BOOK: THE LOST GIRL OF SEAHAVEN
AUTHOR: PHILLIPA NEFRI CLARK
PUB DATE: 29TH JULY 2025
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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THINGS I LIKED
1. The 'other story', Mary's story intertwined with the missing child. I liked reading Mary's POV, Angie's Nan's detailed investigation on the missing case. This was the best part and what kept me turning the pages
2. The 2020s characters were okay, but I didn't like any of them
3. I liked the HEA everyone got
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THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
1. Angie's storyline. Rather than a romance, I would have preferred her to rediscover herself without love. I also felt that part of her storyline was rushed.
2. Her Gramps, the only thing I can say is grief is not a reason to pretend the past doesn't exist.
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The book was okay, I liked some part of it and it's heartwarming story of a young woman trying to find herself again
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A bitter sweet story written between two time lines - the 1950s and present day. Angie Fairlie returns to her grandfather's home to help him with his move into a cottage at the new assisted care community. Grandmother Opal was an author, and she is given the key to her office and ownership of all within it. Among the boxes there is one which holds notes and newspaper clippings, indicating her grandmother was in touch with a mystery woman who had written a novella about a lost child. The newspaper clippings tie the story to a real life event, and Angie, aware her grandmother's untimely death interrupted her investigation, is determined to carry on her work.

I absolutely loved this story. At times it's an emotional tale which may bring out the tissues with some readers. Mary, the 'lost child' brought up in a strictly religious home, is often treated quite cruelly by a mother who puts her religion before anything else. Making friends is discouraged, it's all about belief and duty. As she grows, Mary begins to remember a different time and place, but asking questions only brings an angry response from her mother. Angie too has suffered loss. Her parents tragic death, more recently followed by that of her grandmother. Now she only has her grandfather left. Returning to the family home, Seahaven, she is still badly affected by her divorce and unable to trust men. Added to this is the massive change brought about by her grandfather's move and the inevitable sale of Seahaven. However,

The two stories are intertwined, moving smoothly between past and present. I really felt for Mary and the harsh rules and regulations forced on her by a fanatically religious mother. And Annie, treated so badly by her manipulative thief of a husband. The two women are strong in their own way. Mary's acceptance of her mother's bullying regime does not stop her beginning to break free and planning for a time when she can walk away and make a life for herself. Annie, unsure of how she is perceived by everyone after marriage to a man who clearly enjoyed destroying her self esteem, finds a new energy in helping her grandfather. The arrival of new next door neighbour Jack brings an unexpected friendship, but is there a possibility it might develop into more if she has the courage to let it?

This is part of the Temple River series but can be read as a standalone. It's a emotional read at times, dealing with the struggles of two very different women. I found myself totally wrapped up in this story, hoping they would both find their happy ending. An enjoyable book - be prepared for an interesting twist at the end. Recommended.

MS Nefri Clark tells the most beautiful stories, they are moving and filled with emotion, and this one is no different, a beautifully told story from the heart, a story of a little lost girl who went missing many years ago, I felt connected to the characters as I turned the pages, come along for a trip to Temple River and find out what happened all those years ago.

Angie Fairlie has returned home after a divorce that has changed her, but she is determined to make her future better and returning to her grandfather and the home she knew for many years, Seahaven, her grandfather is moving into the assisted living community and has asked Angie to clean up her author grandmothers writing room who passed away fifteen years ago, what she discovers in a box will have Angie taking over the search for a little girl lost especially after reading the book, The Loneliest Girl by the Sea that was there, she is sure this holds many keys to the search for the little girl lost back in 1952.

With the help of her neighbour Jack, who is getting back on track himself they find many clues and are feeling very close to getting answers but what Angie didn’t realise is the pain and memories that this will bring out in not only herself but other people as well, what are the answers, who was the little lost girl, you really need to read this one, it is a beautiful and brilliant story.

I highly recommend this one, it is heartfelt and heart-warming in so many ways, beautifully written with awesome characters, MS Nefri Clark just makes each story better, there were many tears from me for so many emotions, don’t miss this one.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Angie is finally coming back to the place she called home after a terrifying time in her last marriage with a cruel and horrid man. she needs a bit of time and a bit of healing before picking up on "lifes lifeing" tasks again. she is back to where she was taken in by her grandparents after her own parents died. its lovely to see Angie is she comes back to her Grandfather. hes suffered a loss of his own with his wife and Angie's grandmother, and they lost touch after she got with her ex(colour me surprised NOT). Angie still misses her grandmother. but time has to move on and now so does Gramps as hes moving to a assisted home living community and needs help going through the house. this might be just what Angie needs. but there is something in her office he clearly doesn't want to be sorting. so it falls to Angie. fine fine. except what Angie finds in there sparks her curiosity big time. there are things that are pointing to a mystery of long ago past. so Angie brings in her Grandfathers neighbour Jack. Jack knows his stuff given his previous job.
well, then things start unravelling and boy oh boy do we all need to settle in for what unfolds. the secrets found, the people found the relationships and souls coming together. what a beautiful and wonderful book and with such outstanding level of storytelling from Phillipa. just wow. it took me away and held me tight to the plot throughout. every note was pitch perfect in this book. hitting every angle, every detail right on.
the characters in this book are pure gold. and i couldn't love each of them more. they all hold the keys to this plot in their own way and come together like a gorgeous recipe you want to devour.
i loved this book. i cant believe we have talent like Phillipa in our world giving us the books they do but thank goodness for them. for her!

A heartwarming story about family, loss, loneliness and love, “The Lost Girl of Seahaven”, by Phillipa Nefri Clark, is a riveting read, with fascinating characters and full of secrets slowly unraveling.
I loved the two stories within the book and how they mingle. The contrast between Angie’s and Mary’s circumstances are poignant: one surrounded by love and affection, the other isolated and subject to even worse things.
The relationships are tight and authentic in the Fairlie family. I loved watching Augie and Emmett and how both still miss so much their relative. They’re so close, it’s really sweet.
I also loved Jack, the steady and caring wounded hero who seems to be the perfect match for Angie, providing love, hope and healing.
This is more about a family and its secrets and sad events than a romance, which is not very developed, but I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down.

This was another delightful story in this series. It’s part mystery and part romance. I loved the characters and I was completely engrossed from page one. I couldn’t put it down. Definitely recommend

This is the first book I have read by this author. A book with dual timelines which seem very popular at present. Beautifully written with a fitting conclusion. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

The Lost Girl of Seahaven is a beautifully written, emotionally powerful mystery that completely drew me in. I found it both haunting and heartbreaking at times, yet absolutely compelling.

After a painful divorce, Angie Fairlie returns to her coastal hometown and stumbles across a mysterious box while clearing out her grandmother’s house. Inside is a novel and newspaper clippings about a little girl who vanished in 1952. The more she reads, the more she begins to uncover long-buried secrets—ones that hit far closer to home than she could have imagined.

The mystery was layered and clever, keeping me guessing right to the end. But what truly made this book special was the emotional journey—especially Angie’s relationship with her neighbour Jack. Their slow-building connection added heart and depth and gave the story such a lovely balance.

Poignant and engaging from start to finish. Highly recommended. ★★★★★

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This story gripped me by the heart right away. The author takes us through the family’s life as the secrets start to come out. Wonderful, must read!

This was an enchanting book. One person helping another and a great feel good conclusion. The research being able to discover the facts and how close the solution was. Interesting cast of characters.

The Lost Girl Of Seahaven finds Angie Fairlie back in her family home after being away for a very long time. Nan and Gramps took Angie in after the loss of her parents, Angie was about 13 years old at the time. Not too long after that Nan suddenly died, Angie married a man that her Gramps did not approve of and suddenly Angie‘s life fell apart. So here she is home again helping Gramps start his new life. He will be moving to a small home and Angie is just so happy to be around him. The one thing he asks of her is to check clean out her Nan‘s office. He just couldn’t do it.

Upon arriving home, Angie actually bumps into her new neighbor Jack. She literally almost gets hit by his car as she’s walking around town. Gramps loves Jack. He approves of him and before long Angie and Jack become close. Cleaning out Nan‘s office Angie stumbles upon letters, which ended up being some sort of puzzle, which Angie had to figure out.
Since Jack is an ex policeman and she felt he was the right person to help her figure this out plus he really wanted to. Something just doesn’t end up with all this information that Nan was collecting from someone. While Angie is trying to piece together this puzzle, she finds the her grandfather was upset about what was going on was he hiding something? Angie was so afraid of upsetting her grandfather that she was wondering if she should stop investigating. Yet from time to time she felt her Nan talking to her telling her she must finish this last project for her. Should Angie risk upsetting her grandfather so she can finish Nan‘s last investigation before she died? Would Gramps be willing to sit with her and talk to Angie about the past?

I truly enjoyed the story. I loved that it was a story of love, family, and truth. Angie’s character grew up when she came back to Seahaven. Not only did she help her grandfather move on with his life after the devastating loss of his wife . Angie herself was able to get past her devastating divorce and get back into the good graces and love of her grandfather. She also was very determined to finish her Nan‘s work and by doing that she reunited a brother and sister. Secrets were told and love was found. So I enjoyed everything about this book.

So thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This will not be the last book of Phillips Nefri Clark..

I’ve just finished “The Lost Girl of Seahaven” by Phillipa Nefri Clark and oh my! I did it enjoy it so much! It’s a dual storyline of a woman named Angela Fairlie, who returns to her coastal home to assist her grandfather in moving to an assisted living community. While cleaning out her grandmother’s office, she finds an anonymous book written by a woman named Mary who was taken when she was a child.

So the novel within the novel tells the heartbreaking story of Mary’s life. This book is classified as a mystery, which it is, but it’s so much more! It’s women’s fiction at its finest! All of the characters really came to life, and it was such an enriching story. It is beautifully written and definitely kept my attention.

This book earned 4.5 stars from me. Definitely go read this one! This book publishes on July 28th. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the complimentary advanced reader copy.

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Gripping mystery finally solved👫

This moving novel is minor part romance, major part historical mystery. I loved the way the author revealed the poignant details of a lonely young girl's life bit by bit as contemporary female lead Angie reacquainted herself with the small coastal town in southern Australia where her grandparents took her in after her parents' death. There's re-establishing a close relationship with grandfather Emmett; new friends to make; handsome neighbor Jack to win her trust; and a bit of drama with a realtor, but mostly it's an old mystery that catches her curiosity and occupies her in the hiatus until her new teaching job at the local school begins.

The mid-century mystery of a young girl raised by a strict mother in straightened circumstances who strongly believes she's been parted from her true family was sad but fascinating. "Mary," the young girl described in a rare book that appears biographical, seems to have been a real person who proves elusive. Her story as recorded in third person alternated with journal form really tugs at the heartstrings.

Before her death, Angie's writer grandmother Opal was researching how and if the Mary in the book related to a young girl who went missing during a family excursion to the area in the 1950's. Angie, returning to her grandparents' house at Rivers End from Perth and a bad marriage, finds her grandmother's research and sets herself the task of finally solving the mystery.

A positive, joyous ending caps it off. I really enjoyed the journey along with Angie and Jack, and the sweet result of their investigative efforts.

I discovered Phillipa Nefri Clark's novels fairly recently and she is now one of my go-to authors for Australian fiction.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on 7/15/25 on Goodreads and Bookbub, and with Barnes & Noble.

Every time I pick up a Phillipa Nefri Clark story, I have been thrilled with the story even as it touches my heart and brings me to tears. The Lost Girl of Seahaven was no exception to this experience. Angie's perspective is the one we follow for the majority of the book, and as she processes her grief over losing her Grandma she finds unexpected treasures hidden in Nan's office. Gramps isn't ready to face what Angie has found so she is able to work with a new friend and solve the mystery of what Nan was working on before her death. I had a couple of wrong solutions before the true ending was revealed, but I didn't mind. Clark's storytelling is just that good.

It was a pleasure to watch Angie rediscover her voice over the course of the book, given where she'd come from relationally. Very relatable and engaging tale.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

Angie Fairlie returns to her hometown and grandfather's home following a disastrous marriage that ended with her ex-husband in jail. She is eager to resume her teaching career soon and to help her grandfather make the transition to living in a senior community. While going through her late grandmother's office, she finds a mysterious box, along with a poignant book written by a young girl who may have been raised by a family not her own. As Angie vows to finish the research that her grandmother began into the girl's identity, she creates an unexpected rift with her grandfather.

I loved everything about this book. There are examples of the worst kind of people and the best, both described so clearly as to seem like someone the reader knows. And, a tear or two may be shed at the satisfying conclusion of Angie's research, the relationship with her grandfather, the identity of the missing girl, and Angie's own healing from her marriage trauma.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Angie Fairlie finally returned to her Victorian coastal home from Perth in WA, after a divorce from a brutal and abusive man who messed badly with Angie's mind. Joining her Gramps in Seahaven, the family home for decades, Angie was over the moon to be with her grandfather again. He'd lost his beloved wife, Opal, fifteen years prior, and Angie still missed her dreadfully. With Gramps moving to an assisted living community not far from Seahaven, Angie helped him go through the house, boxing memories, clearing out the rooms. But Gramps wouldn't go near Nan's office and delegated that to Angie. Plus each time she spoke to him about anything in there, he shut down...

Needing help after discovering mysterious papers pointing to secrets from the long ago past, Angie asked Jack, Gramps' neighbour, if he'd like to help. Jack was an ex-policeman so he was the right person to ask. Angie kept digging, day by day, not mentioning anything to Gramps, but soon she knew she needed his help. Would he talk to her about the past? Or would he shut her out? She didn't want to lose her Gramps' love.

The Lost Girl of Seahaven is the 5th in the Temple River series by Aussie author Phillipa Nefri Clark and oh my goodness! What a cracker of a novel!! Suspenseful, mysterious, poignant and nail-biting, I can't believe how Ms Clark's novels keep getting better! Fabulous characters, an outstanding (fictional) setting (I'd love to go there!) and a compelling story. What more could I ask for? Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

Angie moves back to Seahaven to help her grandfather and for a fresh start for herself. It gives then a chance to re-establish their once close relationship. Angie soon gets involved in solving a mystery.
Loved this book from start to finish. The plot was easy to follow and it was just the right pace for me.

This was a wee departure from the type of books I usually read, in that there was no gratuitous violence, no serial killers, not even any swearing.
There was a mystery though, the mystery of a missing child. This is a story of child abduction, of one family's heartbreak and another family's life living by the strict rules of their church. Mainly, it is the story of a young woman's quest to solve a decades old mystery, as she comes to terms with the direction her life has taken.
The story is told across two timelines, the 1960's and present day, with the 1960's timeline being in the form of excerpts from a book.
With one or two exceptions, the characters are likeable, and the descriptions of the locations made me wish I lived there.
The Lost Girl of Seahaven is a moving, poignant story, that had me in tears at the end.
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

Loved catching up with the Temple River series in this most recent book The Lost Girl of Seahaven. It’s the mystery of a lost child, secrets and love of a family. Angie comes home to her Grandparents home after a terrible marriage ends, her author grandmother Opel passed away some years before but her strength and presence live on in the home. After discovering some of her grandmothers notes and letters she starts to uncover an old mystery and all with the help of her lovely neighbour.
Really good read.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and Publisher Storm Publishing for the early read

A compelling book of loss, sorrow despair and missed chances. Only through the persistence of a young woman following in her grandmother’s footsteps is closure of a decades old mystery solved. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an eARC of this book. The depth of writing from this delightful author brings these endearing characters and wonderful book to life. I voluntarily read this book and these comments are my own opinion.