For the forward going proton and η meson, the coherent η meson production in the (p,p′) reaction on the spin–isospin saturated nucleus occurs only due to the η meson exchange interaction between the beam proton and nucleus. In this process, the nucleon in the nucleus can be excited to resonances N⁎ and the η meson in the final state can arise due to N⁎→Nη. We investigate the dynamics of resonances, including nucleon Born terms, and their interferences in the coherently added cross section of this reaction. We discuss the importance of N(1520) resonance and show the sensitivity of the cross section to the hadron–nucleus interaction.