What do you think?
Rate this book
The Summer We Buried: A Novel
An unthinkable crime—and the tattered threads of a friendship gone wrong—come roaring back to terrible new life in Jody Gehrman’s riveting psychological suspense, perfect for fans of Joshilyn Jackson.
Twenty years ago, Tansy was drawn to Selene’s hard edges, her grit, and her knack for survival. Since then, the confused tangle of guilt about covering up a murder shattered their friendship, and even now, at thirty-eight, Tansy has never come to terms with what happened that night.
But now, Selene is back, demanding her old friend repay her. Selene’s daughter, Jupiter, attends the college where Tansy works as a guidance counselor. Selene is convinced that Jupiter’s boyfriend, Colton, is abusive, and wants Tansy to intervene. As she is drawn back into the intensity of Selene’s world, Tansy discovers the ugly truth about Colton. But Tansy suspects there’s far more to the story, and now she’ll finally have to confront Selene once and for all.
Twenty years ago, Tansy was drawn to Selene’s hard edges, her grit, and her knack for survival. Since then, the confused tangle of guilt about covering up a murder shattered their friendship, and even now, at thirty-eight, Tansy has never come to terms with what happened that night.
But now, Selene is back, demanding her old friend repay her. Selene’s daughter, Jupiter, attends the college where Tansy works as a guidance counselor. Selene is convinced that Jupiter’s boyfriend, Colton, is abusive, and wants Tansy to intervene. As she is drawn back into the intensity of Selene’s world, Tansy discovers the ugly truth about Colton. But Tansy suspects there’s far more to the story, and now she’ll finally have to confront Selene once and for all.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2022
98 people are currently reading
1501 people want to read
About the author
Jody Gehrman
15 books804 followersJody Gehrman is a native of Northern California, where she can be found writing, teaching, reading, or obsessing over her three cats most days. She is also the author of eleven novels and numerous award-winning plays. Her debut suspense novel, Watch Me, was published by St. Martin's Press. Her other adult novels are Bombshell, Notes from the Backseat, Tart, and Summer in the Land of Skin. Her Young Adult novels include The Truth About Jack, Audrey's Guide to Black Magic, Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love. Babe in Boyland was optioned by the Disney Channel and won the International Reading Association's Teen Choice Award. Her plays have been produced or had readings in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L.A. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She is a professor of Communication at Mendocino College.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
March 14, 2022
This one was more slow burn physiological fiction than fast pacing thriller.
The analysis and development of the characters were well done. There is not much going on at first half of the book. We’re introduced both of the characters, getting glimpses from their haunted pasts including a terrible incident occurred 20 years ago during a harvest full moon party and its after effects. It’s centered between toxic relationship of two old friends and dysfunctional relationship of a mother and daughter.
Let me tell you more about the characters and how the things get escalated to get them into dangerous situation.
Tansy works as guidance counselor in school, leaving her music career and education behind when she hits late thirties, witnessing her ex is tying knot and having a baby with his new girlfriend. She has resentments for her miscarriage she’s had ten years ago, not chasing a different path in her life because she did something so bad two decades ago which still haunts her soul.
She has limited connections with people, seeing her ex Marius as her only friend and her brother who is happily married.
But now her oldest friend who made a really big favor to her at the past us about to knock her door,collecting on her debt. She finds Selene- the friend she left behind two decades ago after having a haunting night she’s been doing everything to erase from her mind.
Tansy was only eighteen when they met. During their two years long whirlwind friendship, Tansy became moth to Selene’s flame, manipulated by her. Selene was twenty eight, eccentric, adventurous , carefree woman, a stripper in New Orleans, a speed freak in San Diego, money launderer in Seattle. Young and naive, creative writing student Tansy drawn to her hard edges and grit. Seeing her again gives her excitement but also fear,affection and repulsion.
Selene is at office about a student: 18 years old Jupiter. She’s also her daughter who filed restraining order against her after moving with her older law student boyfriend Colton.
What Selene wants from Tansy is intervening her daughter’s relationship by starting counseling sessions with her because she thinks her daughter is gaslighted by her abusive boyfriend and she cannot let him hurt her daughter.
Tansy tries to ignore Selene but she never stops, appearing at her house porch, waiting for her arrival, threatening to talk with the police about the incident they promised to carry to the grave. But now Selene insists she has nothing to lose. She wraps Tansy around her small finger as like the old times.
Even though she meets Selene’s charming brother Zach who warns her to stay out of their family drama, she does what Selene told her.
When Tansy starts counseling sessions with Jupiter, she realizes Jupiter is not happy, keeping secrets about relationship and as she learns more about Colton’s secrets, once again she finds herself in deeply trouble because of Selene.
Overall: it was not exciting, fast pacing, keeping your attention intact kind of mystery but abuse-dysfunctional family issues- mental health problems were well reflected and I liked the characterization and natural writing style as if you’re listening to the stories of the characters during your coffee chat with a friend.
I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 abusive relationships, motherhood, friendship stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
The analysis and development of the characters were well done. There is not much going on at first half of the book. We’re introduced both of the characters, getting glimpses from their haunted pasts including a terrible incident occurred 20 years ago during a harvest full moon party and its after effects. It’s centered between toxic relationship of two old friends and dysfunctional relationship of a mother and daughter.
Let me tell you more about the characters and how the things get escalated to get them into dangerous situation.
Tansy works as guidance counselor in school, leaving her music career and education behind when she hits late thirties, witnessing her ex is tying knot and having a baby with his new girlfriend. She has resentments for her miscarriage she’s had ten years ago, not chasing a different path in her life because she did something so bad two decades ago which still haunts her soul.
She has limited connections with people, seeing her ex Marius as her only friend and her brother who is happily married.
But now her oldest friend who made a really big favor to her at the past us about to knock her door,collecting on her debt. She finds Selene- the friend she left behind two decades ago after having a haunting night she’s been doing everything to erase from her mind.
Tansy was only eighteen when they met. During their two years long whirlwind friendship, Tansy became moth to Selene’s flame, manipulated by her. Selene was twenty eight, eccentric, adventurous , carefree woman, a stripper in New Orleans, a speed freak in San Diego, money launderer in Seattle. Young and naive, creative writing student Tansy drawn to her hard edges and grit. Seeing her again gives her excitement but also fear,affection and repulsion.
Selene is at office about a student: 18 years old Jupiter. She’s also her daughter who filed restraining order against her after moving with her older law student boyfriend Colton.
What Selene wants from Tansy is intervening her daughter’s relationship by starting counseling sessions with her because she thinks her daughter is gaslighted by her abusive boyfriend and she cannot let him hurt her daughter.
Tansy tries to ignore Selene but she never stops, appearing at her house porch, waiting for her arrival, threatening to talk with the police about the incident they promised to carry to the grave. But now Selene insists she has nothing to lose. She wraps Tansy around her small finger as like the old times.
Even though she meets Selene’s charming brother Zach who warns her to stay out of their family drama, she does what Selene told her.
When Tansy starts counseling sessions with Jupiter, she realizes Jupiter is not happy, keeping secrets about relationship and as she learns more about Colton’s secrets, once again she finds herself in deeply trouble because of Selene.
Overall: it was not exciting, fast pacing, keeping your attention intact kind of mystery but abuse-dysfunctional family issues- mental health problems were well reflected and I liked the characterization and natural writing style as if you’re listening to the stories of the characters during your coffee chat with a friend.
I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 abusive relationships, motherhood, friendship stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
March 8, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
An intriguing slow burn.
The last time Tansy saw her former BFF, Selene, was twenty years ago. They were complete opposites: Tansy was 10 years younger and naive. Selene was brassy, bold, and - quite frankly - a b...well, I’m sure you can assume! Tansy couldn’t handle having her in her life after Selene made her an accessory to a terrible crime.
Now, Tansy is a college guidance counselor. Who walks into her office? Selene. She’s still the 3 B’s...and she wants something from Tansy.
Selene’s daughter, Jupiter (Ugh...I hate that name), attends college there, and Selene thinks Jupiter’s boyfriend is abusive. She wants Tansy to intervene and convince Jupiter to dump him.
If Tansy doesn’t do as Selene wishes, a long held secret may be revealed that will destroy her life.
I really enjoyed this one, and I’m not quite sure why. It’s a slow burn through and through, and even though there are moments that steer away from the main plot thread (ex. a bit of romance), it completely worked for me. Granted, those moments all tie together at one point or another.
Not all the main characters should be likable, but I liked all of them. I felt that they were well written and interesting, so kudos to author Jody Gehrman.
Nothing terribly shocking happens, and this never explodes into a wild thriller...but the simmering and consistent suspense (along with my curiosity) made this a hard one to put down. I also very much enjoyed the ending, and thought that it was fitting. I wouldn’t have minded a few more chapters.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Gehrman’s last release, The Girls Weekend, and I didn’t have high expectations for this one. However, it really worked for me. Each point I made above was the perfect recipe, and I quite enjoyed this meal that Gehrman cooked up.
Right book at the right time? Only time will tell, but I look forward to reading whatever she comes out with next.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/8/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
An intriguing slow burn.
The last time Tansy saw her former BFF, Selene, was twenty years ago. They were complete opposites: Tansy was 10 years younger and naive. Selene was brassy, bold, and - quite frankly - a b...well, I’m sure you can assume! Tansy couldn’t handle having her in her life after Selene made her an accessory to a terrible crime.
Now, Tansy is a college guidance counselor. Who walks into her office? Selene. She’s still the 3 B’s...and she wants something from Tansy.
Selene’s daughter, Jupiter (Ugh...I hate that name), attends college there, and Selene thinks Jupiter’s boyfriend is abusive. She wants Tansy to intervene and convince Jupiter to dump him.
If Tansy doesn’t do as Selene wishes, a long held secret may be revealed that will destroy her life.
I really enjoyed this one, and I’m not quite sure why. It’s a slow burn through and through, and even though there are moments that steer away from the main plot thread (ex. a bit of romance), it completely worked for me. Granted, those moments all tie together at one point or another.
Not all the main characters should be likable, but I liked all of them. I felt that they were well written and interesting, so kudos to author Jody Gehrman.
Nothing terribly shocking happens, and this never explodes into a wild thriller...but the simmering and consistent suspense (along with my curiosity) made this a hard one to put down. I also very much enjoyed the ending, and thought that it was fitting. I wouldn’t have minded a few more chapters.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Gehrman’s last release, The Girls Weekend, and I didn’t have high expectations for this one. However, it really worked for me. Each point I made above was the perfect recipe, and I quite enjoyed this meal that Gehrman cooked up.
Right book at the right time? Only time will tell, but I look forward to reading whatever she comes out with next.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/8/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
February 16, 2022
Last year, I read and reviewed Gherman's The Girls Weekend and found it to be entertaining, but not entirely plausible. Overall, I feel like this book is a more solid offering, albeit still occasionally far fetched.
The novel is a slow burn, featuring Tansy, a college counselor, who is visited one day by Selene, an unhinged friend from her distant past with whom she shares a dark secret. Selene insists that Tansy help her to break up the relationship between Selene's 18-year-old daughter Jupiter and her boyfriend, who Selene insists is controlling and isolating her daughter. Tansy, because she's a bit scared of Selene revealing their secret to the world, decides to befriend Jupiter, but only to provide a safe space for Jupiter to talk.
There are a couple of things that surprised me throughout the book, and a twist or two that I didn't see coming. But I had difficulty getting past Tansy's paranoia that Selene would reveal their secret. Although the secret is dark, I couldn't find a way that it could ever be tied back to the two of them, regardless of what Selene might say.
I thought that the romance storyline and the subsequent sex scenes were filler and unnecessary to the plot, and also the throwaway scenes with Tansy's ex and his new flame. They really didn't add anything to the plot and were honestly a bit distracting. I like my thrillers filled with suspense and mystery, not all of this extra stuff.
I listened to the audiobook of this one, and the narrator Emily Ellet (who also narrated The Girls Weekend) did a great job of giving the characters distinct voices. I did have to speed up the narration because her regular speaking speed is quite languorous.
Overall, if you can get past the slow buildup and you have a tolerance for romance in your suspense novels, then you might like this one. The storyline is overall entertaining and kept me invested to see how everything would play out in the end. and I wasn't disappointed.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The novel is a slow burn, featuring Tansy, a college counselor, who is visited one day by Selene, an unhinged friend from her distant past with whom she shares a dark secret. Selene insists that Tansy help her to break up the relationship between Selene's 18-year-old daughter Jupiter and her boyfriend, who Selene insists is controlling and isolating her daughter. Tansy, because she's a bit scared of Selene revealing their secret to the world, decides to befriend Jupiter, but only to provide a safe space for Jupiter to talk.
There are a couple of things that surprised me throughout the book, and a twist or two that I didn't see coming. But I had difficulty getting past Tansy's paranoia that Selene would reveal their secret. Although the secret is dark, I couldn't find a way that it could ever be tied back to the two of them, regardless of what Selene might say.
I thought that the romance storyline and the subsequent sex scenes were filler and unnecessary to the plot, and also the throwaway scenes with Tansy's ex and his new flame. They really didn't add anything to the plot and were honestly a bit distracting. I like my thrillers filled with suspense and mystery, not all of this extra stuff.
I listened to the audiobook of this one, and the narrator Emily Ellet (who also narrated The Girls Weekend) did a great job of giving the characters distinct voices. I did have to speed up the narration because her regular speaking speed is quite languorous.
Overall, if you can get past the slow buildup and you have a tolerance for romance in your suspense novels, then you might like this one. The storyline is overall entertaining and kept me invested to see how everything would play out in the end. and I wasn't disappointed.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 19, 2021
Twenty years ago, Tansy fell under Selene’s charming and erratic spell, and they quickly became inseparable friends. After a shocking incident that ended up shattering their friendship, they ceased all contact with each other.
Now, Tansy is content working as an academic councillor at a small university and comfortably living on her ex-boyfriend’s property. Her quiet life gets disrupted again when one day Selene suddenly shows up with demands and threats if Tansy chooses not to help her. Eventually, Selene manipulates Tansy into aiding her, and their lives become entangled once again.
This suspenseful tale is slowly paced and told entirely from Tansy’s perspective.
Insta-love alert. And a steamy love scene. Both of which I could have done without. Readers who don’t mind insta-love/lust will probably enjoy it more than I did.
I would have liked for there to be more character development. Selene and Jupiter seemed like the most fleshed-out characters. The rest were mostly bland and lacked dimension.
In other places, I thought there was too much detail. I don’t care to read at length about people doing their business in bushes, nor the steps of brewing tea in the middle of a compelling conversation. But I’m probably nitpicking here.
The parts that kept my attention were the ones that included Jupiter, Selene’s daughter. I was very invested in how Jupiter would come out of it all.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy slower-paced suspenseful stories.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Now, Tansy is content working as an academic councillor at a small university and comfortably living on her ex-boyfriend’s property. Her quiet life gets disrupted again when one day Selene suddenly shows up with demands and threats if Tansy chooses not to help her. Eventually, Selene manipulates Tansy into aiding her, and their lives become entangled once again.
This suspenseful tale is slowly paced and told entirely from Tansy’s perspective.
Insta-love alert. And a steamy love scene. Both of which I could have done without. Readers who don’t mind insta-love/lust will probably enjoy it more than I did.
I would have liked for there to be more character development. Selene and Jupiter seemed like the most fleshed-out characters. The rest were mostly bland and lacked dimension.
In other places, I thought there was too much detail. I don’t care to read at length about people doing their business in bushes, nor the steps of brewing tea in the middle of a compelling conversation. But I’m probably nitpicking here.
The parts that kept my attention were the ones that included Jupiter, Selene’s daughter. I was very invested in how Jupiter would come out of it all.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy slower-paced suspenseful stories.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2021
A tangled web of suspense & surprise with a blend of psychological, twisted, mind-bending schemes.
The Summer We Buried will be a constant reminder and looking behind for the main character, Tansy. When Tansy's coverup with a frenemy twenty years ago comes to surface, you realize a serious crime was committed as the title suggests. Her partner in crime was Selene. Leaving her sins behind, she packed up and moved away from her.
When life begins to feel normal, Tansy's career as guidance counselor at the local university takes a turn, and the needle is threaded when Selena finds her. The web is spun with Selena and her vindictive ways resurfacing. When they were younger, Tansy was fascinated by her evil ways and fell into her web, but after the summer of the "sin" was buried, she wanted no part of her.
Selena's request comes with a coercive threat, help her daughter, Jupiter, a student at the university, get away from her abusive and controlling boyfriend or she will go to the police and report a murder that she was involved in and bring herself down in the process. Jupiter filed an Order of protection against her mom to keep her out of her life.
As Jupiter begins to open up about her abusive relationship, she goes in and out of the honeymoon phase diverting her sense of fear and pervading all elements of her life. Selena's brother, Zach, tries to help Tansy with the situation leading to a complicated relationship, but a supportive one.
This book has a lot of intriguing twists and lies that go unpunished, but well worth the read. There is a lot of coercive, tormenting relationships that society tries to normalize and a true picture of how some may not see the invisible chains.
My only drawback was the slow burn at the beginning and just when I thought it was going nowhere...the web begins and ends with some intricate ways to keep you going.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Summer We Buried will be a constant reminder and looking behind for the main character, Tansy. When Tansy's coverup with a frenemy twenty years ago comes to surface, you realize a serious crime was committed as the title suggests. Her partner in crime was Selene. Leaving her sins behind, she packed up and moved away from her.
When life begins to feel normal, Tansy's career as guidance counselor at the local university takes a turn, and the needle is threaded when Selena finds her. The web is spun with Selena and her vindictive ways resurfacing. When they were younger, Tansy was fascinated by her evil ways and fell into her web, but after the summer of the "sin" was buried, she wanted no part of her.
Selena's request comes with a coercive threat, help her daughter, Jupiter, a student at the university, get away from her abusive and controlling boyfriend or she will go to the police and report a murder that she was involved in and bring herself down in the process. Jupiter filed an Order of protection against her mom to keep her out of her life.
As Jupiter begins to open up about her abusive relationship, she goes in and out of the honeymoon phase diverting her sense of fear and pervading all elements of her life. Selena's brother, Zach, tries to help Tansy with the situation leading to a complicated relationship, but a supportive one.
This book has a lot of intriguing twists and lies that go unpunished, but well worth the read. There is a lot of coercive, tormenting relationships that society tries to normalize and a true picture of how some may not see the invisible chains.
My only drawback was the slow burn at the beginning and just when I thought it was going nowhere...the web begins and ends with some intricate ways to keep you going.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 24, 2022
EXCERPT: Her neck muscles tense. 'This is non-negotiable. You're doing it.'
'Or what?' I can't keep the goading note from my voice. She thinks I'm still eighteen years old, in awe of her. Well, I'm not. She doesn't hold all the cards anymore, and I'm not the insecure little girl I was when she learned to push me around.
She leans back, suddenly calm. Her throat relaxes, the taut wires smoothing to a gentle curve. 'I'm this close to bringing us both down, Tansy.'
We stare at one another, her eyes shining with a dare.
I put my wine on the table. 'What are you saying?'
'I'll go to the cops if I have to.' She tightens her grip on her glass, knuckles going white. 'I'll tell them everything.'
My pulse skyrockets again. I shake my head, like I can negate what she just said. 'You wouldn't do that. You would lose everything, more than-'
'I have nothing to lose.' She spits the words out with such venom, I flinch. With an impatient toss, she throws back the rest of her wine. 'And a woman with nothing to lose is the most dangerous thing in the world.'
ABOUT 'THE SUMMER WE BURIED': Twenty years ago, Tansy was drawn to Selene’s hard edges, her grit, and her knack for survival. Since then, the confused tangle of guilt about covering up a murder shattered their friendship, and even now, at thirty-eight, Tansy has never come to terms with what happened that night.
But now, Selene is back, demanding her old friend repay her. Selene’s daughter, Jupiter, attends the college where Tansy works as a guidance counselor. Selene is convinced that Jupiter’s boyfriend, Colton, is abusive, and wants Tansy to intervene. As she is drawn back into the intensity of Selene’s world, Tansy discovers the ugly truth about Colton. But Tansy suspects there’s far more to the story, and now she’ll finally have to confront Selene once and for all.
MY THOUGHTS: A slow burn mystery that becomes more action based in the latter stages.
I liked, but didn't love, The Summer we Buried by Jody Gehrman. This is a story of a mother/daughter relationship, friendship and secrets. There are lots of secrets that worm their way out of the woodwork in this novel. I didn't always find them particularly believable.
Selene is one of those people best admired from afar. Get pulled into her orbit and you'll get burned. Having said that she did save Tansy from a terrible situation, resulting in a secret that must be kept. But now Selene is back in Tansy's life making demands and issuing threats. Emotionally unstable doesn't even begin to describe Selene's personality.
I really liked Jupiter's character, although there could be a bit more of her mother in her than is initially apparent.
Tansy? *sigh* I just don't know what to think about Tansy. I wanted to like her, but . . .
I think the romance was inevitable, but the sex scene felt like it had been transported from some teenage bodice ripper and adds nothing good to the plot.
The Summer we Buried is a quick and easy read. It's dramatic, and it probably would have made close to 4 stars except for two stupid errors. I suggest that if you intend reading The Summer we Buried, you skip my spoiler until after you've read the book.
⭐⭐⭐
#TheSummerWeBuried #NetGalley
I: @jodygehrman @crookedlanebooks
T: @jodygehrman @crookedlanebks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery #romance
THE AUTHOR: Jody Gehrman is a native of Northern California, where she can be found writing, teaching, reading, or obsessing over her three cats most days. She is also the author of eleven novels and numerous award-winning plays. She is a professor of Communication at Mendocino College.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Summer We Buried by Jody Gehrman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
The Summer We Buried is available in hardcover, Kindle and audiobook formats.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Or what?' I can't keep the goading note from my voice. She thinks I'm still eighteen years old, in awe of her. Well, I'm not. She doesn't hold all the cards anymore, and I'm not the insecure little girl I was when she learned to push me around.
She leans back, suddenly calm. Her throat relaxes, the taut wires smoothing to a gentle curve. 'I'm this close to bringing us both down, Tansy.'
We stare at one another, her eyes shining with a dare.
I put my wine on the table. 'What are you saying?'
'I'll go to the cops if I have to.' She tightens her grip on her glass, knuckles going white. 'I'll tell them everything.'
My pulse skyrockets again. I shake my head, like I can negate what she just said. 'You wouldn't do that. You would lose everything, more than-'
'I have nothing to lose.' She spits the words out with such venom, I flinch. With an impatient toss, she throws back the rest of her wine. 'And a woman with nothing to lose is the most dangerous thing in the world.'
ABOUT 'THE SUMMER WE BURIED': Twenty years ago, Tansy was drawn to Selene’s hard edges, her grit, and her knack for survival. Since then, the confused tangle of guilt about covering up a murder shattered their friendship, and even now, at thirty-eight, Tansy has never come to terms with what happened that night.
But now, Selene is back, demanding her old friend repay her. Selene’s daughter, Jupiter, attends the college where Tansy works as a guidance counselor. Selene is convinced that Jupiter’s boyfriend, Colton, is abusive, and wants Tansy to intervene. As she is drawn back into the intensity of Selene’s world, Tansy discovers the ugly truth about Colton. But Tansy suspects there’s far more to the story, and now she’ll finally have to confront Selene once and for all.
MY THOUGHTS: A slow burn mystery that becomes more action based in the latter stages.
I liked, but didn't love, The Summer we Buried by Jody Gehrman. This is a story of a mother/daughter relationship, friendship and secrets. There are lots of secrets that worm their way out of the woodwork in this novel. I didn't always find them particularly believable.
Selene is one of those people best admired from afar. Get pulled into her orbit and you'll get burned. Having said that she did save Tansy from a terrible situation, resulting in a secret that must be kept. But now Selene is back in Tansy's life making demands and issuing threats. Emotionally unstable doesn't even begin to describe Selene's personality.
I really liked Jupiter's character, although there could be a bit more of her mother in her than is initially apparent.
Tansy? *sigh* I just don't know what to think about Tansy. I wanted to like her, but . . .
I think the romance was inevitable, but the sex scene felt like it had been transported from some teenage bodice ripper and adds nothing good to the plot.
The Summer we Buried is a quick and easy read. It's dramatic, and it probably would have made close to 4 stars except for two stupid errors. I suggest that if you intend reading The Summer we Buried, you skip my spoiler until after you've read the book.
⭐⭐⭐
#TheSummerWeBuried #NetGalley
I: @jodygehrman @crookedlanebooks
T: @jodygehrman @crookedlanebks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery #romance
THE AUTHOR: Jody Gehrman is a native of Northern California, where she can be found writing, teaching, reading, or obsessing over her three cats most days. She is also the author of eleven novels and numerous award-winning plays. She is a professor of Communication at Mendocino College.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Summer We Buried by Jody Gehrman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
The Summer We Buried is available in hardcover, Kindle and audiobook formats.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 26, 2021
Last year, I read my first book by author Jody Gehrman, and when her latest, The Summer We Buried, became available on NetGalley, I requested it. Thankfully, the publisher awarded me a copy, and it made it to the top of my queue this week. I was a little worried after reading some of the initial reviews... not that they were bad but they weren't amazing either. That said, I dove in and found myself immediately hooked on the story.
Tansy and Selene were friends 18 years ago. Something bad happened. We don't know what it was, and they stopped speaking to one another. Until today. Selene shows up on Tansy's doorstep and demands the woman do something to help her daughter. Tansy is shocked... that meant Selene was pregnant when they last saw each other but never said anything. Who's the father? And how did Tansy never hear of Selene's younger brother... a hot man with a protective hold over his niece. Tansy is blackmailed into helping the young girl, Jupiter, who might be in an abusive relationship. What falls out among them all over a three to four week period is intense!
Truly, the plot is enigmatic and intriguing. I found myself thinking it was such a basic story to begin with, but Gehrman adds layers of complexity with unraveling the past, lying to Jupiter about who knew whom before she was born... and when Tansy's ex's new girlfriend gets involved, the story seems ripe for a chaotic climax. Which we do get in an off-written scene, and the subsequent drama is thrilling. I kinda guessed the truth about what happened, but it doesn't make the plot any less stronger. I found myself eager to pick this up all day on the weekend, and I highly recommend it for the way in which the story is told. Definitely drawing me to read the author's earlier works now too.
Tansy and Selene were friends 18 years ago. Something bad happened. We don't know what it was, and they stopped speaking to one another. Until today. Selene shows up on Tansy's doorstep and demands the woman do something to help her daughter. Tansy is shocked... that meant Selene was pregnant when they last saw each other but never said anything. Who's the father? And how did Tansy never hear of Selene's younger brother... a hot man with a protective hold over his niece. Tansy is blackmailed into helping the young girl, Jupiter, who might be in an abusive relationship. What falls out among them all over a three to four week period is intense!
Truly, the plot is enigmatic and intriguing. I found myself thinking it was such a basic story to begin with, but Gehrman adds layers of complexity with unraveling the past, lying to Jupiter about who knew whom before she was born... and when Tansy's ex's new girlfriend gets involved, the story seems ripe for a chaotic climax. Which we do get in an off-written scene, and the subsequent drama is thrilling. I kinda guessed the truth about what happened, but it doesn't make the plot any less stronger. I found myself eager to pick this up all day on the weekend, and I highly recommend it for the way in which the story is told. Definitely drawing me to read the author's earlier works now too.
March 9, 2022
This one dragged for a good portion of the book before it picked up. I was expecting an enthralling thriller and got a slow, slow burn mystery. The narrator did a great job and did well taking on multiple characters. I did not like the explicit sex scene at all. It got a lot better towards the end as the plot twist unfolded and the story wrapped up.
Tansy and Selene were a mismatched pair of best friends. After a horrible incident during a harvest moon party, their friendship was never the same and they haven’t spoken since. Twenty years later, Selene shows up on the doorstep of Tansy’s office stating that she owes her for what she did twenty years ago. She demands Tansy help her daughter Jupiter because Selene fears that she is in involved in an abusive relationship. No one would know better than Tansy how to help her.
Tansy agrees and finds herself caught in the middle of major dysfunctional family drama as she deals with the secrets she believed were long buried. When push comes to shove who will Tansy protect?
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Tansy and Selene were a mismatched pair of best friends. After a horrible incident during a harvest moon party, their friendship was never the same and they haven’t spoken since. Twenty years later, Selene shows up on the doorstep of Tansy’s office stating that she owes her for what she did twenty years ago. She demands Tansy help her daughter Jupiter because Selene fears that she is in involved in an abusive relationship. No one would know better than Tansy how to help her.
Tansy agrees and finds herself caught in the middle of major dysfunctional family drama as she deals with the secrets she believed were long buried. When push comes to shove who will Tansy protect?
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
February 28, 2022
Tansy Elliot, a 38yr old college guidance counselor, gets a surprise visit from ex-friend Selene Rathbone—whom she hasn’t seen in eighteen years (& for good reason!) Selene has come to collect on a debt. Her daughter Jupiter is a student there, and she wants Tansy to talk Jupiter into leaving her (supposed) abusive boyfriend. Tansy refuses, so Selene threatens to expose what they did eighteen years earlier.
And so begins a trip down the rabbit hole of Tansy and Selene’s shattered past, and finding the truth about Jupiter and Colton’s relationship.
About—friendship, unexpected romance, the relationships between complex characters, strained family dynamics, manipulation.. and MURDER. YES.. Selene was a total mess, but the love she felt for her daughter was undeniable.
Jody Gehrman writes such compelling character driven stories that she’s become an auto buy for me. It’s a good one!
*Much thanks to Crooked Lane Books for kindly approving an arc! All opinions are my own.
And so begins a trip down the rabbit hole of Tansy and Selene’s shattered past, and finding the truth about Jupiter and Colton’s relationship.
About—friendship, unexpected romance, the relationships between complex characters, strained family dynamics, manipulation.. and MURDER. YES.. Selene was a total mess, but the love she felt for her daughter was undeniable.
Jody Gehrman writes such compelling character driven stories that she’s become an auto buy for me. It’s a good one!
*Much thanks to Crooked Lane Books for kindly approving an arc! All opinions are my own.
August 3, 2021
This book was a slow burn (maybe too slow) in the beginning but picked up pace during the 2nd half. It centers on Tansy, who is a college guidance counselor with a small circle of friends when her best friend from 20 years ago reaches out to her to help get her daughter away from an abusive boyfriend. Selene and Tansy share a secret that ripped apart their friendship all those years ago, and Selene isn't afraid to throw that back in Tansy's face to get what she needs from her. Tansy doesn't want to get involved, but when she meets Selene's daughter, Jupiter, they form an immediate bond and she finds herself drawn into the web Selene created.
It was a little tough to get a read on these characters in the beginning, but through the flashbacks and Tansy's evolving relationships with Selene's family, the picture is formed, and by the end of the book I could fully empathize with Tansy and her difficult relationship with Selene. I thought I saw the ending coming, but the author threw me for a loop when it all came together, and I thought the culmination of the story was haunting.
There was a sex scene I could do without-- but the romance piece of the book was a small part overall (although any is too much for me :)).
All in all, this was a good book and I enjoyed it once I got passed the first 3rd or so. It's a unique read and I'm glad I kept going after the slow start. I'd give it 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It was a little tough to get a read on these characters in the beginning, but through the flashbacks and Tansy's evolving relationships with Selene's family, the picture is formed, and by the end of the book I could fully empathize with Tansy and her difficult relationship with Selene. I thought I saw the ending coming, but the author threw me for a loop when it all came together, and I thought the culmination of the story was haunting.
There was a sex scene I could do without-- but the romance piece of the book was a small part overall (although any is too much for me :)).
All in all, this was a good book and I enjoyed it once I got passed the first 3rd or so. It's a unique read and I'm glad I kept going after the slow start. I'd give it 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2021
This is more a mystery than a thriller. Tansy has a quiet life, but soon, all this will be shattered by Selene. What happened 20 years back?
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author of this book.
March 28, 2022
I didn’t connect with the storyline or the characters. Tansy’s desperation for Selene’s approval was baffling given their toxic history. Their big secret wasn’t explosive enough to warrant Tansy’s loyalty. The constant mentions of song titles and singers became irritating to me. And I’m hoping to quickly forget the quote, “she’ll shred me like a tiger pouncing on a child.” Ummm ….. 😬😲😦
December 15, 2021
I enjoyed this book although it wasn’t as much of a thriller as I was expecting from the description. I will say the first half of the book moved pretty slowly and I found myself turning to other things, but about halfway things picked up quite a bit and I finished it quickly. The writing was good and while none of the characters were completely likable they did all feel real.
Tansy is currently a guidance counselor at a university and her life is pretty stable. One day her old friend Selene uses a fake name to make an appointment with her. Tansy is shocked because while they were friends a long time ago there was a traumatic incident that occurred and she cut Selene out of her life. Selene references being “owed” and asks Tansy to violate all of her professional ethics by talking to Selene’s 18 year old daughter and get her to break up with her possibly abusive boyfriend. Tansy makes plenty of ethically questionable decisions throughout this story which as someone who has been a therapist and social worker did bug me a bit.
Tansy is currently a guidance counselor at a university and her life is pretty stable. One day her old friend Selene uses a fake name to make an appointment with her. Tansy is shocked because while they were friends a long time ago there was a traumatic incident that occurred and she cut Selene out of her life. Selene references being “owed” and asks Tansy to violate all of her professional ethics by talking to Selene’s 18 year old daughter and get her to break up with her possibly abusive boyfriend. Tansy makes plenty of ethically questionable decisions throughout this story which as someone who has been a therapist and social worker did bug me a bit.
March 1, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Summer We Buried was filled with so much mystery. Seriously, I had no idea who to trust when it came to this family. Well, okay, I did trust one person but that's because our main character needed some love. As for everyone else? Well, I just waited for things to come out - like all their secrets.
In this, you will meet Tansy. She is just skating on through life until a blast from her past shows up. So, when that certain somebody is asking for a repayment, she just has to say yes. Selene was a very complicated person, but she would do anything and everything to help out her daughter. The main concern for her was her daughter's abusive boyfriend. Tansy was very hesitant to help her out but decided she needed to do so but on her own terms.
Things moved pretty slowly throughout this, but the pages just kept flying. It was definitely a slow burn kind of mystery that kept you on the edge of your seat. I was not prepared one freaking bit for all the reveals to come my way. Especially when we were inching closer to the last page of the book.
In the end, this was so freaking good and I'm so happy that I got the opportunity to read this. Definitely got me in the mystery mood and I can't wait for Jody's next book.
The Summer We Buried was filled with so much mystery. Seriously, I had no idea who to trust when it came to this family. Well, okay, I did trust one person but that's because our main character needed some love. As for everyone else? Well, I just waited for things to come out - like all their secrets.
In this, you will meet Tansy. She is just skating on through life until a blast from her past shows up. So, when that certain somebody is asking for a repayment, she just has to say yes. Selene was a very complicated person, but she would do anything and everything to help out her daughter. The main concern for her was her daughter's abusive boyfriend. Tansy was very hesitant to help her out but decided she needed to do so but on her own terms.
Things moved pretty slowly throughout this, but the pages just kept flying. It was definitely a slow burn kind of mystery that kept you on the edge of your seat. I was not prepared one freaking bit for all the reveals to come my way. Especially when we were inching closer to the last page of the book.
In the end, this was so freaking good and I'm so happy that I got the opportunity to read this. Definitely got me in the mystery mood and I can't wait for Jody's next book.
March 8, 2022
A multi-published author of different genres, Jody Gehrman’s latest standalone suspense thriller is The Summer We Buried. A college counsellor has a surprise visit from an old friend who demands her owed favour is repaid. Tansy and Selene were best friends twenty years ago, but a shared tragedy caused them to go their separate ways. Tansy is drawn back into Selene’s manipulative behaviour, and drama ensues but now others are placed in danger. An enjoyable psychological tale with slow burning tension, mounting intensity and interesting character dynamics. Omitting the ’year later’ chapter with its shmaltzy sentiment would have made it even better, but nonetheless a three-and-a-half-star rating. With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given, without bias.
November 5, 2021
My thanks to Jody Gehrman, Crooked Lane books and Netgalley. I finally quit this book at 50% The characters were asinine. What? They act like they're still in high school or college. Grow up!
Read
June 5, 2023Full of dark secrets and surprising twists, The Summer We Buried is an intriguing thriller/drama about broken friendships and family love. A slow burn that intricately winds the suspense tighter through flashbacks to the past, with themes of mental and physical abusive cleverly wound in. Gripping and beautifully written.
January 10, 2023
One of my absolute favorite genres is the FULT (aka Fucked-Up Lady Thriller), and since this is my friend Nenia's fave as well, we often end up with the same books, or we scramble to acquire a book so we can buddy read and text all our thoughts. And get mad if there's not enough smut >:D
Anyway, this didn't quite meet my expectations, given the cover and summary on the flap. There were several reveals, but most of the action happened off page, and I kept expecting some big twist to come roaring in at some point. Most of this book was just the four main players having conversations. As such, this felt like a book about connections and healing, with a few dead bodies thrown in for spice, rather than a true thriller. Also, these people didn't behave like normal people. Their choices had me scratching my head more than once.
I didn't dislike this, but it didn't have me flying through it either.
Anyway, this didn't quite meet my expectations, given the cover and summary on the flap. There were several reveals, but most of the action happened off page, and I kept expecting some big twist to come roaring in at some point. Most of this book was just the four main players having conversations. As such, this felt like a book about connections and healing, with a few dead bodies thrown in for spice, rather than a true thriller. Also, these people didn't behave like normal people. Their choices had me scratching my head more than once.
I didn't dislike this, but it didn't have me flying through it either.
April 4, 2022
This was so bad that I'm a little offended.
This sounded like a fun summer thriller but it was an unrealistic soap opera.
There really weren't any twists and the "summer they buried" was a complete flop. Nothing to blackmail anyone with.
Most of it was just the main character dating the old friend's brother and getting to know the old friend's daughter who's in an abusive relationship.
This was just a flop altogether.
This sounded like a fun summer thriller but it was an unrealistic soap opera.
There really weren't any twists and the "summer they buried" was a complete flop. Nothing to blackmail anyone with.
Most of it was just the main character dating the old friend's brother and getting to know the old friend's daughter who's in an abusive relationship.
This was just a flop altogether.
March 5, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.
I really liked this book. It had a unique plot. It was a little far fetched, but if you can suspend some disbelief, it's worth it.
Tansy and Selene were best friends once upon a time. One night, something unthinkable happens which changes Tansy's life forever. Fast forward almost twenty years and Selene reappears in Tansy's life looking for a favor. After that, a very complex story of lies and secrets unfolds.
I'm going to go ahead and recommend skipping the audiobook and read the print version. I was not a fan of the narrator at all. I wish I would have read this one instead of listening to it. All in all, this was a solid 3.5 stars. I'd recommend it to friends.
I really liked this book. It had a unique plot. It was a little far fetched, but if you can suspend some disbelief, it's worth it.
Tansy and Selene were best friends once upon a time. One night, something unthinkable happens which changes Tansy's life forever. Fast forward almost twenty years and Selene reappears in Tansy's life looking for a favor. After that, a very complex story of lies and secrets unfolds.
I'm going to go ahead and recommend skipping the audiobook and read the print version. I was not a fan of the narrator at all. I wish I would have read this one instead of listening to it. All in all, this was a solid 3.5 stars. I'd recommend it to friends.
July 22, 2022
I decided to read this after seeing a couple of friends raving reviews. I listened to it on audiobook and overall it was a great book full of suspense. The authors prose was catchy and it made me become fully invested. For me, this was a non-gorish type thriller.
TW: rape and suicide; however, neither was triggering for me as it wasn’t in depth.
TW: rape and suicide; however, neither was triggering for me as it wasn’t in depth.
July 2, 2024
Book Blog | Bookstagram
This is one of those novels where the characters do so many stupid things, one right after the other, consecutively in a row, that eventually, as a reader, you either go along with it because you’ve gotten in too deep or you DNF. I went along with it.
Twenty years ago, Tansy and Selene, BFFs 4 Eva, got into some deep shit that ended with them covering up a murder. In present day, Selene and Tansy are back together and up to their old wacky, criminal hijinks, even though Tansy wants nothing to do with it. Despite that, she ends up having quite a lot to do with it.
Selene’s daughter, Jupiter, attends the same college where Tansy is a councillor. Convinced Jupiter’s boyfriend is abusive and isolating her daughter, derailing her future, Selene begs Tansy to violate her professional ethics by intervening on the sly. What follows is a friendship so toxic and baffling as to how it ever existed in the first place, that I found Tansy’s desperate, unexamined need for Selene’s approval and attention to be endlessly annoying. I didn’t find The Big Secret so explosive that it would have compelled me to do anything that Tansy did.
This is a slow burn that moved at a glacial pace, with an unnecessary sex scene and histrionic drama filled to the fucking brim. But, there’s something about Gehrman’s writing that kept me turning the pages.
Was I disappointed overall? Kind of. Was I entertained enough to stick it out to the end? Apparently. The ending was such a massive cheesefest though.
The vibe for this one:
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded down
Book source: NetGalley in exchange for a review
This is one of those novels where the characters do so many stupid things, one right after the other, consecutively in a row, that eventually, as a reader, you either go along with it because you’ve gotten in too deep or you DNF. I went along with it.
Twenty years ago, Tansy and Selene, BFFs 4 Eva, got into some deep shit that ended with them covering up a murder. In present day, Selene and Tansy are back together and up to their old wacky, criminal hijinks, even though Tansy wants nothing to do with it. Despite that, she ends up having quite a lot to do with it.
Selene’s daughter, Jupiter, attends the same college where Tansy is a councillor. Convinced Jupiter’s boyfriend is abusive and isolating her daughter, derailing her future, Selene begs Tansy to violate her professional ethics by intervening on the sly. What follows is a friendship so toxic and baffling as to how it ever existed in the first place, that I found Tansy’s desperate, unexamined need for Selene’s approval and attention to be endlessly annoying. I didn’t find The Big Secret so explosive that it would have compelled me to do anything that Tansy did.
This is a slow burn that moved at a glacial pace, with an unnecessary sex scene and histrionic drama filled to the fucking brim. But, there’s something about Gehrman’s writing that kept me turning the pages.
Was I disappointed overall? Kind of. Was I entertained enough to stick it out to the end? Apparently. The ending was such a massive cheesefest though.
The vibe for this one:
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded down
Book source: NetGalley in exchange for a review
February 25, 2022
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the narrator of this book and how she transitioned seamlessly between male and female characters. The writing was phenomenal and kept me entertained and listening for hours on end. I will say there were less twists than I was expecting as the story runs pretty smoothly from point A to B, but I was still captivated and would love to read more work from this author. I would recommend to anyone looking for a light thriller with nothing too graphic or vulgar.
I really enjoyed the narrator of this book and how she transitioned seamlessly between male and female characters. The writing was phenomenal and kept me entertained and listening for hours on end. I will say there were less twists than I was expecting as the story runs pretty smoothly from point A to B, but I was still captivated and would love to read more work from this author. I would recommend to anyone looking for a light thriller with nothing too graphic or vulgar.
February 25, 2022
Tansy hasn’t seen Selene in 20 years. They used to be the best of friends, but after a big fall-out, they went their separate ways. Out of nowhere, Selene shows up in Tansy’s office demanding that she help Selene’s daughter, who she fears is in a toxic and abusive relationship. After all, Tansy owes her for what Selene did for her so many years ago. Tansy finds herself tangled in Rathbone family drama and is deemed “keeper of Rathbone secrets.” Are these secrets too much to keep? And when things turn deadly, who will she protect?
This book was well written, and I enjoyed it very much. For me, it felt more like a women’s fiction novel instead of thriller. There was murder involved and some mystery, which added to my entertainment. In the end, the feelings of happiness, friendship, and love were at the forefront of how the book made me feel. Overall, a very good read, but not one that really “thrills.”
I listened to this as an audiobook and enjoyed the narrator, Emily Ellet. She did an excellent job in changing the tone of her voice to represent the different characters. Great performance.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jody Gehrman for allowing me to listen to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was well written, and I enjoyed it very much. For me, it felt more like a women’s fiction novel instead of thriller. There was murder involved and some mystery, which added to my entertainment. In the end, the feelings of happiness, friendship, and love were at the forefront of how the book made me feel. Overall, a very good read, but not one that really “thrills.”
I listened to this as an audiobook and enjoyed the narrator, Emily Ellet. She did an excellent job in changing the tone of her voice to represent the different characters. Great performance.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jody Gehrman for allowing me to listen to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 17, 2021
When Tansy was 18 years old she became close friends with Selene. Selene was tough and had street smarts, something Tansy admired. Their friendship later ended with a scandalous murder cover up! 20 years later Tansy and Selene meet again. Selene has a daughter attending the same college that Tansy works at. Selene wants to draw Tansy back into her life by insisting that her daughter’s boyfriend is abusing her and she wants Tansy to help. Will Tansy get drawn back into Selene’s world?
I would describe THE SUMMER WE BURIED as a slow burn psychological thriller. Toxic relationships are on full display here, which makes for some very interesting content! I found this to be a very entertaining read.
TW - Abusive Relationships, Sexual Assault
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I would describe THE SUMMER WE BURIED as a slow burn psychological thriller. Toxic relationships are on full display here, which makes for some very interesting content! I found this to be a very entertaining read.
TW - Abusive Relationships, Sexual Assault
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
August 14, 2022
I enjoyed buddy reading this with my booksta bestie @thelittlereadingmermaid! I have had this for a while and new it was time when she got a copy!
This is my first read by Jody Gehrman. I will say she has a very wonderful talent of writing some complexed, twisted, and dark relationships between characters. I loved how the secrets that the characters kept from the past ended up coming back around in an almost full circle type of way. It was believable and realistic as well. It is a slow burn style mystery with a ton of atmosphere, but it does keep your attention! There were several twists I did not see coming and I really liked the ending! It’s rare for a thriller to have a “happy ending” and it was nice that this one sort of had some clarity and resolution.
There are some trigger warnings here so proceed with caution when reading. There are some scenes of domestic violence and rape that are pretty raw. My heart broke for Jupiter. I loved the past and present POVs from Tansy. It helped keep me interested and drawn in. Selene is a pretty despicable character, but she does have some underlining redeeming qualities which I empathized with at times.
I don’t feel like this got enough attention on booksta!? It was super entertaining and a quick read. Perfect for buddy reading!
This is my first read by Jody Gehrman. I will say she has a very wonderful talent of writing some complexed, twisted, and dark relationships between characters. I loved how the secrets that the characters kept from the past ended up coming back around in an almost full circle type of way. It was believable and realistic as well. It is a slow burn style mystery with a ton of atmosphere, but it does keep your attention! There were several twists I did not see coming and I really liked the ending! It’s rare for a thriller to have a “happy ending” and it was nice that this one sort of had some clarity and resolution.
There are some trigger warnings here so proceed with caution when reading. There are some scenes of domestic violence and rape that are pretty raw. My heart broke for Jupiter. I loved the past and present POVs from Tansy. It helped keep me interested and drawn in. Selene is a pretty despicable character, but she does have some underlining redeeming qualities which I empathized with at times.
I don’t feel like this got enough attention on booksta!? It was super entertaining and a quick read. Perfect for buddy reading!
February 26, 2022
This was a slowly paced but suspenseful story! It explored some incredibly toxic relationships and the darker side of friendships which was quite captivating.
I found the general plot to be pretty intriguing and enjoyed the flashbacks between past and present. While some may view it as unnecessary in thrillers, I did enjoy the side romance storyline in this one!
Overall this one wasn’t truly mind blowing but I found it entertaining and was invested throughout!
3.5 rounded to 4 for goodreads
I found the general plot to be pretty intriguing and enjoyed the flashbacks between past and present. While some may view it as unnecessary in thrillers, I did enjoy the side romance storyline in this one!
Overall this one wasn’t truly mind blowing but I found it entertaining and was invested throughout!
3.5 rounded to 4 for goodreads
April 28, 2022
I picked this book due to the title and the dark cover. The story is a romantic suspense which I used to read frequently. After reading so many thrillers, I'm wondering if I have outgrown the other genre. The ending was different. I can't say more or I'll spoil it but I was satisfied.
March 3, 2022
3.5 ⭐ rounded up
Tansy and Selene have a history together that involves a dark secret. Now 20 years later Selene is back and wants Tansy, a school counselor, to talk to her 18 year old daughter, Juniper, who she thinks is being abused by her boyfriend, Colton.
As Tansy tries to help Juniper she grows close to her uncle, Zach. Zach doesn't trust his own sister and urges Tansy to keep her distance.
Selene is very manipulative and rather annoying.
Zach was a delight.
Some chapters were awfully long ~ like one chapter was over an hour listen - how many pages does that equate to? Geez.
I am wondering if I missed something because I am not sure why Tansy's ex-husband was introduced into the story. I can't figure out what that bit added to the story.
Emily was an excellent narrator nearly nailing every character. I listened at 2x and it was the perfect speed.
I am happy with how everything played out in the end. This was my first time with this author and I'd probably give her a go again.
*Thanks to Netgally, Dreamscape Media and Jody Gehrman for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Tansy and Selene have a history together that involves a dark secret. Now 20 years later Selene is back and wants Tansy, a school counselor, to talk to her 18 year old daughter, Juniper, who she thinks is being abused by her boyfriend, Colton.
As Tansy tries to help Juniper she grows close to her uncle, Zach. Zach doesn't trust his own sister and urges Tansy to keep her distance.
Selene is very manipulative and rather annoying.
Zach was a delight.
Some chapters were awfully long ~ like one chapter was over an hour listen - how many pages does that equate to? Geez.
I am wondering if I missed something because I am not sure why Tansy's ex-husband was introduced into the story. I can't figure out what that bit added to the story.
Emily was an excellent narrator nearly nailing every character. I listened at 2x and it was the perfect speed.
I am happy with how everything played out in the end. This was my first time with this author and I'd probably give her a go again.
*Thanks to Netgally, Dreamscape Media and Jody Gehrman for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
March 8, 2022
THE SUMMER WE BURIED is my third book (Watch Me and The Girls Weekend) by the talented author Jody Gehrman —a gripping, chilling psychological thriller and one of my favorites of hers.
Tansy Elliot is a guidance counselor at the Valley of the Moon University in Sonoma, CA. Tansy has a secretive life in the evenings, and not even her live-in boyfriend has any idea about her past.
Twenty years earlier, when she was just a teen, a horrific traumatic experience that she keeps hidden involving an older girl which was problematic and alluring. She has never dealt with the trauma.
However, her past comes to life when enigmatic Selene Rathbone shows up in her office - the only person who knows about the horrific crime. Not a person she wants to see.
Selene's daughter is in an abusive relationship and there is a restraining order. Her daughter, Jupiter is a student at the university. The abusive boyfriend, Colton Blake is dangerous.
Tansy does not want to get involved but agrees to have a conversation with her to see if she can find out about any abuse. Serene was older than Tansy and controlling and she appears to be still pulling the strings. She does not follow rules and has led a dangerous life.
Serene's brother, Zach (professor) gets involved with Serene and a romantic relationship develops. They both have to deal with Serene and now Jupiter's complicated life. He warns her against falling into Serene's trap again, but then Serene knows too much and could run Tansy's life.
No matter Serene's background, she is a fierce mother bear and wants to protect her daughter, leading us to the finale which I thought wrapped up nicely.
The author writes of complex characters and highly charged topics. Mental health, domestic, abusive, and toxic relationships, bullying, obsession, friendship, and motherhood. For fans of domestic suspense.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Emily Ellet and she delivered an engaging performance for all the character voices.
A special thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced audiobook copy.
Blog Review Posted @ www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Pub Date: 08 March 2022
Tansy Elliot is a guidance counselor at the Valley of the Moon University in Sonoma, CA. Tansy has a secretive life in the evenings, and not even her live-in boyfriend has any idea about her past.
Twenty years earlier, when she was just a teen, a horrific traumatic experience that she keeps hidden involving an older girl which was problematic and alluring. She has never dealt with the trauma.
However, her past comes to life when enigmatic Selene Rathbone shows up in her office - the only person who knows about the horrific crime. Not a person she wants to see.
Selene's daughter is in an abusive relationship and there is a restraining order. Her daughter, Jupiter is a student at the university. The abusive boyfriend, Colton Blake is dangerous.
Tansy does not want to get involved but agrees to have a conversation with her to see if she can find out about any abuse. Serene was older than Tansy and controlling and she appears to be still pulling the strings. She does not follow rules and has led a dangerous life.
Serene's brother, Zach (professor) gets involved with Serene and a romantic relationship develops. They both have to deal with Serene and now Jupiter's complicated life. He warns her against falling into Serene's trap again, but then Serene knows too much and could run Tansy's life.
No matter Serene's background, she is a fierce mother bear and wants to protect her daughter, leading us to the finale which I thought wrapped up nicely.
The author writes of complex characters and highly charged topics. Mental health, domestic, abusive, and toxic relationships, bullying, obsession, friendship, and motherhood. For fans of domestic suspense.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Emily Ellet and she delivered an engaging performance for all the character voices.
A special thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced audiobook copy.
Blog Review Posted @ www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Pub Date: 08 March 2022
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews