that I would like to revisit. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have read a few of Mary Alice Monroe's books and enjoyed them. The Summer of Lost and Found revisits familiar characters and families. The only downside was that I was not ready to read quite so much about the pandemic as we are still living it. That being said, it was an entertaining read that examines relationships between friends, families, and loves. Monroe paints a beautiful picture of the Lowcountry that makes you want to spend time there on the beaches and in the cottages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the Advanced Reader Copy!

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe.
This book was fun to read but also it was a reminder of what was happening in early 2020 before anyone realized the depth of this pandemic. The story is beautiful in relation to the descriptiveness of the cottages, the beach (both the sunny and the turbulent weather), the lowcountry and all the characters really came alive to me.

“During these days isolation, it was all the more important to spend time outdoors, especially when the glowing sun broke through the darkness and filled the sky with pink and golden rays”

This quote from the book sums it up with what so many had to endure… I, for one, appreciated being reminded of those early days of necessary isolation. And to be given a glimpse of something beautiful to remind us of the beauty that is around us.

I loved The Beach House so much and all the characters are so beloved to me. I really appreciated these next generation of characters.

We are introduced to Linnea Rutledge and co-worker Annabelle (later wanting to be called Anna) from their work at the Aquarium and now both are out of their jobs. They must learn to coexist in order to stay friends.
When Linnea is asked to care for a child, she realizes she needs reinforcements and along comes John. John is her former boyfriend and now his appearance can really mess up her progress in trying to get over him.

Then comes the puppy….

You will love this story and these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was originally drawn to this book because it was one of the first that I had seen that was set during the 2020 pandemic. I did not know, however, that this book is part of a series. I was still able to read it and follow along, but I kept thinking the whole time that I would probably be enjoying it more if I had read the previous books. It was was easy to read and had some interesting characters, but I felt like there were so many opportunities to develop more of the story and the characters that ultimately were left dry and a little boring. My guess is the author had already done this and didn’t need to do it again. I would recommend this book only if you have read the previous books in the series. I appreciate NetGalley, the author, and the publisher giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have read enough of Mary Alice Monroe’s “The Beach House” series to know that her books are like experiencing your best recipe again, knowing that if you change out a few ingredients, the foundation is strong enough that you can savor the newest twists. I feel this way about “The Summer of Lost and Found.” I can’t think of a more loving way to transition out of this difficult past year than to hear Monroe’s voice given to the experience of the global CoVid-19 pandemic. I feel like my best friend just called me; I feel like my mom gave me a small wink from heaven. Mary Alice Monroe gives comfort in a not sappy, non-patronizing way. I’m such a fan!

The summer of lost and found

The 7th book of the Beach House series. This book continues with the third generation of the Rutledges. The book takes place at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic. There are a lot of emotions all around as everyone is trying to get home. Everything is a bit crazy as the world around the Rutledge family begins s
shutting down due to the pandemic.
Linnia lost her job and us worried about how she will pay rent. David is in England trying to get home. Everyone’s life is in an uproar due to the pandemic.

This was a good book! It was a bit too early for me being reading us my escape from reality and this book reminded me of all the reality going on

Thanks to NetGalley and author Mary Alice Monroe for allowing me the ARC. This is an honest review of my own.

Wonderful book taking place in the real time of the Covid 19 pandemic spanning 2020. All the favorites from the Beach House series are here but it is the younger generation playing a starring role this time. Totally enjoyed this book.

I loved this novel of the trials and tribulations of families and friends learning to cope with pandemic restrictions. Love, friendships and family dynamics are tested and retested over time-some survive, others fail.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is definitely part of a series and it really helps to have read other books in Mary Alice Monroe's Beach House series first. She does give enough information about each character that the reader could read this book on it's own and enjoy it but I think it would be best as a series. The familiar Beach House characters are back and facing the Covid 19 pandemic with all the shutdowns, quarantining, and anxiety that it brought to everyone. Each character faces their own problems dealing with the pandemic and life around them. The main characters formed a pod so that they were able to continue to interact with one another and support each other. There were lots of relationship issues and the characters had to deal with illness and death, facing life as we all have this past year. It was a very timely and readable story. Readers who enjoy stories about South Carolina, sea turtles, romance, and parenting issues, will enjoy this book, especially those who have read earlier Beach House books.

I felt that returning to Isle of Palm was like visiting old friends. This is far and away my favorite series. Each time Mary Alice Monroe takes us back to the lowlands, my heart is filled. This was the first book that's plot dealt with our 2020 pandemic in a realistic manner...the pods of friends/family, masks, children homeschooling, lay offs, etc.
It wasn't done in a negative manner though. Good can come from challenges and I felt she did a great job in presenting that. Whether you know this group of characters, or if they are new to you, each can stand alone and I highly recommend this book.

I was thrilled to go back to the Isle of Palms to visit with my friends from the Rutledge family! Their story picks up the beginning of the Pandemic and delves into the struggles many of us faced in 2020. The characters are well fleshed out and you can’t help but empathize with them. The main character is Linnea, granddaughter of Lovie. She is laid off from her job and struggling with her ex , who’s in quarantine next door . Cara and her family battle the virus and struggle with quarantine. As time passes our Isle of Palms friends form a “pod” to weather the virus. This is a great read for all Mary Alice Monroe fans! So great to share what we’ve be through with our friends on paper!

Written in real time during the pandemic of 2020, this novel reflects the impact on families and individuals in the early days (spring and summer) of that time. The novel features the younger generation in Monroe’s family saga series Beach House. Linnea Rutledge has returned home to her grandmother’s beach house after being furloughed from her dream job at the aquarium because of the lockdown. She is still reeling from her break-up with John, her friend and former lover, and depressed by the fact that her current boyfriend, Gordon, is stuck in the UK. When both John and Gordon return to the island, along with Linnea’s younger brother Cooper and her friend Anna from the aquarium, the relationships among the younger generation become complicated. The older generation has its problems, too, including the quarantine of family members ill with the virus and the dementia of Flo, an older family connection who lives with John’s mother.
While the complicated romantic relationships add to the tension and conflict in the story, the novel really centers around the relationships among the island women of both generations and the struggles that the pandemic throws them into. Navigating the usual problems in these relationships becomes a new challenge in the context of the unwelcome changes that the lockdown brings, and each woman must come to grips with her life and make difficult choices.
The characters develop believably through the pages and their relationships and conflicts are entirely true to life. The loneliness and depression that the various characters battle because of the pandemic make the story’s impact immediate and touching. As usual, Monroe’s writing is assured and flows well throughout the story. The low country island setting is appealing, too. Recommended for lovers of family sagas and women’s fiction, The Summer of Lost and Found releases on May 11, 2021.