21 March 2023

I received a review copy of this one from the author, who reached out suggesting I might enjoy his book. This book digs into the grief of a mother who lost her child and the strain this loss put on a marriage. I found this book to be well written, but the heavy emotions throughout make for a difficult read.

This was my introduction to this author and I found myself drawn to his characters while enjoying the twisty story. He brings Tess’s pain and suffering to life and as you read this book you can feel this woman’s suffering.

A year ago, Tess’s daughter – Lily – was killed in a car accident. The driver of the car, Brady, was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison. Is two years justice? Tess is destroyed by the loss of her little girl and spends weeks hiding away from the world. Her husband, Josh, is desperate to help Tess move on. But how do you move on when you feel responsible for the death of your own child? Josh moves them from Newton to Harlow, convinced a new house and town will help Tess leave the past behind her. What Josh does not know is that Tess returns to Newton every day where she keeps a close eye on Eve and Meg – Brady’s family. Eve is Brady’s twelve-year of daughter… a daughter who gets to live, while Tess will never see Lily growing up. Is that fair, is that justice?

This mother’s pain oozes off every page of this book. Tess is a broken woman – understandably. The author did a brilliant job with her. The only thing that irked me a little about this book was that the story felt like a bad wife, good husband story. Tess is a complete mess and she makes one bad decision after another. Throughout the story you see Tess lying and keeping secrets from Josh – while at the same time, Josh is drawn to be the perfect husband…. No-one is that perfect. The good news, later in the book a small Josh flaw is revealed – making up for his apparent perfection.

This book is an emotional read that drops you headfirst into Tess’s mind as she endures the loss of her child and the constant pressure she feels from Josh, who is trying to help her move forward. While Josh is trying to help – Tess is not ready to leave her child behind – she does not want to forget Lily. While Tess knows she is not being fair to her husband, it is easier to simply push him away.

This was a tricky book to rate – while it was a good story that kept me intrigued and curious I was not crazy about Josh – this character annoyed me just a little. But do not allow that to keep you from trying this book.

If you enjoy an emotional read that allows you to feel the character’s emotions then you will not go wrong in reaching for this book. And not to add any spoilers, but the final plot will take you by surprise.