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The Summer We Lost Her
It’s been a busy—and expensive—few years for Matt and Elise Sorenson and their young daughter Gracie, whom they affectionately call Little Green. Matt, a Manhattan lawyer, has just been offered a partnership, and Elise’s equestrian ambitions as a competitive dressage rider may finally vault her into the Olympics. But her long absences from home and endless hours of training have strained their relationships nearly to the breaking point.
Now they’re up in the Adirondacks, preparing to sell the valuable lakefront cabin that’s been in Matt’s family for generations. Both he and Elise agree it’s time to let it go. But as they navigate the memories the cabin holds—and come face to face with Matt’s teenage crush, now an unnervingly attractive single mother living right next door—Gracie disappears without a trace.
Faced with the possibility that they’ll never see their daughter again, Elise and Matt struggle to come to terms with what their future may bring. The fate of the family property, the history of this not-so-tiny town, and the limits of Matt and Elise’s love for each other are inextricably bound up with Gracie’s disappearance. Everything for the Sorenson family is about to change—the messy tangle of their past, the harrowing truth of their present, and whether or not their love will survive a parent’s worst nightmare.
Now they’re up in the Adirondacks, preparing to sell the valuable lakefront cabin that’s been in Matt’s family for generations. Both he and Elise agree it’s time to let it go. But as they navigate the memories the cabin holds—and come face to face with Matt’s teenage crush, now an unnervingly attractive single mother living right next door—Gracie disappears without a trace.
Faced with the possibility that they’ll never see their daughter again, Elise and Matt struggle to come to terms with what their future may bring. The fate of the family property, the history of this not-so-tiny town, and the limits of Matt and Elise’s love for each other are inextricably bound up with Gracie’s disappearance. Everything for the Sorenson family is about to change—the messy tangle of their past, the harrowing truth of their present, and whether or not their love will survive a parent’s worst nightmare.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2018
225 people are currently reading
11888 people want to read
About the author
Tish Cohen
13 books258 followers"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
Anais Nin quote from Oprah's website inspired Tish Cohen to write her first adult novel.
Tish Cohen is the author of TOWN HOUSE, a 2008 finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize – Best First Book Award (Canada and Caribbean region), and in development as a feature film with Fox 2000. Ridley Scott’s Scott Free is producing and John Carney, the award-winning, critically acclaimed director of ONCE is directing. TOWN HOUSE was released to massive media interest in Canada and has been published in Italy and will soon be released in Germany.
Cohen has also written the middle-grade novels THE INVISIBLE RULES OF ZOE LAMA, and its sequel THE ONE AND ONLY ZOE LAMA
Cohen has contributed articles to some of Canada’s largest newspapers, including The Globe and Mail and The National Post. Having grown up in Los Angeles, Orange County and Montreal, Cohen now calls Toronto home. INSIDE OUT GIRL is Cohen’s second novel for adults.
Anais Nin quote from Oprah's website inspired Tish Cohen to write her first adult novel.
Tish Cohen is the author of TOWN HOUSE, a 2008 finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize – Best First Book Award (Canada and Caribbean region), and in development as a feature film with Fox 2000. Ridley Scott’s Scott Free is producing and John Carney, the award-winning, critically acclaimed director of ONCE is directing. TOWN HOUSE was released to massive media interest in Canada and has been published in Italy and will soon be released in Germany.
Cohen has also written the middle-grade novels THE INVISIBLE RULES OF ZOE LAMA, and its sequel THE ONE AND ONLY ZOE LAMA
Cohen has contributed articles to some of Canada’s largest newspapers, including The Globe and Mail and The National Post. Having grown up in Los Angeles, Orange County and Montreal, Cohen now calls Toronto home. INSIDE OUT GIRL is Cohen’s second novel for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
June 28, 2019
The Summer We Lost Her by Tish Cohen is mostly a domestic drama story with the couple in question dealing with their marital issues. However, later on in the story there is a bit of a mystery added to it when their disabled daughter goes missing at a bus stop.
Matt and Elise Sorenson are the epitome of opposites attracting and the relationship working for them. Matt is an attorney in Manhattan who is on the verge of partnership with his firm while Elise is an equestrian who is a competitive dressage rider who has her eye on finally qualifying for the Olympics.
When Elise again misses another event and disappoints their daughter due to staying with her horse Matt really begins to question their marriage. For years Matt’s been the on making the sacrifices and even their daughter’s disability comes from an accident on a horse so some time away in the Adirondacks to sell some property is the time this couple needs to evaluate their marriage.
The Summer We Lost Her was a really slow burn when it came to pacing which for someone like myself that prefers faster took a lot of patience not to give up on. The drama had plenty of ups and downs with both partners showing their faults. The second half add even more with a bit of mystery although even that was mostly fuel for more drama. In the end I found this one to be an OK read leaving me to rate it at 3 1/2 stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Matt and Elise Sorenson are the epitome of opposites attracting and the relationship working for them. Matt is an attorney in Manhattan who is on the verge of partnership with his firm while Elise is an equestrian who is a competitive dressage rider who has her eye on finally qualifying for the Olympics.
When Elise again misses another event and disappoints their daughter due to staying with her horse Matt really begins to question their marriage. For years Matt’s been the on making the sacrifices and even their daughter’s disability comes from an accident on a horse so some time away in the Adirondacks to sell some property is the time this couple needs to evaluate their marriage.
The Summer We Lost Her was a really slow burn when it came to pacing which for someone like myself that prefers faster took a lot of patience not to give up on. The drama had plenty of ups and downs with both partners showing their faults. The second half add even more with a bit of mystery although even that was mostly fuel for more drama. In the end I found this one to be an OK read leaving me to rate it at 3 1/2 stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 19, 2019
I won this a a goodreads giveaway.
I enjoyed the way the story was written and the descriptions of Lake Placid, New York.
This story was a family drama with elements of thrillers as well as a bit of a mystery. It has a slow burn to it. So don’t give up on the story. Be patient and read to the ending.
It’s a good weekend read especially when the weather isn’t so great outside.
I enjoyed the way the story was written and the descriptions of Lake Placid, New York.
This story was a family drama with elements of thrillers as well as a bit of a mystery. It has a slow burn to it. So don’t give up on the story. Be patient and read to the ending.
It’s a good weekend read especially when the weather isn’t so great outside.
September 20, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫This was excellent! This is the type of book I probably would have read in a day if other things like work and kids and life didn’t have to get in the way! Right now, I’m late for work as I just wanted to see how the book ended! I love stories where you really feel connected to the characters and find yourself cheering for them and just wanting everything to work out. I will definitely read more from this author.
June 4, 2019
(free review copy) This book was MADE for book club discussions! Especially book clubs made up of middle-aged parents :-) A stellar domestic drama set in Lake Placid, NY, THE SUMMER WE LOST HER is atmospheric, taut, and rife with “What would I have done/felt?” opportunities. I raced through this story and highly recommend it for fans of Jodi Picoult and Lisa Genova.
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December 1, 2023I won this book but no, I cannot rate it - do ratings come in negative numbers? A tedious, mind-numbing read about a man and a woman who are married with a child who is handicapped and how he is the caretaker parent and she is a professional dressage rider and I know somewhere in there bad things happen to either her or their child but this book just goes on and on and on...
Every noun must have an adjective and the sentences go on and on, and there's just too much info-dumping about who is who and what is what and yes, let's think up a dozen great metaphors so if anyone is reading this they'll get immediately derailed by how clever the writer is, and I was tired of reading back story back story back story and what happened when and yeah, this is a lot of TELL and very little SHOW and now we're in a cabin on a lake and we've got to sell it to finance the wife's riding career/obsession and wow...
I did not care, really really did not care. Really really really - and it's the writing, really. Yawn.
Dnf, no stars, goodbye.
But thank you, Goodreads! I won this, read as far as I was able, and that's all...
Every noun must have an adjective and the sentences go on and on, and there's just too much info-dumping about who is who and what is what and yes, let's think up a dozen great metaphors so if anyone is reading this they'll get immediately derailed by how clever the writer is, and I was tired of reading back story back story back story and what happened when and yeah, this is a lot of TELL and very little SHOW and now we're in a cabin on a lake and we've got to sell it to finance the wife's riding career/obsession and wow...
I did not care, really really did not care. Really really really - and it's the writing, really. Yawn.
Dnf, no stars, goodbye.
But thank you, Goodreads! I won this, read as far as I was able, and that's all...
August 13, 2020
Thank you to Gallery Books for giving me a free copy of this book for review!
Sadly, this book didn't quite deliver for me. It's a bummer too, because I was intrigued by the premise and hoped that it would be a solid summer read.
Matt and Elise head upstate to sell Matt's grandfather's old cabin on the lake. While they're away, Elise and Matt's lives are turned upside down when their daughter, Gracie, is taken. Their marriage was already strained due to Elise's frequent absences as she works as a professional horse rider and pursues her dreams of making the Olympic team. Gracie's disappearance will either bring them together or tear them further apart.
Here's my main issue with this book: I felt like Elise was being punished for being a working mother with goals and ambitions. All the blame was put on her for everything that went wrong with Gracie and with her marriage to Matt. I'm not saying she was a perfect person, but it didn't seem right that all the blame was laid at her feet. And honestly, Matt seemed like a bit of a creep, especially when he starts to fantasize about his old girlfriend, the girl next door, Cass.
Pacing was another problem that I had with this book. Based on the synopsis, I expected the book to focus on Gracie's disappearance and how that affected Elise and Matt's lives. However, at one point, I realized that I was more than halfway through the book and Gracie's kidnapping hadn't happened yet! The plot ramps up once the kidnapping takes place, but not much happens before that.
My overall feeling about this book was "meh." I couldn't connect with these characters and I wasn't invested in the story. However, I think if the lakeside setting sounds appealing to you, or if you don't mind a very slow-burning book, then you might get along with this one better than I did.
Sadly, this book didn't quite deliver for me. It's a bummer too, because I was intrigued by the premise and hoped that it would be a solid summer read.
Matt and Elise head upstate to sell Matt's grandfather's old cabin on the lake. While they're away, Elise and Matt's lives are turned upside down when their daughter, Gracie, is taken. Their marriage was already strained due to Elise's frequent absences as she works as a professional horse rider and pursues her dreams of making the Olympic team. Gracie's disappearance will either bring them together or tear them further apart.
Here's my main issue with this book: I felt like Elise was being punished for being a working mother with goals and ambitions. All the blame was put on her for everything that went wrong with Gracie and with her marriage to Matt. I'm not saying she was a perfect person, but it didn't seem right that all the blame was laid at her feet. And honestly, Matt seemed like a bit of a creep, especially when he starts to fantasize about his old girlfriend, the girl next door, Cass.
Pacing was another problem that I had with this book. Based on the synopsis, I expected the book to focus on Gracie's disappearance and how that affected Elise and Matt's lives. However, at one point, I realized that I was more than halfway through the book and Gracie's kidnapping hadn't happened yet! The plot ramps up once the kidnapping takes place, but not much happens before that.
My overall feeling about this book was "meh." I couldn't connect with these characters and I wasn't invested in the story. However, I think if the lakeside setting sounds appealing to you, or if you don't mind a very slow-burning book, then you might get along with this one better than I did.
June 9, 2019
I enjoyed this domestic drama mystery. We see the hardships of balancing work, family, and passions. Then Matt and Elise's only child Gracie is kidnapped and we see the additional strain that puts on their life and relationship as they try to cope with that trauma while also trying to find their daughter. One thing I liked about this book is that it's not like some recent bestsellers which seem to be all about people who might look good on the outside but are rotten on the inside. In this story, the people all seem to be decent human beings who may be flawed and sometimes make bad decisions, but they are relatable and mostly likeable.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book for review.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book for review.
April 23, 2019
Elise andMatt Sorenson are struggling to make their marriage work since Elise’s competitive equestrian training keeps her away from home a lot. Matt , a lawyer, is the one that their daughter Gracie can depend on, while her mother pursues her dreams to be in the Olympics.
The Sorenson’s agree to sell Matt’s grandfather’s cabin in the Adirondack’s, and go there to spend some quality family time. While they are there, Gracie suddenly disappears and the entire community searches for her. Elise blames herself and her relationship with Matt becomes more strained. It doesn’t help that his teenage girlfriend lives right next door and is threatening his marriage. Gracie’s disappearance tests the love of Elise and Matt as they face a parents’ worst nightmare.
I received this Advanced Reader’s Edition as a gift from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
It was an enjoyable read that focuses on family, marriage, and forgiveness in a real life drama. A real page turner that is beautifully written and highly recommended.
The Sorenson’s agree to sell Matt’s grandfather’s cabin in the Adirondack’s, and go there to spend some quality family time. While they are there, Gracie suddenly disappears and the entire community searches for her. Elise blames herself and her relationship with Matt becomes more strained. It doesn’t help that his teenage girlfriend lives right next door and is threatening his marriage. Gracie’s disappearance tests the love of Elise and Matt as they face a parents’ worst nightmare.
I received this Advanced Reader’s Edition as a gift from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
It was an enjoyable read that focuses on family, marriage, and forgiveness in a real life drama. A real page turner that is beautifully written and highly recommended.
April 17, 2019
“The Summer We Lost Her” by Tish Cohen, published by Scout Press.
Category - Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – June 04, 2019.
Elise Sorenson seems destined for the Olympics in Equestrian Dressage. The travel and time away from home has been a hardship for her husband, Matt, and young daughter, Gracie. This is especially difficult since Gracie has a handicap due to an accident caused by a horse while Elise was pregnant.
In an effort to pay for all the bills Matt has decided to sell his father’s substantial property in the Adirondacks. It is here that they must face some serious problems concerning their marriage and parents.
Elise has been out of her father’s life for years for his supposed transgressions with her mother which led to a divorce. She is also faced with the dilemma of leaving her family as she attempts to make the Olympic Team.
Matt is faced with the transgressions of his grandfather whom he has adored since he became his guardian at his parent’s death. He must also come to terms with a childhood sweetheart who is living next door to their cabin.
The situation is not helped when Gracie suddenly disappears and cannot be located. Will Elise and Matt resolve their problems while searching for their daughter?
Category - Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – June 04, 2019.
Elise Sorenson seems destined for the Olympics in Equestrian Dressage. The travel and time away from home has been a hardship for her husband, Matt, and young daughter, Gracie. This is especially difficult since Gracie has a handicap due to an accident caused by a horse while Elise was pregnant.
In an effort to pay for all the bills Matt has decided to sell his father’s substantial property in the Adirondacks. It is here that they must face some serious problems concerning their marriage and parents.
Elise has been out of her father’s life for years for his supposed transgressions with her mother which led to a divorce. She is also faced with the dilemma of leaving her family as she attempts to make the Olympic Team.
Matt is faced with the transgressions of his grandfather whom he has adored since he became his guardian at his parent’s death. He must also come to terms with a childhood sweetheart who is living next door to their cabin.
The situation is not helped when Gracie suddenly disappears and cannot be located. Will Elise and Matt resolve their problems while searching for their daughter?
September 9, 2018
3.5 stars for Little Green, a book about passions versus family. I enjoyed reading it but had to keep at it. The endings to the varies storylines ended very quickly. The characters were well developed but for me, unfortunately I did not relate to them. I did enjoy how the author gave this novel its title.
“Because everyone has the potential to be excellent at something, you need to find your excellence and then go for it.”
“Because everyone has the potential to be excellent at something, you need to find your excellence and then go for it.”
May 31, 2019
Big thanks to Gallery Books for my free copy of The Summer We Lost Her by Tish Cohen (advanced readers copy)
When getting this in the mail I immediately dived into it because for one the cover is beautiful and suddenly made me hugely intrigued on why lies beyond that house on the lake...
With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a very interesting dynamic between Matt Sorensen, his wife Elise, their Daughter Gracie all with the legacy his Grandfather Nate left behind. This was not only a family drama but an utterly compelling sacrifice that they would all have to make one way or another. The wife Elise truly made me angry at certain points because of her motherly tendencies and the fact that she was absent basically all her daughter's life because of her dreams to be an Olympian made her unavailable to be both wife and mother...
However, Matt and his ex-lover Cass made an interesting duo. Almost kind of like real soulmates. It made them the most intriguing when together, and in the book, those parts stood out the most for me. I recommend reading if you don’t mind slow paced books. There was so much information in this book it became very easily boring to me. But the concept of the story puts that aside, while on the hunt to find Gracie. Everything eventually folds back together and leaves an utterly bittersweet ending for the Sorenson’s. (Don’t worry it’s not a spoiler)!!
As far as the daughter Gracie goes, she was an estranged character. Her thoughts and feelings towards her stuffed animals were a little bit strange. Funny at times but very, very strange.
The relationship between her parents was also different.
Usually, when tragedies happen they either bring you closer or break you apart...
I don't really know what the case here was between Elise and Matt. I just know that they were not meant to be together but by being together, they defied all odds.
Matt was not only a great dad but a great husband. I don't know many men myself that would be that selfless for there family. Matt deserved better I think ultimately.
He was so lost for so long and I think now he is just understanding what it means to be not only a Sorenson but to just be himself. He was so used to putting everyone and everything before him that I think he truly doesn't know how to be any other way. And because of that Elise is his greatest and proudest downfall.
Available soon - June 4th
Make sure to get a copy!!
3.5/5 stars!!
When getting this in the mail I immediately dived into it because for one the cover is beautiful and suddenly made me hugely intrigued on why lies beyond that house on the lake...
With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a very interesting dynamic between Matt Sorensen, his wife Elise, their Daughter Gracie all with the legacy his Grandfather Nate left behind. This was not only a family drama but an utterly compelling sacrifice that they would all have to make one way or another. The wife Elise truly made me angry at certain points because of her motherly tendencies and the fact that she was absent basically all her daughter's life because of her dreams to be an Olympian made her unavailable to be both wife and mother...
However, Matt and his ex-lover Cass made an interesting duo. Almost kind of like real soulmates. It made them the most intriguing when together, and in the book, those parts stood out the most for me. I recommend reading if you don’t mind slow paced books. There was so much information in this book it became very easily boring to me. But the concept of the story puts that aside, while on the hunt to find Gracie. Everything eventually folds back together and leaves an utterly bittersweet ending for the Sorenson’s. (Don’t worry it’s not a spoiler)!!
As far as the daughter Gracie goes, she was an estranged character. Her thoughts and feelings towards her stuffed animals were a little bit strange. Funny at times but very, very strange.
The relationship between her parents was also different.
Usually, when tragedies happen they either bring you closer or break you apart...
I don't really know what the case here was between Elise and Matt. I just know that they were not meant to be together but by being together, they defied all odds.
Matt was not only a great dad but a great husband. I don't know many men myself that would be that selfless for there family. Matt deserved better I think ultimately.
He was so lost for so long and I think now he is just understanding what it means to be not only a Sorenson but to just be himself. He was so used to putting everyone and everything before him that I think he truly doesn't know how to be any other way. And because of that Elise is his greatest and proudest downfall.
Available soon - June 4th
Make sure to get a copy!!
3.5/5 stars!!
June 1, 2019
I loved this book. It was not a fast paced thriller but more like an introspective character study on marriage, childhood, and painful pasts. The setting was absolutely gorgeous and it made me want to go there. I wouldn’t say the ending was completely satisfying but i suppose it was more realistic.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2021
This book took me awhile to get into but at 46% it picked up pretty quick and then I could not wait to find out how it was going to end. The Summer We Lost Her implies someone is lost and that’s what took so long to happen in the book. I just felt like it dragged for me for a long time which is why I’m giving it 3 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.
April 12, 2019
I got to about 50% in this book, hoping something would happen to keep me reading...and I never got there.
February 18, 2020
A new to me author, I picked up this book while browsing the shelves at my local library. It's very engrossing, sucking me in quickly. The back cover copy says that while in the Adirondacks packing up a family cabin to sell, Matt and Elise's daughter Gracie “disappears without a trace”. So I thought that would be the book. It would be about this couple dealing with their young daughter's disappearance. Except Gracie didn't actually disappear until about halfway through the book. Until then, the book is an examination of Matt and Elise's lives, and their faltering marriage. And it was a wonderful character study.
Elise is an Olympic hopeful, whose whole life has revolved around horses and dressage competitions. She is away from her husband and daughter for months at a time, gone more than she is home. At one point, Gracie is trying to get her parents to let her have a turtle, and she argues to her dad that mom will help her clean the tank when she visits. Not comes home. Visits. It was a wounding moment for both parents. I can't imagine being driven the way Elise is. I can't imagine having a child and then never being home with that child. I certainly could not relate to Elise. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't admire love her drive and ambition.
Matt is an attorney, and has just been offered a partnership. He's been Gracie's primary caretaker all her life, and while he wants the partnership, it would mean hiring a nanny to help care for Gracie, which he does not want. It's a bit of a gender swap, and I did relate to him a bit, having worked full time while still being the parent who was the primary caretaker of our two daughters, though out of necessity they were in daycare all of their early childhood.
I very much liked Ms. Cohen's writing. The narrative switched back and forth between Elise's POV and Matt's, as well as between the present and the past, giving us glimpses of the couple's lives when they were kids, when they met, the early years of their marriage. The descriptions of the Adirondacks was often evocative. And I was kept in the dark – I had no idea what happened to Gracie until her parents found out, and I had no idea whether or not Matt and Elise would be able to salvage their marriage.
One more author to add to my ever growing list, with a handful of other books I now need to hunt down.
Elise is an Olympic hopeful, whose whole life has revolved around horses and dressage competitions. She is away from her husband and daughter for months at a time, gone more than she is home. At one point, Gracie is trying to get her parents to let her have a turtle, and she argues to her dad that mom will help her clean the tank when she visits. Not comes home. Visits. It was a wounding moment for both parents. I can't imagine being driven the way Elise is. I can't imagine having a child and then never being home with that child. I certainly could not relate to Elise. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't admire love her drive and ambition.
Matt is an attorney, and has just been offered a partnership. He's been Gracie's primary caretaker all her life, and while he wants the partnership, it would mean hiring a nanny to help care for Gracie, which he does not want. It's a bit of a gender swap, and I did relate to him a bit, having worked full time while still being the parent who was the primary caretaker of our two daughters, though out of necessity they were in daycare all of their early childhood.
I very much liked Ms. Cohen's writing. The narrative switched back and forth between Elise's POV and Matt's, as well as between the present and the past, giving us glimpses of the couple's lives when they were kids, when they met, the early years of their marriage. The descriptions of the Adirondacks was often evocative. And I was kept in the dark – I had no idea what happened to Gracie until her parents found out, and I had no idea whether or not Matt and Elise would be able to salvage their marriage.
One more author to add to my ever growing list, with a handful of other books I now need to hunt down.
August 25, 2019
*I received a free copy of The Summer We Lost Her from Gallery Books via Edelweiss. This has in no way influenced my review which is honest and unbiased.*
A mystery with a slow pace, a hint of nostalgia, and a troubled marriage. When Gracie disappears, all the differences between Matt and Elise come to the surface.
Well written, the slow pace worked well both for the mystery and for the overall story. Between flashbacks and the present, I got to know the characters well, and understood where they were coming from.
A mystery with a slow pace, a hint of nostalgia, and a troubled marriage. When Gracie disappears, all the differences between Matt and Elise come to the surface.
Well written, the slow pace worked well both for the mystery and for the overall story. Between flashbacks and the present, I got to know the characters well, and understood where they were coming from.
June 13, 2019
The Summer We Lost Her promises emotional investment but instead delivers unlikeable characters without any depth.
Matt and Elise Sorenson head to the Adirondacks to sell a family home. This will be their first time for quality time in quite a while. Elise is competing in dressage with her eyes on Rio Olympics. Matt is a lawyer who mainly raises their daughter while Elise is off training and competing. Elise decides without Matt that their daughter will attend day came while they work on the house causing tension as the balance of power shifts when she returns from her latest competition. Their idyllic summer shifts when Gracie doesn’t come home from camp and the Sorensons must deal with every parent’s worst nightmare.
The book struggles. The plot doesn’t actually happen until about half way through. You spend the majority of the time getting to know the highly unlikable Elise and her husband. As the story goes on, Matt isn’t perfect either but you mostly feel for him and Gracie. For example, Elise rags her daughter about sucking her thumb but never pauses to understand the under lying psychological cause of the behavior (to be fair the author ignores this as well). I honestly didn’t care about her Olympic aspirations and wanted her to fail.
The publisher suggests this book to fans of Jodie Piccoult; I wouldn’t suggest it. The story is never really deep. The looks into the characters past don’t add much to the overall story. Tish Cohen writes Matt’s experiences with his grandfather and Elise’s love for Dressage without really getting to the bottom of the desire of the characters. Cohen presents Elise as poor with a troubled youth but Elise has natural talent and a coach who gives her everything she needs so I could not empathize with her at all. Matt’s past built up to what would be the twist (it’s not a twist really, just a surprise) but it wasn’t shocking especially from Matt’s recollections of the past. The author fails to truly delve into the idea that Elise wants her daughter to be perfect to erase her own mistakes. There was every opportunity in these instances to delve deep into the characters but the author only ever scratches their depths. There is no true heart there like in Piccoult’s novels. The end is too tidy and unemotional like the rest of the book.
The Summer We Lost Her has the bones to be a great story, but the author stops herself from truly diving into these characters and her situations. The best 100 ages are when the daughter is gone because that story is exciting and there is emotional tension, but whenever Gracie is with her parents, everything falls flat.
Matt and Elise Sorenson head to the Adirondacks to sell a family home. This will be their first time for quality time in quite a while. Elise is competing in dressage with her eyes on Rio Olympics. Matt is a lawyer who mainly raises their daughter while Elise is off training and competing. Elise decides without Matt that their daughter will attend day came while they work on the house causing tension as the balance of power shifts when she returns from her latest competition. Their idyllic summer shifts when Gracie doesn’t come home from camp and the Sorensons must deal with every parent’s worst nightmare.
The book struggles. The plot doesn’t actually happen until about half way through. You spend the majority of the time getting to know the highly unlikable Elise and her husband. As the story goes on, Matt isn’t perfect either but you mostly feel for him and Gracie. For example, Elise rags her daughter about sucking her thumb but never pauses to understand the under lying psychological cause of the behavior (to be fair the author ignores this as well). I honestly didn’t care about her Olympic aspirations and wanted her to fail.
The publisher suggests this book to fans of Jodie Piccoult; I wouldn’t suggest it. The story is never really deep. The looks into the characters past don’t add much to the overall story. Tish Cohen writes Matt’s experiences with his grandfather and Elise’s love for Dressage without really getting to the bottom of the desire of the characters. Cohen presents Elise as poor with a troubled youth but Elise has natural talent and a coach who gives her everything she needs so I could not empathize with her at all. Matt’s past built up to what would be the twist (it’s not a twist really, just a surprise) but it wasn’t shocking especially from Matt’s recollections of the past. The author fails to truly delve into the idea that Elise wants her daughter to be perfect to erase her own mistakes. There was every opportunity in these instances to delve deep into the characters but the author only ever scratches their depths. There is no true heart there like in Piccoult’s novels. The end is too tidy and unemotional like the rest of the book.
The Summer We Lost Her has the bones to be a great story, but the author stops herself from truly diving into these characters and her situations. The best 100 ages are when the daughter is gone because that story is exciting and there is emotional tension, but whenever Gracie is with her parents, everything falls flat.
July 7, 2019
Elise has Olympic dreams. Her husband, Matt, is the primary caregiver of their daughter, Gracie. When Gracie goes missing, we find out just how big of an ass Matt is.
The first half of this book moves pretty slowly. Gracie doesn't even go missing until halfway through. Along the way, we learn about how childhood circumstances and past experiences . . . and mistakes . . . shaped Elise and Matt.
I liked the book, but I really wanted to smack Matt upside the head. He played the long-suffering parent who always put his child first even as he played footsies with the literal girl next door, who now is a 50-year-old woman with huge breasts and wearing thongs. When the two of them agree that they would never have endangered Gracie the way that Elise did, I wanted to scream. All parents make mistakes. All parents take their eyes off of their children at some point. Nobody is perfect.
Matt was quick to blame Elise for everything that goes wrong. What a jerk.
I think Elise should have shown him the door.
The first half of this book moves pretty slowly. Gracie doesn't even go missing until halfway through. Along the way, we learn about how childhood circumstances and past experiences . . . and mistakes . . . shaped Elise and Matt.
I liked the book, but I really wanted to smack Matt upside the head. He played the long-suffering parent who always put his child first even as he played footsies with the literal girl next door, who now is a 50-year-old woman with huge breasts and wearing thongs. When the two of them agree that they would never have endangered Gracie the way that Elise did, I wanted to scream. All parents make mistakes. All parents take their eyes off of their children at some point. Nobody is perfect.
Matt was quick to blame Elise for everything that goes wrong. What a jerk.
I think Elise should have shown him the door.
July 16, 2018
I loved this book for so many reasons. Besides the story feeling so truthful, raw and personal, I had the good fortune to meet the author in person and then coincidentally read the book while on vacation on Saranac Lake! It added even more to the atmospheric feel.
How much can a marriage take? What is unforgivable? What tears us apart but brings us back together and can old loves replace or comfort better than current lives? Tish handles all of this with grace, honesty and leaves you thinking. Could I accept? Would I do that? I’m not sure I agree with how it ended, but I respect it. My first but not my last by this author.
How much can a marriage take? What is unforgivable? What tears us apart but brings us back together and can old loves replace or comfort better than current lives? Tish handles all of this with grace, honesty and leaves you thinking. Could I accept? Would I do that? I’m not sure I agree with how it ended, but I respect it. My first but not my last by this author.
June 4, 2018
How much stress can a marriage take? Tish Cohen answers this question with skill and artistry, capturing subtle shifts in mood and feeling as she escalates the pressure on her characters. They’re forced to face their own foibles and weaknesses as well as each other’s as they confront the mystery at the heart of this story. Atmospheric and compulsively readable.
January 13, 2022
There became a point in this book that I realized I will be doing absolutely nothing else besides finishing this book! It was SOOOO good!
May 2, 2019
Elise and Matt Sorenson, along with their daughter Gracie, are traveling to the Adirondacks to prepare Matt's grandfathers cabin to be put up for sale. Elise is a dressage rider who's hoping to make the Olympics and is always gone competing. Matt is a lawyer who is also the main caregiver of the daughter who has cerebral palsy because of Elise trying to mount her horse while pregnant. Their marriage is struggling because of all of this. Matt arrives at the cabin with Gracie to find out his high school girl is living right next door. Elise gets a phone call saying she's now in the running to be on the Olympics team and will have to leave their trip early. Matt finds out his grandfather isn't at all who he thought he was. More problems arise and soon Gracie is abducted from in front of their home on Elise's watch.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't put this down until I finished it. I just couldn't wait to see if Gracie would be found, if Matt and Elise's marriage would survive, and what was the answer to so many other questions I had.
I received this book in a GoodReads First Reads Giveaway.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't put this down until I finished it. I just couldn't wait to see if Gracie would be found, if Matt and Elise's marriage would survive, and what was the answer to so many other questions I had.
I received this book in a GoodReads First Reads Giveaway.
June 14, 2019
I love stories that take their time. I adore slowly unveiling plot, considerate character building, multiple digressions that make story richer, deeper, more realistic. "The Summer We Lost Her" is exactly like that, exactly what I needed. Why 4 stars then? It has couple moments that are not quite as good as the rest of the book and, I kid you not, it is ending with a MORAL. Not a subtile one, not one that makes you reflect on your life and behavior. The moral that slaps you in the face and explains you everything because you are too stupid to figure it out by yourself. I'm still shocked.
June 30, 2018
OMG this book is so beautiful. 😭❤️👨👩👧
November 18, 2019
Ugh, I hate Cass.
July 8, 2019
4.25 out of 5 stars
The Summer We Lost Her is an atmospheric marital drama story. I had to deduct from 5 stars because I found the beginning very slow. I realized at about page 130 that the first section completely set the atmosphere and vibe of the book but I was close to setting the book down and not continuing. I am very happy I decided to continue as I really enjoyed the second half of the book!
This is not my typical genre of book but it makes me want to dive into more domestic dramas!
Since The Summer We Lost Her is not my typical genre I can't do a lot of if you like this, then you'll like this. It did remind me of Gone Girl with the domestic drama part but this was no where near as thrilling as Gone Girl. The atmosphere of the book is definitely my favorite part. I know nothing about the Adirondacks or Lake Placid or any of that having grown up in South Carolina but I now feel like a teeny tiny piece of the area is within me.
I received this book for free from a Goodreads giveaway.
The Summer We Lost Her is an atmospheric marital drama story. I had to deduct from 5 stars because I found the beginning very slow. I realized at about page 130 that the first section completely set the atmosphere and vibe of the book but I was close to setting the book down and not continuing. I am very happy I decided to continue as I really enjoyed the second half of the book!
This is not my typical genre of book but it makes me want to dive into more domestic dramas!
Since The Summer We Lost Her is not my typical genre I can't do a lot of if you like this, then you'll like this. It did remind me of Gone Girl with the domestic drama part but this was no where near as thrilling as Gone Girl. The atmosphere of the book is definitely my favorite part. I know nothing about the Adirondacks or Lake Placid or any of that having grown up in South Carolina but I now feel like a teeny tiny piece of the area is within me.
I received this book for free from a Goodreads giveaway.
July 2, 2019
Thank you Gallery Books for sending me this free copy.
I loved The Summer We Lost Her, it totally got me hooked; its so much more than the daughter’s disappearance. Though it’s a fiction, the story seems so real, with all the issues the couple is dealing. Some of which is work life balance & communicating enough with each other.
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Elise is a competitive dressage rider aiming for Olympics which doesn’t give her much time to spend with her family & Matt (her husband) takes care of their daughter Gracie while managing his work at a Law Firm where he has been recently offered partnership meaning having more work hours so all this has put a strain on their married life & finances too. If the situation would be reverse & Matt was trying for Olympics, everyone would have cheered him for trying to achieve something bigger & would never question his duties towards his family. A woman has to really put in a lot of struggle when it comes to managing work and home, while no one questions a man, everyone sure jumps in when it comes to judging a woman
•
When their daughter disappears, in the midst of finding her, they confront their own past which they must find face & accept it so as to move on & be a family again. There are lot of things connected with their lives, a lot of history in Matt & Elise’s past epecially their childhood, how & what shaped them so there was a lot of ground to be covered so it can come all together at the end hence it took a little long for the plot to thicken especially for the daughter to disappear so be patient & don’t give up & read it till the end, trust me its get better and better
I loved The Summer We Lost Her, it totally got me hooked; its so much more than the daughter’s disappearance. Though it’s a fiction, the story seems so real, with all the issues the couple is dealing. Some of which is work life balance & communicating enough with each other.
•
Elise is a competitive dressage rider aiming for Olympics which doesn’t give her much time to spend with her family & Matt (her husband) takes care of their daughter Gracie while managing his work at a Law Firm where he has been recently offered partnership meaning having more work hours so all this has put a strain on their married life & finances too. If the situation would be reverse & Matt was trying for Olympics, everyone would have cheered him for trying to achieve something bigger & would never question his duties towards his family. A woman has to really put in a lot of struggle when it comes to managing work and home, while no one questions a man, everyone sure jumps in when it comes to judging a woman
•
When their daughter disappears, in the midst of finding her, they confront their own past which they must find face & accept it so as to move on & be a family again. There are lot of things connected with their lives, a lot of history in Matt & Elise’s past epecially their childhood, how & what shaped them so there was a lot of ground to be covered so it can come all together at the end hence it took a little long for the plot to thicken especially for the daughter to disappear so be patient & don’t give up & read it till the end, trust me its get better and better
August 8, 2019
This book definitely was a difficult read as a mother, but that didn't keep me from enjoying it. The first quarter of the book is a slow burn, but shortly after Grace's abduction I had a hard time putting it down. While aspects of this book left me cringing, I found it completely enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a domestic drama with a mystery thrown in.
What I loved about this book:
~This book has multiple talking points that would make it an amazing book club pick. The domestic drama aspect of it will be very relatable to many readers who have been/are married.
~Elise is a highly successful, working mother to Grace. While it's very common for women to be a major part of the work force today, there are still certain judgements they deal with daily. Elise's reactions to those situations are realistic and I really enjoyed her character.
~ I thought the topic of forgiveness and redemption was a great aspect of this book. When we hold onto grudges the person we hurt most is ourselves.
What kept me from giving this book 5⭐?
~ While I don't have an issue reading a slow burn, this book never really seemed to pick up pace for me. While I definitely feel like this book is worth the read, I thought the slow pace of the book needed to be mentioned. Also, because Elise was a working mother she was unfairly blamed for a lot of what went wrong. This was a bit offputting and took away from some of my enjoyment.
What I loved about this book:
~This book has multiple talking points that would make it an amazing book club pick. The domestic drama aspect of it will be very relatable to many readers who have been/are married.
~Elise is a highly successful, working mother to Grace. While it's very common for women to be a major part of the work force today, there are still certain judgements they deal with daily. Elise's reactions to those situations are realistic and I really enjoyed her character.
~ I thought the topic of forgiveness and redemption was a great aspect of this book. When we hold onto grudges the person we hurt most is ourselves.
What kept me from giving this book 5⭐?
~ While I don't have an issue reading a slow burn, this book never really seemed to pick up pace for me. While I definitely feel like this book is worth the read, I thought the slow pace of the book needed to be mentioned. Also, because Elise was a working mother she was unfairly blamed for a lot of what went wrong. This was a bit offputting and took away from some of my enjoyment.
September 12, 2021
This book was very slow to start. I was considering ditching it in the middle but then it picked up speed and delivered an ending that was satisfactory.
March 5, 2019
I think I’m alone in the negative opinion I have of the book Little Green by Tish Cohen. Through a quick google search of other reviews of it, most people really enjoyed it. And it’s not that I hated it, not at all, but the marriage at the heart of the novel didn’t ring true for me and I disliked most of the characters so I don’t think I can recommend it to my followers. That being said, I’ll lay out my reasoning below and you can make your own decision.
Matt and Elise are from different backgrounds; Matt’s family is wealthy, and Elise’s family is not. They marr because they are deeply in love, regardless of their families’ opinions. Elise is an elite dressage athlete who shows horses (that’s probably not the correct way to describe the sport, but it doesn’t really matter in the scheme of the book) and she’s got a shot at the next olympics, but her career takes her far away from her husband and daughter Grace for months at a time, so Matt is basically the only caregiver the majority of the time. Adding even more stress to their marriage is their financial situation; Elise’s training and equipment is enormously expensive, so they are forced to sell Matt’s family’s cabin in Lake Placid to keep afloat. So we begin the story with tension already building within the marriage, and then Gracie disappears while they’re in Lake Placid trying to sell the cabin; that’s when things start to really fall apart.
The plotting wa well done, in fact, I skipped to the last few pages just so I could see what happened which I LITERALLY NEVER DO when I read books because it’s cheating, but I was dying to know how it ended. Obviously I won’t talk about that here in case you want to read the book, but the plotting is where my compliments are going to end. I hated Elise and Matt with the fire of a thousand burning suns, so in the end, Gracie was the only person I really cared about, and because she disappears halfway through, we don’t get much time with her. Matt is completely tone deaf; yes he’s a good parent, but that’s his only positive quality. He’s completely naive, and I didn’t feel sorry for him at all when he has to sell the damn cabin. I felt it’s a bit tone deaf to frame this sale as such a tragedy, I don’t think I could think of a more obvious first world problem. “Oh no, you have to sell your lakeside property”, boo hoo. And Matt’s naive insistence that he’s a local because his family has had a cabin in the town for so long is pathetic, but let’s move on.
Elise is just annoying. She’s selfish in many ways, but she too is naive, and her character is the most unrealistic. She and Matt have been struggling for years, and then she brings up the fact that she has to leave her family for even longer periods of time, stalling Matt’s career almost completely, and he has nothing to say about it? And she accepts his fake enthusiasm and believes it to be true? Come on, they’ve been together for over a decade, every married couple knows by that time you’ve dropped the pretenses and feel comfortable enough to just say how you feel. The lack of communication between these two is astounding, and quite frankly, I thought that if the book was to have a happy ending, it would involve them getting a divorce first and foremost.
I don’t want to sound as judgey as this post is turning out to be, but I just can’t help myself. The tagline on the front cover says “how much pressure can a marriage take?” so it signals to me that the most important aspect to this book is the marriage itself. But how can I care about the marriage if it seems like the most unrealistic thing about the story? Now before I come off as a completely awful person, I will say that this is the first book of Tish Cohen’s that I’ve read, and I have heard wonderful things about her, so I will give her other books a try. This hasn’t put me off her writing completely, but I’m disappointed in her latest, Little Green.
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