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The Search Angel
As the owner of the upscale children’s boutique Pretty Baby, Eleanor Sweet is surrounded by gleaming strollers, organic cotton onesies and round-bellied expectant mothers. It’s a serene atmosphere of new beginnings but for the sounds of punk and funk coming from the graffiti-splattered new record shop next door and Eleanor’s fierce desire for a baby of her own. Her wish for a child is finally granted in the form of Lily, an abandoned baby en route from Korea. But Eleanor’s husband unexpectedly backs out, and the adoption is at risk.
Orphaned as a young woman herself and determined to give Lily the family she deserves, Eleanor hires Isabelle, a search angel, to find her own birth mother. What Eleanor discovers about love and family isn’t what she expects but gives a new understanding of what it means to be a mother.
Praise for The Search Angel
“In The Search Angel, Tish Cohen explores how the things one desires most are often linked inextricably to our pasts. Eleanor Sweet’s pursuit of adoption and the search for her own birth parents is told with compassion, humour, and intelligence—all the ingredients you look for in the best of books.” � Catherine McKenzie, author of Hidden
“The Search Angel is not only beautifully written and populated with achingly real characters, it also strikes a delicate balance between incisive humour and the sadness and joy that are the inevitable by-product of love.” � Susan Juby, author of The Woefield Poultry Collective
“The Search Angel is a page-turner. I could not put it down, and those are the only clich�s you will read with regards to this book. Eleanor, an adoptee in the process of getting her own child, a feisty "search angel" who helps find Eleanor find her birth mother and a depressed Great Dane are just some of the rich characters that you will be glad you invited into your home. A funny, sad, touching and original story that shouldn't be missed. Why are you wasting time reading this blurb? Read The Search Angel. You'll be glad you did.” � Colin Mochrie, actor and comedian
“Move over Jodi Picoult”—The Globe and Mail.
Orphaned as a young woman herself and determined to give Lily the family she deserves, Eleanor hires Isabelle, a search angel, to find her own birth mother. What Eleanor discovers about love and family isn’t what she expects but gives a new understanding of what it means to be a mother.
Praise for The Search Angel
“In The Search Angel, Tish Cohen explores how the things one desires most are often linked inextricably to our pasts. Eleanor Sweet’s pursuit of adoption and the search for her own birth parents is told with compassion, humour, and intelligence—all the ingredients you look for in the best of books.” � Catherine McKenzie, author of Hidden
“The Search Angel is not only beautifully written and populated with achingly real characters, it also strikes a delicate balance between incisive humour and the sadness and joy that are the inevitable by-product of love.” � Susan Juby, author of The Woefield Poultry Collective
“The Search Angel is a page-turner. I could not put it down, and those are the only clich�s you will read with regards to this book. Eleanor, an adoptee in the process of getting her own child, a feisty "search angel" who helps find Eleanor find her birth mother and a depressed Great Dane are just some of the rich characters that you will be glad you invited into your home. A funny, sad, touching and original story that shouldn't be missed. Why are you wasting time reading this blurb? Read The Search Angel. You'll be glad you did.” � Colin Mochrie, actor and comedian
“Move over Jodi Picoult”—The Globe and Mail.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2013
49 people are currently reading
2280 people want to read
About the author
Tish Cohen
13 books258 followers"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
Anais Nin quote from Oprah's website inspired Tish Cohen to write her first adult novel.
Tish Cohen is the author of TOWN HOUSE, a 2008 finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize – Best First Book Award (Canada and Caribbean region), and in development as a feature film with Fox 2000. Ridley Scott’s Scott Free is producing and John Carney, the award-winning, critically acclaimed director of ONCE is directing. TOWN HOUSE was released to massive media interest in Canada and has been published in Italy and will soon be released in Germany.
