Happy Thursday everyone!
Delighted to share with you today my review for this emotional thought-provoking story! Thanks so much Noelle for my invitation to the tour!π₯°
My Thoughts
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Jill Childs has written a beautiful emotional heartbreaking story that will make you think. Maddie is educated, an alcoholic, and homeless. Becca is a single mother with a teenage son Alex and a five-year-old daughter Rosie. One Day Becca and Rosie are out and about and run into Maddie, Rosie takes an immediate interest. Ultimately Becca with the urging of her five-year-old Rosie invites Maddie to dinner and a bond forms between Maddie and family. Sarah, Beccaβs best friend and neighbor is a little wary of Maddie and her intentions. What follows is a tale of secrets, lies, grief, and forgiveness.
Maddie was a very likable and relatable character who was really struggling. Grief had completely consumed her and drug her down into despair. This is where I had a little bit of a problem… everyone has hard times in their lives, of course some people have harder times than others, and I donβt mean to sound unsympathetic. But it is how you deal with those hard times that defines who you are. My ex-husband is an alcoholic and it has destroyed his relationship not only with me but his kids, so for very personal reasons I have very little sympathy or patience for people in that situation. Another thing I cannot imagine I would ever under any circumstances bring a homeless person home with me. I do realize people are homeless for many different reasons but I think the prominent reason in the US is mental health issues and Iβm not sure I would want that around me or my kids. So while I really loved this book and I loved the kindness and big heart of Rosie and eventually Becca, Iβm not sure if it was all together plausible. Sorry I went off on a bit of a tangent there.
The story was told from the perspectives of Maddie, Becca, and Sarah. I always enjoy books that are told from multiple perspectives I just think it gives you such insight to the entire story. All three of these characters were likable and sympathetic. They also all had flaws some a little more obvious than others. Becca was a good person but a little insecure and I wasnβt always thrilled with her parenting decisions when it came to her teenage son Alex. Sarah oh Sarah had some sticky fingers and maybe was a bit jealous of the merging relationship between Maddie and Becca. The little girls Rosie and Sarahβs daughter Ella were both super adorable and of course added some levity to the book. This story was simultaneously heartwarming and heart breaking. A well told family drama full of secrets and lies. This is a book that I am still pondering, it definitely gave me a lot of food for thought. And the ending was quite lovely and simply satisfying!
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
About the Book
A heartbreaking story of family secrets from the USA Today bestselling author of Gracieβs Secret. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain.
I know you. I know you in a way you canβt even imagine. I have been searching for you in the years since you wrote that letter β the letter that told me you were looking for me too. But now that Iβve found you, I donβt know if I can say the terrible truth of what I am. It would ruin your perfect life. It would hurt your beautiful daughter.
So, I hesitate β bide my time, for now. This morning, youβre running late and your little girl, tugged by the hand, scurries to keep up with you. Sheβs clean but a little scrawny. Maybe thatβs because you struggle with the bills; maybe sheβs just made that way.
I know what it is to have lost a child. I pray you never learn how that feels. But I canβt wait foreverβ¦ and when I finally tell you my secret, will it break you like it did me all those years ago?
About The Author
Jill has always loved writing – real and imaginary – and spent 30 years travelling the world as a journalist, living overseas and reporting wherever the news took her. She’s now made her home in London with her husband and twin girls who love stories as much as she does. Although she’s covered everything from earthquakes and floods, riots and wars, she’s found some of the most extraordinary stories right here at home – in the secrets and lies she imagines behind closed doors on ordinary streets, just like yours.
If you’ve enjoyed reading one of Jill’s books, please do leave a review.
For latest news, follow Jill on Twitter (author_jill) and Facebook (Jill Childs)
Author Social Media Links:
Website: n/a
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jill.childs.71
Twitter: https://twitter.com/author_jill
UNIVERSAL Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B07P9971LCSocial
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2EKiDUn
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2EJfNyG
Googleplay: http://ow.ly/ETjh30nUpb0
Let’s Connect
Lovely review.. I liked the book too
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Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
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I’m sure I wouldn’t invite any unknown and definitely not a homeless person in my home. That’s pretty silly. Great review!
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Yes Iβm sure most people wouldnβt? But when I was reading this I felt kind of bad that I wouldnβt, if that makes sense? And thank you!
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I love how you brought your personal insights and experiences into your review, Beritπ It just made it that more impactful and I share your points of view about alcoholism and bringing a stranger into my homeπ
Definitely checking this one out.
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Yes, I would never do that, and Iβm really not very sympathetic when it comes to addiction even though I think I was supposed to be in this book, but we all bring our own personal experiences into our reading!
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I don’t think I would invite an alcoholic homeless person home with me either-you just never know what could happen, which might be awful to say. I love your review and am glad you enjoyed this one. β₯
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Terrific review, Berit! This sounds like a good one!
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