I was so excited to see the seventh book in this series of books. Through these seven titles, I have learned a great deal about turtles and relationships and this book was just as good as the previous six. I love the way these women take care of the baby turtles and each other. A new story of someone who needs to make decisions in their life and they come back to this cottage to make those decisions. This is the first fictional story I have read that has COVID as part of the backdrop and I was afraid I would not like it, but I did. Great story with great characters and of course the turtles.

4.5 Stars

Why have I not read anything by Mary Alice Monroe before this? Now I can’t wait until I pick up and read another book by her.

When I started this book, I was not really sure if I was ready to read about people during the COVID-19 pandemic, but somehow this book changed my mind. This book is part of the Beach House series. This story follows Linnea Rutledge as she and her family and friends learn how to live during the first part of the pandemic. I loved how the story provided and different points of view of the pandemic. I also enjoyed how the story crosses all age groups. This story tells not only how the pandemic impacted them, but how everyday life such as family, falling in and out of love, and the cycle of life continued to carry on in the difficult times.
I definitely recommend this book especially if you are looking for a light read with some beach vibes.

The Summer of Lost and Found
by Mary Alice Monroe
I recently "found" this author and I have read all of her books. The Beach House series returns with this tender and compassionate novel following the historic Rutledge family of Charleston, South Carolina as they face a summer of upheaval and change with perseverance, a spirit of unity, and a dose of humor.
If you haven't read Mary Alice Monroe I recommend her. The Beach House series is one of my favorites.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! I loved this book.

5 star

Review will be posted on 6/10/21

If you are familiar with Monroe's The Beach House series, you know that Linnea Rutledge loves her job at the aquarium; however, she is furloughed due to COVID cutbacks, and on top of it, her boyfriend, Gordon, was supposed to come back from England to the Isle of Palms, but due to the COVID outbreak, it's looking like he won't be able to. Thanks to COVID, her life has been thrown for a loop. Even her ex-boyfriend, John, the one who had her move to California, is back home on the Isle of Palms and is now quarantining next door. She is set to ignore him, because he broke her heart, but how can she when he is next door and throwing paper airplanes with notes her way? Like many Americans last year, the rest of the Rutledge family is challenged during COVID. There's love, there's heartbreak, there's friendship and marriages tested, and so much more. Mary Alice Monroe's latest edition in the The Beach House series, The Summer of Lost and Found, is a decent beach read; however, I could have done with more descriptions of the Isle of Palms and less focus on the coronavirus.

Linnea is a character I have come to enjoy in The Beach House series. Although I haven't read every novel in this series, I have read enough that I've started to get to know the Rutledge family though the years and appreciate them. Linnea finally has found her happiness (at least we thought she did) with her boyfriend coming back from England, and her dream job at the aquarium. However, things are turned upside down due to COVID, which I am sure we can all relate to. The distance between her and Gordon has her thinking about things, not to mention John's presence next door is a difficult one. At first, she is dead set against dealing with John, but he slowly breaks down her walls, especially when he connects with Hope, who Linnea is watching for a bit. Despite my hesitation, I think Monroe does a good job illustrating the complications of love during COVID.

One of the reasons I gravitate towards Monroe's novels is the fact that she describes nature so beautifully. Her descriptions of the Isle of Palms are so well done in each novel and of course, I appreciate her details regarding the island's sea turtles as well as the environmental themes. Well, if you are like me and look forward to that, you may be disappointed with The Summer of Lost and Found. There wasn't much appreciation of nature in this novel, especially in comparison to the other books in the series. I knew this The Summer of Lost and Found was going to deal with the COVID outbreak in its early stages, but I didn't realize it was going to be such a big focus of the novel. If you are mentally ready to read stories about the pandemic, then definitely pick up The Summer of Lost and Found; however, I wasn't ready in the slightest. This took me by surprise, but I found it triggering to relive it all again, especially the early stages when there were so many unknowns. Maybe if Monroe tackled this topic a few years down the road, I'd be ready, but for now it was stressful and quite frankly, who wants that in a beach read? So, if you are looking for a beautiful island escape, look elsewhere. I hope Monroe's next book in The Beach House series is more of what we have come to love.

What a wonderful summer book! Mary Alice Monroe just keeps getting better every year. Don't miss this one.

I love a good summer book to read by the pool, and I loved how this one was going to bet set in "real-time" amongst the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the story was flat for me. I didn't really identify with the main character and both romances just didn't seem very exciting to me. This was a quick read that I would put into the "Beach Read" category.