Cohen has also written the middle-grade novels THE INVISIBLE RULES OF ZOE LAMA, and its sequel THE ONE AND ONLY ZOE LAMA
Cohen has contributed articles to some of Canada’s largest newspapers, including The Globe and Mail and The National Post. Having grown up in Los Angeles, Orange County and Montreal, Cohen now calls Toronto home. INSIDE OUT GIRL is Cohen’s second novel for adults.
Anais Nin quote from Oprah's website inspired Tish Cohen to write her first adult novel.
Tish Cohen is the author of TOWN HOUSE, a 2008 finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize – Best First Book Award (Canada and Caribbean region), and in development as a feature film with Fox 2000. Ridley Scott’s Scott Free is producing and John Carney, the award-winning, critically acclaimed director of ONCE is directing. TOWN HOUSE was released to massive media interest in Canada and has been published in Italy and will soon be released in Germany.
Cohen has also written the middle-grade novels THE INVISIBLE RULES OF ZOE LAMA, and its sequel THE ONE AND ONLY ZOE LAMA
Cohen has contributed articles to some of Canada’s largest newspapers, including The Globe and Mail and The National Post. Having grown up in Los Angeles, Orange County and Montreal, Cohen now calls Toronto home. INSIDE OUT GIRL is Cohen’s second novel for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
November 9, 2014
In The Search Angel, Tish Cohen explores how the things one desires most are often linked inextricably to our pasts. Eleanor Sweet’s pursuit of adoption and the search for her own birth parents is told with compassion, humour, and intelligence—all the ingredients you look for in the best of books.
July 16, 2014
Warm and fuzzy with substance. The characters and the story had plenty of seriousness, but were related in a light way, with lots of good, gentle humour that brought them to life.
Aside from the occasional too-tidy plot point (i.e. a certain foreshadowed event occurring at exactly the moment when it would evoke the most drama), I felt that Cohen never did me the disservice of resorting to cliches. Nor did she steer so far clear of them that all my expectations and hopes for characters were doomed to be dashed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, and while I did occasionally need to put it down -- in order to accomplish things like preparing food for my family, or working for a living -- it was a difficult separation every time.
Aside from the occasional too-tidy plot point (i.e. a certain foreshadowed event occurring at exactly the moment when it would evoke the most drama), I felt that Cohen never did me the disservice of resorting to cliches. Nor did she steer so far clear of them that all my expectations and hopes for characters were doomed to be dashed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, and while I did occasionally need to put it down -- in order to accomplish things like preparing food for my family, or working for a living -- it was a difficult separation every time.
May 12, 2013
I needed a fluffy read this weekend, and The Search Angel met that need exactly. Light, sappy, and a quick read.
May 18, 2019
3 stars. This book had its charm and quirkiness, but at times Cohen had too many side storylines to really make it a great book. This story centres around Eleanor Sweet, a successful business owner of Pretty Baby, an upscale children’s boutique. The only thing missing from her life is a baby of her own. Her and her husband are all set to adopt a baby girl, but as the day nears, Jonathan backs out of the deal, leaving Eleanor to tread these waters on her own. At the same time, Eleanor ( who was also adopted), decides to seek out the services of a “search angel” to try and locate her own birth mother. Enter Isabelle~ search angel extraordinaire. This is where the story starts to go sideways- I think these two storylines were too big to fit into one book. Eleanor just simply has too much to deal with, making it difficult for the reader.
Cohen is a good writer, but this one just wasn’t great.
Cohen is a good writer, but this one just wasn’t great.
July 25, 2013
Story Description:
HarperCollins Publishers|May 27, 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-1-44341-082-3
Bestselling author Tish Cohen returns with a story of one woman’s love for her child and the courage it gives her to face her biggest fear.
As the owner of the upscale children’s boutique Pretty Baby, Eleanor Sweet is surrounded by gleaming strollers, organic cotton onesies and roundbellied expectant mothers. It’s a serene atmosphere of new beginnings –but for the graffiti-splattered record shop next door and Eleanor’s fierce desire for a baby of her own. Her wish is finally granted in the form of Sylvie, an orphaned baby en route from earthquake – stricken Baja California. But when Eleanor’s husband unexpectedly gets cold feet and backs out, her dream of adopting Sylvie is at risk.
Adopted herself, Eleanor has always been reluctant to search out her birth mother, afraid of what she might find. But she is determined to save the adoption and give Sylvie the family she deserves. Eleanor hires Isabelle, a search angel, to find her birth mother. What Eleanor discovers about love and family isn’t what she expects, but it gives her a new understanding of what it means to be a mother.
My Review:
Eleanor Sweet and her emergency room physician husband, Jonathan are in the process of adopting Sylvie. A little baby left without a mother after a devastating earthquake in Baja California. The morning they are getting ready to hop into the taxi cab to head to the airport to pick up their baby girl, Jonathan backs out of the deal. By the time Eleanor finishes arguing with Jonathan the taxi has gone and they’re going to miss their plane.
Jonathan decides this isn’t what he wants and he doesn’t just mean adopting a baby, he’s also not sure he wants the marriage anymore. He ends up moving out and leaves Eleanor on her own.
Eleanor isn’t worried about supporting herself as she owns the best baby product store in the country called “Pretty Baby”, an upscale children’s boutique. She sells the most scrumptious children’s and baby things ever described and while reading I could picture the inside of that store in my mind’s eye, perfectly.
After much thought and not willing to give up on her dream of becoming a mother, Eleanor hires a “Search Angel”, Isabelle, to help her find her own birth mother. Eleanor herself was adopted. Isabelle is a real character unto herself and you’ll get a million laughs at her quirkiness.
The woman at the adoption agency, Nancy, has Eleanor attend some additional classes and has her fill out some extra paperwork now that she is adopting a single Mom rather than a family and all goes well.
Isabelle begins the search for Eleanor’s birth mother but she doesn’t exactly find what she was expecting. I guess we all build up various scenarios in our minds about how things will go and how they will turn out and time and again we’re disappointed. At least it wasn’t a total bust for Eleanor. Although she was hoping to learn about families and love she was disappointed on that front but she did learn what it means to be a mother.
The Search Angel was a beautiful, feel-good story that every woman should read. Whether you’re in the process of adopting, having your own children, or even not having any children at all, you should read this lovely story anyway. It’ll just make you feel good.
HarperCollins Publishers|May 27, 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-1-44341-082-3
Bestselling author Tish Cohen returns with a story of one woman’s love for her child and the courage it gives her to face her biggest fear.
As the owner of the upscale children’s boutique Pretty Baby, Eleanor Sweet is surrounded by gleaming strollers, organic cotton onesies and roundbellied expectant mothers. It’s a serene atmosphere of new beginnings –but for the graffiti-splattered record shop next door and Eleanor’s fierce desire for a baby of her own. Her wish is finally granted in the form of Sylvie, an orphaned baby en route from earthquake – stricken Baja California. But when Eleanor’s husband unexpectedly gets cold feet and backs out, her dream of adopting Sylvie is at risk.
Adopted herself, Eleanor has always been reluctant to search out her birth mother, afraid of what she might find. But she is determined to save the adoption and give Sylvie the family she deserves. Eleanor hires Isabelle, a search angel, to find her birth mother. What Eleanor discovers about love and family isn’t what she expects, but it gives her a new understanding of what it means to be a mother.
My Review:
Eleanor Sweet and her emergency room physician husband, Jonathan are in the process of adopting Sylvie. A little baby left without a mother after a devastating earthquake in Baja California. The morning they are getting ready to hop into the taxi cab to head to the airport to pick up their baby girl, Jonathan backs out of the deal. By the time Eleanor finishes arguing with Jonathan the taxi has gone and they’re going to miss their plane.
Jonathan decides this isn’t what he wants and he doesn’t just mean adopting a baby, he’s also not sure he wants the marriage anymore. He ends up moving out and leaves Eleanor on her own.
Eleanor isn’t worried about supporting herself as she owns the best baby product store in the country called “Pretty Baby”, an upscale children’s boutique. She sells the most scrumptious children’s and baby things ever described and while reading I could picture the inside of that store in my mind’s eye, perfectly.
After much thought and not willing to give up on her dream of becoming a mother, Eleanor hires a “Search Angel”, Isabelle, to help her find her own birth mother. Eleanor herself was adopted. Isabelle is a real character unto herself and you’ll get a million laughs at her quirkiness.
The woman at the adoption agency, Nancy, has Eleanor attend some additional classes and has her fill out some extra paperwork now that she is adopting a single Mom rather than a family and all goes well.
Isabelle begins the search for Eleanor’s birth mother but she doesn’t exactly find what she was expecting. I guess we all build up various scenarios in our minds about how things will go and how they will turn out and time and again we’re disappointed. At least it wasn’t a total bust for Eleanor. Although she was hoping to learn about families and love she was disappointed on that front but she did learn what it means to be a mother.
The Search Angel was a beautiful, feel-good story that every woman should read. Whether you’re in the process of adopting, having your own children, or even not having any children at all, you should read this lovely story anyway. It’ll just make you feel good.
July 1, 2013
Quirky characters. Humorous writing. A quick, light, nice read.
October 23, 2022
Tish Cohen’s novel made me rethink some of my preconceived ideas surrounding adoption, in particular the guilt and the feeling of shame that many mother’s carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Eleanor Sweet, owner of an upscale baby boutique, and her husband are in the final process of adopting when he decides he simply can’t do it and forces Eleanor to make a decision. An adoptee herself, Eleanor decides she must carry on with the adoption and provide orphaned Sylvie with a home and family. Eleanor has always been reluctant to search for her birth mother but the current circumstances compel her to hire Isabelle, a Search Angel, to find her birth mother.
Eleanor Sweet, owner of an upscale baby boutique, and her husband are in the final process of adopting when he decides he simply can’t do it and forces Eleanor to make a decision. An adoptee herself, Eleanor decides she must carry on with the adoption and provide orphaned Sylvie with a home and family. Eleanor has always been reluctant to search for her birth mother but the current circumstances compel her to hire Isabelle, a Search Angel, to find her birth mother.
July 17, 2025
I did it! Another book, this month, that I made it through with just my eyes! This says a lot about the book in so few words! 🫶🏻
June 17, 2018
True rating - 3.5 stars
March 5, 2014
When I was five years old, my best friend found out that she was adopted. I didn’t fully appreciate what adopted meant at the time, or understand why it was so important to my friend, but the word did seem to carry a lot of weight. I remember noting that my friend was very curious about where she came from. Now that I am all grown up, I know what adopted means, but it wasn’t until after I read The Search Angel by Tish Cohen, that I felt as though I better understood the complex emotions that are involved in adoption—for the biological parent, the adoptive parent, and the child.
In The Search Angel, Eleanor Sweet experiences adoption from every angle. Eleanor is unable to conceive and yearns for a baby of her own. After a long process, Eleanor and her husband are finally approved for an adoption, and their new baby Sylvie is ready and waiting. But Eleanor’s life is turned upside down when her husband suddenly gets cold feet and wants to back out of the adoption. Eleanor learns that she will be approved for an adoption as a single mother only if she has a strong support system intact. But Eleanor is adopted herself, and her adoptive parents have passed away. And so, Eleanor sets out to find her support system—her birth mother—with the help of an expert in reuniting families: a Search Angel...
...Read the rest of Keriann's review on The Savvy Reader
In The Search Angel, Eleanor Sweet experiences adoption from every angle. Eleanor is unable to conceive and yearns for a baby of her own. After a long process, Eleanor and her husband are finally approved for an adoption, and their new baby Sylvie is ready and waiting. But Eleanor’s life is turned upside down when her husband suddenly gets cold feet and wants to back out of the adoption. Eleanor learns that she will be approved for an adoption as a single mother only if she has a strong support system intact. But Eleanor is adopted herself, and her adoptive parents have passed away. And so, Eleanor sets out to find her support system—her birth mother—with the help of an expert in reuniting families: a Search Angel...
...Read the rest of Keriann's review on The Savvy Reader
August 22, 2013
Eleanor Sweet and her husband are about to board a plane and fly across country to pick up their newly adopted baby, until he flakes out. Now, in order to adopt as a single parent, she needs a "support system", so she figures she'll locate the birth mother she never knew---huh? Readers are supposed to buy into the premise that a thirty-something woman assumes her birth mother, who she never met, will drop her life, move half-way across the country to be at her daughter's beckon call for the daughter she wants to adopt. Eleanor procures search angel to help her.
I liked Cohen's writing style. Eleanor was engaging and easy to root for. Cohen did a good job portraying adoption complexities. The minor characters were quirky. I had a hard time buying into the sudden search as it tied into Eleanor's adoption of the baby. The book title is somewhat misleading, THE SEARCH ANGEL only appeared mid book and wasn't the focus of the story.
Overall a light read.
I liked Cohen's writing style. Eleanor was engaging and easy to root for. Cohen did a good job portraying adoption complexities. The minor characters were quirky. I had a hard time buying into the sudden search as it tied into Eleanor's adoption of the baby. The book title is somewhat misleading, THE SEARCH ANGEL only appeared mid book and wasn't the focus of the story.
Overall a light read.
March 18, 2016
This book was very misleading in its synopsis. It claimed to be about a relationship between two ladies, but it was something else completely. That relationship didn't even come into play until the last third of the book and then it was muddled up with so many other things that you didn't even care. Not worth the read at all. A total waste. And like the last 50 pages were about trying to get her baby to sleep. What the hell? Also, the synopsis on Goodreads says the baby is named Lily and from Korea. Wrong. Sylvie from California. What even?!
July 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I thought that Isabelle would play a bigger role as she was the search angel, but the story was mainly about Eleanor. This was a short, touching story about adopting and being adopted.
July 7, 2013
Fantastic story of Eleanor Sweet and what she gives up, and finds, in the quest of adopting Sylvie.
October 7, 2013
I hate it when I'm really into a great book, and suddenly when I turn the page, the word "epilogue" is staring me in the face. I had no idea I was at the end. :(
July 9, 2014
As much as I really wanted to love this book I didn't. The storyline was not believable and the plot was predictable. As an adoptee I found it flippant and insulting.
August 22, 2019
This is a very lovely book. It has all of the appropriate elements of laughter, sadness and joy. Eleanor Sweet is just as her name suggests: sweet. I spent the first part of the book astounded by how Eleanor could keep it together so well working at a baby store and with her seemingly Fertile Myrtle coworker, while she is faced with her own infertility. I don’t know if she had just come to terms with it and realized adoption was her only way, but I honestly was... well, proud of her. I would’ve been a basket case. And the second part of the book, my fondness for her just grew. Eleanor, adopted herself, is determined to find any way to adopt her daughter, even if it means digging up the past. Even if it means that the past might not want her back so quickly. This book has quite the cast of characters, right down to an overgrown Great Dane names Angus, who are all real and relatable. I really enjoyed this story.
June 20, 2018
Loved the story
The process of adoption for those of us who have always had our natural born families is something we can only imagine. I like that this story shares the inner thoughts and feelings of an adoptee. Also how for some who find themselves unable to conceive their own child, still cannot open their hearts. Characters are well thought out with personalities, even though flawed, they are interesting. Their own stories drawing attention. A really good read.
The process of adoption for those of us who have always had our natural born families is something we can only imagine. I like that this story shares the inner thoughts and feelings of an adoptee. Also how for some who find themselves unable to conceive their own child, still cannot open their hearts. Characters are well thought out with personalities, even though flawed, they are interesting. Their own stories drawing attention. A really good read.
