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Lost & Found in Lunenburg
A quirky, tender work of contemporary fiction about grief, love, and starting again at middle-age set in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, from the author of The Pregnant Pause and Fishnets & Fantasies . "That's the problem with loving someone, isn't it?" said Margot with a ghost of a smile. "If you have a heartbeat, you're bound to get your heart broken. Not just once, but over and over again... But the joy that happens in between the meetings and the partings makes it all worthwhile." Rose Ainsworth, the affable protagonist in Jane Doucet's debut novel, The Pregnant Pause , is back in this candid, compelling look at midlife love, loss, and new beginnings. Rose and Jim, her husband of almost twenty years, have been living happily in Halifax, Nova Scotia, since moving from Toronto more than a decade earlier. With a satisfying career, two sweet rescue mutts, and her family nearby, Rose's life is golden — until one day, her world unexpectedly implodes. Widowed suddenly soon after her fiftieth birthday, Rose is addled by grief. Could that be why three months later, she decides to buy her friend Wendy Hebb's sex shop in the tiny coastal community of Lunenburg? As she rushes to rent her house and store her belongings, her older sister, Daisy, worries that Rose is running away — from the home that she and Jim lived in together, and its constant reminders of what she's lost. When Rose lands in Lunenburg in a furnished condo with a year's lease, a colourful cast of local characters keeps her from drowning in a long-lost quirky cousin with a mysterious health condition; a busybody septuagenarian widow who pushes Rose to join a bereavement group; and a handsome restaurant owner who stirs feelings in Rose she isn?t ready to face. As the condo's lease creeps closer to its expiration date, Rose must make a choice — continue carving out her new life in Lunenburg, or move back to her Halifax home? Jane Doucet's trademark heart and humour, along with the return of beloved characters from The Pregnant Pause and Fishnets & Fantasies , make Lost & Found in Lunenburg feel like a long-overdue catch-up with old friends.
256 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 2023
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Jane Doucet
4 books54 followersJane Doucet is a Canadian journalist whose articles have appeared in myriad national magazines, including Chatelaine and Canadian Living. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Canada's East Coast with her husband.
In 2017, Jane self-published her debut novel, The Pregnant Pause, about a married woman who is turning 37 and trying to decide whether or not to have a baby. In 2018, The Pregnant Pause was shortlisted for a Whistler Independent Book Award.
In 2021, Vagrant Press, the fiction imprint of Nimbus Publishing, released Jane's second novel, Fishnets & Fantasies, about a married couple in their late 50s who open a sex shop in tiny, tourist-friendly Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (population 2,300).
In spring 2023, Vagrant Press re-released The Pregnant Pause, and in fall 2023 published her third novel, Lost & Found in Lunenburg, which combines characters from her first two books. Jane's fourth novel, Blood Typed, a contemporary murder mystery, will be released by Vagrant Press in 2026. Learn more at www.janedoucet.com.
In 2017, Jane self-published her debut novel, The Pregnant Pause, about a married woman who is turning 37 and trying to decide whether or not to have a baby. In 2018, The Pregnant Pause was shortlisted for a Whistler Independent Book Award.
In 2021, Vagrant Press, the fiction imprint of Nimbus Publishing, released Jane's second novel, Fishnets & Fantasies, about a married couple in their late 50s who open a sex shop in tiny, tourist-friendly Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (population 2,300).
In spring 2023, Vagrant Press re-released The Pregnant Pause, and in fall 2023 published her third novel, Lost & Found in Lunenburg, which combines characters from her first two books. Jane's fourth novel, Blood Typed, a contemporary murder mystery, will be released by Vagrant Press in 2026. Learn more at www.janedoucet.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 26, 2023
Lost & Found in Lunenburg is a wonderful addition and tie-in to the previous work of Jane Doucet, Nova Scotian author of The Pregnant Pause and Fishnets & Fantasies. We first meet Rose in The Pregnant Pause and she comes back to star in Lost & Found. Doucet writes Lost & Found in a way that makes it a standalone book, briefly touching on important factors of the previous stories without being daunting to the reader who has read all three. The moments of clarity simply complement the story and help define the reasons decisions are made.
Read the rest at https://miramichireader.ca/2023/09/lo...
Read the rest at https://miramichireader.ca/2023/09/lo...
September 15, 2023
I love Lunenburg!!! Actually 2 months ago, my husband and I were there being tourists. And I kept coming back to Fishnets & Fantasies… and was looking for Wendy’s sex shop —- lol sadly there isn’t one 🤣🤣🤣 because that’s how Jane makes it so vivid!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! Of course I read it in one sitting. That’s how much I couldn’t put it down. And was so happy to see the characters from her 2 other books in this one!!
November 7, 2023
Lost & Found in Lunenburg by Jane Doucet is a beautifully written, humourous, small-town novel with an amusing cast of colourful, middle-aged, or older characters. It tastefully tackles the serious issues of grief, and aging and is set in the beautiful south shore of Nova Scotia. Warning: there are both sad and laugh-out-loud moments in this unforgettable novel.
February 11, 2024
4.5, rounded down.
I can’t wait for the next one to come out!
I can’t wait for the next one to come out!
September 15, 2024
This was pure fun. I loved revisiting these characters and the small town Nova Scotia setting. This was just the feel good read that I needed.
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April 21, 2024Jane Doucet does it again! I laughed, and I cried (as cliche as that sounds lol) and I couldn't put it down. So fun to see some familiar characters from the previous books in this series, and meet some new ones. Doucet has a knack for writing rich, interesting, funny characters that you feel just MUST be real. Excellent read!
December 28, 2023
I purchased this book on a recent trip to Nova Scotia. I always enjoy reading books that are set in places I visit. It is a great piece of contemporary fiction, with likeable characters, a colourful setting and lots of heart. It also does an excellent job of centring grief and experience of grieving. I shed several tears of recognition while reading the book.
July 10, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. I read Jane’s two other books and really enjoyed seeing several familiar characters in this book. Having said that, you can easily read this book even if you have not read The Pregnant Pause or Fishnets and Fantasies. Jane has captured the depth of grief and emotions felt with the loss of loved ones. The book made me laugh and cry. I did not want to see it end. Jane has an amazing gift of making you feel like you are in the person’s home with them. I live in Nova Scotia and am so happy to support wonderful local authors like Jane. You can enjoy this though regardless of where you live. I borrowed this book from library. I think it is one of those books I will purchase to have my own copy.
February 27, 2024
Another nice read from Jane Doucet, I really enjoy how she reminds us that aging is not the end. It's great to be reminded that we are conditioned on stereotypes that often need to be broken. I love May's character and Allan's character development as well!
July 1, 2024
Loved that this book was a more local read to me since the story was written in Halifax! It was a funny, sweet and sad read. I loved how the main characters were all 45-90 years old, I feel like it gave this book some spunk that I haven’t seen in other books. This book was about grief, friendship and love after loss. Adored this book. 🤍
November 10, 2023
Jim throws an elaborate surprise party for his wife, Rose's 50th birthday. Two weeks later he is hit by a car while riding his bike and dies. This leaves Rose alone with their two rescue dogs. They say you shouldn't make any drastic life decisions in the first year after a tragedy but Rose needs a fresh start away from everything that reminds her of Jim. She quits her job as a freelance editor, rents out her house in Halifax and moves to the small fishing community of Lunenburg, almost an hour and a half away, to buy her friend's sex shop.
As she settles in, there's a lot of stress but excitement of starting her new life but Jim's presence is still with her. She makes friends, connects with her long lost eccentric cousin and runs her business. A local bar opener has a crush on her and she's attracted to him but she's not willing to pursue it until she knows she's ready.
This story picks up 10 years after Wendy has started the sex shop (the one Rose buys in this story) in Fishnets & Fantasies and Rose and Jim were still living in Toronto and deciding whether to have children in The Pregnant Pause (I've read them both). Because of Jim's death and illnesses and accidents of some of the local residents, it's a bit gloomier than the first two, though the humour is still there at times. The writing is in third person perspective with the focus on Rose. I found there were a lot of characters to keep track of and the author gave their backstory from the previous books even though it didn't really factor into the story (for example, so-and-so is the son of so-and-so he never knew he had and here's why and he is married to this so-on-one). As a head's up, there is some swearing.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2023/11...
As she settles in, there's a lot of stress but excitement of starting her new life but Jim's presence is still with her. She makes friends, connects with her long lost eccentric cousin and runs her business. A local bar opener has a crush on her and she's attracted to him but she's not willing to pursue it until she knows she's ready.
This story picks up 10 years after Wendy has started the sex shop (the one Rose buys in this story) in Fishnets & Fantasies and Rose and Jim were still living in Toronto and deciding whether to have children in The Pregnant Pause (I've read them both). Because of Jim's death and illnesses and accidents of some of the local residents, it's a bit gloomier than the first two, though the humour is still there at times. The writing is in third person perspective with the focus on Rose. I found there were a lot of characters to keep track of and the author gave their backstory from the previous books even though it didn't really factor into the story (for example, so-and-so is the son of so-and-so he never knew he had and here's why and he is married to this so-on-one). As a head's up, there is some swearing.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2023/11...
November 21, 2023
Lost & Found in Lunenburg is a tie-in with Jane Doucet's previous books, but it can be comfortably read as a standalone. The themes of grief, loss, and love are sensitively addressed in this novel; we ache for the character Rose in her bereavement, but there is room for sudden bursts of humour that elevate us.
The circumstances do seem unusual -- a fifty-year-old widow purchases a sex shop from a septuagenarian in the scenic town of Lunenburg, and relocates there to manage her new enterprise. This is a tasteful shop, where the elderly purchase their (s0-called!) arthritis liniments and couples purchase stylish gift baskets for their partners. Somehow, through the author's skillful story telling, it all makes delightful sense.
When we visit a setting, and look for a character's shop, or are sure we saw them walking their dog, that is a further indication of good story telling.
Rose is surrounded by a cast of very true-to-life characters, who, although supportive and compassionate, face challenges and needs of their own. The character of Cousin Meg, in particular, is fascinating. Like Rose, we have initial reservations about her, for Meg is eccentric and socially inept. Yet, her true heart is recognized and embraced by the community, and in their response, their own integrity is revealed. She is the "wingman" we all need.
We need both tears and laughter to move through grief. Jane Doucet has allowed the tears, the guilt, and the pain to surface as Rose journeys. She has also given us generous moments of healing laughter. It is a story well-told, in a setting so vivid. A delightful read!
The circumstances do seem unusual -- a fifty-year-old widow purchases a sex shop from a septuagenarian in the scenic town of Lunenburg, and relocates there to manage her new enterprise. This is a tasteful shop, where the elderly purchase their (s0-called!) arthritis liniments and couples purchase stylish gift baskets for their partners. Somehow, through the author's skillful story telling, it all makes delightful sense.
When we visit a setting, and look for a character's shop, or are sure we saw them walking their dog, that is a further indication of good story telling.
Rose is surrounded by a cast of very true-to-life characters, who, although supportive and compassionate, face challenges and needs of their own. The character of Cousin Meg, in particular, is fascinating. Like Rose, we have initial reservations about her, for Meg is eccentric and socially inept. Yet, her true heart is recognized and embraced by the community, and in their response, their own integrity is revealed. She is the "wingman" we all need.
We need both tears and laughter to move through grief. Jane Doucet has allowed the tears, the guilt, and the pain to surface as Rose journeys. She has also given us generous moments of healing laughter. It is a story well-told, in a setting so vivid. A delightful read!
June 15, 2025
“Lost & Found in Lunenburg” by Jane Doucet was an unforgettable read! It was touching, funny, and a deeply relatable novel about loss, reinventions, and the surprising ways we find ourselves again. Set in the seaside town of Lunenburg, the story follows Rose Ainsworth, a recently widowed woman in her early fifties who decides to escape her old life by making a bold move—buying a sex shop in a town she barely knows.
What sounds like the setup for a comedy turns into a beautifully layered story of healing. Rose isn’t running away so much as she is running toward something new, even if she doesn’t know exactly what it is yet. The shop becomes a symbol of her independence and courage, and through the quirky people she meets, Rose begins to rediscover her spark.
Doucet writes with warmth, infusing humor into moments of vulnerability and grief. Her descriptions of Lunenburg are so vivid, you can almost smell the salt air and hear the buzz of conversation at the local cafe. But what really makes the novel shine is Rose—an authentic, smart, funny, and strong protagonist whose journey feels both personal and universal.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories, uplifting midlife transformations, and tales set in charming small towns. It’s a gentle reminder that even in the face of heartbreak, it’s never too late to start over or to find joy in unexpected places. I highly recommend “Lost and Found in Lunenburg” to anyone who craves for a laugh and a good cry in one.
What sounds like the setup for a comedy turns into a beautifully layered story of healing. Rose isn’t running away so much as she is running toward something new, even if she doesn’t know exactly what it is yet. The shop becomes a symbol of her independence and courage, and through the quirky people she meets, Rose begins to rediscover her spark.
Doucet writes with warmth, infusing humor into moments of vulnerability and grief. Her descriptions of Lunenburg are so vivid, you can almost smell the salt air and hear the buzz of conversation at the local cafe. But what really makes the novel shine is Rose—an authentic, smart, funny, and strong protagonist whose journey feels both personal and universal.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories, uplifting midlife transformations, and tales set in charming small towns. It’s a gentle reminder that even in the face of heartbreak, it’s never too late to start over or to find joy in unexpected places. I highly recommend “Lost and Found in Lunenburg” to anyone who craves for a laugh and a good cry in one.
November 10, 2025
Lost & Found in Lunenburg by Jane Doucet is a tender, funny, and deeply human story about grief, healing, and rediscovering joy when life doesn’t go according to plan. It’s Under the Tuscan Sun meets Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine full of warmth, wit, and the kind of emotional truth that sneaks up on you when you least expect it.
At fifty, Rose Ainsworth seems to have it all: a good marriage, a fulfilling career, and two lovable rescue dogs. But when her husband dies unexpectedly, her carefully built world crumbles. In a fit of heartbreak-fueled spontaneity, Rose buys her friend’s sex shop in the quaint seaside town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. What starts as an escape becomes an unexpected new beginning, complete with eccentric locals, lingering grief, and the hesitant spark of something like love.
Doucet writes with emotional honesty, sharp humor, and unflinching compassion. Rose’s journey from loss to laughter, from heartbreak to hope reminds us that even when everything falls apart, life has a funny way of piecing us back together. The small-town setting adds a layer of charm, and the ensemble of quirky, endearing characters gives the story its warmth and heartbeat.
For readers who love stories about reinvention, resilience, and the messiness of moving forward, Lost & Found in Lunenburg is a beautiful reminder that healing doesn’t mean going back it means blooming where you’ve landed.
At fifty, Rose Ainsworth seems to have it all: a good marriage, a fulfilling career, and two lovable rescue dogs. But when her husband dies unexpectedly, her carefully built world crumbles. In a fit of heartbreak-fueled spontaneity, Rose buys her friend’s sex shop in the quaint seaside town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. What starts as an escape becomes an unexpected new beginning, complete with eccentric locals, lingering grief, and the hesitant spark of something like love.
Doucet writes with emotional honesty, sharp humor, and unflinching compassion. Rose’s journey from loss to laughter, from heartbreak to hope reminds us that even when everything falls apart, life has a funny way of piecing us back together. The small-town setting adds a layer of charm, and the ensemble of quirky, endearing characters gives the story its warmth and heartbeat.
For readers who love stories about reinvention, resilience, and the messiness of moving forward, Lost & Found in Lunenburg is a beautiful reminder that healing doesn’t mean going back it means blooming where you’ve landed.
December 7, 2023
After reading Jane Doucet's other two novels (The Pregnant Pause and Fishnets & Fantasies) I was looking forward to reading how she would pull the main (and some side) characters from those two books into Lost & Found in Lunenburg. I was not disappointed. Readers don't NEED to have read her first two novels to appreciate Lost & Found in Lunenburg but having read the first two before this one, it seemed like a lovely union of the stories with the characters from both coming together and showing a great demonstration of no matter how old you are or where you are in life, there is always room for new experiences, connections, risks to take, people to meet, places to go, etc. Additionally, I felt like a great message in the book is life is short, you never know exactly how much time you or a loved one has, so take advantage of life and and all its opportunities. Also, I appreciated how the story touched on other experiences of loss - not just the loss of a spouse - you'll learn what I mean you read it. ;) There is something for everyone to relate to.
February 12, 2025
I enjoyed all of the local references and the characters were well developed and quite believable. May was my favourite character of all. I wasn’t enthralled with the trop of moving forward in such a tiny package of just over a year. A lot of the grief writing was very good but it felt as if there was an unwritten pressure to have a relationship. Many of the characters were happy to live their life without finding new love so that made the story well balanced in that way.
June 16, 2024
Great read! Jane Doucet gets better and better with each new book she releases. I can’t wait for her next one!
January 3, 2025
A quaint story set in Lunenburg NS. Explores grief and loss and the importance of our village.
April 26, 2025
I would have probably rated it lower, but the Lunenburg-ness was charming. Overall, the plot needed to be tightened up.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews