Lost and Found

by Liz Byrski, Brianne Collins (Illustrator)

Rose Walters has never taken a leap of faith quite like this one - she is flying home to England for the first time in decades to search for her first love. But what she finds there is far from what she expected.

When Rose turns up at her door, Dora Stutchbury is not sure she's willing to rake over the coals of the past - especially those she has taken care to let lie for so long. But both women are about to be surprised as an unlikely friendship shows them a way forward - and finally unearths some answers to questions about the past, an absent son and lover, and the women themselves.

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

Liz Byrski is a writer and broadcaster with more than 40 years experience in the British and Australian media. She is the author of eleven non-fiction books and five novels, and her work has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines.

In the nineties Liz was a broadcaster and executive producer with ABC Radio in Perth and later an advisor to a minister in the Western Australian State Government; she now lectures in Professional and Creative Writing at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, and has PhD in writing with a focus on feminist popular fiction.

Liz was born in London and spent most of her childhood in Sussex. As an only child she spent a lot of time alone, much of it buried in books. She began her working life as a secretary and later moved into journalism working as a reporter on a local newspaper until she took up freelance writing when her children were born. Before moving to Western Australia she also worked as an appeals organiser for Oxfam.

After moving to Perth with her family in 1981 she once again established a freelance career writing for Australian publications including The Australian, Homes and Living, Cosmopolitan and Weekend News.

Liz lives between Perth and Fremantle and in addition to enjoying the company of family and friends, she spends most of her time reading, writing and walking. She has two adult sons and twin grandsons.

Reviews

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed her previous books but struggled with this one as I found it a bit boring.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two years after she woke from an urgent dream, Rose Walters is finally returning to England to confront her biggest loss. It’s been thirty years since Tom Stutchbury broke her heart but is it closure she craves, or a second chance?

Lost and Found is a thoughtful examination of lost love, female friendship, and second chances from bestselling Australian author Liz Byrski.

In her fifties, Rose is a mature character who has built a comfortable and satisfying life for herself in Western Australia, yet the sudden end of her relationship with Tom haunts her. Despite being a smart and accomplished woman, Rose’s search for her elusive lost love is undertaken with an emotionally naive mindset, and her journey is often distressing and frustrating in pursuit of answers, but ultimately cathartic.

Dora is surprised when Rose arrives on her doorstep looking for her son, she’s inclined to simply close the door but instead takes pity on her. Dora is a such a lovely character, she has weathered several tragedies in her eighty plus years with admirable strength and resilience. The bond she and Rose develop is sweet and provides them both with something precious.

The friendship between Rose and Dora is key to the novel but Rose’s relationship with her best friend and ministerial assistant, Chris, is also important, as is Dora’s with her childhood friend Molly.

Told with Byrski’s signature tenderness and wisdom, Lost and Found is an engaging read that encourages connection and reflection.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Pan Macmillan for sending us a copy to read and review.
A story of friendship that survives painful strains, second chances that infiltrate pure joy and the urge to follow your heart will take you on an absorbing and emotive journey.
Rose goes to England to reconcile the plight of long lost love.
Closure illusive as another opportunity presents itself.
The mother of her past lover wants her to write a biography.
Secrets and truths emerge from cracks to reveal true identity’s.
The project absorbs Rose and a deep bond forms rapidly.
Meanwhile a close Australian friendship Rose has with Chris starts to reshape as new parameters define it.
Providing the reader with a unique experience.
A quick and powerful read that offers warmth, respect and turbulence.
As secrets unfurl a new level of respect creeps in.
A coming home story that is relatable and entertaining.

[Muriel Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved all of Liz’s previous books but found this one difficult to get into and a little boring until the second half .The connection between each of the women- Dora & Rose , Rose & Chris were special and integral to the story.
Tom was boring and at times very controlling as men seem to think they have the right to be.Really didn’t like his character at all .

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well wasn’t this the most wonderful surprise! My first Liz Byrski novel, and definitely not my last. This was brilliant!

Imagine going back to find a love from your past … from 30 years ago! How daunting yet thrilling. I was captured instantly by this brave move!

As Rose heads back to England, in search for her past love, so much more happens that she didn’t quite expect.

I loved the writing style of this book, it is just so beautiful and detailed, so picturesque and gentle. The characters were all so real and deep.

There were so many elements to this story. A reminder not to take true friendships for granted and that people aren’t really who we think they are. Especially people from our past, there are so many versions of people we don’t get to know all of them!

I was fully invested in getting to know Dora and what her life was like in the past. It was so lovely watching her let her guards down so that she could let Rose in.

I cried so much. For Dora. For Rose. For the women years ago, who never had a choice and where choices were made for them.

This is a beautiful story about strong friendships and women supporting women. We are so lucky to have close friendships that mean more to us than anything else.

Thank you so much @macmillanaus for sending this copy out to me.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Lost and Found Liz Byrski has returned to the theme of searching for a lost love. How many people sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a ‘sliding doors’ moment in their own lives? I don’t think I’m alone in imagining occasionally what would have happened if I had followed a different path at a key point in my (very) long ago past.

After living in Western Australia for thirty years, having moved there from England, Rose takes a trip back to Rye in Sussex to see if she can catch up with her first love, Tom. Rose has never understood why Tom turned away from her and she has decided that now is the time to find out.

Rose reacquaints herself with the town and with old friends. Although this isn’t how she pictured her return to Rye, she is starting to find answers to the questions she has held on to for such a long time; and in the process she embarks on a new, entirely unexpected friendship. Rose loves Australia and has had a fulfilling life there but she is also feeling the pull of her homeland.

As usual, Liz Byrski has created vivid, atmospheric settings for her story. Her warm, sensitive writing reminds me of Maeve Binchy a little, although Liz’s style is all her own.

[Jenny Cleeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always look forward to a Liz Byrski novel. My favourite remains Gang of Four. I enjoy Liz’s portrayal of female relationships and women ‘of a certain age’ and the connection of most novels to my hometown of Perth, Western Australia. Lost and Found did not disappoint and was an enjoyable Christmas holiday read.

[Melissa Trevelion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost and Found by Australian author Liz Byrski is a heartfelt fiction novel that that captures the magic of friendship, courage and first love.

Rose Walters, a woman in her fifties has lived decades in Western Australia creating a comfortable and fulfilling life for herself, she has been a wife, a mother, a friend but beneath the surface lies an unsettled heart over her first love Tom. She has never stopped wondering about the man she once loved in England and the life she left behind. With so many questions left unanswered Rose decides to take a leap of faith and return to Rye in Sussex in need for truth and closure.

Dora Stutchbury, in her eighties lives alone burdened by her past and secrets. When Rose arrives on her doorstep looking for her son, she is reluctant to revisit a past she is long buried. Warily she lets Rose in, what begins as an uncomfortable encounter slowly becomes something sacred as they open old wounds. A new and unlikely friendship develops between Rose and Dora, and together they begin to unravel questions about the past, an absent son, a lover, and their own selves.

The narrative drifts between Australia and England, between what was lost and what remains. Byrski invites the reader to sit with her characters as they reflect, laugh, and occasionally weep. Nothing feels forced or overly dramatic; the story unfolds with the quiet beauty of ordinary lives being rediscovered.

The characters are easy to root for, Rose compassion openness, and bravery make her instantly likeable. She shows the reader that self-discovery and new beginnings are possible at any stage in life, and it is never too late to ask, what if and to take the chance to find out. Dora at first was hard to like but when you got to know her you understood why she was guarded and has her walls up. I loved how Dora softens as her friendship with Rose develops.

While Rose and Dora are the story’s anchors, the supporting cast of characters enrich the narrative. Tom, Dora’s estranged son and her childhood friend Molly, Rose’s best friend Chris, neighbours, family, and friends offer humour, tenderness, and the sense of a larger community quietly shaping their lives.

Liz Byrski continues to be one of Australia’s most beloved writers in women’s contemporary fiction, and this novel stands as another testament to her storytelling skills highlighting her trademark of warmth and sensitivity, to deliver a powerful story you will not forget.

I love how beautifully simple yet atmospheric this book cover is with the design and font. In the sea of similarities in cover design we see today, this classic yet modern, smart, and intriguing portal is a breath of fresh air and a standout on the shelves.

Lost and Found is a moving, and deeply satisfying novel that reminds us it is never too late to seek closure, forgiveness, or friendship. It also made me think about all the things we carry with us; memories, regrets, hope and the beauty of rediscovering oneself and proof that what is lost is sometimes waiting to be found, we just need the courage to take that first step.

I highly recommend for readers who enjoy warm, thoughtful fiction about women’s lives, friendship, and late life discovery.

Thank you, Beauty & Lace and Pan MacMillian Australia, for the opportunity to read and review.

[Marles Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz Byrski’s Lost and Found is a tender and reflective novel about how unexpected relationships and found families can bring healing, closure, and a renewed sense of purpose. The story follows Rose, a woman in her fifties whose well-ordered life in Western Australia is shaken by the loss of her long-time partner, Tom. When she travels to England in search of answers about her past love, she instead uncovers new connections that guide her toward emotional resolution.
Her arrival on the doorstep of Dora Stutchbury—Tom’s elderly mother—marks the beginning of a transformative friendship. Initially reluctant to reopen old wounds, Dora’s compassion and quiet resilience become a mirror for Rose’s own struggle to make peace with the past. Through shared memories, grief, and laughter, the two women form an unlikely yet deeply meaningful bond that bridges generations and replaces loss with understanding.
Equally significant is Rose’s enduring friendship with her colleague and confidant, Chris, back in Australia. Both relationships underscore the novel’s central idea: that healing rarely comes from the answers we seek, but rather from the people who walk beside us while we search.
Byrski writes with her trademark warmth and wisdom, exploring how love—romantic, platonic, and familial—can reshape one’s sense of self. As Rose learns that the truths she clung to about her first love were partly of her own making, she begins to let go of illusion and embrace the genuine connections that remain.
Ultimately, Lost and Found is not a story about recovering what was lost, but about discovering what endures: empathy, companionship, and the quiet power of human connection to heal old wounds. Through Rose and Dora’s intertwined journeys, Byrski beautifully reminds us that closure often arrives not through answers, but through love freely given and received. Thank you #panmacmillanaus for the #gifted copy.

[Tara Nikelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost and Found is the story of Rose Walters who is in her fifties living in Melbourne. She's been thinking about an old boyfriend Tom in England and decides to go there to surprise him. He just left their relationship many years ago and she would like some answers and to see if they could possible reconnect. This is a huge leap of faith which does not go at all like she planned. She turns up on the doorstep of the old home of Tom to be 'greeted' by his mother Dora. What follows is a real journey where they connect over politics, theatre and their love of Tom. It seems like a hard task to get any answers. There are great cameos by people such as Rose's friend Chris and Dora's long time friend Molly. All of this leaves Rose questioning her memories and making some new ones. She and Dora become truly entwined which is lovely to see and their lives all take many twists and turns.

I didn't expect to enjoy this story when I first read the politics and theatre aspects. Then Liz Byrski made me fall for the characters and really want everything to go well. It shows how relationships of all types can really influence both parties' lives and that things do not always work out how we expect. It also explores how we recall certain people and our relationships, and how that sometimes needs to change. I would definitely recommend for anyone who sees the past with rose coloured glasses and all of us who can appreciate different sorts of connections.

[Aunty Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️/5 rounded up. After previously reading two other novels by this author (and enjoying them immensely) the last two works I have read (of which this is one) have been very disappointing. “Lost and Found” is the story of Rose, an expatriate Brit living in Australia who in her mid-fifties decides to return to England in search of an old boyfriend….her first true love. She meets his elderly mother, Dora, and an unlikely, very close friendship develops. But, Rose’s ex-lover is dead, and she yearns to find out the reasons as to why he severed their relationship all those years ago. So begins a story of Rose contacting many people who knew the gentleman in the past and trying to put the pieces together. As her investigation progresses, so does the close friendship with Dora and the secrets that she also carries from years ago. The premise sounds intriguing. Unfortunately, the execution is a bit boring and the “twist in the tale” quite predictable (in my opinion) from about half way through the book. To my mind there just wasn’t enough plot to carry a 300 page novel and most of the characters were not portrayed with compelling depth and complexity. (I am only rounding this up to three stars, because it is not quite as bad as “Belly Dancing for Beginners” which was the other book I read recently and rated two stars.)

[Lynne Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 There’s a lot in this story which resonates mostly to older women mostly I suspect. A lot of reflection on the sliding doors moments in life, considerations of whether it’s true that if you ‘make a mess of something in your life, you can spend the rest of it trying to prove that although you failed in one way, you can succeed in another’ (p280); observations about how men deal with and see life’s events, the depth of women’s friendships etc . . I don’t necessarily agree with all of the observations, including women’s friendship, but it certainly is food for thought and the story of Dora - and Rose’s search for Tom - provides good context and an easy-read

[Trish Drinkwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this I didn't find it as good as I expected, having been a Liz Byrski fan for some years. The cover is really beautiful but doesn't seem to fit the story really well. The story is more like a biography - interesting with lots of issues involved so that it became more documentary rather than story telling at times.
Quite different from a novel I'd expect from Liz and while I enjoyed it I think it was too different from what I expected. That is my fault, not the authors.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Nice light, quick read. Set in 2 places I know quite well….Perth W.A. and Rye, Sussex. Nice moral to the tale about how the friendship between women is never ‘just friends’….they are often the most important relationships in your life.

[Lauren Davies · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Liz Burski, books but this was not as enjoyable as her other ones, in my opinion. It just seemed slow and a weird thing for a grown woman to go across the world to find out why her boyfriend from 30 years ago dumped her. Hmm! Bigger issues there

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose flies to England for the first time in decades, looking for her lost love Tom. She meets his elderly mother Dora and a friendship is formed.
About women, grief, life and friendship, this is another good read from this author.

[Sue Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Louise O'Neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very slow to start but warmed up with more character recognition.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly moving book about women, aging and friendship. Beautifully written as always. I loved it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very touching story about family,friends and love. I really enjoyed it.

[Adel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose returns to England after decades of living in Australia to seek out her first love Tom. She connects with Tom’s mother Dora and an unlikely friendship ensues. 3.5 ⭐️

[Ann Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read with interesting concepts about how we view what we did in the past.

[Trena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been a long time fan , loved the characters and their stories. But I really struggled to connect with this book. The magic and warmth was missing.

[Eden High · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tough review to write.

I've been big fan of Liz Byrski's ever since I first read her work and was excited to see she had released another. However, 'Lost and Found' bored me silly.

It took a lot of willpower and determination (and sheer stubbornness) for me to keep reading until I had finished it. I'm an avid reader and never like quitting on a book.

As usual her writing technique, her composition was spot on but the story content that went no-where for page after page after page was tedious and boring.

I wish I could have written something more positive but I really struggled with this one.

[Kelly Ferrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost and Found. by Liz Byrski.
This is a story about lost love … 30 years ago.
Rose has always wondered what had happened to Tom …
Is he alive still … has he ever wondered about her … is h