January 25, 2019
Good characters, good story, maybe unbelievable at times. Couple trying to adopt a girl when the husband gets cold feet and backs out. Eleanor, the mother decides to go ahead without her husband. Engages the help of a Search Angel when she discovers she needs to have a backup care giver to complete the adoption. She herself is adopted and decides to find her mother. The search Angel has issues of her own .Story of coping, motherhood in all its forms.
April 19, 2019
A touching story on many levels;
Giving a baby up for adoption, being adopted and trying to adopt – serious business, life changing choices with heart breaking consequences.
Well written, although I have never been in any of these situations, I could identify with all the characters. The book was slow at times, but still a powerful story.
The end was disappointing, I got the idea all the unresolved issues was an opening to a sequel.
Giving a baby up for adoption, being adopted and trying to adopt – serious business, life changing choices with heart breaking consequences.
Well written, although I have never been in any of these situations, I could identify with all the characters. The book was slow at times, but still a powerful story.
The end was disappointing, I got the idea all the unresolved issues was an opening to a sequel.
January 24, 2020
Not quite 3 stars. This book “told” the story reasonably well (but too many side plots, none of which were adequately developed), but I didn’t feel anything, despite the concerted efforts to inspire pathos. I didn’t feel involved in the story or with the characters. I skimmed the last 1/4 of the book, and I don’t think I missed anything.
December 8, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and the storyline. I loved Eleanor and her quirkiness yet I could not get a picture of her in my mind.
It was a warm and kind of sappy story but also bittersweet.
In some chapters I felt there were too much wasted descriptive lines and I had to skim through those.
But all in all, it was a very interesting and insightful book.
It was a warm and kind of sappy story but also bittersweet.
In some chapters I felt there were too much wasted descriptive lines and I had to skim through those.
But all in all, it was a very interesting and insightful book.
May 7, 2018
Great read for the most part! I enjoyed it although found some parts irritating like the birth mother not staying with her to help her with the new baby and also not acknowledging the central character as her daughter. But I guess that was the point.
January 2, 2019
Interesting tale of a woman who embarks on a journey to adopt a little girl, and loses her husband, but gains a new support system. She discovers her real family and forms new relationships which then give her the strength to proceed with the adoption.
January 2, 2019
This was a quick easy read for Winter Break, and I quite enjoyed it. Mostly because I loved Isabelle and have found myself wanting her to pack her bags and move into another story so that I can have more of her.
January 21, 2019
Is there a sequel?
The ending seems to leave some open ends like Do Noel and Eleanor get together?, Does Jonathon e nd up coming home to stay? Do her mom, dad and family ever open up to her in introducing her as their daughter?
The ending seems to leave some open ends like Do Noel and Eleanor get together?, Does Jonathon e nd up coming home to stay? Do her mom, dad and family ever open up to her in introducing her as their daughter?
March 13, 2019
Different type of story that brings you in.
This is a different kind of story that celebrates women strength. It focuses on topics most of us don’t ever have to deal with particularly adoption. The story causes you to root for the main character.
This is a different kind of story that celebrates women strength. It focuses on topics most of us don’t ever have to deal with particularly adoption. The story causes you to root for the main character.
January 1, 2019
Sweet story
If you like happy endings, this is a nice little read. It’s a good Saturday afternoon read, but it is a little predictable.
If you like happy endings, this is a nice little read. It’s a good Saturday afternoon read, but it is a little predictable.
January 3, 2019
Great book
I only wish it was longer..I wanted more of an ending,for Isabelle. I also would like more insight to Ruth
I only wish it was longer..I wanted more of an ending,for Isabelle. I also would like more insight to Ruth
January 31, 2019
Insightful
The thoughts of the adopted and the birth mothers in the story are very insight ful. It's a great read.
The thoughts of the adopted and the birth mothers in the story are very insight ful. It's a great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews