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Camp Lost and Found
Cassidy Clarke wants to find herself. Tasked with scattering her friend Mason’s ashes, she heads to the campground where they met as kids. She expects the grief. She expects the guilt. She expects how absent she feels in her own life. What she doesn’t expect is the broken disrepair of the campground. Or the grouchily broody, yet intriguingly beautiful, cabin manager.
Francesca Sisto wants to lose herself. A deadly tragedy eight months ago has left her battered and guilt-ridden. The job at a rundown, very sparsely populated campground was supposed to keep her away from people. But when a very demanding and infuriatingly attractive guest keeps calling, she has no choice but to be a person and interact.
They aren’t looking for love, they’re actively avoiding it. Nobody knows better than Cassidy and Frankie that life doesn’t always give you what you want. But sometimes, if you’re lucky, life gives you exactly what you need.
Francesca Sisto wants to lose herself. A deadly tragedy eight months ago has left her battered and guilt-ridden. The job at a rundown, very sparsely populated campground was supposed to keep her away from people. But when a very demanding and infuriatingly attractive guest keeps calling, she has no choice but to be a person and interact.
They aren’t looking for love, they’re actively avoiding it. Nobody knows better than Cassidy and Frankie that life doesn’t always give you what you want. But sometimes, if you’re lucky, life gives you exactly what you need.
240 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2022
51 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Beers
61 books1,505 followersLambda and Golden Crown Literary Award-winning author Georgia Beers lives in Rochester, New York. She has been writing for as long as she can remember, and published her first lesbian novel in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
November 24, 2022
Franki is three months into her caretaking job at a crumbling down former summer camp. After a life altering tragedy, all she wants to do is settle into her guilt by isolating herself from family, friends and her career.
Cassidy is grief stricken about the death of her life long friend Mason. She has chosen to spread his ashes at the place they met and spent the happiest time of their lives, summer camp.
There is an unexpected gravitas to this novel in which I swaddled myself like a weighted blanket. The solemnity creates characters who are substantive and compelling. Beers gifts us with their attraction, romance and love which you will feel to your very core.
Having read every one of Beers’ novels I can honestly say that Camp Lost and Found is her best book yet.
I received a free advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Cassidy is grief stricken about the death of her life long friend Mason. She has chosen to spread his ashes at the place they met and spent the happiest time of their lives, summer camp.
There is an unexpected gravitas to this novel in which I swaddled myself like a weighted blanket. The solemnity creates characters who are substantive and compelling. Beers gifts us with their attraction, romance and love which you will feel to your very core.
Having read every one of Beers’ novels I can honestly say that Camp Lost and Found is her best book yet.
I received a free advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 24, 2022
Loss and guilt.
I've never been a social person even as a child. I was never comfortable going to school camp. So I can't exactly say that I'm able to relate to any attachment to an old summer camp but I do acknowledge that it's a place where some people bond and form memories.
This story is about two strangers who have come to live in an abandoned campsite and both are burdened by memories of their past. For Cassidy, memories of her best friend are tied to that campsite, so she is there to scatter his ashes and seek some closure. For Frankie, this is the place she has escaped to, to battle her guilt over something that has happened alone.
This book is heavy as both characters deal with loss and guilt and it is also contemplative. At the same time, it's heartwarming that both women are brought together somehow to help each other through the most difficult period of their lives. Frankie and Cassidy are also really sweet with each other once they get to know each other better.
Overall, this one is a nice romance.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've never been a social person even as a child. I was never comfortable going to school camp. So I can't exactly say that I'm able to relate to any attachment to an old summer camp but I do acknowledge that it's a place where some people bond and form memories.
This story is about two strangers who have come to live in an abandoned campsite and both are burdened by memories of their past. For Cassidy, memories of her best friend are tied to that campsite, so she is there to scatter his ashes and seek some closure. For Frankie, this is the place she has escaped to, to battle her guilt over something that has happened alone.
This book is heavy as both characters deal with loss and guilt and it is also contemplative. At the same time, it's heartwarming that both women are brought together somehow to help each other through the most difficult period of their lives. Frankie and Cassidy are also really sweet with each other once they get to know each other better.
Overall, this one is a nice romance.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2022
If you’re a Georgia Beers fan, there’s a high chance you’ll love this book. It has everything that makes me enjoy her books. Lovable, flawed characters finding love and hope in the most unexpected place and circumstances, food talk, animals (not just pets this time), great secondary characters… And you can also check that awesome first kiss column. One Walk in Winter is one of my favourites and it’s very possible this one will join it, which makes me think I really like when Beers writes about winter and snow and hot chocolate. She makes heartache feel cosy and surmountable.
I do have one issue with this book: one of the MCs is Black and I didn’t even realize she was for about 40% of the book. That’s partly on me for assuming all characters to be white and partly because if she had been, it wouldn’t have changed much. That said, I, being white (and French), may not be the best person to judge whether the character is plausible as a Black woman in the US. In the acknowledgements, the author thanks a few people who know better than I do for their guidance.
Camp Lost and Found made me smile a lot, laugh at times, tear up more often than I care to share. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story to keep the cold weather at bay, I’d recommend you give it a chance. 4.5⭐️
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
December 14, 2022
4.25 stars. This book was a wonderful journey. I haven’t read all of Beer’s books, but from the ones I’ve read this is one of the best so far. As other reviews have also noted, this is not a light fun read, it’s about guilt and grief, and how to find yourself after traumatic events, so the book has a very apt title.
Frankie and Cassidy both needed to get away from their busy lives and decided to isolate themselves in the mountains in an abandoned summer camp to deal with recent events. Only, what they don’t know is that they end up in the same house and especially Frankie has a hard time accepting an “intruder” in her personal space.
Both characters are very likeable which surprised me a bit because I expected Franky to be very gruff, but while she’s distant and does not want any social contact she actually has a very warm and caring personality.
The romance in this book almost feels like a secondary purpose. How Frankie and Cassidy slowly accept each other and unknowingly help each other through a tough period is the real storyline and it’s wonderful. The writing is contemplative and fulfilling at the same time.
While I loved the characters and the story there was something that bothered me in the writing, namely the constant exclamations, of Holy Mary, Jesus and God. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t bother me because of the religious aspect, but it didn’t fit with the subdued nature of the characters and the storytelling. Even worse were the “funny” exclamations like, Jesus Christmas, and Christ on a Cracker. I’m probably nitpicking, but they peeved me.
There are obviously not many secondary characters in this book about people living in isolation, but especially Reiko and Jack were well written and important to the story in their own way. I easily recommend reading this book.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Frankie and Cassidy both needed to get away from their busy lives and decided to isolate themselves in the mountains in an abandoned summer camp to deal with recent events. Only, what they don’t know is that they end up in the same house and especially Frankie has a hard time accepting an “intruder” in her personal space.
Both characters are very likeable which surprised me a bit because I expected Franky to be very gruff, but while she’s distant and does not want any social contact she actually has a very warm and caring personality.
The romance in this book almost feels like a secondary purpose. How Frankie and Cassidy slowly accept each other and unknowingly help each other through a tough period is the real storyline and it’s wonderful. The writing is contemplative and fulfilling at the same time.
While I loved the characters and the story there was something that bothered me in the writing, namely the constant exclamations, of Holy Mary, Jesus and God. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t bother me because of the religious aspect, but it didn’t fit with the subdued nature of the characters and the storytelling. Even worse were the “funny” exclamations like, Jesus Christmas, and Christ on a Cracker. I’m probably nitpicking, but they peeved me.
There are obviously not many secondary characters in this book about people living in isolation, but especially Reiko and Jack were well written and important to the story in their own way. I easily recommend reading this book.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2022
This is a story about two women, Cassidy Clarke and Frankie Sisto who start out very unfriendly toward each other and end up finding their soul mates.
Cassidy is suffering overwhelming guilt for letting down an old friend and seeks out this old abandoned camp ground in upstate New York to find herself again. In her youth she was a camper there as part of a foster kids program.
Frankie is also suffering from overwhelming grief over an accident she was involved in. Frankie has taken on the caretaker job at the abandoned camp ground.
The supporting characters in this book are pretty great, especially 12 year old Reiko.
I really liked this book for two reasons. First the guilt that Cassidy feels is written very well by Beers and it is very similar to my own personal grief over my own family tragedy. And secondly the relationship that develops between the two MCs is perfect in my view. Even though this book is based on tragic events, the good in life triumphs over the sadness.
ARC received from NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
Cassidy is suffering overwhelming guilt for letting down an old friend and seeks out this old abandoned camp ground in upstate New York to find herself again. In her youth she was a camper there as part of a foster kids program.
Frankie is also suffering from overwhelming grief over an accident she was involved in. Frankie has taken on the caretaker job at the abandoned camp ground.
The supporting characters in this book are pretty great, especially 12 year old Reiko.
I really liked this book for two reasons. First the guilt that Cassidy feels is written very well by Beers and it is very similar to my own personal grief over my own family tragedy. And secondly the relationship that develops between the two MCs is perfect in my view. Even though this book is based on tragic events, the good in life triumphs over the sadness.
ARC received from NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2023
Without a doubt, camp lost and found is my favorite and final book of 2022!
I've struggled for many years with my own trauma and guilt. This book touched my heart and made me sit back and think about my issues.
The book, for me, has a powerful storyline, and beautiful characters, and I instantly fell in love with the location the book was set.
If only we all had are own camp lost and found....
5 out of 5.
I've struggled for many years with my own trauma and guilt. This book touched my heart and made me sit back and think about my issues.
The book, for me, has a powerful storyline, and beautiful characters, and I instantly fell in love with the location the book was set.
If only we all had are own camp lost and found....
5 out of 5.
September 18, 2024
Frankie and Cassidy are each reeling from a personal tragedy. Both are dealing with grief and guilt and decide to take some time off in isolation to deal with it. Unfortunately for them, their destination happens to be the same spot.
So, I’m going to be in the minority it seems with “Camp Lost and Found” by Georgia Beers. I’ve not read many, if any, reviews but I’ve seen the overall ratings and they all seem higher compared to mine.
While there is nothing wrong with the book, it lacked an emotional depth that I assumed you would get with this storyline. I liked both characters and enjoyed what we have with them. However, to me, it felt like the relationship was just taking off when we get to the end of the book.
It was just very hard for me to wrap my head around what we get. These two women who are feeling so out of sorts that they have to get away from their real lives suddenly, within two weeks of meeting, start a relationship? While I could believe they may be attracted to one another I didn’t feel like they really knew one another enough to be declaring their love for each other. I also know people deal with their grief in different ways but once again, this doesn’t seem like it would be the beginning of a long-lasting love. They hardly know each other and they’re certainly not up to their normal selves for the time we see them together. Frankie and Cassidy do talk to an extent it just wasn’t enough to convince me in the end.
I think if you’re a Beers fan, the chances are you’re going to like this one as most have. Like I said before, this is a nice enough romance. It just lacks the depth I was expecting.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
So, I’m going to be in the minority it seems with “Camp Lost and Found” by Georgia Beers. I’ve not read many, if any, reviews but I’ve seen the overall ratings and they all seem higher compared to mine.
While there is nothing wrong with the book, it lacked an emotional depth that I assumed you would get with this storyline. I liked both characters and enjoyed what we have with them. However, to me, it felt like the relationship was just taking off when we get to the end of the book.
It was just very hard for me to wrap my head around what we get. These two women who are feeling so out of sorts that they have to get away from their real lives suddenly, within two weeks of meeting, start a relationship? While I could believe they may be attracted to one another I didn’t feel like they really knew one another enough to be declaring their love for each other. I also know people deal with their grief in different ways but once again, this doesn’t seem like it would be the beginning of a long-lasting love. They hardly know each other and they’re certainly not up to their normal selves for the time we see them together. Frankie and Cassidy do talk to an extent it just wasn’t enough to convince me in the end.
I think if you’re a Beers fan, the chances are you’re going to like this one as most have. Like I said before, this is a nice enough romance. It just lacks the depth I was expecting.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
December 5, 2022
Two women who have been through a trauma find themselves sharing a house. Cassidy wants to find herself and returns to the only place she has ever felt like she belonged, while Frankie wants to lose herself and the guilt that plagues her, whether she's awake or asleep. The more the women open up to each other, the more they start to feel like the darkness is fading.
Georgia Beers books will always have a special place in my heart since she was one of the first authors I started reading when I discovered sapphic romance. I have several of her books that I revisit when I need a comfort read. This one will join that short list. This is easily one of Beers most emotional books and she portrays Cassidy and Frankie's pain in a way that was both heartbreaking and hopeful.
This one hit close to home and I found myself in tears several times. I wanted to give both of the characters a big hug and hang out with the good hearted supporting characters. Camp Lost and Found will stay with me for a long time as will Beers dedication at the beginning of the book, "To all of us who have struggled to find ourselves. Don't stop looking."
An ARC was received from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review
Georgia Beers books will always have a special place in my heart since she was one of the first authors I started reading when I discovered sapphic romance. I have several of her books that I revisit when I need a comfort read. This one will join that short list. This is easily one of Beers most emotional books and she portrays Cassidy and Frankie's pain in a way that was both heartbreaking and hopeful.
This one hit close to home and I found myself in tears several times. I wanted to give both of the characters a big hug and hang out with the good hearted supporting characters. Camp Lost and Found will stay with me for a long time as will Beers dedication at the beginning of the book, "To all of us who have struggled to find ourselves. Don't stop looking."
An ARC was received from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review
December 18, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Two momentarily lost souls meet in a rundown camp and in an unexpected way they help each other to find their way back to life.
Frankie wants to lose herself after a tragic incident and holes up in a former campground, whereas she keeps the facility from rotting as the janitor until the owner finds a buyer. She just wants peace and to be alone, her own punishment for blaming herself for the misfortune.
Cassidy struggles with her feelings of guilt for abandoning her friend. She tries to find the right place for Mason and to scatter his ashes at the only place, Camp Lost and Found as they had called it, where Mason and she had felt safe, where they had met and their deep friendship had run its course. And she hopes to find not only herself again, but also a way to live with the guilt.
This book is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Frankie and Cassidy are two women who have strayed from their path due to various circumstances and are struggling to find a new direction in their lives. They are not perfect, they make mistakes, and they are even sometimes unfair to others, especially Cassidy to her best friend and business partner, but that is what makes them human and also lovable. As you can guess, there aren’t many secondary characters involved, but who I really want to mention are Reiko and Jack, who play important roles.
What impressed me is the way the author made me feel and understand the emotional worlds of Frankie and Cassidy. Both want to be alone and only slowly do they accept each other's company. And yet there is something that draws them to each other, that makes them interested in the other person. They feel each other's pain and guilt and slowly the caring personalities, as they are, emerge, and they can't help but try to help. They begin to open up to each other and talk about the events that led them to this place. Maybe it was the universe that brought them together, maybe it was magic, and maybe it was just coincidence - but it was the best thing that could have happened to them. And the author takes us on the journey of the two women to get out of their misery and eventually find a way together to a fulfilled life with love and happiness.
An emotional story, which also made me laugh, despite the tragic events it’s based on.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review
Two momentarily lost souls meet in a rundown camp and in an unexpected way they help each other to find their way back to life.
Frankie wants to lose herself after a tragic incident and holes up in a former campground, whereas she keeps the facility from rotting as the janitor until the owner finds a buyer. She just wants peace and to be alone, her own punishment for blaming herself for the misfortune.
Cassidy struggles with her feelings of guilt for abandoning her friend. She tries to find the right place for Mason and to scatter his ashes at the only place, Camp Lost and Found as they had called it, where Mason and she had felt safe, where they had met and their deep friendship had run its course. And she hopes to find not only herself again, but also a way to live with the guilt.
This book is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Frankie and Cassidy are two women who have strayed from their path due to various circumstances and are struggling to find a new direction in their lives. They are not perfect, they make mistakes, and they are even sometimes unfair to others, especially Cassidy to her best friend and business partner, but that is what makes them human and also lovable. As you can guess, there aren’t many secondary characters involved, but who I really want to mention are Reiko and Jack, who play important roles.
What impressed me is the way the author made me feel and understand the emotional worlds of Frankie and Cassidy. Both want to be alone and only slowly do they accept each other's company. And yet there is something that draws them to each other, that makes them interested in the other person. They feel each other's pain and guilt and slowly the caring personalities, as they are, emerge, and they can't help but try to help. They begin to open up to each other and talk about the events that led them to this place. Maybe it was the universe that brought them together, maybe it was magic, and maybe it was just coincidence - but it was the best thing that could have happened to them. And the author takes us on the journey of the two women to get out of their misery and eventually find a way together to a fulfilled life with love and happiness.
An emotional story, which also made me laugh, despite the tragic events it’s based on.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review
November 29, 2022
Georgia Beers… did you have to do this to my heart? I guess you did.
Cassidy is going back to her old summer camp ground to scatter her friend’s ashes. It’s where they connected and she feels she needs to go there to find closure and deal with her loss. Frankie is already at the rundown camp, in a self imposed exile, she’s battling her guilt for something that happened. She doesn’t really want to be around people, doesn’t think she deserves to be around them.
This is a heavy story, characters dealing with loss and guilt, you can’t expect a happy go lucky type of thing. While these characters battle their demons they get to know each other ever so slowly. Once they warm up to each other it actually becomes a heartwarming story as well.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this book if you’re just looking for some lighthearted romance, it’s contemplative, heartbreaking and heartwarming, but never light. Although I do like the “comic relief” Reiko brings. I’ve really enjoyed this book even though I don’t understand how people could love a summer camp, but I guess when you take that away it’s just a favourite place to go and gather yourself or do whatever you need to do to feel centred again, I do get that. This book is high up my list of favourites by Georgia Beers.
*ARC received from the publisher (Bold Strokes Books) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Cassidy is going back to her old summer camp ground to scatter her friend’s ashes. It’s where they connected and she feels she needs to go there to find closure and deal with her loss. Frankie is already at the rundown camp, in a self imposed exile, she’s battling her guilt for something that happened. She doesn’t really want to be around people, doesn’t think she deserves to be around them.
This is a heavy story, characters dealing with loss and guilt, you can’t expect a happy go lucky type of thing. While these characters battle their demons they get to know each other ever so slowly. Once they warm up to each other it actually becomes a heartwarming story as well.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this book if you’re just looking for some lighthearted romance, it’s contemplative, heartbreaking and heartwarming, but never light. Although I do like the “comic relief” Reiko brings. I’ve really enjoyed this book even though I don’t understand how people could love a summer camp, but I guess when you take that away it’s just a favourite place to go and gather yourself or do whatever you need to do to feel centred again, I do get that. This book is high up my list of favourites by Georgia Beers.
*ARC received from the publisher (Bold Strokes Books) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
January 22, 2023
A book easily read on the beach in an afternoon, I quite enjoyed this one by Ms. Beers. MC Frankie and MC Cassidy both have some ghosts in their pasts that they are trying to grapple with, one trying to lose herself and one trying to find herself. Their coming together was fairly fluid and the chemistry hot and steamy. I also quite liked the wintery setting of the camp, there's something super cozy about winter in the wilderness. It kept my interest well enough for the most part, some scenes dragged, and I didn't really connect with either character. Cassidy came up as somewhat flat and uninteresting. It's not one I would be racing to re-read, but overall a good read at 3.75
November 28, 2022
3.25 stars
Survivor's guilt can be debilitating. When Cassidy Clarke and Francesca "Frankie" Sisto enter each other's worlds in a remote debilitated campground, neither realizes the other is dealing with it. Cassidy feels an emotional connection to the camp where she spent summers as a child. She has come back to spread the ashes of her dear childhood friend, who she forged a special bond with when as foster children they attended the camp together. Frankie was looking for a place to be alone while trying to recover from her own grief, so took a job as property manager to provide basic care and maintenance to the facility. She doesn't appreciate having to share the space, when her boss tells her she will have a temporary visitor.
I've been struggling to write a review of this book because I have mixed feelings about it. I was initially pleasantly surprised to learn that Cassidy was a black woman. It was revealed in a subtle manner. She quips about the color of her skin being like the hot chocolate they are enjoying and there is a later reference to wrapping her hair in a scarf at night while sleeping. I expected more, but found little. She worked hard in school to get an education and tirelessly to get her business off the ground, but beyond that and learning her mother had been an addict, there's not much. She makes some choices in the story that I wonder if she really would have made as a black woman in corporate America who has to answer to boards. Tough for anyone and likely even harder for her. There's a danger of perpetuating stereotypes that I think has to be considered here. I'm sure inclusivity was the intent, but it's not as simple as just saying a character is black. Or Hispanic. Or Asian. Cultures and life experiences are completely different and affect everything you do. As a Hispanic woman, I feel that authenticity is key if including characters outside of our own experience.
That said, I liked Cassidy and Frankie very much, the supporting characters - especially Reiko - were also strong and there were some really moving moments. And there's a great dog. Bonus! The premise itself is a good one and the romance was sweet.
I would have liked to see less of the short, repetitive phrasing that started to take me out of the story and I'm weary of the standard 80 percent formula - though in this case, we know Cassidy can't stay at the camp forever so it's not surprising when that happens. In general I liked the book okay. I just feel like I would have been more comfortable with it if it had been better fleshed out.
I received an advanced copy via Bold Strokes Books and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Survivor's guilt can be debilitating. When Cassidy Clarke and Francesca "Frankie" Sisto enter each other's worlds in a remote debilitated campground, neither realizes the other is dealing with it. Cassidy feels an emotional connection to the camp where she spent summers as a child. She has come back to spread the ashes of her dear childhood friend, who she forged a special bond with when as foster children they attended the camp together. Frankie was looking for a place to be alone while trying to recover from her own grief, so took a job as property manager to provide basic care and maintenance to the facility. She doesn't appreciate having to share the space, when her boss tells her she will have a temporary visitor.
I've been struggling to write a review of this book because I have mixed feelings about it. I was initially pleasantly surprised to learn that Cassidy was a black woman. It was revealed in a subtle manner. She quips about the color of her skin being like the hot chocolate they are enjoying and there is a later reference to wrapping her hair in a scarf at night while sleeping. I expected more, but found little. She worked hard in school to get an education and tirelessly to get her business off the ground, but beyond that and learning her mother had been an addict, there's not much. She makes some choices in the story that I wonder if she really would have made as a black woman in corporate America who has to answer to boards. Tough for anyone and likely even harder for her. There's a danger of perpetuating stereotypes that I think has to be considered here. I'm sure inclusivity was the intent, but it's not as simple as just saying a character is black. Or Hispanic. Or Asian. Cultures and life experiences are completely different and affect everything you do. As a Hispanic woman, I feel that authenticity is key if including characters outside of our own experience.
That said, I liked Cassidy and Frankie very much, the supporting characters - especially Reiko - were also strong and there were some really moving moments. And there's a great dog. Bonus! The premise itself is a good one and the romance was sweet.
I would have liked to see less of the short, repetitive phrasing that started to take me out of the story and I'm weary of the standard 80 percent formula - though in this case, we know Cassidy can't stay at the camp forever so it's not surprising when that happens. In general I liked the book okay. I just feel like I would have been more comfortable with it if it had been better fleshed out.
I received an advanced copy via Bold Strokes Books and am leaving a review voluntarily.
December 13, 2022
Camp Lost and Found
Author: Georgia Beers
I enjoyed how the two main characters were the main feature of the story. There was time to discover what each one was struggling with. They were well-rounded characters, the one thing that came to mind is that we are all people with certain pains and emotions. Everyone is trying to find their way to have peace. Some of us even tried to forgive choices/mistakes from the past .
This is a beautiful story about two lost souls, basically, that needed to find love and peace. Certain situations in life to make you feel like you’re starting over or make you feel like you are back at square one, so I would definitely recommend this book.
Reiko was a super sweet kid and a character that stood out to me in this story.
I really enjoyed that the author focused on the two main characters, that they were able to get to know each other at their own pace, especially with Frankie. She needed time and Cassidy was able to give that to her. They were able to learn so much about each other, but it was not a rush situation. You really got an opportunity to have compassion and empathy for both characters situations . They both had pain and struggles from the past, unbeknownst to them.
I would like to thank the author and Bold Strokes Books for the advanced arc! 5 stars!
Author: Georgia Beers
I enjoyed how the two main characters were the main feature of the story. There was time to discover what each one was struggling with. They were well-rounded characters, the one thing that came to mind is that we are all people with certain pains and emotions. Everyone is trying to find their way to have peace. Some of us even tried to forgive choices/mistakes from the past .
This is a beautiful story about two lost souls, basically, that needed to find love and peace. Certain situations in life to make you feel like you’re starting over or make you feel like you are back at square one, so I would definitely recommend this book.
Reiko was a super sweet kid and a character that stood out to me in this story.
I really enjoyed that the author focused on the two main characters, that they were able to get to know each other at their own pace, especially with Frankie. She needed time and Cassidy was able to give that to her. They were able to learn so much about each other, but it was not a rush situation. You really got an opportunity to have compassion and empathy for both characters situations . They both had pain and struggles from the past, unbeknownst to them.
I would like to thank the author and Bold Strokes Books for the advanced arc! 5 stars!
November 30, 2022
Frankie Sisto has been the caretaker for a kids summer camp that is no longer running for the last three months. When Cassidy Clarke, a former camper, comes to revisit her past at Camp Lustenfeld she feels an immediate draw to the aloof caretaker. But both have exiled themselves out of guilt and aren't ready to forgive themselves.
This is my new favorite by Georgia Beers. These two characters, each going through a difficult time, have both decided being alone is the answer to their problems. The quiet strength of each of them draws them together and they begin to live again bit by bit. The scenery in this book was so perfect for their situation and for their quiet reflection on themselves. Their emotions are raw and genuine and it pulls you in more and more. Reiko adds her own special touch and brings some light hearted humor to the remoteness of camp Lustenfeld. Jack and Duke were wonderful as well and Jack's memories help pull the story along. These characters all feel so real and have such a depth that took this book from good to great. I loved it and will absolutely be reading it again in the near future.
This is my new favorite by Georgia Beers. These two characters, each going through a difficult time, have both decided being alone is the answer to their problems. The quiet strength of each of them draws them together and they begin to live again bit by bit. The scenery in this book was so perfect for their situation and for their quiet reflection on themselves. Their emotions are raw and genuine and it pulls you in more and more. Reiko adds her own special touch and brings some light hearted humor to the remoteness of camp Lustenfeld. Jack and Duke were wonderful as well and Jack's memories help pull the story along. These characters all feel so real and have such a depth that took this book from good to great. I loved it and will absolutely be reading it again in the near future.
