Thank you to Negalley and Jody Gehrman for letting me read this early.

The Summer We Buried, follows two friends, Tansy and Selene who twenty-years ago covered up a murder. Now twenty years later, Selene returns demanding Tansy's help in proving that her daughter's boyfriend is abusive.

Tansy, now in her late thirties, is working as a guidance counselor at the school. She grapples with her past and hearing that her ex is getting married and having a baby with his new girlfriend. She blames this all on the horrible thing she did twenty-years ago that still haunts her soul.

She limits her social interactions when suddenly her only friend Selene comes to collect her debt. Tansy was only eighteen-years old when she met Selene. .Selene had no trouble manipulating Tansy back then and so manipulating her now should be a piece of cake.

Selene comes to Tansy as a result of a restraining order placed against her by her daughter, Jupiter.

Selene requests that Tansy meet with Jupiter in counseling sessions to find out if her boyfriend Colton is gaslighting and abusing her.

Once Tansy begins meeting with Jupiter she discovers very quickly that she isn't happy and the more she discovers about Colton the deeper in trouble she becomes.

Overall, I enjoyed the story-line and the character development. I also appreciated how the author handled topics of family trauma/issues, mental health and abuse. It was a quick read for me and I would definitely recommend this book to someone else.

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. This was a great thriller, my first introduction to this author. Selene returns and wants repayment and nothing is going to get in her way. I liked all the characters in this book and thought the plot was strong and kept me turning the pages. I would recommend this book and I will definitely read more now from Jody Gehrman.

Love this author so much! I was sorry excited for this one and flew through it. Awesome thriller, kept me interested and guessing till the end! Thank you so much I would definitely recommend to any thriller lover!

Crooked Lane Books y'all are seriously the best publisher ever! I just love the books y'all publish!
So Thank You a ton for the chance to read this amazing book!

The Summer We Buried by Jody Gehrman...... WoW! And this is why my favorite genre is thriller/mystery.
This is more of a slow burn book! But nonetheless a great read!
These characters are flaws in a dysfunctional family! And that is what ultimately pulled me in!
The writing couldn't have been done any better! Her writing was done very well and this is one I very much enjoyed.
I will be looking out for more of Jodys work!

Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Author for this amazing story!

I received an advance copy of, The Summer We Buried, by Jody Gehrman. I could not connect with the characters in this book. Other people might like this book, but not me.

I really liked the premise of this book, and found I liked the characters too. They were flawed and acted stupidly, though not just for plot purposes, but because its human nature. I guessed a lot of what was going to happen, and that took away from any shock factors, but overall a good book!

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.

This book was interesting. Pulled me in to the story made me want to read untill I got to the last page. Would recommend to people 5*****

A good girl is drawn to a bad girl, their differences are both frightening and exciting, and Tansy couldn’t stay away from her friend, Selene. Until they are both forced into a conspiracy of silence about a shocking murder. It’s been twenty years since Tansy saw her old friend, but now Selene is back and she wants Tansy’s help proving that her daughter, Jupiter, who attends the school where Tansy is a guidance counselor, has an abusive boyfriend. As Tansy probes into Jupiter’s boyfriend’s life, the ugly truth she uncovers has more to do with Selene than it does with the boyfriend. Twisty and atmospheric