Lost in the Summer of '69

by Eliza Knight

Daisy Jones and the Six meets Where’d You Go Bernadette in an epic story from USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight, in which a soon-to-be empty-nester’s mother goes missing, leading her on a road trip with her daughter to track grandma down at a series of music festivals that popped up across the country in the summer of '69.

Summer, 1969. Eleanor Bell, a widow, has always given everything she had to her family, forgoing her own dreams of becoming a singer. When she receives a diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s on the eve of her sixty-ninth birthday, she decides to go on an epic musical bucket-list trip to fulfill her dreams: A summer tour of festivals.

Except she forgets, maybe on purpose, to tell anyone where she’s going. Leanne Miller discovers her mother missing, and she enlists the help of her somewhat distant college-aged daughter, Nora, to help her find Eleanor. The last thing Nora wants to do before starting as one of Yale's first female undergrads is to hit the road. But then Nora hears something strange on the radio—her grandmother’s voice. Nora and Leanne embark on a road trip in her husband’s Lincoln Continental from Atlanta, to California, Denver, Seattle, back to New York, and then New Orleans, always one step behind Eleanor, who has been dubbed the Dame of Rock n’ Roll by none other than Johnny Carson. It's an epic celebration of savoring the encore no matter what the next act may bring.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Summer Reads, Music

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 9, 2026

About the author

Eliza Knight is an award winning, USA Today and international bestselling author. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, her weekends were filled with visits to museums, and historical reenactments. Escape into history for courageous heroines, irresistible heroes and daring escapades. Join Eliza (sometimes as E.) on riveting historical journeys that cross landscapes around the world. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Novelists, Inc., the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed, and a co-host on the History, Books and Wine podcast. Eliza also writes contemporary women's fiction as Michelle Brandon.

While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she tries to keep up with her three not-so-little children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses, two very naughty Newfies, and a turtle named Fish.

CONFESSIONS OF A GRAMMAR QUEEN out now! LOST IN THE SUMMER OF '69 out June 9, 2026!

For more information about book club visits, downloadable reader guides, upcoming author events, book news, newsletter and more, visit her website: www.elizaknight.com

If you love history and want to dive in for some fun, visit Eliza's popular, award-winning blog:
http://historyundressed.com or her history podcast: https://historybooksandwinepodcast.bu...

To connect on social media, visit/follow Eliza at the following:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizaknightfi...
Instagram: @ElizaKnightFiction

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Lost in the Summer of '69 from start to finish. It might be my favorite of Eliza Knight’s historical fiction titles so far adventuring across the country along with the bands of ‘69. It reminded me of stories of my mom and my grandma shared during that time period. This would be a wonderful book club read!

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story, especially the multigenerational relationship between the grandmother, mother, and daughter. There’s something truly special about a book centered around strong women and the bonds that connect them across generations.
This was such a fun and nostalgic read—after all, who doesn’t love music, road trips, and music festivals, all set against the unforgettable summer of ’69?
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advance read. This was my first book by Eliza Knight, and I am officially hooked after this one!

[Sheri Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, thank you Eliza Knight, Lost in the Summer of 69 was a book that took me back to my childhood in music. This book was a tale of a rock n roll grandmother or was it a tale of a family finding itself again and its dreams. The journey of the Grand dame as she took her adventure with her hairless pup, a daughter, and a granddaughter chasing het across the states you be the judge and enjoy the music and the joys and the memories made along the way, the reading of two classic books, read the book to find out what they read!!!! This book made me think of my Mommy and how I appreciated her love of Sly and the Family Stone, how our car rides anywhere and our 8 track tape playing and us singing along at the top of our lungs, we were the lives of everyday people...thank you Mommy for the love of reading...

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this novel.

Such a cute, heartwarming story about three generations of women rediscovering themselves outside of societal expectations. This book is girlhood in written format, complete with a cute dog to go with it all. If you love cozy stories that remind you to be yourself, this one is for you.

[Cadence Boudreaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute story! A tad long for what it was i felt like it did get repetitive but it was still so much fun . I enjoyed joe a lot (not that the family relations weren’t fun, i just loved their chemistry!)

There’s not much to actually say about this story! i enjoyed it it was cute .

[Chris Worthington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three generations of women travel the country going from music festival to music festival. Eleanor, diagnosed with early on-set dementia, is chasing her dreams one last time. Her worried daughter, Leanne, is trying hard both to find her mother and to connect with her daughter, Nora, before she leaves for college. And Nora is just trying to figure out her adulthood.

Eliza Knight found a new scenario to tell a familiar tale of women finding themselves and each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another excellent book by Eliza Knight. I love the storyline of the book dealing with five generations of women separated by five decades with the granddaughter in the first family becoming the grandmother dealing with her daughter and granddaughter in the present.

In the present, Nora is a grandmother with a conservative daughter named Anne and an adventurous granddaughter named Ellie, after Nora's own grandmother. Ellie wants to attend a music revival of Woodstock and to Anne's dismay, Nora agrees with Ellie. She tells them about the summer of 1969 and a similar experience with hew own mother and grandmother.

Eleanor was a singer in her younger days when she gave it up to become a wife and mother. But she always kept the musical side of her personality, which her husband supported, until he didn't. On the other hand, her daughter, Leanne, is very conservative and not very happy with her life. Something is missing in it. Her daughter, Nora, is very much like her grandmother and wants to go to a music festival such as the upcoming one in upstate New York called Woodstock.

Eleanor on the other hand was just diagnosed with dementia and wants to experience one last chance to remember her singing career by attending another music festival in California, The Newport Pop Festival. She decides to fly to California with her Chinese Crested dog, Roxy, as a stowaway. There, she starts to find her inner Ellie and an appreciative audience. I love Roxy but I did worry about her getting sunburned.

Meanwhile, Leanne discovers that her mother has gone on a trip to California and decides to take Nora with her on a cross country trip to California believing her mother is driving and that they will catch up with. The result is a memorable bonding trip for mother and daughter while Eleanor is experiencing her own musical revival in California.

I really loved how the five generations of women rediscovered themselves while also gaining insight into their own individual relationships with each other.

This can be an emotional book in terms of Eleanor's dementia memory related problem but it is such a beautiful book of discovery the I found myself getting emotional myself between laughing and getting teary. I absolutely adored this book and I have already preordered my own copy from Amazon.

Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All recommendations and opinions are my own.”

[Donna Krutsinger - Mockingbird Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book to read! I love any book set in that history making, record setting, music laden, tumultuous summer of '69. Not only do you have the great music in this one, you have road trips and strong female characters breaking out of those molds of the 1950s and 1960s and becoming their own character.

The book introduces us to five generations of women, concentrating on specifically three of them - Eleanor, 69-year-old grandmother and an eccentric bluesey, rocker; Leanne, her 42-year-old strait laced, pearl wearing daughter; and Nora, 18-year-old daughter and granddaughter forging her own path to Yale as part of the first female graduating class.

Knight begins her story in 2019 when Nora is a grandmother. Her daughter, Anne, is arguing with her own daughter, Ellie, about attending the 50th anniversary of Woodstock. Anne asks for backup from Nora, and Nora simply says NO. She, however, does not mean that she agrees with her daughter saying that her granddaughter shouldn't go; she means no, I will not back your decision in telling her she can't go. This leads into an excellent springboard flashback to Nora and her own fateful summer of '69 when she and her own mother, Leanne, followed Eleanor (their grandmother and mom) as she took off from NY to California to hit the music circuit in order "find herself" during that magical summer of '69.

The author has done an excellent job on the history of the circuit of the musical festivals and some of the bands playing leading up to the historical Woodstock. She's also researched Alzheimer's and its early effects as one of our main characters, Eleanor, is given the dementia related diagnosis, prompting her to run away on her summer of '69 adventure and "find herself" once again.

Do some of the happenings seem a little far fetched? Yes, but wasn't the summer of '69 itself far out there? It's overall a joyous, delightful, eye-opening ride. If you're a fan of old rock n roll and music history and a fan of strong female characters, grab this one. Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for this nostalgic jewel that drops June 9th, 2026.

[Diddly Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful way to go back in time to when rock and roll was new and festivals were popping up throughout the United States and to let the reader visualize what it would be like to go to the festivals. And, let’s not forget the bell bottoms and short fringe cutoffs were the style.
This is one of those books that I had a hard time putting down. I was totally transported into the book and felt as though I was along for the ride and boy, was I captivated! In my mind I could picture each festival and all the driving shenanigans.
The books main characters are three generations of women in the same family. A grandmother (Eleanor) that skipped town after being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s so she decided to chase her dreams. Next we have Eleanor’s daughter (Leanne), the stereotypical dress wearing, pearl clutching stat at home housewife. Last but not least, we have Leann’s daughter (Nora) who had plans all summer before heading off to Yale University. She was in the first batch of women students accepted there. Those plans disappeared when her mom when her mother decided to take a cross country road trip spanning from New York to California hoping to find Eleanor. When Nora was asked if she would join her mom on the journey, she reluctantly says yes, she certainly couldn’t let her mom drive all that way by herself. The ride starts bumpy for mother and daughter, but as time goes on, it started to be fun and became a summer of self discovery them, driving coast to coast trying to find the wayward Eleanor who has started to make a name for herself along her trek across the county.
I felt as though I was in the back seat of Leann’s Lincoln Continental along for the ride. I absolutely encourage everyone to read this fun packed exceptional book by the wonderful author Eliza Knight. She has such a way with words that is captivating.
Thank you to NetGally and Sourcebooks Landmark for sending this phenomenal book to me for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own. This is definitely a five star book.
#NetGalley
#ElizaKnight
#SourcebooksLandmark.

[Karen Axnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heart-warming novel poses some serious issues from a historical perspective that still resonate today. Namely how, in this case, women were restricted by their roles in the patriarchal order at the expense of their creative endeavors and dreams. At this time, a woman could not have bank accounts or credit cards without a husband’s approval and career opportunities were limited.

Three generations of women from one family explore their respective freedom while simultaneously healing their relationships over the summer of 1969. Eleanor is the family matriarch who has just been given a devastating diagnosis. At sixty-nine years of age, she takes off to California to attend a music festival to reclaim her lost dreams as a talented musician. Eleanor’s abrupt and unannounced departure sends her forty-something daughter, Leanne, into a fearful frenzy to track her down and bring her home. Lastly, Nora, who is about to leave the security of home to attend Yale University, is persuaded to accompany her mother on the trip. What ensues is an exciting, if introspective, trip as they crisscross the country attending concerts featuring famous artists during the summer of love and free spirits. Each one faces their fears as they confront what they authentically want for their lives versus what is expected.

The characters are well-drawn and relatable. Eleanor’s thread may seem to embody a bit of poetic license, but it adds depth to her dilemma making it worthwhile. The author has clearly done her research about multiple aspects (clothing, food, music, cars, travel accommodations) of this historical period, which adds credibility to the story. Much of this is described in her author’s note at the end of the book. My one criticism is that the ending was a bit disappointing. I would have liked a bit more detail about how the women navigated their “reentry” upon returning home.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

[Lisa Hemming · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first thoughts as I began reading “Lost in the Summer of ‘69” was that it was a lyrical, poetic and magical trip back in time. I was transported to that special summer as I joined Leanne and Nora in the Lincoln Continental as they traveled west in search of Eleanor, a woman on a mission. I remember the summer of ‘69 because I desperately wanted to go to Woodstock but I was too young. The journey would have taken me about 2 hours but instead, I was stuck with glimpses of the festival on my black and white TV.

For Eleanor, her trip to California was an epiphany; a spur of the moment decision based upon her desire to find the young woman she once was who loved to sing, dream, and have fun. She gave up her singing career 50 years ago to become a dutiful wife and mother, but her bright light was never extinguished. With her guitar, and dog Roxy, she flew to the West Coast in search of freedom, music, and friendship. As soon as she arrived and the world heard her passionate voice, she became the star of the summer festivals. Eleanor traveled from California, to Denver, to Atlanta, and Seattle with her final destination being Bethel, NY, and the Woodstock Music & Art Fair. She hoped to recapture the joy of being on stage, singing songs that spoke of dreams, family, and reaching for the stars.

Chasing after her was her daughter Leanne and her granddaughter, Nora. They had a contentious relationship as mothers and daughters often do, but this once in a lifetime trip was a chance for them to become closer. For Leanne, she literally let her hair down, as she cast aside her starched blouse in favor of bell bottoms, a Boho top and sandals. Nora forgot about her summer plans with her friends the minute she felt the freedom of the open road. She immersed herself in the sights and sounds of the festivals, loved seeing her mom let loose, and met a young man who had a way with words. Eleanor, Leanne and Nora set off on their adventure with different goals, but one thing was for sure, they had the time of their lives. What a way to spend the summer!!

[Deb Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal road trip book celebrating three generations of women who find out who they really want to be over the course of a summer. Eleanor, the grandmother, decides to head out over the summer of 1969 to play music without telling her family. She flies to California and ends up being invited to join a group that is touring the music festivals. Leanne, the daughter, and Nora, the granddaughter, discover Eleanor is missing and based on a clue, they set out on a cross-country driving adventure to try to find her. What they do find, is a way to reconnect and build a new relationship as mother and daughter before Nora heads off to college in the fall. Leanne and Nora eventually catch up with Eleanor after Woodstock and begin to create new memories together as the redefined people they have become by the end of the summer.
I loved the emotion and adventure in this story. I could relate to all three women and connect to various points in my life, which I think many readers will be able to do also. The descriptions immerse the reader as the women were on the road and hanging out at the music festivals. The story made me want to take an epic road trip and visit some music festivals! Also, remembering that this is set in 1969, there was no GPS, just paper maps, no cell phones, just pay phones, etc. There is a bit of nostalgia to get lost and not be connected 24/7.
I would recommend this book to all music lovers, fans of historical fiction and those readers that love a good adventure!
#LostintheSummerof69 #NetGalley @marsallyonlit
Thank you Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Arlene L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a character in the book, I was eighteen years old the summer of ‘69, having just graduated from high school and anxiously getting ready to leave for college and like another character, my mother also said “No” when I asked to go to Woodstock. Having loved “Confessions of a Drama Queen”, I was anxiously anticipating this book to be available on NetGalley and was thrilled to receive an ARC. Perhaps I was too giddy with excitement because in the end, it may have worked against me. I admittedly felt neutral about this book as the story was a bit too “far out”, but not in the context of 60’s lingo. So with all that said, I did enjoy the three familial generations that were represented and their shared love of the music of my personal favorite era. After meeting two of the central characters in present time, the heart of the story occurs during the summer of 1969, when Leanne and her daughter Nora road trip from their home in Atlanta to the Newport Music Festival in California, after finding clues that Leanne’s sixty-nine year old mother Eleanor, who was recently diagnosed with dementia had left home to attend the musical gathering. The two are always one step behind Ellie as they travel through the US attending music festivals in the hope of catching up with her. The most beautiful part of the road trip was the strong bond that developed between mother and daughter who were able to see and communicate with one another with a new understanding and appreciation.

[The Bayside Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the summer of 1969, Eleanor Bell doesn't have anything to lose. According to her doctor, she may not even remember how to play guitar soon. Eleanor leaves without telling her daughter where she is going. Eleanor's daughter, Leanne, enlists her own daughter, Nora's help in finding her grandmother during her last summer before going to Yale. Nora hears her grandma on the radio singing at a music festival, so they hit the road on a trip to California to get her. Along the way, they learn more about Eleanor and themselves. After this summer of adventure and discovery, they all return home as new people.

If you wish that you could go back and read Daisy Jones and The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for the first time again, this book is for you. Eliza Knight captures the amazing feel that Evelyn Hugo has with the classic rocker vibe of Daisy Jones. I am in my Taylor Jenkins Reid era right now, and I cannot stress enough how comparable this book is to her writing. I love the fresh idea of a book following 3 generations and the many decisions and life paths they are taking in one summer of adventure. You truly fall in love with these characters so fast and get sucked into a wonderful story of discovery. I absolutely ate this book up and could not recommend it enough. PREORDER IT NOW!

Spice Rating 1/5
Star Rating 4.5/5

[Jasmine Leggett Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about a life-changing road trip that brings 3 generations of women closer together. It is also about the beauty of being lost and being found 🩷

Eleanor, is absolutely amazing! After being diagnosed with early onset dementia, she decides to pick up where she left off with her dreams of being a musician at the age of 69. This path leads her to many music festivals where she quickly becomes the named the “Dame of Rock and Roll” and “Rockin’ Granny”.

Leanne is someone who's almost given up. Her marriage is on autopilot. She is about to be an “empty-nester”. Her life is in a rut and she's drowning. Suddenly, her mother goes missing. After finding an advertisement for a music festival in her mother’s trash bin, she decides to go after her. During this journey, Leanne embraces life, love, music and its power.

Nora is at a crossroad in life. She has just graduated high school and starting college at Yale is in her near future. This trip brings her closer to her mom and helps her realize who she is and what path she wants to follow in life.

Eliza Knight did such an amazing job transporting me to the music festivals and into the lives of these 3 wonderful, strong women! This book was so good and is absolutely one of my favorites! I will definitely be recommending to my friends! I was provided a complimentary advanced reader copy from Sourcebooks via NetGalley.

[Katie Lavoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, lighthearted story of three generations of women finding themselves while having a trip of a lifetime. Full of 60s nostalgia and looking at where women fit into society back then.

The women: grandmother Eleanor, with recently diagnosed dementia, trying to recapture her youth and enjoy life before her memories fade; mother Leanne, who starts desperately trying to find her own mother and connect with her daughter, who doesn’t just find and connect with them both, but also finds herself along the trip; daughter Nora, who is questioning adulthood and how she’ll fit in as she looks ahead to starting college in the fall.

The outcome: all three women end the trip having picked up a lot of things along the way - their love for life, a better sense of self, fun memories, connection to each other, and realizing that being the ‘perfect wife’ doesn’t necessarily mean what they thought it did.

And while some of these topics could get heavy, Elizabeth Knight kept things light and fun. She added joy and whimsy with the premise, with ‘Mama Lightening’, with love handcuffs and all the other scenarios that kept me giggling and excited to turn every page.

Thanks to Eliza Knight, Sourcebook Landmark, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! More than 5 stars for this far out book! If there was a way to become a character in a book, this is the one I would choose to "live" in. It's a story about a legendary road trip that brings 3 generations of women closer together. It's also about being lost and being found.

Eleanor, is amazing! She decides to pick up where she left off with her dreams at the age of 69. This path leads her to music festivals where she quickly becomes the Dame of Rock and Roll. Leanne is someone who's almost given up. Her life is in a rut and she's drowning. Then, her mother is suddenly missing and she decides to go after her. She embraces music and its power. Nora is at a precipice in life. College and her future lies before her. This trip brings her closer to her mom and helps her realize what path she wants to follow.

The author did such a wonderful job transporting me to the music festivals! I could smell the hot dogs, incense and weed! My favorite part was when Eleanor saw Elvis! I'll definitely read this book again and probably two or three more times! It's just that good!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Amy]

This novel follows a mother and daughter on a trek through the concerts of the summer of 1969. Grandmother, Eleanor, gets a diagnosis of dementia and on her 69th birthday decides to go to the Newport Pop Festival in California without telling her family. When she was younger, she gave up her singing career to get married and devoted her life to her husband and daughter. When her daughter, Leanne, discovers that Eleanor has disappeared and may be on her way to California, she and her daughter, Nora, set out from New York to find Eleanor. Eleanor goes on stage at Newport and becomes a sensation called the Dame of Rock and Roll or Momma Lightening. Eleanor then joins Shep Moon's band and travels to the Denver Pop Festival, Atlanta International Pop Festival, Seattle Pop Festival, and lastly to Woodstock. All the while, her daughter, Leanne and granddaughter, Nora, follow leads to each of the concerts to locate Eleanor. Leanne and Nora each discover new things about themselves and grow closer. Eventually, the pair caught up with Eleanor. The result of their travels is all three generations of women finding themselves and forming an even stronger bond.

Thanks to Sourcebooks for sending this thoroughly enjoyable book.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two days—it was such a joy. Following the music festival circuit of 1969, three generations of women navigating independence, aging, Dementia, identity, an epic road trip, and personal growth you can’t help but cheer for made this story irresistible.

I will absolutely be recommending this book to friends. Music lovers will delight in the references, and anyone in the Sandwich Generation will feel their heartstrings tugged.

The novel unfolds through a series of flashbacks as Nora and Leanne retrace Eleanor’s impulsive journey from New York to California, when she set off to follow the music circuit during the magical summer of ’69 in an attempt to “find herself” once again.

The author does an excellent job capturing the history of the music festival circuit and the bands leading up to the iconic Woodstock. Just as thoughtfully, she weaves in research on Alzheimer’s and its early effects, as Eleanor receives a dementia-related diagnosis—an event that prompts her to reclaim her independence through this unforgettable road trip.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a highlight to my reading this year!

[Janet Fiorentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Eliza Knight’s work, so I was excited for the chance to read and review "Lost in the Summer of ’69." I’m also a sucker for road-trip stories, which made this novel an especially satisfying read.

When Eleanor Bell is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she becomes determined to complete her bucket list before her memories—and the meaning behind her dreams—slip away. She sets off on a road trip to attend a series of iconic summer music festivals, while her daughter, Leanne Miller, and granddaughter, Nora, set out in pursuit.

Knight does an excellent job capturing both the spirit of the 1969 music circuit and the larger cultural moment. The sense of time and place is vivid, and the music scene feels immersive and authentic. Equally well done is the emotional core of the novel, particularly Eleanor’s reckoning with the loss of her health—and her mind—and the impact this has on her family.

I’m always drawn to novels that explore a specific slice of history, and this book is a strong example of how personal stories can illuminate a transformative era.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this enjoyable read.

Four stars.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1960, Eleanor Bell is a widowed 69-year-old in 1969 who gave up her musical dreams when she had a family. When she receives a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, she makes the impulsive decision to join the music festivals that are popping up around the nation. When Leanne realizes her mother is missing and was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she enlists her daughter Nora for help and the two of them take a road trip of their own in search of their grandmother and mother.

I loved this story of 3 strong women, all at pivotal moments in their lives, in the Summer of '69. Eleanor finds herself on the music festival circuit, crossing the country, as she finds her passion for music again, enjoying performing after all these years. Nora and Leanne head out after her, following the concert circuit around the country. Times are changing, and expectations for women are changing. So all 3 of them are exploring their purpose and passion in the world and learning more about themselves, along with the shifting roles of women. It was a fascinating time, and I loved this story of three strong women finding their purpose amongst these shifting times. This was my first read by this author, but it certainly won't be my last.

Thanks to @sourcebooks, @netgallet, and the author for this arc.

[Kelli Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman who’s beginning to forget who she is goes on the trip of a lifetime... and so begins a story about three generations of women being alive together in the moment. I was really excited to get into Lost in the Summer of ‘69. The nostalgic concept sucked me in, but it was difficult for me to get through this book, and took me a lot longer to finish than it normally would. I found some of the historical details to be loosely realistic, which was distracting, and a few times, the language was repetitive, and sometimes so anachronistic that it pulled me out of the plot.

I enjoyed the story, though–I really did! I wanted to! But some of the plot points leaned predictable, which made it hard for me to immerse myself and really get into the story. It felt longer than necessary, like a lot of the story lines were being dragged out, but then the ending was rushed. It was a very “and they all lived happily ever after,” sort of story, which has its place, but isn’t my favorite. I think I’m in the minority here, but I can understand the appeal. I think a lot of readers will have a good time with this read. I just got lost in the details.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

[Reader jhophop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Lost in the Summer of ’69.

This thoughtful novel follows three generations of women from the same family as they each face pivotal moments in their lives. Eleanor, the grandmother, is quietly confronting the realities of declining health. Her granddaughter Nora is preparing to become one of the first women to attend her college, stepping into a future filled with possibility and uncertainty. Meanwhile, Nora’s mother, Leanne, begins to question the familiar path she has followed as a devoted wife and homemaker.

Through these interconnected stories, Lost in the Summer of ’69 gently explores societal expectations, shifting roles for women, and the importance of finding personal purpose. The characters are well-developed and relatable, allowing readers to easily invest in each woman’s journey.

With its multigenerational perspective and reflective tone, this novel will appeal to a broad audience and is a fitting addition to any summer reading list.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost in the Summer of '69 is just a good reason to get lost in another great read from Eliza Knight. This story, while having serious themes, made me feel good while reading it. While I wanted to read it as quickly as I could, I also wanted to take my time and enjoy these characters and their summer.

One reason I love Eliza Knight's books is the way she creates female characters that seem so realistic and genuine. I felt like I knew these women by the end of the first chapter. I was ready to pack my bags (mentally) and head out on the road with Leanne and Nora in search of Eleanor. I had fun meeting the other characters along the way as we went from festival to festival. I also enjoyed the relationship between the three generations of women.

This story was a fun read, and Eliza Knight has firmly cemented herself on my must-read list. This is the third book of hers I have read, and each one has been an absolute joy to read. I love the characters she creates and the stories she tells about them. I highly recommend her books.

[Gayle Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three generations of women hit the open road during the transformative summer of 1969, where music festivals become the soundtrack to reconciliation and self-discovery. As mother and daughter chase the grandmother as she lives out her dream performing at musical festivals across the country, the three women navigate physical journeys and emotional divides, prompting them to challenge their assumptions. Knight masterfully weaves period details and timeless family dynamics, showing how raw honesty leads these women to finally speak their truths about buried dreams and unspoken regrets. What begins as a reluctant obligation transforms into a revelatory adventure where VW vans, flower crowns, and muddy festival fields become the unlikely setting for three women to strip away their carefully maintained roles and see each other as fully realized people. Readers will cheer the women on as they navigate their way to the next steps of their lives.

[Beth Gerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part I really enjoyed this multigenerational road trip. This felt well-researched and accurate to the time (although I thought at one point Leanne & Nora said that with traffic, they weren't going to make it to Atlanta and so skipped it to go right on to Nashville, but then later they talk about being at the show in Atlanta - so continuity-wise, I was a little distracted when it was mentioned).

Each woman is on the trip to explore their own life and reflect on their future, which I appreciated. Eleanor's storyline between her rich past and scary present life was especially captivating. I thought at some points each woman's personal strife was repeated too often, specifically as a tag for the end of the chapter, but even that was overcome by the writing throughout.

Would recommend and I'll definitely go back and read some of Knight's back catalogue.

I received an ARC from NetGalley

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4✨ Three generations of women all on the brink of change share one epic summer of music as they criss-cross the country. One woman is in search of the memories she’s losing, one in search of something more for herself, and the other in search of who she wants to be.

This book is full of love, adventure,, and self-discovery. It’s about mothers and daughters yearning to be true to themselves while trying to fit in to societal norms. Eleanor is chasing lost dreams of being a musician before she forgets the music in her heart. Her daughter, Leanne, is trying to find her lost mother before it’s too late. And her granddaughter Nora is trying to have one final summer before she leaves for college.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about these three strong women as they not only learn about themselves but also learn about each other. This is the e summer of 1969 - the summer that changes everything.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Eliza Knight, and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

[Cherié Burgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved this book! Thank you to NetGalley for the early read. This is my first by Eliza Knight, and I know it won't be my last. This is such a heartfelt, emotional story of womanhood and relationships, especially the relationships between women of different generations in the same family.

Eleanor Bell has done everything for everyone in her life after giving up on her dreams of stardom. Then one day, she decided to put herself first. She took off without warning or goodbye. Her daughter and granddaughter have a fractured relationship, and they spend the summer on a roadtrip.

This story is so lovely and one of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading from NetGalley.

[Cortni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you imagine being able to travel across the country to music festivals without a care in the world? Not to have to worry about work, school or kids! To be carefree! This book is about getting that chance. It’s a little slow to start but once it gets going it doesn’t stop. It’s about finding yourself, getting to know your mother and her getting to know you, and also about taking that chance, letting loose and not holding back! Take the chance, go on the trip, sing the song, live your dream before you forget it all.

I’m personally not a fan of the ending, since I feel like it was rushed with too many questions answered. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing to read this book early.

[Maureen]

DNF 22%

So this one didn’t really work for me, unfortunately.

I was excited to read this book when I received the ARC, but it’s been four months and I still can’t get past the first quarter, so I’m going to softly DNF it. I do think it’s a good story, but I’m just not in the right mood for it.

The premise is nice: we follow three generations of women traveling across the US for different reasons. Eleanor suffers from dementia and wants to relive her younger years. Leane, her daughter, is always trying to do “the right thing” and chases after her. Nora is the youngest, about to start her studies at Yale.

PS: it comes out on June 13

Than you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC 🫶🏼