The nationally bestselling 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.
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 discovers there are more meaningful lessons learned during this summer than opportunities lost, that summer is a time of wonder, and that the exotic lives in our own back yards. In The Summer of Lost and Found, Linnea and the Rutledge family continue to face their challenges with the strength, faith, and commitment that has inspired readers for decades.
In The Summer of Lost and Found, Mary Alice Monroe once again delves into the complexities of family relationships and brings her signature “sensitive and true” (Dorothea Benton Frank, New York Times bestselling author) storytelling to this poignant and timely novel of love, courage, and resilience.

BOOK PRAISE FOR THE SUMMER OF LOST AND FOUND

One of Bustle’s “20 Best Beach Reads of 2021”
One of BookTrib’s Most Anticipated Reads of 2021
One of Get Literary’s Most Anticipated Reads of 2021
One of Country Living’s “30 Can’t-Miss Beach Reads for This Summer”
One of Frolic’s “25 Best Books of Spring 2021”

“The perfect kickoff to summer!” (CNN)

“Mary Alice Monroe takes you on a trip to the idyllic sun, sand, and gracious lifestyle of a Southern summer. This season’s must-read!” (Nancy Thayer, New York Times best-selling author of Surfside Sisters)

“Mary Alice Monroe‘s inspired choice to write about the pandemic during the pandemic has paid off in this next installment of her acclaimed Beach House series, which can easily be read as a stand-alone, too. Quarantine isn’t so much an issue as it is a setting in the book, bringing unlikely housemates together into a gathering storm of questions and consequences, as the youngest members of Monroe’s beloved Rutledge family try to find their proverbial way from sand to sea, just like the turtle hatchlings Monroe writes so vividly about. A novel of growing up, saying goodbye to the past, and learning to ask yourself the hard questions, including one of the most vital of all: ‘Who do you really want to be?’” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars)

“The latest in Monroe’s long-running Beach House series gives dedicated fans a chance to catch up with old friends, and provides enough background on the characters for new readers to enjoy. The intimate island atmosphere keeps the focus on family and romantic relationships, as the characters deal with a global pandemic. Monroe’s book acknowledges some of the hardships that real people endured over the past year, addresses loss and change, and finds hope where it’s possible, which gives depth to this timely story.” (Library Journal)