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.

This is one of my favorite types of books, a family drama without promising to be the "thriller of the year".  The characters were developed well and I think they were be polarizing.  I've read some reviews that couldn't stand Elise and some that couldn't stand Matt.  I firmly sit in the anti-Matt camp, but regardless I love that a novel can read so differently and evoke so many emotions.  I think this would be a great book club selection because there are so many things that could be discussed.  This was a solid 4.5 stars for me.  My only issues were I think edits could have been made to the middle so I could have had a more drawn out ending.  It just came so fast, I wanted a little more resolution and accountability.  It's hard to talk about a book like this because I don't want to give anything away, but I think this book is definitely worth a try.

         * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *