I’m feeling a little lost, actually . Like I’m adrift from everyone and everything. Like I haven’t yet found my feet. Do you know what I mean?’

I loved this book so much. Rosie's character really resonated with me and I found myself instantly connecting with her. I think she's like so many of us right now... a little lost and struggling to find our footing.

This book has an a touch of poignancy to it that made me tear up at times. It instantly transports you to the city of Venice. The way the scenery is described, I wasn't just reading but experiencing.
The character development was really heartwarming to read and I loved seeing Rosie let go of her inhibitions and live.

The romance element was the cherry on top for me and adds another layer to an already deep and immersive story. This book will surely stay with me for a long time. It's perfect for this time of year. You won't be able to read this one without it evoking many emotions from you.
I highly recommend this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Orion Publishing and Joanna Knowles for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own

5/5 (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Book: Lost and Found in Venice by Joanna Knowles
Genre: Fiction, Romance

I do not even know where to begin. This book took my breath away. The pure joy I experienced while reading Lost and Found in Venice by Joanna Knowles is indescribable. This book allowed me to relive some of my fondest memories of traveling to Venice, Italy, in a way I never thought possible. There is something incredibly special about connecting with a book and its setting, especially when it resonates deeply because I have been there myself in the summer of 2014. Though the story takes place during Christmas, Knowles captures the city’s winter beauty so vividly that I felt as if I was experiencing it all over again.

The way the author portrays Venice’s history, culture, architectural beauty, and bustling atmosphere completely captivated me. I felt as if I were right there alongside the main female character, Rosie Redbrush, eagerly wanting to dive back into the pages just to experience Italy again. The moments between Rosie and the male lead had moved me to tears; it’s been a while since a love story has affected me this much. The funny meet-cute made every aspect of their romance truly enjoyable. Lost and Found in Venice is a delightful blend of humor and heart, exploring the unexpected bonds of friendship and family. Please go grab this book—it is such an enchanting escape!

Thank you SO much to #NetGalley @netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for sending me the lovely ARC of #LostandFoundinVenice #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

It was a fun Christmas romance. It's a story that reads like a comedy of errors from being blackmailed into taking a bunch of seniors with health & other issues to Venice just before Christmas to accidentally losing her backpack containing her passport and money, Rosie has no luck. There's the possibility of learning to live instead of hiding and maybe finding love? It was a fun read.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This novel successfully blends three key themes: an engaging travelogue of Venice and Milan, an insightful look into the lives of ten elderly tourists, and the protagonist Rosie’s personal growth. Rosie, who works for Wanderlust Wishes arranging trips but never traveling herself, is unexpectedly tasked with escorting a group of seniors to Venice. Throughout the trip, she faces a series of chaotic, stressful, yet beautiful experiences that challenge her resilience. The well-drawn characters, including the pensioners, add depth, and the romance with Fox, an embassy representative, unfolds naturally. While the ending leaves some unresolved questions, the story is satisfying, with a heartwarming Christmas backdrop.

This book was such a delightful read. It was sad yet funny. This story about breaking out of one's shell, finding new friendships, and falling in love was wonderfully written. Rosie Redbrush seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. First, her sales in the tourist office were bad. Then she managed to get into an unwanted position of being a tour guide for a group of pensioners in Venice. Then she lost her backpack with her passport, and what more? What she hadn´t expected was to build new friendships and find love.
Interested? Find out for yourself and read the book, I loved every second of it.

A lovely story set in Venice. Rosie is a disaster magnet with one thing after another trying to ruin the tour she is reluctantly leading around Venice. However, with an eclectic mix of tourists to help her along the way and maybe she’ll also find romance along the way. Beautiful cover too!

I read this book solely because it took place in Venice. In that vein, I would have loved more descriptions of Venice, but also a lot of the story takes place in other locations. I struggle with characters that constantly make bad decisions, and it was sometimes hard to tell if that was Rosie or if she just had a string of bad luck. I liked Fox and the way he came in and felt responsible for her. I enjoyed their storyline, but I do feel like the ending was very rushed. It felt like the author made it to the end and realized she had hit her max word count. This was a good palate cleanser book.

One thing after another happens to poor Rosie in this one. She is tricked into going to Venice leading a group of 80 year olds, and then incident after incident occurs. Luckily there are nice people that step in and help, and she also finds romance. Fun read and would recommend.

I'm so glad that the gorgeous cover for this book caught my eye, as this was an absolutely stunning book, that even when I wasn't reading it, I was wanting tot be back within its pages. In fact I'm a bit gutted that I have finished it already.

Definitely an incredibly positive first experience reading this author and I already know I will have my eyes open for her future releases.

For this mixes all of my favourite things into one book - travel, Christmas, humour, some fabulous characters and a brilliant adventure for Rosie.

She is unwittingly co-erced into guiding a group of pensioners on their pre-Christmas trip to Venice, despite having never been, and to say things don't go according to plan is an understatement. Between some drunken decisions before the trip, and one set if iffy mini decisions once in Venice, she is set on a path that is completely out of her comfort zone, but oh so brilliant for a reader.

I'll say that we see more of Italy and just Venice, although the title is apt in so many ways. There is a memorable meet cute, although initially you aren't positive that is what it is! The personalities of the pensioners were so entertaining.

And this is a book that really does emphasise the kindness of strangers, there is a lot of compassion as people learn of Rosie's situation.

