Finding Grace

“Finding Grace is a riveting dive into the heartache and terror that parents experience dealing with a child who lapses into mental illness during adolescence. It's a keen portrayal of the ways in which childhood trauma shapes lives. The novel also provides an intense portrayal of the conflict between independence and love; Caroline, who becomes a world-famous ornithologist, is such an independent woman that she refuses to mother her daughter, Grace, whereas her husband, Charlie, a high school biology teacher in Two Harbors, Minnesota, devotedly cares for Grace essentially on his own. As in the proverb that it takes a village to raise a child, Charlie finds that he has a community behind him. An added attraction is Maren Cooper’s wonderfully evocative descriptions of Lake Superior in all its moods and seasons.”

—Ames Sheldon, author of Eleanor’s Wars, Don’t Put the Boats Away, and Lemons in the Garden of Love

“Finding Grace is a heartrending story of a father's unconditional love for his daughter, the strength of that bond over time and distance, and the fortitude of a community to band together in difficult times. Maren Cooper skillfully leads her readers through a labyrinth of love, hope, commitment, and the complexity of relationships. This is an emotional must-read that will make you feel sad, happy, grateful, and hopeful.” 

—Allen Eskens, author of The Life We Bury

“Finding Grace will ring true for any parent who has shepherded a child through the perils of mental illness. Filled with flawed but genuine characters, Cooper's tale delves into the complex mix of devotion, despair, fear, and hope inherent in unconditional love. A book that will linger in your heart long after you turn the final page.” 

—Susan Ritz, author of A Dream to Die For

“Cold mothers and troubled children. A father’s desperate wish for vital and lasting connections. The peculiar, senseless decision-making of teens who are hurting. Second chances at love. The essence of community. These are the themes in Maren Cooper’s Finding Grace. Set on the shores of Minnesota’s Lake Superior country, the novel’s beautiful descriptions of the harsh beauty in the outside world perfectly frame the complex inner worlds of the central characters. This is a poignant story of enduring love's victory over disappointment and trauma.” 

—Barbara Stark-Nemon, author of Even in Darkness and Hard Cider

“When you start to read Finding Grace, be prepared for a gripping and heart wrenching story about a daughter raised by a narcissistic mother and enabling father. Maren Cooper pulls together the psychological dynamics that hit the nail on the head, page by page, and reveals the intense trauma and effects of narcissistic parenting. I couldn’t stop turning those pages. Intense and brilliant!”

—Karyl McBride, PhD, psychotherapist and author of Will I Ever Be Good Enough? and Will I Ever Be Free of You?

“Finding Grace is utterly absorbing, heart-wrenching, and beautiful—a tribute to a father's love and a daughter's journey. Grace is lost and then found, with every twist in her story bringing new heartbreak and hope. The characters are fully-fledged and relatable; the emotions deep and true. I loved this book! Great for fans of Jodi Picoult and Emily Giffin.”

—Jane Elizabeth Hughes, author of A Spy's Wife and The Long-Lost Jules