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

You can always count on Mary Alice Monroe for a good beach read! And The Summer of Lost and Found does not disappoint. This story takes place in South Caroline, Lowcountry, Palms Island during the COVID19 pandemic. I definitely related to the characters in this book, as I mean we've all gone through the same thing over 2020. This is a story of a group of family/friends as they find their way through the pandemic- through job loss, sickness, quarantine, isolation, friendship, family, and love. And true to Mary Alice Monroe's style, it's turtle nest season. She mixes in the environmental aspects in all of her novels, which I love. I definitely recommend this book. It's a great summer vacation/beach read.

In book seven of the Beach House Series, the Rutledge women are back. Linnea has just been laid off from the aquarium, and becomes the caretaker to her aunt's adopted daughter when COVID-19 strikes the island. I think that a lot of us are suffering from COVID fatigue, and I'll admit I put the book down at first when I saw it was part of the storyline. I gave it another chance, though, and I'm glad I did. Linnea's ex-boyfriend moves back to the island, her NEW boyfriend is due to come to the island, she had a new roommate, and then her brother comes home from Oxford. A lot of changes, a lot of soul searching, and everything works out for the best in the end.

Fans of The Beach House series will be thrilled to revisit the familiar Rutledge Family as they navigate the difficulties of the Corona virus pandemic including lost jobs, illness and sheltering in place. The story is mainly about Linnea Rutledge as she quarantines at the beach house but many familiar faces show up, as well. It tells the tale of love, both past and present, of resilience found so often in the stories of the pandemic but mostly of the importance of the strong ties of family that is so common in the books of Mary Alice Monroe. A great read!

Because of the coronavirus, Linnea has been laid off from her job at the aquarium. Plus, her boyfriend, Gordon, is stuck in England because of the lockdown. Enter her old boyfriend, John…

Lord have mercy! I enjoy summer beach reads! And Mary Alice Monroe is one of my favorites.

I adored this love triangle. Basically because I love all the characters. John screwed up the first time and he is trying to make amends. Gordon is an all around good guy…but he is a little aloof. Add this on top of the wonderful setting and the uncertainty of the coronavirus. You have a pretty dang good read!

Need a good read for any beach…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The story begins with the main character Linnea being laid off from her job at the aquarium as a result of shutdowns due to the pandemic. With her income being compromised, she goes into survival mode and moves into the family owned beach house. The home is owned by her aunt who is happy to help her niece. In turn Linnea pays it forward by providing childcare for her aunt's young daughter after learning her husband was exposed to the virus. Linnea's pandemic kindness finds her with a coworker, her brother, her boyfriend, and a dog all living with her. To complicate matters, Linnea's ex-boyfriend moves into the house next door. The story includes different generations including a beloved family Matriarch that will warm your heart.
This is the first book I’ve read that completely takes place during the pandemic of 2020 and in fairness to the author I had a difficult time deciding if I enjoyed this book. This also is the first book I have read of Mary Alice Monroe. I did not want to relive this moment in time but truth be told, it is now a big part of world history.
The book was based on different pandemic circumstances than mine, and gave me a different perspective on the experiences and hardships of others during that time.
That being said, I enjoyed the characters and their sense of family and community.
The author is a wonderful storyteller. She did a great job of character development. They were relatable and likeable.
Thanks to Gallery Books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

This is the story of love and loss in the time of COVID. Linnea Rutledge faces a layoff from her job at the aquarium because of the pandemic, which brings up a whole host of issues. How will she pay rent, etc? Her new love interest is returning from the UK at the beginning of the quarantine and her old flame is next door with his mother. Can she get through this trying time with the help of family and friends? This story encompasses opportunities lost and found and time spent in our own yards.

I didn't particularly enjoys this book as it dealt with the COVid pandemic and the problems it caused. Although I didn't really care for it, I know people who enjoy the series will want to see what is happening this year, especially if they have been living under a rock..

I was a little nervous going into this one since it basically takes place during present day, during the pandemic. It ended up being just what I needed and didn’t focus on the virus much but focused more on how things changed with family and friends.

Linnea is laid off from her job, like so many others, and she finds a home in the Isle of Palms. She ends up staying in a home by herself, across from family, but then more and more people find their way between hardships, quarantine and loneliness to her house. As they all become a safe pod for a few weeks, and then those weeks turn to months it proves that even though the pandemic is awful and hard, the time we have had with family and friends is truly a blessing. Oh and there is a fun love triangle thrown in there to keep you on your toes!

