Finding Grace - by Maren Cooper (Paperback)

About the Book

When Caroline, a gifted ornithologist who wants a life of travel and adventure, gets pregnant against her wishes, her husband, Chuck, assumes she will change her mind. She doesn't--and as their daughter, Grace, grows up, she falls through the devastating schism that grows between them.

Book Synopsis

When Caroline, a gifted ornithologist who wants a life of travel and adventure, gets pregnant against her wishes, her husband, Chuck, assumes she will change her mind. She doesn't-and as their daughter, Grace, grows up, she falls through the devastating schism that grows between them.

Review Quotes

2023 IPPY Awards Bronze Medalist in Great Lakes - Best Regional Fiction
2022 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women's Fiction

"Over the course of this often heartbreaking novel, Cooper delves into a number of disturbing themes, such as mental illness, guilt, and personal ambition. Her characterizations of the three major characters are raw and realistic, and her story ably navigates the complexities of a dysfunctional family. . . . An effective exploration of one family's complicated troubles."
-Kirkus Reviews

"In Maren Cooper's character-driven novel Finding Grace, a family secret leads to ruptures and reconciliations."
-Foreword Clarion Reviews

"Emotionally charged and written exceptionally well, author Maren Cooper created a perfect atmosphere and a solid plot. . . . I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves emotionally charged stories with substance!"
--Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

"Finding Grace is a novel that anyone who has raised a child can embrace--the chronicle of a parent's search for what he's afraid might be lost forever. It's a gut-wrenching tale yet told with immense compassion and a true voice. Although it doles out its share of anguish, it is, in the end, a stunning portrait of courage. Maren Cooper offers readers a story for our time, with all its complexities and challenges, a journey that never waivers from the path toward hope and redemption."
--William Kent Krueger, New York Times best-selling author of This Tender Land

"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. 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

About the Author

Maren Cooper is the author of A Better Next (She Writes Press, 2019) and Finding Grace (She Writes Press, 2022). She retreats frequently to the shore of Lake Superior, where she loves to hike and watch the deer devour her hosta. She grew up in the Midwest and now resides in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she serves as a volunteer for various nonprofits.