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, Adult Fiction, Summer Reads, Music, Fiction

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...

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[Christy Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got lost in “Lost in the Summer of 69” and read it in one day. The title caught my attention because it was the year I was born, and I’ve always been fascinated with the music and the music movement of the time period. This was a perfect coupling of historical fiction and storytelling. I appreciate a strong female character so I certainly appreciated three. I would like to think that in addition to someone reading this and walking away with some new knowledge of music and the time period, they would also walk away understanding how to stand up and advocate for themselves. This was a powerful read from a new author to me, but I intend to read more of her books.

[Breva · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming, heartfelt road trip story. It’s a perfect summer read—full of music, nostalgia, and the complicated but loving bonds between three generations of women. The cross-country chase is fun, and seeing the late ‘60s music scene through their eyes is a real treat. It’s more sweet than deep, and the ending is a bit predictable, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want. A warm, feel-good book about family and second chances.

[Elayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fun book! If you love road trip plots, family breaking cycles, and/or Woodstock-era nostalgia, this is the book for you!
The book makes everyday moments into mystical metaphors - sometimes a bit too much, but it was colorful writing. The second half, and especially the last 10%, got a little drawn out, but it was worth it for the closing scenes.

thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

[Lorie Krehbiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical fiction. I thought the situation the Eleanor got involved in was a little far-fetched, but I loved Leanne and Nora’s road trip to find her. I also really enjoyed learning about the different music festivals of that summer beyond Woodstock, and even the songs that were performed by different singers and bands. Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic road trip. Loved this one filled with adventure, hard diagnoses, forgiveness and fun.

Knight writes in several genres and I am here for it. This is my new favorite. Being a child of the 70’s makes
This more fun.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I've never read this author before but this was a fun and nostalgic book to read. It's also about road trips and relationships! Enjoyable!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winning story from an author who writes everything well. Captures the era with nostalgia and grace!

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read this year. Three generations on a summer adventure. The time period full of fun and finding what's important. This book will be on my keeper shelf to enjoy again and again.