This book was a family study as well as a little bit of a thriller. The family dynamics were a little different than the normal since the mom spent a good portion of the year away from home with her horse while the dad cared for their disabled daughter. Secrets from the past were slowly revealed. Marriage and forgiveness are a huge part of this book as the past and present come into focus.#thesummerwelosther #netgalley

The Summer We Lost Her is a familiar (realizations for spouses come before and after their child goes missing) story but stands out for its its outstanding writing and main female character, Elise, who is astonishingly well drawn. It's rare for a main character who is a mother to not be defined throughout a women's fiction title by that, but Elise is a woman who has forged her own path and I found her love of (and commitment to) dressage (and a possible Olympic future) fascinating. Normally, you see mcs "wrestle" with their choice of what they love for about a chapter or three before it disappears, but here it *matters.* It's a refreshing and very welcome change, and The Summer We Lost Her is definitely a good choice for fans of Caroline Leavitt or of Jodi Picoult.

I love all things by this author. I have always bee pleases with the plot and the thrill of the next page. Thank you for approving this title for me. Keep them coming

Matt and Elise's daughter disappears while at their summer house they're up there to sell. During her disappearance they are forced to face their relationship, and their lives now. The book is not fast paced like other mysteries, so if you enjoy a slow burn this is for you.

Elise Sorenson is driven. She's been working years to make it to the big time Olympics in her dressage event. Her sport keeps her away from home, her husband and daughter, and when she misses her daughter's play prior to a vacation trip to reconnect and sell her husband's family cabin in Lake Placid, all the cracks in their relationship start to widen.

Matt Sorenson is tired. He's been taking care of their daughter Gracie while Elise is training and competing. He's footed the bill for her sport, which is considerable and now has a chance to have his own career success if he can come up with the 150K required for being a partner. He needs the money from the cabin sale to secure his partnership. One problem though -- Elise comes closer to her dream than she's ever been, needing the extra cash from the sale to fund her next competition and so Matt sees his dreams go up in smoke again. He frustrated and wants his wife back...that is until he meets his Lake Placid neighbor Cass, the girl he lost his virginity to way back when. She's sown her wild oats and is now back home, ready and waiting to help Matt with whatever he needs. (wink wink, nudge nudge)

The first half of this book is a bit slow and gets into the heads of Matt and Elise. It's a portrait of a marriage in trouble but Elise doesn't see it until Cass shows her that she has no problem breaking up their marriage. When Gracie goes missing, all the cracks in Matt and Elise's relationship turn to breaks and a very bad time is made worse.

I really liked how this book portrayed the gradual breaking of the relationship. It didn't just happen in one big moment -- their estrangement grows bit by bit until Matt decides he can't take anymore. If only they could talk to each other, but as anyone in a relationship knows, that sometimes becomes impossible.

Elise is focused on getting her daughter back, while Matt totally loses the focus he's had on being a supportive father and husband. There are things from both their past that they must resolve first. Matt finds out some seriously nasty stuff about his revered grandfather and in the process starts to find his heart again. It's Elise's willingness to move beyond her past that opens a door to finding her daughter.

Overall, I enjoyed this story in spite of a slow pace and lots of internal monologue.There was a good bit of tension, especially after Gracie disappears. I liked Elise and Matt together -- I think they had a good relationship that was strained for obvious reasons. I would have liked to have had more about their recovery from their sins of omission and Matt's dalliance with Cass, but I did appreciate that they found their way back to what was important to them.

This was a new author for me and I'd read more of her work. I liked The Summer We Lost Her. It was a quick read and it hit all the right notes for me. Recommended if you are looking for a bit of thriller and a study of a marriage in trouble.

An ARC was provided for review.

When the Sorenson’s plan a two week getaway to work on their struggling marriage, things suddenly take a turn for the worse when their daughter goes missing without a trace. Will this tragedy break them completely or will it ultimately bring them closer together? A compelling, fast paced family drama of give and take and searching for what really matters most.

I am very sorry to report I am not able to write a positive review on this book. I found myself becoming impatient for the story to begin. It seemed that the buildup to the story lasted over half the book. I also found I was not able to to connect to the characters. I am not sure why that bothered me - but it did. I think it is always great that people can do what is in their heart... but not at the expense of their children.

When love blinds you to the truth, and your past comes back to haunt your present, there’s no telling what nightmare will unfurl. Cohen sets up a detailed canvas of a strong, whole family, until the chips and cracks start to show, and reality is not as varnished as you thought.
The characters are compelling in their individual lives and in their relationships, which are unique and yet mesh together graciously. Cohen’s writing is clever and witty, and the plot is varied and deep. Themes of mistakes and forgiveness are woven heavily throughout, yet the stress of the sinister events may be enough to snap even the strongest hold.
Great summer read, and Cohen has now landed on my top author’s list.

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.

A Family Haunted by Mistakes in the Present – and in the Past

The Sorenson’s need money. Matt, a lawyer, has been offered a partnership in his law firm, but he’ll have to buy in. Elise dreams of being an Olympic Equestrienne, but the expense of the horse and her competitive travel are a burden on the family. Gracie, their daughter, has special needs due to an accident Elise suffered before her birth.

Their big asset is a cabin on Lake Placid left to Matt by his grandfather Nate. Nate brought him up and Matt has pangs about selling the cabin. However, he is ready to do what he must for his family. They head to Lake Placid for the summer to enjoy the cabin one last time and to come together as a family after all Elise’s travel.

But things go awry. Nate has secrets that Matt didn’t know about, and half way through the summer Gracie goes missing. Plus Matt’s high school sweetheart lives next door and is too available.

The scenes of Lake Placid are enticing. I also enjoyed the characters. Matt was a favorite. He’s a super dad, having to fill in for Elise, who is pursuing her dreams. Elise is much harder to like, but you have to admire her for trying to reach the peak of her profession.

This is primarily a story of a family in transition. There is a mystery about what happens to Gracie, but her disappearance doesn’t happen until about half way through the book. Until that point the story explores the problems in Elise and Matt’s relationship. If you want a fast paced mystery, this is not it. However, if you enjoy a psychological study of a family, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

The Summer We Lost Her is a story about sacrifice, secrets, resentment, regrets, priorities, dreams, reconciliation and love.

Elise and Matt Sorenson are a couple trying to reconnect for a few weeks in Matt's grandfather's cabin in Lake Placid, NY. Matt, a Manhatten lawyer, has always been supportive of Elise's dream of being in the Olympics as an equestrian dressage rider, but her continual absences from home training for or riding in events to further her goal have stressed their marriage to the breaking point.

Due to Elise's absence, Matt is a mostly single parent to their young daughter Gracie. Right before he leaves for vacation, Matt is offered a partnership in his law firm, but his boss has made it clear that it will mean longer hours. Having always wanted another child and with this offer before him, Matt thinks it may be time to change the dynamics of their marriage and plans to discuss it with Elise during their time at the lake.

Meanwhile, Elise chooses to stay with her troubled horse rather than catch the flight home in time to see her daughter's school play. Before she arrives at the cabin, she gets a phone call telling her that her bold choice in the most recent competition places her firmly on the road to the Olympics, but she will need to cut the time with her family short to continue training. She is excited to share her good news with Matt.

When Elise arrives at the cabin at 2 AM, she finds two wineglasses in the sink, one with lipstick on it. During their first morning together, Elise learns that Matt's old high-school girlfriend and her son are in the cabin right next to theirs. This couple has a lot to discuss!!

Before they can begin to talk things out, their daughter, Gracie goes missing.

This novel is a bit of a slow burner. I had issues with egocentric Elise (as I'm sure the author intended), and found it hard to understand Matt's waiting so long to speak up for Gracie and himself.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

My Kindle read this book to me with VoiceView Screen reader. I had to “backup” a couple times just to make sure I didn’t miss something. This is a good one, and yes, it does remind me of Jodi Picoult’s books.
This is a very well told drama of Elise, Matt, Grace, Nate and the voluptuous Cass, (the ex-girlfriend from many years ago). I loved the way this story was told, by character, it switches back and forth between present happenings and past events. You have to pay attention though, sometimes it switches pretty quick.
I was raised with horses and completely understood Elise’s love for Indie and Poppins, but this was my first introduction to dressage, I had to google it to find out more. Elise was quite the horse rider, in the beginning I felt like she was completely selfish and self-absorbed, but when you learn her whole story, she was a brave, devoted, dedicated woman. Gracie was a charmer; you can’t help but fall in love with her and her “rocks or stuffed animals”. This family certainly had its struggles and had made many sacrifices in the past few years, but this author does a wonderful job of making it so enjoyable to ride along with them thru this series of events. The entire scenario is believable, bit disappointed in the police investigative abilities, but it was a small town and if they were better, it would have ruined the story.
If you want a great drama that keeps your interest from start to finish, pick this one up. It will be well worth your time and the ending was great!!!!
This one gets 5*****’s. I was given an advanced copy from Threshold, Pocket Books and Net Galley for my honest review.

Matt Sorenson juggles being a lawyer in Manhattan and busy father to daughter Grace while his wife, Elise, is an equestrian working toward her dream of competing in the Olympics. With money tight and their relationship strained from so much time apart, the family heads to Matt’s family cabin in the Adirondacks - unfortunately to prepare to sell. While there, Grace mysteriously disappears and days begin to pass with no clues to where she may be or who may have taken her ...

I wanted to like this book. I really did. There was just something that didn’t quite click for me. The characters were interesting at times, but I never truly connected with them. The plot and pace of the story felt slow to me, with key events taking too long to be introduced. The writing was solid, but did not particularly stand out. And the ending was anticlimactic.

Just my opinion ... perhaps this will work better for someone else. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the gifted advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions here are completely my own. The Summer We Lost Her will be out on June 4, 2019.

I knew from the title this book would be a tear jerker. What I didn’t expect was an excellent, raw, intimate portrait of a family trying to navigate their stressful lives. Told from the point of view of both husband and wife this story is beautifully written and heart wrenching. Ultimately emotional and uplifting this book was impossible to put down.

I struggled with how to rate this one. For me, it was just okay. I read it fairly quickly, but it felt like I was waiting for something more to happen and it ended up falling flat for me. I felt like things were wrapped up too quickly as well.

I downloaded this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily sharing my honest review. My opinion is not influenced in any way.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

this story starts off slow but builds up. family of three vacationing, an old flame shows up there... daughter goes missing.. it has all the factors to make it a great read.

i guess it just fell a LITTLE short for me. i'd say recommend it to anyone that likes thrillers.

A slow story about a husband and wife growing apart. Elise is totally immersed in her career of training to become an Olympic dressage contender and is away from home a lot. Her husband Matt is busy with his law practice and tending to their eight year old daughter, Gracie. Their marriage is slowing becoming unraveled when the family travels to prepare Matt's grandfather's property to list. Throw in a sexy former girlfriend, townspeople making weird remarks and a daughter gone missing and this book becomes a recipe for disaster.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. The Summer We Lost Her by Tish Cohen follows a family of three over the course of one summer in the Adirondacks. Matt, Elise, and their daughter Gracie head to an inherited (from Matt’s family) cabin in order to make repairs and put up for sale. The side story is that during the year it’s mostly Matt and Gracie because Elise is a champion Dressage rider with eyes set on the upcoming Olympic Games. Although Matt has always supported Elise, the life of a somewhat “single”parent is beginning to take its toll. As Matt and Gracie arrive at the cabin Matt’s first love ends up living next door, which only adds added conflict. Elise arrives and immediately begins stressing about a number of issues. She misses her family during her leaves, but Dressage is her passion-and she’s really good at it! Amongst the somewhat internal strifes of each character, Gracie goes missing one morning. Truly a parent’s worst nightmare. As the search begins, Matt and Elise doubt themselves as well as place blame in different places. There is much more to this story, but you need to read it to find out. Cohen’s writing flows and has such an authentic quality. To anyone who has ever struggled with keeping a personal indentity while also being a parent and or spouse-this story will ring true on many levels. I highly recommend.

The Summer We Lost Her by Tish Cohen is the story of Matt and Elise Sorenson who spend the summer fixing up the family cabin for sale as they struggle to keep their lives together while praising their own career ambitions. Elise Sorenson is an equestrian with Olympic dreams. Matt is offered a partnership with his law firm. It is evident that they both are madly in love with each other and they adore their daughter, Gracie. However, they seem to be slowly growing apart. As they struggle to find a way to pursue their goals while remaining a family, tragedy strikes, and Gracie goes missing. Will they find Gracie safe and sound? Will they be able to bring their lives back together?
The Summer We Lost Her was a hard book to finish. I didn’t care for the characters especially Elise. It was hard to sympathize with her as she struggles with her dreams and her role as wife and mother. The first half was very slow as I was waiting for the drama of Gracie’s disappearance and the search for her. The second half seemed way too fast. The resolution to the story was a bit of a letdown and the overall feel of the story was uneven. At the end, I felt nothing for these characters: no sadness, no sympathy, no tears. I do not recommend The Summer We Lost Her.

The Summer We Lost Her
will be available June 4, 2019
in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Elise loves horses and rides so well she has earned a possible spot in the Olympics. Her dream come true. Elise's husband has been very supportive of her but he bears the brunt of being a successful lawyer as well as both mother and father to Grace. Things change when Elise, Matt and Grace go to the cabin where Matt grew up to get the cabin ready to sell. Matt's high school girlfriend lives next door and uses this opportunity to drive a wedge between Matt and Elise. Problems compound when Grace goes missing. Elise's estranged father appears at the cabin to help and their relationship begins to grow. Matt believes his grandfather was beloved in their little community but as he talks with the long time residents of the town, he learns his grandfather only had is interests at heart. The characters are rich and the problems are very real. I felt that I was a part of the community.