Where the Rivers Merge

“Wade into the Lowcountry of South Carolina with Mary Alice Monroe's sweeping Southern epic."—People"This is book club fiction at its finest!" —Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling authorFrom the New York Times bestselling author, the first of two epic and triumphant novels celebrating one intrepid woman's life across multiple generations in the American South.1908: The Lowcountry of South Carolina is at the cusp of change. Mayfield, the grand estate held for generations by the Rivers family, is the treasured home of young Eliza. A free spirit, she refuses to be confined by societal norms and spends her days exploring the vast property, observing wildlife, and riding horses. But the Great War, coastal storms, and family turmoil bring unexpected challenges to Eliza, putting her on a collision course with the patriarchal traditions of a bygone era.

“Bestselling Monroe's enthralling family saga follows dual timelines as Eliza, CEO of a successful family-owned company, tells her life story. Historical details, customs of the times, love, loss, economics, and passionate love for the land are all deftly interwoven…. Monroe's novel has echoes of such classics as A Woman of Substance (1979) by Barbara Taylor Bradford, The Shell Seekers (1987) by Rosamunde Pilcher, and The Thorn Birds (1977) by Colleen McCullough.” — Booklist (starred review)

"A thoughtful work that her fans and those who prize stories about preserving nature and heritage will enjoy." — Library Journal (starred review)

"Mary Alice Monroe weaves a shimmering tapestry of nature and human nature, love and war, tradition and change. With the passing generations, the battle heats up, but Eliza is a matriarch determined to have her say. Readers will fall in love with her as she reveals Mayfield's past and leaves her indelible mark on its future. This is book club fiction at its finest!" — Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shelterwood

“Monroe serves up a pleasing paean to rural life in South Carolina…. The author’s fans will find much to admire.” — Publishers Weekly

"From the lyrical pen of Mary Alice Monroe comes a poignant tale of one woman’s unbreakable bond with the natural world. Where the Rivers Merge is a breathtaking, multigenerational saga of Eliza Rivers, a woman fiercely determined to protect her family’s legacy and the land she loves. Set against the lush backdrop of South Carolina’s Lowcountry and its rivers, Eliza must navigate the ravages of time, longing, and loss to safeguard her cherished home. With Monroe’s signature grace and her profound understanding of nature’s power, this is a journey through resilience, love, and complicated family ties. Where the Rivers Merge is Mary Alice Monroe at her best, reminding us that there is a magical connection between human nature and Mother nature and that it’s in this bond where we find our greatest hope for the future.”  — Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea 

"Where The Rivers Merge is simply captivating. Monroe is a master storyteller and her lyrical depictions of the Lowcountry and the natural world awakened all of my senses and left me breathless at every chapter's end. The characters leapt off the page and stayed with me long after the book was finished. Stunning in every way, a must-read." — Sadeqa Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve

“With elegant prose and an embracing heart, Mary Alice Monroe has written an epic tale of the place where the soul of nature and the soul of a unique woman converge. Across her eighty-eight years, Eliza Rivers has dedicated her life not only to the preservation of Mayfield, her beloved family estate, but also to the protection of the threatened ACE basin, a haven for endangered South Carolina flora and fauna. Monroe’s deep love of this extraordinary land burns brightly in every line. Where the Rivers Merge is the first of two novels chronicling the life of Eliza Rivers. Along with every other fan of Mary Alice Monroe’s extraordinary body of work, I’m eagerly awaiting the next.” — William Kent Kruger, New York Times bestselling author of The River We Remember