If you're looking for the perfect summer read, Mary Alice Monroe has written the book you want to pick up before your next beach trip. The Summer of Lost and Found is from the Beach House Series of books by the author and will not disappoint her faithful readers. Following the saga of the Rutledge clan, this book focuses on Linnea and her ups and downs during the Covid pandemic of 2020. Strong family bonds are tested during this time and relationships are challenged during this period of isolation, but the love of family and friends wins out. Set along the sun and sand of a South Carolina's Isle of Palms, the author places us right in the middle of the ocean waves, sand and warm sun. If you want to enjoy an uplifting, humorous and interesting read of the the beloved sea turtles, this is the book for you.

My sincere thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a woman centered book set in the low country during the summer of 2020. Linnea is furloughed from her job and ends up staying an aunt's home. One thing leads to another and she is sharing the place with a roommate she knows from work, her brother and maybe her boyfriend who is trying to get to SC from his home in England. Good sense of time and place with a Covid Pod of extended family and friends.

This is apparently the seventh book in a series and it generally stands alone well, with the author catching you up on the layers of backstory.

The Rutledge family comes full circle in this addition to the Beach House series.Set early on in the Covid pandemic, family members come home to shelter, or remain on the island because they can't leave to go back to their homes. The characters in this story did what most of the country did - they coped, they struggled, sometimes they drank too much, but over and above, they survived. Monroe tackled the issue of elderly aging issues, of people who felt unmoored, and uprooted. A good southern comfort read, written by an author who knows how to deal with these issues.

You are sure to see this book peaking out of beach bags everywhere. We are all curious what love was like in the time of COVID . We have Linnea trying to hold on financially, only to be put on leave from the one job that speaks to her. Romantically she is waiting for one guy to come back to her,while another an old love returns to quarantine practically in her back yard. Navigating these two relationships proves almost her undoing. Along the way we have advice and convoluted situations both comic and sincere. A great read for sunny days.

Another winner by Mary Alice Monroe! Reading about these characters is like going back home to visit and hanging out with old friends. Readers of the prior novels in this series about life on the South Carolina coastal island of Sullivan's Island will recognize the names and backstories of the characters. Even without reading the earlier books in the series, a reader would be able to enjoy this book because there is enough background given to understand the history.

Linnea (who is the granddaughter of our beloved Lovie, the Turtle Lady) has just lost her job due to changes wrought by the Covid pandemic. Left without any other option, she returns home to the beach house that once belonged to her grandmother Lovie, but now is owned by her aunt Cara. Cara agrees to let her stay there while she figures out her next step. Meanwhile, Linnea's old boyfriend has come home to stay with his mother, which requires Linnea to see him far too often. Well, sort of see him, since he is quarantining for two weeks. And then Cara's husband comes home from England and falls ill, which leaves Linnea to care for their young daughter. Many other complications ensue and yet in the end, everything comes together for a mostly happy ending.

I loved how the author included the Covid pandemic and how the response might have been in a small island community. It just felt real, although some may still feel it's too early to read about it or they're just over it. The gradual infiltration by John back into Linnea's life was realistic as well. Despite all the characters and storylines, I never felt overwhelmed or confused. I have read the previous novels in the series and reading this was just like going home again for a visit.

Title: The Summer of Lost and Found
Author: Mary Alice Monroe
Genre: Women’s fiction
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The coming of Spring usually means renewal, but for Linnea Rutledge, Spring 2020 threatens stagnation. Linnea faces another layoff, this time from the aquarium she adores. For her—and her family—finances, emotions, and health teeter at the brink. To complicate matters, her new love interest, Gordon, struggles to return to the Isle of Palms from England. Meanwhile, her old flame, John, turns up from California and is quarantining next door. She tries to ignore him, but when he sends her plaintive notes in the form of paper airplanes, old sparks ignite. When Gordon at last reaches the island, Linnea wonders—is it possible to love two men at the same time?

Love in the time of coronavirus proves challenging, at times humorous, and ever changing. Relationships are redefined, friendships made and broken, and marriages tested. As the weeks turn to months, and another sea turtle season comes to a close, Linnea and the Rutledge family continue to face their challenges with the strength, faith, and commitment that has inspired readers for decades.

I’m thinking this wasn’t a good fit for me. I enjoyed the previous book in this series and the discussion of the environmental issues, but this one, the characters just came across as self-absorbed and superficial. Linnea has a lot of angst, but not much action. The blurb emphasizes finances “teetering on the brink” but that wasn’t a thing: despite Linnea (and her roommate) not having a job or savings, they never seemed to be concerned about money. This book just wasn’t believable to me.

Mary Alice Monroe is a bestselling author. The Summer of Lost and Found is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.)

(blog link live 5/27.)