This was an OK read, but I've found that I prefer to leave COVID in the past and not explore the topic in my literature.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fun beach read. It was a little too Lifetime movie for my taste, but with that said, the story would make a great Lifetime movie.

Another great beach read from Mary Alice Monroe! Love in the time of COVID-this read puts us on understanding the challenges during this time. The Rutledge family continues to face their challenges with the same commitment and strength that we love!

The Covid-19 pandemic causes havoc on the residents and visitors to a South Carolina beach town. Family relationships are challenged by isolation, dementia, and having to spend so much time together. Old flames return and stir up old feelings. A sweet family story that sounded like real life. I recommend.

I have to admit that when I opened this book and learned it took place during the Coronavirus pandemic, I was concerned. I didn't really want to relive what I went through. But, the author used the virus as what I thought was an interesting backdrop to the story.

The characters were amazing as they always are in Ms. Monroe's books. The author developed characters perfectly. They were easy to keep track of and I delighted in their development.

Even though I live in the Midwest and have never had the opportunity to watch baby turtles swim for the ocean, I could easily imagine the feelings involved from the humans. This book allowed me to see the area in my mind's eye perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I have always enjoyed books by Mary Alice Monroe and this one did not disappoint. She is a writer who knows her genre and characters! It is a perfect summer read..

This book takes place during Covid. It is the first book that I've read that dealt with it and it was very interesting to read a book talking about it. The main character Linnea gets laid off from her job and she is currently renting her aunts house. The story talks about her having feelings for a person in her life and how she deals with that with everything else going on. it is a good read that keeps the reader engaged all throughout the book.

Entertaining beach read of the trials and tribulations on the Carolina .islands. Quick and easy read

I read @maryalicemonroe new book every May/June! Summer doesn’t really feel like it’s started until I visit the Rutledge’s in Low Country. This year is a hard year with so many changes as Covid breaks out in the world! This is the 7th book in the Beach House series! If your looking for a great beach read pls check her out! #lowcountryreads #thebeachhouse #maryalicemonroe #reading #summer

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Women's Fiction
Publication Date: May 11, 2021

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe is the seventh book in the Beach House series. I had not read the previous books, but was easily able to read this as a standalone novel.

This is the ultimate beach read. Set in the summer of 2020, right in the middle of pandemic season, the author brings us a tale of love and perseverance. I enjoyed how the author brought pandemic struggles, such as quarantine and not being able to travel form other countries, into this book. These very real struggles were handled with grace and added to the relatable-ness of the characters and the story.

I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by the author!

I'm so grateful to Mary Alice Monroe, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I read it in one day! A great read and so very timely taking place during the pandemic. Makes you rethink how things could be different.

What a lovely summer beach read! I do look forward to reading this every year. This year's installment has the twist of covid-19 in it, which I thought was done well. Very well written and entertaining story. Definitely recommended!

“Every day is meant to be lived. Fully. With our eyes wide open. Our senses on full alert. Not wasted. Or squandered in doubt or self-pity.”

This was my first time meeting the Rutledge family. It was easy to follow along as a stand alone book. The story follows a “pod” of family and friends in SC during the spring and summer of 2020. It is a beautiful story about family, friendships, and all the blessings and problems that we all experience. I enjoyed this book and the characters, but was not thrilled that the story took place during COVID. Like many I am on Coronavirus overload.


Thank you to the publisher (Gallery Books) or author (Mary Alice Monroe) and Netgalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book with its setting during the Pandemic. Monroe captured the essence of the experience of being adrift in time as well as the varying emotional responses to both the isolation and the unknown. The characters are dealing with all the common issues of isolation, losing jobs, financial hardship, being stuck in another place, illness, and uncertainly. As a biology teacher I enjoyed the ecological angle and the setting on the beach where the sea turtles nest. Some of the emotional complications seemed a little overwrought, but so did the real world during this time, so that wasn’t unrealistic! I had not read any of the previous books in this series, but I now plan to go back and read those to view this family’s journey from the start.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Summertime would not be complete without me reading a book by Mary Alice Monroe. I first discovered Mary Alice Monroe’s books back in 2015 and she is now one of my go to authors for summertime reading. I try to read two or three books of hers each year and I don’t know what I will do if I ever get caught up on my back list of her books! The Beach House series is my favorite series of Mary Alice Monroe’s collection of books. Every time I think she might be done with the series I am pleasantly surprised to hear that she has yet another Beach House book in the works. After reading last year’s book “On Ocean Boulevard,” I had really hoped that Mary Alice would delve a little bit deeper into Linnea Rutledge’s story line and my wish came true.

I think only a master storyteller like Mary Alice Monroe could pull off writing a romance book set during the coronavirus outbreak of 2020. If I were not such a big-time follower of Mary Alice Monroe, I do not know if I could have brought myself to read a book with this kind of setting as its backdrop since 2020 was such a year of isolation for me and my family. However, after now reading all of “The Summer of Lost and Found,” I see that this was more than just a book about Linnea having to choose between two men she has deep feelings for. This was a book full of hope, strength, love, and especially resilience amidst the most challenging and uncertain of times. It was enlightening to see how friendships and family were strengthened because of the coronavirus outbreak. Bravo to the author for skillfully tackling a story with such a setting! I am grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to future installments in the Beach House series.

Mary Alice Monroe is one of my favorite authors. This is another Beach House book which follows the Rutledge family. It is set during 2020 – the Covid pandemic year. I found it interesting how the families handled the social distancing, masking and all the other issues we have all faced this year. I have read other reviews that say they don’t like the emphasis on the pandemic. I didn’t feel that way. They showed how their lives went on in spite of the pandemic. And the turtles make their annual appearance. This book probably isn’t for everyone but I really enjoyed it. I give it 5 stars.

The summer of Covid -19 brings challenges and romance. A chance to see who we really are and who we love.

The Summer of Lost and Found is a very well written romance. Great plot, characters and setting. I highly recommend this book.

This is book 7 in the Beach House series and it's a great addition. It's sad and happy all mixed into one fabulous story. With the Co-vid scare, Linnea is layed off from the aquarium and is staying on the island. Gordon is stuck in England and old friend John is staying next door. All the favorites are accounted for and it's timely topic is a different view of the island. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Loved everything about this book from the characters to the setting ! I felt like I was living in that small cottage by the sea and could vividly picture the story playing out! The perfect summer read!

The book begins in March 2020 as the pandemic is beginning and Linnea Rutledge has just been furloughed from her job at the South Carolina Aquarium due to shut downs from COVID-19.

She takes refuge in the beach home on the Isle of Palms that has been lived in by generations of Rutledges. She is helping family and friends with the ever changing landscape due the pandemic.

At the same time her old beau, John, is quarantining across the street. He then stays on to help his mother while working remotely. Her current boyfriend, Gordon, comes from England to work on a marine project and is actually renting a detached apartment from John’s mom.

Navigating the pandemic, love, family, and her own self care, Linnea must balance the situation as it comes upon her daily while at the same time giving thoughts to her future.

My Thoughts

This is the first fictional book that I have read whose plot is driven around the pandemic. It describes, for me at least, some of the questions and thoughts that were going through my head when the pandemic first started which made this book relatable.

I enjoyed the way the environment is worked into the story as such a wonderful and precious commodity. I even learned some interesting facts such as plastic that fish consume we may be inadvertently consuming.

I think the entire cast of characters are wonderful and the bit of romantic friction added nicely to the story. I also loved some of the quarantine activities in the book keeping everyone busy like making an adult fort and sending notes via paper airplanes.

The theme trying to make the best out the situation we are given rang loud and clear and is told perfectly.

My alma mater, the University of South Carolina, is mentioned making this the perfect read!
I received this copy through Suzy approved book tours to read and give my honest thoughts