I don't want to spoil the story - and it really is one that is really lovely, fairly emotional at times, and one that anyone that loves a bit of armchair travel at Christmas, will absolutely adore. I couldn't get enough of this book and really wish I had more words to devour.

Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Lose yourself in this book and find a sense of joy.

Rosie works for a travel agency and finds herself underperforming for the year until an unexpected request comes through; for her to lead a tour of seniors through a Venice vacation. Through the canal-lined city, Rosie not only finds herself learning about the value of new experiences, but also about the power of human kindness.

This book has the ability to have you see the world in a much more optimistic light, especially with all of the current turmoil going on. Ms. Knowles has written a book that inspires hope and the motivation to treat those you encounter with kindness, especially when you find yourself on the receiving end of such acts.

Rosie is a nuanced character who doesn't even realize that she's in a rut until she spends time with the eclectic group of seniors that she finds herself leading. The seniors group is amazing, and the one scene with Horace brought (grateful) tears to my eyes.

The descriptions of Venice, and Italy as a whole, are breathtaking and immersive with how they're carefully written.

Easily a book that will be a re-read for those who keep a special place on their virtual or physical bookshelf for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book to a certain extent, but felt that the plot was not intricate enough, and quite predictable. I would have been happier with the story if we had been able to get to the airport and Venice sooner rather than a third of the way into the book. It felt like a lot of the background information about the friendships and the main character’s friend’s children at the beginning was way too much. However, the book is very well written with excellent descriptions and would appeal to anyone who likes a very light travel book with a little bit of Christmas thrown in for good measure!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked the descriptions of Venice and it’s sights. The friendships were refreshing and sweet. I felt the male characters could have been developed further and not as one dimensional such as being depicted as sort of flat characters one way or the other in extreme with the exception of Fox. I also thought the portrayal of alcohol blackouts and excess could have been edited out.

Such a beautiful read! I really enjoyed this! Super cosy and fun read that I didn't want to put down.


Thank you NetGalley, Joanna Knowles, Orion Publishing Group and Orion for giving me this ARC!

I thought this book was okay! It was a bit cheesy for my liking, but I see the appeal to a story like this. It was sweet and cute, pretty cozy. the writing and characters were written nicely. I think there were too many slow parts

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and especially the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book!!

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to review this book. It just so happens I am on holidays in Italy while reading this donut makes it an even more special read for me. I have enjoyed the book but I felt it was a bit predictable. I did love the friendships shown throughout the book and how important friends are to have. A lovely holiday read.

This novel covers three different themes and does them well: it serves as a wonderful travelogue of Venice and Milan, Italy; it honors the lives and perspectives of the ten pensioners on the tour; and it follows the protagonist’s transformative journey as she is propelled out of her comfort zone.

Rosie Redbrush works for Wanderlust Wishes arranging exciting trips for others while never partaking in any adventures herself. Hood-winked into accompanying ten aging residents of an elder care home on a trip to Venice, Rosie is catapulted into a series of beautiful but chaotic and stressful experiences. Her resilience and resourcefulness are tested in ways beyond her wildest imaginings.

I thoroughly enjoyed the well-drawn characters and felt that Rosie deserved a medal for all she went through. It sometimes stretched the limits of credibility that so much could go wrong for one person. The sensitivity and compassion in the exploration of the viewpoints and actions of the pensioners lent a richness to the storyline and the romantic element felt organic as the feelings between Rosie and Fox (the embassy representative) grew. I had mixed feelings about the ending – it left me wanting more details about the future for this couple and the outcome of Rosie’s conflict with her boss.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that was satisfying on several levels – including the Christmas elements.

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

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Lost and Found in Venice is a delightful, heartwarming romp through Italy's most romantic city, bringing both chaos and charm. The author delivers a lighthearted festive romcom that’s perfect for cozying up with during the holiday season. Rosie Redbrush, a travel agent who has spent her life selling adventures but never taking them, is thrown headfirst into a journey she never expected—guiding a group of elderly tourists through Venice just days before Christmas.
Rosie's misadventures are endearing and hilarious, from the neurotic aquaphobe to the accidental Santa race—there’s never a dull moment. The author strikes a great balance between humor and heartfelt moments, as Rosie’s missteps lead her to new friendships, a sense of belonging, and maybe even love.
Venice is depicted vividly, its winding streets and canals becoming almost another character in the story. The blend of festive cheer, cultural exploration, and personal growth makes this a charming read. While the romance takes a bit of a backseat to Rosie’s journey of self-discovery, it still offers that cozy, feel-good warmth you’d expect from a holiday romcom.
Though some moments feel predictable, Lost and Found in Venice shines with its quirky cast of characters and Rosie’s relatable struggles. It’s a wonderful reminder that the best journeys are the ones you don’t plan, and that sometimes, getting lost leads you exactly where you need to be. A perfect comfort read for the holidays!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Okay this just was absolutely beautiful! I could not get over the main characters and their sweet story. It was absolutely beautiful. I was so excited for the ending, but sad it was over. Excited to read more by this author.

Oh my goodness, Lost and Found in Venice just might be my new favorite book! It was so good! I couldn’t put it down!

I loved this story and it gripped you from the beginning . I loved all the mature people. They made you laugh and their gifts were amazing. The love element was slow and good. The descriptions of Venice, Malian and Florence were lovely . Not quite the neat ending I would have liked but still a good read. Rosie’s two best friends were fabulous . Read it.