December 13, 2022
I love Georgia Beers books, and this one was a solid romance - long enough to pull the reader in, with interesting and likable characters.
Here's my beef with this book though - I feel like Georgia Beers is becoming Melissa Brayden. Beers has been writing books for many, many years. The kind of books that make you laugh and tug at your heartstrings and sometimes even shed a tear. But this book didn't have that same vibe and there were traces of Melissa's Brayden throughout. One was the overuse of "hell" - "freaked the hell out", "turned the hell on" "I can back right the hell off". We get it but it felt overused and forced.
The second thing was the constant use of things used in place of "oh my God" such as "Mother Mary and a chocolate chip cookie" or "Mother Mary in gym shorts" which felt very Brayden-esque. I think there was even a character in Brayden's last book named Mason as well as in Camp Lost and Found.
I know I'm being picky, and don't get me wrong - I love both authors but I like my Melissa Brayden books to have the cute, quirky charm that they do, but I also love my Georgia Beers books to be a bit less flaky and more like a serious romance novel. It was in this book, it just had a lot of annoying bells and whistles that screamed - "reader, please laugh here".
Here's my beef with this book though - I feel like Georgia Beers is becoming Melissa Brayden. Beers has been writing books for many, many years. The kind of books that make you laugh and tug at your heartstrings and sometimes even shed a tear. But this book didn't have that same vibe and there were traces of Melissa's Brayden throughout. One was the overuse of "hell" - "freaked the hell out", "turned the hell on" "I can back right the hell off". We get it but it felt overused and forced.
The second thing was the constant use of things used in place of "oh my God" such as "Mother Mary and a chocolate chip cookie" or "Mother Mary in gym shorts" which felt very Brayden-esque. I think there was even a character in Brayden's last book named Mason as well as in Camp Lost and Found.
I know I'm being picky, and don't get me wrong - I love both authors but I like my Melissa Brayden books to have the cute, quirky charm that they do, but I also love my Georgia Beers books to be a bit less flaky and more like a serious romance novel. It was in this book, it just had a lot of annoying bells and whistles that screamed - "reader, please laugh here".
August 14, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
January 8, 2023
Without a doubt, camp lost and found is my favourite and final book of 2022!
I've struggled for many years with my own trauma and guilt. This book touched my heart and made me sit back and think about my own issues.
The book, for me, has a powerful storyline, and beautiful characters, and I instantly fell in love with the location the book was set.
If only we all had our own camp lost and found....
5 out of 5.
I've struggled for many years with my own trauma and guilt. This book touched my heart and made me sit back and think about my own issues.
The book, for me, has a powerful storyline, and beautiful characters, and I instantly fell in love with the location the book was set.
If only we all had our own camp lost and found....
5 out of 5.
November 7, 2024
Not my favorite, but I did enjoy it. I found myself not really getting involved with the characters. I just couldn't get attached. Still a good read to fill the moments you are waiting...for the doctor, the mechanic, etc.
August 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this well written, slow burn romance right up to close to the end. It is nice to have a happy ever after ending, but how it all came to be was just too over the top for me. Up to that point, Cassidy and Frankie are two lost women dealing with devastating events in their lives, where they both just want to be alone, which happens to be in the Adirondack Mountains in New York, where Cassidy went as a foster child to camp, which she loved.
Well done, the relationship slowly develops between the two of them. A few good side characters, sadly underused in the story. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Well done, the relationship slowly develops between the two of them. A few good side characters, sadly underused in the story. 3.5 stars rounded up.
December 3, 2022
Another great story of warmth, soul seeking and romance.
(I wondered why she picked the name Camp Lustenfeld...and then I got it....it sounds like Lost and Found. That was clever.)
Wonderful main characters with very sad events to get past. Very nice and picturesque town. One that everyone would love to be part of.
The ending is predictable and sweet.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review
(I wondered why she picked the name Camp Lustenfeld...and then I got it....it sounds like Lost and Found. That was clever.)
Wonderful main characters with very sad events to get past. Very nice and picturesque town. One that everyone would love to be part of.
The ending is predictable and sweet.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 26, 2023
I'm so glad I read this book. I put it off for a bit as I was nervous reading a book situated heavily in grief. I'm still struggling with my own grief after last year so to say I was apprehensive is an understatement. However, I think it was a great book for me to read as it deals with feeling those intense emotions but also the importance of moving on and coming to terms with those feelings.
Cassidy and Frankie were both great characters and they were super cute together. I loved the rural setting and all that went with it - especially the way Beers describes their cozy situation when they are snowed in. It truly sounded like a magical setting.
All in all, a great novel by Beers and I'm excited to read her latest book, Dance with Me, in the coming weeks.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Cassidy and Frankie were both great characters and they were super cute together. I loved the rural setting and all that went with it - especially the way Beers describes their cozy situation when they are snowed in. It truly sounded like a magical setting.
All in all, a great novel by Beers and I'm excited to read her latest book, Dance with Me, in the coming weeks.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2024
I can imagine how pressurising a known author may be to deliver the next great story. I believe this is another wonderful story by this author; Love in the midst of guilt and grief.
November 21, 2022
I love reading the acknowledgments and dedication sections of every book I read but this has to be one of my favorites. Thank you, Georgia, for sharing your story with readers.
“To all of us who have struggled to find ourselves. Don’t stop looking.”
Sometimes the best things come unexpectedly and maybe when you need it the most. In Camp Lost and Found, one woman is trying to find herself and the other is trying to lose herself but what happens when they start tearing down their walls and allowing themselves to heal?
Cassidy and Frankie were the perfect match like hot chocolate and marshmallows and the reader could feel that from the beginning. Both were looking to heal from different things and while the healing took place on their own, the love they shared helped solidify the fact that they were never alone through it all.
While this book touched on some heavy topics, Georgia Beers did a wonderful job in portraying the emotions and thoughts of the characters. You felt their pain, their struggle, and their realization that they deserved to move on and find happiness, not only together but with themselves.
Sometimes in life you need to ask yourself, “if not now, when?”
Thank you, @georgiabeers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“To all of us who have struggled to find ourselves. Don’t stop looking.”
Sometimes the best things come unexpectedly and maybe when you need it the most. In Camp Lost and Found, one woman is trying to find herself and the other is trying to lose herself but what happens when they start tearing down their walls and allowing themselves to heal?
Cassidy and Frankie were the perfect match like hot chocolate and marshmallows and the reader could feel that from the beginning. Both were looking to heal from different things and while the healing took place on their own, the love they shared helped solidify the fact that they were never alone through it all.
While this book touched on some heavy topics, Georgia Beers did a wonderful job in portraying the emotions and thoughts of the characters. You felt their pain, their struggle, and their realization that they deserved to move on and find happiness, not only together but with themselves.
Sometimes in life you need to ask yourself, “if not now, when?”
Thank you, @georgiabeers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2022
lord where do i even begin??
this book is for those of us that seek out that added emotional pizzazz in romance books that are otherwise comfortably formulaic. georgia beers doesn’t shy away from really getting into the most gruelling and heart wrenching corners of these 2 women’s stories that have led them to find each each other and eventually, themselves.
i’ve noticed that georgia beers thematically incorporates messy family dynamics in many of her books. from deceased, absent or long lost parents to terminally ill family members - this theme remains consistent in this book as well and propels much of cassidy’s character arc. hers goes beyond an exploration of the cyclic effects of the foster system, but gently explores the overlap of race within the system as well. i personally thought this was very well done within the context of what is otherwise and light romance book.
i find that both, frankie and cassidy are incredibly compelling characters particularly because despite the similarities in their grief, trauma and guilt - they were still so so so different.
wow okay this really is one of those books you can go on about forever, but that’s only because it’s THAT good!! so if you ever find that you’re on the fence about whether or not to get into this, take this as your sign to PLEASE do!!
(4.5 stars!)
this book is for those of us that seek out that added emotional pizzazz in romance books that are otherwise comfortably formulaic. georgia beers doesn’t shy away from really getting into the most gruelling and heart wrenching corners of these 2 women’s stories that have led them to find each each other and eventually, themselves.
i’ve noticed that georgia beers thematically incorporates messy family dynamics in many of her books. from deceased, absent or long lost parents to terminally ill family members - this theme remains consistent in this book as well and propels much of cassidy’s character arc. hers goes beyond an exploration of the cyclic effects of the foster system, but gently explores the overlap of race within the system as well. i personally thought this was very well done within the context of what is otherwise and light romance book.
i find that both, frankie and cassidy are incredibly compelling characters particularly because despite the similarities in their grief, trauma and guilt - they were still so so so different.
wow okay this really is one of those books you can go on about forever, but that’s only because it’s THAT good!! so if you ever find that you’re on the fence about whether or not to get into this, take this as your sign to PLEASE do!!
(4.5 stars!)
April 10, 2023
Loved this book - the concept of escaping and being alone is wonderful in books - the reality not so hot! - and this was an emotional filled page turner. And loved the antsy Reiko!
December 18, 2022
Camp Lost and Found is the newest release from Georgia Beers, and it may be one of my favourites so far. Maybe it’s because both MCs are searching for something, and neither is in a settled place in their lives, which to me makes them seem like they are starting out on an even keel, and all that more relevant.
Frankie is hiding away at an old, dilapidated camp after taking on a caretaker role for the property. Her days are spent doing minor repairs and ensuring trespassers stay away while segregating herself from society, which she feels she has no right to be a part of. She isn't happy when her boss informs her that she will be having a visitor; playing host was not something she signed up for.
Cassidy finds herself back at the place where she spent a few summers as a teenager in foster care. After the death of a friend, she met when she was there when they were both kids, she is searching for the perfect place to lay his ashes, believing that their time together at the camp meant something to both of them.
Frankie does her best to make Cassidy comfortable while steering clear of any unnecessary contact. Unfortunately for her, she can’t help but be drawn to the women, and sparks fly as they begin to open up to each other. It isn’t long before Cassidy and Frankie are confiding their secrets and regrets, opening up wounds and trying to come to terms with how to heal.
Like most of Georgia Beers’ stories, Camp Lost and Found is very character-driven. Both MCs are loving, kind, and generous to others, but hard on themselves. Having the ability to see themselves through the eyes of the other is a small start to healing their personal wounds.
The story is an emotional ride, but not overly angsty. The characters share great chemistry, resulting in some really hot scenes and an end product that has that little something extra, on top of being a beautiful romance.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.
Frankie is hiding away at an old, dilapidated camp after taking on a caretaker role for the property. Her days are spent doing minor repairs and ensuring trespassers stay away while segregating herself from society, which she feels she has no right to be a part of. She isn't happy when her boss informs her that she will be having a visitor; playing host was not something she signed up for.
Cassidy finds herself back at the place where she spent a few summers as a teenager in foster care. After the death of a friend, she met when she was there when they were both kids, she is searching for the perfect place to lay his ashes, believing that their time together at the camp meant something to both of them.
Frankie does her best to make Cassidy comfortable while steering clear of any unnecessary contact. Unfortunately for her, she can’t help but be drawn to the women, and sparks fly as they begin to open up to each other. It isn’t long before Cassidy and Frankie are confiding their secrets and regrets, opening up wounds and trying to come to terms with how to heal.
Like most of Georgia Beers’ stories, Camp Lost and Found is very character-driven. Both MCs are loving, kind, and generous to others, but hard on themselves. Having the ability to see themselves through the eyes of the other is a small start to healing their personal wounds.
The story is an emotional ride, but not overly angsty. The characters share great chemistry, resulting in some really hot scenes and an end product that has that little something extra, on top of being a beautiful romance.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.
January 22, 2023
3 stars. Cassidy Clarke wants to spread her friend, Mason's ashes. She knows she wants to scatter them at the place they both loved the most, the camp they went to as teenagers. She goes to the camp but does not expect a camp manager, Francesca Sisto, who is grumpy and does not want anything to do with her. Frankie is running from her own problems and hiding out at an old camp. They both need to confront their issues and move on.
This was not my favorite Georgia Beers book. I have read most of her books, and this is not one I would re-read again. I thought the characters were okay, and i felt like their relationship went awfully quickly from barely knowing each other to more. I didn't really feel the tension and like friendship between the two of them build. I was not sure even with the storyline, I felt like the book dragged a lot and it didn't have enough going for it. I wanted to like this book, but I am not sure about it. It was not a bad read, but it is not when I would recommend and one I will not back and read.
This was not my favorite Georgia Beers book. I have read most of her books, and this is not one I would re-read again. I thought the characters were okay, and i felt like their relationship went awfully quickly from barely knowing each other to more. I didn't really feel the tension and like friendship between the two of them build. I was not sure even with the storyline, I felt like the book dragged a lot and it didn't have enough going for it. I wanted to like this book, but I am not sure about it. It was not a bad read, but it is not when I would recommend and one I will not back and read.
December 5, 2022
I am usually drawn to lighter romances but I can’t recommend this enough. Frankie Sisto is a few months into a caretaking job of an abandoned and rundown teen camp. She is enjoying the solitude as she works through overwhelming guilt.
Cassidy Clarke shows up with the owners permission as a guest. She came to the camp as a foster children for three weeks a few summers in her teen years. The camp holds deep memories for her. She is bringing her own grief and guilt to work through.
Frankie and Cassidy don’t have the usual romantic tropes bringing them together. They are both very likable, in their mid 30s and and share quiet time together. Their unexpected commonality, although from different circumstances, is a bond of its own. The friendship grows as they watch the snow, birds and deer. The story takes place in November and December and the winter weather is almost a character itself. I wanted to start a fire just so I could feel as cozy as I envisioned the MCs.
The few side characters add to the story. Jack the old caretaker, Duke the loving dog and Reiko the preteen who likes to drop by.
I can name several Beer's novels that I love. But I agree with others that this may be one of her best books yet. It is one I will remember and revisit. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cassidy Clarke shows up with the owners permission as a guest. She came to the camp as a foster children for three weeks a few summers in her teen years. The camp holds deep memories for her. She is bringing her own grief and guilt to work through.
Frankie and Cassidy don’t have the usual romantic tropes bringing them together. They are both very likable, in their mid 30s and and share quiet time together. Their unexpected commonality, although from different circumstances, is a bond of its own. The friendship grows as they watch the snow, birds and deer. The story takes place in November and December and the winter weather is almost a character itself. I wanted to start a fire just so I could feel as cozy as I envisioned the MCs.
The few side characters add to the story. Jack the old caretaker, Duke the loving dog and Reiko the preteen who likes to drop by.
I can name several Beer's novels that I love. But I agree with others that this may be one of her best books yet. It is one I will remember and revisit. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2022
And I loved the first chapter! Both mains have stories I want to know more about. A perfect first chapter.
Chapter 2 and the mains meet. I like them both. They don’t like each other and I am here for the eventual slow defrost and then heat getting increased so naturally they don’t notice the dial has moved. At this point I haven’t read more than 1.5 chapters but this is a Beers book, and I already love it!
This book makes me feel. I feel happy and amused as Beers is a witty writer. I also feel emotional as Beers is a talented writer... It's not sad paragraphs or chapters, often it is a throw away sentence (except Beers words should not be thrown away, they should be treasured!)
The dance of the mains getting together is well choreographed. Slight pace drop in the time from together before break up to make up
The ending is satisfying and I found quite emotional, mainly happy emotions.
Chapter 2 and the mains meet. I like them both. They don’t like each other and I am here for the eventual slow defrost and then heat getting increased so naturally they don’t notice the dial has moved. At this point I haven’t read more than 1.5 chapters but this is a Beers book, and I already love it!
This book makes me feel. I feel happy and amused as Beers is a witty writer. I also feel emotional as Beers is a talented writer... It's not sad paragraphs or chapters, often it is a throw away sentence (except Beers words should not be thrown away, they should be treasured!)
The dance of the mains getting together is well choreographed. Slight pace drop in the time from together before break up to make up
The ending is satisfying and I found quite emotional, mainly happy emotions.
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