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This Fragile Life
Also published at The Other Mother
You love your best friend. You trust her with your life. But could you give her the most precious gift of all?
Alex's life is a mess. She's barely holding down a job, only just affording her apartment, and can't remember when she was last in a relationship. An unexpected pregnancy is the last thing she needs.
Martha's life is on track. She's got the highflying career, the gorgeous home and the loving husband. But one big thing is missing. Five rounds of IVF and still no baby.
The solution seems simple. Alex knows that Martha can give her child everything that she can't provide. But Martha's world may not be as perfect as it seems, and letting go isn't as easy as Alex expected it to be. Now they face a decision that could shatter their friendship forever.
You love your best friend. You trust her with your life. But could you give her the most precious gift of all?
Alex's life is a mess. She's barely holding down a job, only just affording her apartment, and can't remember when she was last in a relationship. An unexpected pregnancy is the last thing she needs.
Martha's life is on track. She's got the highflying career, the gorgeous home and the loving husband. But one big thing is missing. Five rounds of IVF and still no baby.
The solution seems simple. Alex knows that Martha can give her child everything that she can't provide. But Martha's world may not be as perfect as it seems, and letting go isn't as easy as Alex expected it to be. Now they face a decision that could shatter their friendship forever.
310 pages, ebook
First published August 20, 2013
827 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hewitt
862 books1,660 followersKate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 29, 2013
Best friends will do crazy stuff together but their lives do not always go in the same direction. Yet some stick together no matter what, but when life offers up the ultimate test of friendship , holding it together seems more fragile than eggshells.
In the new Kate Hewitt read this is the case for best friends Alex and Martha. Alex's life is a complete mess, it is always the one thing after the other when it comes to her, barely holding down a job, battling to pay her apartment and as for being in a real relationship that is a whole other story she cannot even remember the last time she even had one of those.
Unlike Alex her best Martha's life is on track, she achieved it al, a high powered career, a loving husband and a gorgeous home but as they say family makes the home and that is the one thing Martha does not have, she craves a baby of her own to complete her perfect life.
So when Alex hits yet another major fly by night obstacle and discovers she is expecting, the solution seems obvious give the child to Martha as she can provide for him or her much better than my-life-is-always-on-the-move Alex.
But as every mother knows once you carry your child for nine months letting them go is never easy, you become attached and as the time nears for Alex to let of of her little fragile new life and surrender him or her into the arms of her best friend, she starts realising how precious life is and what an amazing gift she has received, that is until the baby is diagnosed with a generic disorder and suddenly it is life or death for both friends and this is one decision that will not be easy for either one.
The characters of both Alex and Martha were so well written , with emotions so strong that even if the story had a non sadness element I still would have found myself bawling my eyes out. The author gave me Alex as the indecisive mother torn between wanting her child and realizing that she would not be able to care for him or her. Her emotions bouncing around so much had be thinking how tough it must for any single woman expecting, yes it is different it if you know you are able to take care of it financially but what about the woman that simply cannot and needs to make a life changing decision of letting go and never being able to see or hold her child again. The author brought this message across very vividly through Alex's side of the story.
The character of Martha was to me a bit of a mess but not because the author did not bring out her best or for lack of description, rather because I felt her reaction to the unborn child being diagnosed with a generic disorder was just wrong. Not being able to have children I would think that having the chance to have any child ill or not ill would be the best gift of life. So yes I was not nuts about her character but I could also understand that the author was trying to show that each and every woman has a different reaction to becoming a mother.
I am taking away a message of life has it curveballs for us all, but when the ball hits you harder than you thought, don't fall and lose sight of your dreams simply because the dreams are not as perfect as you wanted them to be. Take the risk and face what comes your way, it might be more than what you asked for in the sense that it will be so much more for-fulling. And most importantly when you have the ball in your hands ensure that what you want is what you really are ready for.
I highly recommend this read, it was heart-warming, gut wrenching, emotional and extremely powerful. Not for the faint of heart, but if you love a good eye-opener with a real life message and don't mind the tears this one is for you.
5/5 star review
" The bond of friendship is strong but motherhood is unbeatable"
March 30, 2018
This Fragile Life captures all that is beautiful about life and how fragile happiness and life really is. Heart wrenching, wise and beautiful.
My Recap :
Two friends at very different stages in life. One seems to have it all, the loving husband, a great career and a fancy apartment. Martha is missing the one thing she really wants though, a child. The other is living life to her plan which is no plan, she meandering aimlessly along, easy going and carefree until an unexpected pregnancy puts a stop to that. Alex doesn't think she is ready to commit to child. This book follows the overlap of their lives and the fallout from a promise given too quickly and too easily.
My Thoughts :
This book was so personal for me. I've experienced so much that Martha went through and I feel that the feelings of heart-break and unfulfillment were so well captured that my heart was literally jumping from bad memories. Thankfully I am no longer in this dark place but I was for a long time. Either the author has personal experience or she has done great research as I can 100% say she nailed it.
"She doesn't know how this feels, wanting a child so very much, twisting your body and life into tangles and knots to achieve it, and being denied again and again. Feeling helpless, powerless, unneeded. Feeling as if the one thing you felt would make you complete - make you a whole person - will never, ever be granted to you.
No Alex has no idea what that feels like, but I do
God, I do"
#IDoToo
Martha is initially a hard character to like. Of course your heart aches for her but she is so hard, so busy keeping her mask in place that she seems unfeeling. I wanted to tap her on the shoulder and say let it out, tell those around you how you really feel, don't give them reason to misunderstand you.
Alex on the other hand is so open and giving that she feels fun and laid back. She is too much of a people pleaser but she grows so much over the course of this book that by the end of it, I am so proud of her that my heart all but burst with pride for all she accomplished.
I was gripped to this book. I hadn't read much about the book in advance so the twist took me by surprise. This book had me nodding my head in agreement at times, laughing at others and also broke my heart. It is a book that shows how friendships can grow and help sustain you through your darkest days. It is also a book about second chances and fragility of life. It kept me on the edge of an emotional abyss while I read it and even though it broke my heart, it was a totally satisfying read. Word to the wise - don't read in public!
Who should read This Fragile Life?
I'd strongly recommend this book to all those who like emotional rollercoasters and strong but real female characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin (UK) Limited for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
My Recap :
Two friends at very different stages in life. One seems to have it all, the loving husband, a great career and a fancy apartment. Martha is missing the one thing she really wants though, a child. The other is living life to her plan which is no plan, she meandering aimlessly along, easy going and carefree until an unexpected pregnancy puts a stop to that. Alex doesn't think she is ready to commit to child. This book follows the overlap of their lives and the fallout from a promise given too quickly and too easily.
My Thoughts :
This book was so personal for me. I've experienced so much that Martha went through and I feel that the feelings of heart-break and unfulfillment were so well captured that my heart was literally jumping from bad memories. Thankfully I am no longer in this dark place but I was for a long time. Either the author has personal experience or she has done great research as I can 100% say she nailed it.
"She doesn't know how this feels, wanting a child so very much, twisting your body and life into tangles and knots to achieve it, and being denied again and again. Feeling helpless, powerless, unneeded. Feeling as if the one thing you felt would make you complete - make you a whole person - will never, ever be granted to you.
No Alex has no idea what that feels like, but I do
God, I do"
#IDoToo
Martha is initially a hard character to like. Of course your heart aches for her but she is so hard, so busy keeping her mask in place that she seems unfeeling. I wanted to tap her on the shoulder and say let it out, tell those around you how you really feel, don't give them reason to misunderstand you.
Alex on the other hand is so open and giving that she feels fun and laid back. She is too much of a people pleaser but she grows so much over the course of this book that by the end of it, I am so proud of her that my heart all but burst with pride for all she accomplished.
I was gripped to this book. I hadn't read much about the book in advance so the twist took me by surprise. This book had me nodding my head in agreement at times, laughing at others and also broke my heart. It is a book that shows how friendships can grow and help sustain you through your darkest days. It is also a book about second chances and fragility of life. It kept me on the edge of an emotional abyss while I read it and even though it broke my heart, it was a totally satisfying read. Word to the wise - don't read in public!
Who should read This Fragile Life?
I'd strongly recommend this book to all those who like emotional rollercoasters and strong but real female characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin (UK) Limited for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
September 7, 2013
Just now, someone asked me if I was ok in the subway because I was bawling: this book will make you cry. This is a fast-paced book about relationships that we take for granted in our lives. If you're a mother, daughter, sister, friend, read it.
September 13, 2013
When Kate Hewitt emailed me and asked me if I’d like to review her novel This Fragile Life I jumped at the chance! I’d spotted it on Amazon a while ago and I thought it sounded brilliant; like something Jodi Picoult might write and I was looking forward to diving in. This book wasn’t what I expected at all, but it was utterly amazing! I wasn’t sure when I started it, I felt there were a few too many moments where the characters questioned their actions – protesting too much, you know? But the more into the novel I got, the more brilliant it became.
I will happily admit that as a young twenty something pregnancy and babies aren’t on my agenda – at all. So I was a bit worried that I might not get on with This Fragile Life as well as someone who is a mother. Surrogacy didn’t work for me when I read Dear Thing by Julie Cohen, but, This Fragile Life really worked. To the point where there were tears involved, for many pages. I said in my review for Another Way To Fall that I don’t cry often when reading but twice this month I have and for very good reason. It sort of got to the point where I wasn’t sure I would stop crying!
This Fragile Life is, as I said, about surrogacy. When Alex finds out she’s pregnant, she finds she can’t face another abortion. Her best friend Martha has just had her fifth round of IVF and it hasn’t worked and Martha comes up with the simplest of solutions, a solution that means Alex doesn’t have to have an abortion or be a mother, because Martha will adopt Alex’s baby. Alex isn’t sure she doesn’t want the baby, though, and suddenly the friends find themselves in a very fraught situation, made worse by some shocking news.
Now I’m afraid I can’t say more about the book because its precisely because I didn’t know what was coming that caused me to have such a reaction; it’s the best sort of book because books should surprise! It shouldn’t all be given away in the synopsis or a careless review. So if you’re wondering what turned me to mush, well you are going to have to read it, but it will be well worth your time!
Initially I did think both women protested too much – Alex consistently questioning if she could be a mother, Martha questioning if she’s cold, if she’s doing to right thing etc. Perhaps that panic is normal, I don’t know, I just felt it was all too often and it did bug me a bit. But once they got over their worries, the novel became so much better. I loved it. The second half of the book really comes into its own and it was so worth listening to both women complain a lot, because the novel more than came good. I was blown away, and emotional, and I finished the book feeling like I’d been on a particularly horrific – but worth it – rollercoaster. It was simply amazing, and no words I spout could do this novel justice! Just read it and you’ll see what I mean.
I will happily admit that as a young twenty something pregnancy and babies aren’t on my agenda – at all. So I was a bit worried that I might not get on with This Fragile Life as well as someone who is a mother. Surrogacy didn’t work for me when I read Dear Thing by Julie Cohen, but, This Fragile Life really worked. To the point where there were tears involved, for many pages. I said in my review for Another Way To Fall that I don’t cry often when reading but twice this month I have and for very good reason. It sort of got to the point where I wasn’t sure I would stop crying!
This Fragile Life is, as I said, about surrogacy. When Alex finds out she’s pregnant, she finds she can’t face another abortion. Her best friend Martha has just had her fifth round of IVF and it hasn’t worked and Martha comes up with the simplest of solutions, a solution that means Alex doesn’t have to have an abortion or be a mother, because Martha will adopt Alex’s baby. Alex isn’t sure she doesn’t want the baby, though, and suddenly the friends find themselves in a very fraught situation, made worse by some shocking news.
Now I’m afraid I can’t say more about the book because its precisely because I didn’t know what was coming that caused me to have such a reaction; it’s the best sort of book because books should surprise! It shouldn’t all be given away in the synopsis or a careless review. So if you’re wondering what turned me to mush, well you are going to have to read it, but it will be well worth your time!
Initially I did think both women protested too much – Alex consistently questioning if she could be a mother, Martha questioning if she’s cold, if she’s doing to right thing etc. Perhaps that panic is normal, I don’t know, I just felt it was all too often and it did bug me a bit. But once they got over their worries, the novel became so much better. I loved it. The second half of the book really comes into its own and it was so worth listening to both women complain a lot, because the novel more than came good. I was blown away, and emotional, and I finished the book feeling like I’d been on a particularly horrific – but worth it – rollercoaster. It was simply amazing, and no words I spout could do this novel justice! Just read it and you’ll see what I mean.
December 31, 2015
If I could give this book 10 Stars I would do! That is how much I loved it.
The subject matter is, at times, a bit difficult to read. But stick with it, as it is worth it in the end.
A lot of this story had personal ramifications for me in one way or another. That only helped to draw me further into the story, making it more than just a story.
Alex is single, loving life and barely getting by when she discovers she is pregnant. Unsure what to do she confides in her best friend, Martha.
Martha is happily married but unfortunately childless, having just finished her fifth try at IVF, which was again unsuccessful.
Selfishly Martha almost pushes Alex into agreeing to allow her to adopt the baby, along with her husband Rob. Believing that Martha could give her child the best start in life, Alex reluctantly agrees.
But it isn't as simple as that. Doubts start to creep into Alex' mind as Martha becomes increasingly pushy.
The author tells the story from both Alex and Martha's POV's, allowing a rare insight into both sides of a surrogacy case. I loved this as we get to see how hard and emotional it is for all parties involved.
There comes a point in the story where everything changes, I honestly didn't see it coming so it was a huge shock. The ramifications of this event turns everything on its head.
I can honestly say had I known how this book would end up I probably would not have wanted to read it, but I am very glad I did read it. The author has produced an amazing piece of work which, although hard to read, flows really well throughout.
Definitely not one for the faint hearted, and have your hankies ready for nearer the end, but a very worthwhile read if you can.
The subject matter is, at times, a bit difficult to read. But stick with it, as it is worth it in the end.
A lot of this story had personal ramifications for me in one way or another. That only helped to draw me further into the story, making it more than just a story.
Alex is single, loving life and barely getting by when she discovers she is pregnant. Unsure what to do she confides in her best friend, Martha.
Martha is happily married but unfortunately childless, having just finished her fifth try at IVF, which was again unsuccessful.
Selfishly Martha almost pushes Alex into agreeing to allow her to adopt the baby, along with her husband Rob. Believing that Martha could give her child the best start in life, Alex reluctantly agrees.
But it isn't as simple as that. Doubts start to creep into Alex' mind as Martha becomes increasingly pushy.
The author tells the story from both Alex and Martha's POV's, allowing a rare insight into both sides of a surrogacy case. I loved this as we get to see how hard and emotional it is for all parties involved.
There comes a point in the story where everything changes, I honestly didn't see it coming so it was a huge shock. The ramifications of this event turns everything on its head.
I can honestly say had I known how this book would end up I probably would not have wanted to read it, but I am very glad I did read it. The author has produced an amazing piece of work which, although hard to read, flows really well throughout.
Definitely not one for the faint hearted, and have your hankies ready for nearer the end, but a very worthwhile read if you can.
September 16, 2015
I spotted this book a while ago on Net Galley and was intrigued by the synopsis, having read something similar fairly recently, Dear Thing by Julie Cohen which I loved. This was also a bit of a gamble for me as I was unsure whether the book could compare to Cohen's story but I was delighted to discover that I thoroughly enjoyed This Fragile Thing too! Many thanks to Carina (Harlequin UK) and Net Galley for approving my request and letting me experience this emotional and surprising novel.
The story is told by alternating points of view from two best friends, Alex and Martha who couldn't be more different if they tried. Alex is a quirky character, easy-going and fun with an apartment she can barely afford and a relaxed attitude to love and life. Martha on the other hand is happily married to Rob with a beautiful house, dream job and is quite a perfectionist who likes her life just so without any messy deviations. Martha seems to have it all in one sense, but under that controlled exterior she is nursing a secret heartbreak. She has been trying to have a family for years and as the novel begins she has just found out that her fifth round of IVF has failed. This is not really great timing for her friend Alex to fall pregnant entirely by accident, especially when Alex is determined that she would make an awful mother and doesn't have the resources to raise a child yet doesn't want to have an abortion.
However, Martha sees a silver lining in this mess. If Alex kept the child and acted as a surrogate, Martha and Rob could then adopt the baby and everyone lives happily ever after, right? When Martha springs this amazing solution onto Alex she is surprised but at the same time relieved and after all, she would be doing this beautiful thing that would give her best friend everything she had ever wanted. It seems to have come along with perfect timing in Martha's eyes as she and Rob had decided that if the last IVF failed, they wouldn't try again. Nine months is a long time though...and when Alex finds out some shocking news, the fragility of their friendship is pushed to breaking point, something which may be impossible to recover.
This book was a really fantastic read. I mentioned before that I wasn't sure how it would compare to a similar book I have read but I needn't have had any worries at all, it stood in its own right as a magnificent tear-jerker of a novel. I found myself continually questioning how strong the bonds of friendship have to be when they are challenged, the beauty of motherly love and how to accept the fact that you may never have a child, despite how ready or super-qualified you may feel you are to do the job. I loved all three characters as individuals although I had issues with all of them throughout the novel. It took me quite a while to warm to Martha as her exterior seemed so cold and controlling while at the same time my heart absolutely broke for her and what she was suffering. Her husband Rob was so patient and loving although he does some questionable things through the novel and I loved Alex for her free spirit and how she grew as a person as the story continued. All of them have flaws, and no-one is perfect but that's what made the book feel so authentic and I believed in every one of them.
I've decided not to reveal the twist in the novel because it made the book so much more special for me not knowing what to expect and added an extra "oomph" to the story. I've seen a few other reviews on Good Reads that have done so read these with caution if you haven't read this book before! When this twist appeared it was honestly like a sucker punch to the stomach - I was so shocked and so surprised. This Fragile Life is an emotional story already without this added twist and when it comes it takes the book onto a whole new level of heart-break and suffering. I haven't actually read anything by Kate Hewitt before and this story has really inspired me to pick up some of her other work. So, prepare to be moved, shocked, saddened but ultimately uplifted by something with real depth and emotion that has to be read to be believed.
For my full review, please see my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
The story is told by alternating points of view from two best friends, Alex and Martha who couldn't be more different if they tried. Alex is a quirky character, easy-going and fun with an apartment she can barely afford and a relaxed attitude to love and life. Martha on the other hand is happily married to Rob with a beautiful house, dream job and is quite a perfectionist who likes her life just so without any messy deviations. Martha seems to have it all in one sense, but under that controlled exterior she is nursing a secret heartbreak. She has been trying to have a family for years and as the novel begins she has just found out that her fifth round of IVF has failed. This is not really great timing for her friend Alex to fall pregnant entirely by accident, especially when Alex is determined that she would make an awful mother and doesn't have the resources to raise a child yet doesn't want to have an abortion.
However, Martha sees a silver lining in this mess. If Alex kept the child and acted as a surrogate, Martha and Rob could then adopt the baby and everyone lives happily ever after, right? When Martha springs this amazing solution onto Alex she is surprised but at the same time relieved and after all, she would be doing this beautiful thing that would give her best friend everything she had ever wanted. It seems to have come along with perfect timing in Martha's eyes as she and Rob had decided that if the last IVF failed, they wouldn't try again. Nine months is a long time though...and when Alex finds out some shocking news, the fragility of their friendship is pushed to breaking point, something which may be impossible to recover.
This book was a really fantastic read. I mentioned before that I wasn't sure how it would compare to a similar book I have read but I needn't have had any worries at all, it stood in its own right as a magnificent tear-jerker of a novel. I found myself continually questioning how strong the bonds of friendship have to be when they are challenged, the beauty of motherly love and how to accept the fact that you may never have a child, despite how ready or super-qualified you may feel you are to do the job. I loved all three characters as individuals although I had issues with all of them throughout the novel. It took me quite a while to warm to Martha as her exterior seemed so cold and controlling while at the same time my heart absolutely broke for her and what she was suffering. Her husband Rob was so patient and loving although he does some questionable things through the novel and I loved Alex for her free spirit and how she grew as a person as the story continued. All of them have flaws, and no-one is perfect but that's what made the book feel so authentic and I believed in every one of them.
I've decided not to reveal the twist in the novel because it made the book so much more special for me not knowing what to expect and added an extra "oomph" to the story. I've seen a few other reviews on Good Reads that have done so read these with caution if you haven't read this book before! When this twist appeared it was honestly like a sucker punch to the stomach - I was so shocked and so surprised. This Fragile Life is an emotional story already without this added twist and when it comes it takes the book onto a whole new level of heart-break and suffering. I haven't actually read anything by Kate Hewitt before and this story has really inspired me to pick up some of her other work. So, prepare to be moved, shocked, saddened but ultimately uplifted by something with real depth and emotion that has to be read to be believed.
For my full review, please see my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
August 6, 2013
Talk about heart-wrenching! This is a beautifully written story of love, hope and faith. It tests the true meaning of friendship, a story that will truly break your heart.
A story of two lifelong friends who couldn’t be any different yet they are more alike that either one could imagine. Alex’s life isn’t ready for children when she finds herself pregnant after a one night stand with her recently married ex. While having lunch with her friend Martha she finds out her last chance at IVF didn’t take. Martha later asks Alex if she could adopt her baby when she finds out Alex isn’t sure she can afford to have the baby. All the while Alex is struggling with the agreement she made. While the days past she finds herself growing more and more attached to the baby yet she knows she can’t break her friend’s heart and back out. Later it is determined that the baby has a genetic disorder and will not make it past a few months after birth. Martha decides she can’t take care of a sick baby and backs out of the adoption. Alex decides against abortion and realizes that she loves this baby too much to not have it no matter the grim outlook.
The aftermath of Martha and Alex’s decisions are ones that rocks their respective worlds to their cores. Martha’s marriage is tested like never before and Alex realizes that life is too precious no matter how short lived it may turn out to be.
This book is one of those that stays with you way beyond the last page. It shows you that life is indeed fragile and that if you’re lucky enough to experience love of any kind consider yourself truly blessed. This is a story that will bring you to tears but one that you will be happy you read.
A story of two lifelong friends who couldn’t be any different yet they are more alike that either one could imagine. Alex’s life isn’t ready for children when she finds herself pregnant after a one night stand with her recently married ex. While having lunch with her friend Martha she finds out her last chance at IVF didn’t take. Martha later asks Alex if she could adopt her baby when she finds out Alex isn’t sure she can afford to have the baby. All the while Alex is struggling with the agreement she made. While the days past she finds herself growing more and more attached to the baby yet she knows she can’t break her friend’s heart and back out. Later it is determined that the baby has a genetic disorder and will not make it past a few months after birth. Martha decides she can’t take care of a sick baby and backs out of the adoption. Alex decides against abortion and realizes that she loves this baby too much to not have it no matter the grim outlook.
The aftermath of Martha and Alex’s decisions are ones that rocks their respective worlds to their cores. Martha’s marriage is tested like never before and Alex realizes that life is too precious no matter how short lived it may turn out to be.
This book is one of those that stays with you way beyond the last page. It shows you that life is indeed fragile and that if you’re lucky enough to experience love of any kind consider yourself truly blessed. This is a story that will bring you to tears but one that you will be happy you read.
October 23, 2013
This book was like a ride on an emotional rollarcoaster. It begins when we hear of the friendship between Martha and Alex, an unlikely friendship as they are opposites of each other in every way possible and yet it seems to work for them.
Alex is pregnant and contemplating a termination and Martha has been trying for years unsuccessfully to have a baby. She suggests to Alex,without consulting her husband Rob first,that she might adopt the baby and they could experience the pregnancy together.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster? Well you're right and I don't want to give the main plot of the story away but Martha doesn't just have to contend with the thought that Alex might change her mind ,there's more to it than that.
The day they discussed that Martha might adopt Alex's baby changed their lives forever and also the life of Martha's husband Robb.
The story is told from each person's point of view and this made it more interesting as it gave a more rounded picture.
I liked the character of Alex from the start and willed her to want to keep her baby. It took longer to like Martha, she seemed controlling to me but I think it was just her persona to the outside world as she was hiding her heartbreak of being childless. Liking her didn't last long either, I was thinking of a baby living in her perfect house with all her expectations and bottled up emotions. I also didn't agree on the amazing thing that Alex did for her nearing the end of the book.
You will cry when you read this and there's not many laughs it's a very sensitive subject so read it if you feel like a good cry.
Alex is pregnant and contemplating a termination and Martha has been trying for years unsuccessfully to have a baby. She suggests to Alex,without consulting her husband Rob first,that she might adopt the baby and they could experience the pregnancy together.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster? Well you're right and I don't want to give the main plot of the story away but Martha doesn't just have to contend with the thought that Alex might change her mind ,there's more to it than that.
The day they discussed that Martha might adopt Alex's baby changed their lives forever and also the life of Martha's husband Robb.
The story is told from each person's point of view and this made it more interesting as it gave a more rounded picture.
I liked the character of Alex from the start and willed her to want to keep her baby. It took longer to like Martha, she seemed controlling to me but I think it was just her persona to the outside world as she was hiding her heartbreak of being childless. Liking her didn't last long either, I was thinking of a baby living in her perfect house with all her expectations and bottled up emotions. I also didn't agree on the amazing thing that Alex did for her nearing the end of the book.
You will cry when you read this and there's not many laughs it's a very sensitive subject so read it if you feel like a good cry.
October 22, 2013
This afternoon I was snuggled up with my snoozing two-year old on the sofa finishing this book and feeling very fortunate. I was in tears for the best part of an hour. The ending is very good. Not to say that the middle and the start were not good: by Jove they are good too.
That adage of not judging a book by its cover is never truer than with this novel. The cover screams 'self-published sentimental tosh', I'm sorry to say, but by the third chapter it is clear that this author knows what she is doing, has a clear structure and is an accomplished wordsmith. There are a few formatting glitches, such as apostrophes always appearing as speech marks when the text is italicised, and a few spaces where they shouldn't be, but really, I am nitpicking.
The characters are well-developed, the story has a great arc, nothing is there that shouldn't be - it is very taut.
I'm fortunate enough to be meeting the author, Kate Hewitt, with my bookclub next month and really am looking forward to the event now.
Apart from the book's inherent good qualities, it was great on a personal level to absorb myself in a novel again. I'd stumbled with my reading recently and feel as though I'm back on the reading horse (Black Beauty?!). Looking forward to getting stuck into another novel soon.
That adage of not judging a book by its cover is never truer than with this novel. The cover screams 'self-published sentimental tosh', I'm sorry to say, but by the third chapter it is clear that this author knows what she is doing, has a clear structure and is an accomplished wordsmith. There are a few formatting glitches, such as apostrophes always appearing as speech marks when the text is italicised, and a few spaces where they shouldn't be, but really, I am nitpicking.
The characters are well-developed, the story has a great arc, nothing is there that shouldn't be - it is very taut.
I'm fortunate enough to be meeting the author, Kate Hewitt, with my bookclub next month and really am looking forward to the event now.
Apart from the book's inherent good qualities, it was great on a personal level to absorb myself in a novel again. I'd stumbled with my reading recently and feel as though I'm back on the reading horse (Black Beauty?!). Looking forward to getting stuck into another novel soon.
December 20, 2013
This is a beautifully written story told, in alternating chapters, from the perspective of two friends, Martha and Alex. Martha seemingly has it all. A wonderful husband, a beautiful home and a brilliant career, but the one thing she craves, a baby, eludes her. After five unsuccessful rounds of IVF, her dreams of ever having a baby are slipping beyond her reach. Alex ‘s life is far more haphazard. She has a casual job, a downtown apartment and hasn’t been in a proper relationship for years. When she unexpectedly becomes pregnant she knows in her heart she is in no position to bring up a baby, but her best friend Martha has everything to offer a child. Is this the perfect solution?
This is a compelling, emotional read that will have you in tears, but ultimately it is a life-affirming story too. Highly recommended.
This is a compelling, emotional read that will have you in tears, but ultimately it is a life-affirming story too. Highly recommended.
April 21, 2015
This is the most poignant book I think I've ever read. Tissues most definitely required.
A story of two totally different women, whose paths cross and they become firm friends. The relationship between them is very well written, discovering the differences that make them friends, the way that even though they aren't always around each other they are still close...
As the story unfolded I became totally enthralled, Alex with her 'hippy-esque' lifestyle and Martha with her straight laced no nonsense attitude, their differences only served to make them more believable, and believe I did.
As their relationship changed I felt for them both, the fears and anger..the wondering why and what went wrong.
By the end I was in tears, bittersweet and beautiful
A story of two totally different women, whose paths cross and they become firm friends. The relationship between them is very well written, discovering the differences that make them friends, the way that even though they aren't always around each other they are still close...
As the story unfolded I became totally enthralled, Alex with her 'hippy-esque' lifestyle and Martha with her straight laced no nonsense attitude, their differences only served to make them more believable, and believe I did.
As their relationship changed I felt for them both, the fears and anger..the wondering why and what went wrong.
By the end I was in tears, bittersweet and beautiful
April 24, 2018
OMG, #uglycry alert!
*blows nose*
*sniffles*
*hiccups*
Sorry, bear with me – I’m having trouble seeing the screen to type for the tears. I can, hand on heart, say that it’s been a while since a book had me full-on sobbing. Simply put, this book broke me.
I knew going in it was going to be tough read, but I was totally unprepared for the affect this story would have on me emotionally.
It’s a story of friendship, of love and loss, those pivotal moments in our lives that forever change us on an elemental level.
Martha and Alex are as different as chalk and cheese, but it’s those differences that make their friendship work. Ad exec, Martha, has always been the rule follower, the planner. Art teacher, Alex, has always just gone with life’s flow, and embraced each new experience.
Martha learns that life doesn’t always go to plan. Her dream of a longed-for baby with husband, Rob, seems to have evaporated with their last failed IVF attempt.
Alex’s world is thrown upside down with the news of her unplanned pregnancy. How can a baby possibly fit into her life, both emotionally and financially? What does she have to offer a child?
The solution seems obvious, doesn’t it? Can one selfless act right both their worlds?
But, as we all know, nothing is ever that simple *shrugs* As the dynamics in their friendship change, Alex and Martha both struggle with the ramifications of their decision. Can Alex really give up her child? How will this affect their friendship after the birth? What role will Alex play in the baby’s life?
I actually did wonder if I was a masochist at some points when I was reading *snorts* I did not foresee things playing out as they did, but please don’t think for one-minute I regret reading this story. It’s a book that will stay with me, and when someone mentions it in the future, all the emotions will come flooding back.
This one line from the books says more than I ever could:
“A love that hurts is one that’s worthwhile.”
So, yeah, *sniffles* I’m off to try and put myself back together again. Till next time…
*blows nose*
*sniffles*
*hiccups*
Sorry, bear with me – I’m having trouble seeing the screen to type for the tears. I can, hand on heart, say that it’s been a while since a book had me full-on sobbing. Simply put, this book broke me.
I knew going in it was going to be tough read, but I was totally unprepared for the affect this story would have on me emotionally.
It’s a story of friendship, of love and loss, those pivotal moments in our lives that forever change us on an elemental level.
Martha and Alex are as different as chalk and cheese, but it’s those differences that make their friendship work. Ad exec, Martha, has always been the rule follower, the planner. Art teacher, Alex, has always just gone with life’s flow, and embraced each new experience.
Martha learns that life doesn’t always go to plan. Her dream of a longed-for baby with husband, Rob, seems to have evaporated with their last failed IVF attempt.
Alex’s world is thrown upside down with the news of her unplanned pregnancy. How can a baby possibly fit into her life, both emotionally and financially? What does she have to offer a child?
The solution seems obvious, doesn’t it? Can one selfless act right both their worlds?
But, as we all know, nothing is ever that simple *shrugs* As the dynamics in their friendship change, Alex and Martha both struggle with the ramifications of their decision. Can Alex really give up her child? How will this affect their friendship after the birth? What role will Alex play in the baby’s life?
I actually did wonder if I was a masochist at some points when I was reading *snorts* I did not foresee things playing out as they did, but please don’t think for one-minute I regret reading this story. It’s a book that will stay with me, and when someone mentions it in the future, all the emotions will come flooding back.
This one line from the books says more than I ever could:
“A love that hurts is one that’s worthwhile.”
So, yeah, *sniffles* I’m off to try and put myself back together again. Till next time…
April 27, 2023
5 stars
This book covered so many more subjects that I expected. It was such a roller coaster of different emotions and made my viewpoints and feelings go through so many different phases as the story evolved and the characters developed.
It's definitely not a book for the faint-hearted but is certainly a book that will stay with me for a while to come.
This book covered so many more subjects that I expected. It was such a roller coaster of different emotions and made my viewpoints and feelings go through so many different phases as the story evolved and the characters developed.
It's definitely not a book for the faint-hearted but is certainly a book that will stay with me for a while to come.
July 11, 2019
3,5* a very different book from my usual. Sad and so realistic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2014
I have just finished reading this gut wrenching emotional book. OMG I'm in pieces. This book is dedicated to all the babies who lost their fight for life too early. This affected the author too and I relate to it as well.
Its not all doom and gloom, just that towards the end it is so sad, leaving you with questions such as Would I do that?
Could I do that? Am I strong enough to do that?
Two women whose life is exposed.
One father, one Wannabe dad. One friend, one lonely neighbour all builds into one heck of a blast of a story that will stay with you through time.
Would I recommend it? Hell YES!
Be ready with tissues, it really is gut wrenching.
I really wish I could give this 10/10.
Its not all doom and gloom, just that towards the end it is so sad, leaving you with questions such as Would I do that?
Could I do that? Am I strong enough to do that?
Two women whose life is exposed.
One father, one Wannabe dad. One friend, one lonely neighbour all builds into one heck of a blast of a story that will stay with you through time.
Would I recommend it? Hell YES!
Be ready with tissues, it really is gut wrenching.
I really wish I could give this 10/10.
December 24, 2015
Rob and Martha have been married for 8 years and tried unsuccessfully to conceive a child. After their fourth failed IVF procedure they are devastated and give up. Alex, a close friend of hers, gets pregnant after a one-night stand. She is thinking about terminating her pregnancy as she can barely make ends meet and feels she is unsuitable to be a mother. Martha proposes her to have the baby and she would be willing to adopt it. None of these three characters knows how this baby will dramatically change their lives. I found the thinking and assimilation process of the three characters very believable, as if each of them were telling me exactly how they thought and felt.
January 4, 2014
"This Fragile Life" by Kate Hewitt is a beautiful, emotionally draining read.
I came across this book a while ago on Amazon and thought it looked an excellent read. I've not read anything by this author before, I really loved her style of writing.
This book is predominantly about two women ~ one who couldn't have children, the other who fell pregnant then decided to help her friend.....
This story is so much more than this.....
It left me an emotional wreck. I smiled, I laughed, I cried....
A wonderful read which will stay in your mind for a long time.
I came across this book a while ago on Amazon and thought it looked an excellent read. I've not read anything by this author before, I really loved her style of writing.
This book is predominantly about two women ~ one who couldn't have children, the other who fell pregnant then decided to help her friend.....
This story is so much more than this.....
It left me an emotional wreck. I smiled, I laughed, I cried....
A wonderful read which will stay in your mind for a long time.
January 3, 2014
I was utterly swept away by this book. Martha and Alex are so beautifully depicted, that you feel every heart-breaking, often unexpected twist and turn of their stories. Its honesty about the sadness of life and the fragility of existence is as compelling as anything I've ever read. I simply couldn't put it down. It is a brilliant, touching book, which will move you to tears and stay with you long after the final page.
March 28, 2014
Beautifully and sensitively written. This is the story of a friendship forever changed by possibility, and unpredictability.
Hewitt writes characters that grip your heart, and makes you feel the pain they are suffering, and the hope they experience.
An emotional read, but recommended nonetheless.
Hewitt writes characters that grip your heart, and makes you feel the pain they are suffering, and the hope they experience.
An emotional read, but recommended nonetheless.
February 10, 2014
this book was excellent. Have Kleenex available while reading because you will cry.
June 22, 2020
If I want to bore someone to death I'll give them this book to read.
December 7, 2014
A beautiful novel.
April 15, 2018
Oh wow, just a second while I gather my thoughts and take myself off this emotional roller-coaster that was This Fragile Life. I don’t even know where to begin and how to give this tear-jerker justice, yes you will need tissues.
Alex and Martha are friends but are complete opposites to each other. Alex is a bit of a mess, she works in a cafe and teaches children art. She lives in a rough area of NY and she’s single. Martha is married to Rob, lives in a nice area of NY and has a job in advertising. Martha seems to have it all together however she’s missing a child from her life. After 5 failed IVF attempts, Martha and Rob call it quits, until Alex becomes pregnant. Alex can’t look after a child and there’s an arrangement where Martha and Rob will adopt Alex’s baby.
Now, I don’t know if I could ever give a baby up for adoption especially to friends but Alex is in a mess, she’s struggling. So it seems the best solution for all, but is it?
This book is emotional, it’s raw and it’s absolutely heart-breaking. My heart was in bits whilst reading this and throughout I had that question, what would I do if I was Alex? The characters are well-written and we alternate chapters between Alex and Martha’s voices so we get inside both of their heads and know what they’re thinking.
I found myself preferring Alex to Martha, Alex was more like me I found whereas Martha was more uptight and always had her mask on. Martha also seemed a bit of a bitch at times and everything had to be done her way, sometimes I felt really sorry for Alex and the emotions she went through. My heart did also break for Martha as I would also hate to be in her situation – last resort for having a child.
Kate’s writing is just brilliant, it flows really well and you just have to keep reading as you get sucked into the lives of Martha and Alex. It’s a touching read that will break the hearts of many but it is an important read. I’m sure there are lots of couples in the position of Martha and Rob and are wishing a friend would give them their baby, it would solve a lot of problems right? Well, after reading this, I don’t think it would solve anything. Read it for yourself and make your own mind up.
Now, I have read some reviews of this book that have completely spoiled it, thankfully I read them after I read this book. So if you are intrigued about this book, don’t go searching for more reviews as you’ll be shocked and annoyed by what some of the reviews have revealed. Just grab a copy of the book, some chocolate and tissues and settle down for the day.
Alex and Martha are friends but are complete opposites to each other. Alex is a bit of a mess, she works in a cafe and teaches children art. She lives in a rough area of NY and she’s single. Martha is married to Rob, lives in a nice area of NY and has a job in advertising. Martha seems to have it all together however she’s missing a child from her life. After 5 failed IVF attempts, Martha and Rob call it quits, until Alex becomes pregnant. Alex can’t look after a child and there’s an arrangement where Martha and Rob will adopt Alex’s baby.
Now, I don’t know if I could ever give a baby up for adoption especially to friends but Alex is in a mess, she’s struggling. So it seems the best solution for all, but is it?
This book is emotional, it’s raw and it’s absolutely heart-breaking. My heart was in bits whilst reading this and throughout I had that question, what would I do if I was Alex? The characters are well-written and we alternate chapters between Alex and Martha’s voices so we get inside both of their heads and know what they’re thinking.
I found myself preferring Alex to Martha, Alex was more like me I found whereas Martha was more uptight and always had her mask on. Martha also seemed a bit of a bitch at times and everything had to be done her way, sometimes I felt really sorry for Alex and the emotions she went through. My heart did also break for Martha as I would also hate to be in her situation – last resort for having a child.
Kate’s writing is just brilliant, it flows really well and you just have to keep reading as you get sucked into the lives of Martha and Alex. It’s a touching read that will break the hearts of many but it is an important read. I’m sure there are lots of couples in the position of Martha and Rob and are wishing a friend would give them their baby, it would solve a lot of problems right? Well, after reading this, I don’t think it would solve anything. Read it for yourself and make your own mind up.
Now, I have read some reviews of this book that have completely spoiled it, thankfully I read them after I read this book. So if you are intrigued about this book, don’t go searching for more reviews as you’ll be shocked and annoyed by what some of the reviews have revealed. Just grab a copy of the book, some chocolate and tissues and settle down for the day.
April 27, 2018
When I first read the blurb for this book I knew it was going to be emotional but I was not really prepared for this book at all.
I’ll be honest and say that at the start I wasn’t sure if I was going to like either of the characters, but especially Martha, she was so severe and upfront and I thought that maybe because I wasn’t keen on her that it would ruin the impact of the book. Over time though I ended up understanding both Alex and Martha’s motivations and admiring them.
I loved the growth in the characters, with the situations that they get put in they start to show you sides that you wouldn’t pick up on at first, they show you what they are worth and even though it isn’t plain sailing for either of them, the way the ultimately are with each other was wonderful to read.
I loved the honesty of this story, these are two people that are friends but in such a tense and emotional situation how they feel about each other and how they start to act around each other felt so real, it was great that Ms. Hewitt didn’t shy away from it.
I thought I was maybe going to find this book hard to get into because it’s an emotional subject, although I found I was easily hooked. However, there did come a point that I started to feel like it was getting a little repetitive with how the characters were thinking and I worried that we would be continually be going over these same thoughts and that I might lose interest, luckily though it didn’t last long and as the story moved on I got even more invested.
Which is maybe a bit of a double-edged sword because the story was so heartbreaking, I ended up having to get a box of tissues, my eyes would not stop streaming, I got so emotional that I had to put the book down for a while to recover because the words were blurring. Do not read this without some tissues handy because you will certainly need it!! It’s not often that I get that emotional so I have to salute the author for being able to pull at my heartstrings in such a way.
This is a wonderful book, very emotional but a lovely story about two women pulling through difficulties to become their best selves, grab some tissues and get reading.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
I’ll be honest and say that at the start I wasn’t sure if I was going to like either of the characters, but especially Martha, she was so severe and upfront and I thought that maybe because I wasn’t keen on her that it would ruin the impact of the book. Over time though I ended up understanding both Alex and Martha’s motivations and admiring them.
I loved the growth in the characters, with the situations that they get put in they start to show you sides that you wouldn’t pick up on at first, they show you what they are worth and even though it isn’t plain sailing for either of them, the way the ultimately are with each other was wonderful to read.
I loved the honesty of this story, these are two people that are friends but in such a tense and emotional situation how they feel about each other and how they start to act around each other felt so real, it was great that Ms. Hewitt didn’t shy away from it.
I thought I was maybe going to find this book hard to get into because it’s an emotional subject, although I found I was easily hooked. However, there did come a point that I started to feel like it was getting a little repetitive with how the characters were thinking and I worried that we would be continually be going over these same thoughts and that I might lose interest, luckily though it didn’t last long and as the story moved on I got even more invested.
Which is maybe a bit of a double-edged sword because the story was so heartbreaking, I ended up having to get a box of tissues, my eyes would not stop streaming, I got so emotional that I had to put the book down for a while to recover because the words were blurring. Do not read this without some tissues handy because you will certainly need it!! It’s not often that I get that emotional so I have to salute the author for being able to pull at my heartstrings in such a way.
This is a wonderful book, very emotional but a lovely story about two women pulling through difficulties to become their best selves, grab some tissues and get reading.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
February 25, 2024
I'm not sure that I was the right intended audience for this story.
Two adult women friends, one (Alex) lives her life a bit on the edge, carefree, barely making ends meet; while the other (Martha) lives a more sophisticated, "adult" life. Martha and her husband have been trying via IVF for a baby but keep failing. They have just give up on the process when Alex finds out she is pregnant from a one night stand with an ex boyfriend. Alex has had two terminations in the past but this time she decides to keep it. But can she be a mother? In her walk up small flat with no a.c. in the middle of NYC? Or would it be best to give it to Martha via private adoption?
TBH, I felt a lot of antipathy towards Alex throughout the story. I felt like she was stringing Martha along, not recognizing the pain Martha has already experienced and would experience further if Alex changes her mind at the last minute.
And then,
And that's why I think I'm not the intended audience for this book.
Two adult women friends, one (Alex) lives her life a bit on the edge, carefree, barely making ends meet; while the other (Martha) lives a more sophisticated, "adult" life. Martha and her husband have been trying via IVF for a baby but keep failing. They have just give up on the process when Alex finds out she is pregnant from a one night stand with an ex boyfriend. Alex has had two terminations in the past but this time she decides to keep it. But can she be a mother? In her walk up small flat with no a.c. in the middle of NYC? Or would it be best to give it to Martha via private adoption?
TBH, I felt a lot of antipathy towards Alex throughout the story. I felt like she was stringing Martha along, not recognizing the pain Martha has already experienced and would experience further if Alex changes her mind at the last minute.
And then,
And that's why I think I'm not the intended audience for this book.
January 19, 2023
Wow, this book ripped my heart out about six times over. The first half of the book, I thought I was going to have my heart ripped out because of one aspect, but then there is a huge twist, and it was something else entirely. Very well written, though.
The story centers on two friends. Alex is from an impoverished background and lives in a tiny one room studio with no air conditioning in NYC. She works two jobs to make ends meet, and barely scrapes by. She has no steady boyfriend. Her mother is cold and distant. Martha is a control freak who has a controlling, critical mother. She and her husband Rob, who is warm and lovely, are very well off. Martha desperately wants a baby and has been through five failed rounds of IVF. Alex gets pregnant after a one-night stand. She doesn’t believe she can keep the baby given her circumstances. Martha offers to adopt the baby.
I love the way Kate Hewitt dug into all the right heart wrenching emotional complications on both sides. The chapters were written from dual POVs and that worked really well. Then there is a twist that comes about halfway through… and it makes the situation even more complex and heartbreaking than before. I cried as I was reading this novel, but found it extremely well written. I thought the way the character’s backstories and relationships with their families of origin were especially well developed. 5/5 stars.
The story centers on two friends. Alex is from an impoverished background and lives in a tiny one room studio with no air conditioning in NYC. She works two jobs to make ends meet, and barely scrapes by. She has no steady boyfriend. Her mother is cold and distant. Martha is a control freak who has a controlling, critical mother. She and her husband Rob, who is warm and lovely, are very well off. Martha desperately wants a baby and has been through five failed rounds of IVF. Alex gets pregnant after a one-night stand. She doesn’t believe she can keep the baby given her circumstances. Martha offers to adopt the baby.
I love the way Kate Hewitt dug into all the right heart wrenching emotional complications on both sides. The chapters were written from dual POVs and that worked really well. Then there is a twist that comes about halfway through… and it makes the situation even more complex and heartbreaking than before. I cried as I was reading this novel, but found it extremely well written. I thought the way the character’s backstories and relationships with their families of origin were especially well developed. 5/5 stars.
March 29, 2018
Kate Hewitt is well known for writing about finding love. Her words flow with a gentle rhythm that embraces the reader's heart. This time Kate tackles something more difficult, even controversial. This is a topic with no simple answer or happily ever after. It definitely is about love, but also heartbreak.
This is a story about infertility and adoption and all that can go wrong with the process. It is a story about life and death. More than that it is a story of relationships and personal growth.
The book is told in alternating viewpoints from Martha, who has always dreamed of being a mother, and Alex, who has already had two abortions and doesn't see room for a child in her future.
We learn about their friendship and about their relationships with their own families.
PERCEPTION is a major influence in this book.
Although the writing is beautiful and the story flows, this is not an easy book to read. It tugs at every emotion and makes the reader look at herself and her own beliefs. One can not predict how she, herself, would respond or react in the same situation. When all is said and done, this is a book about love.
This is a story about infertility and adoption and all that can go wrong with the process. It is a story about life and death. More than that it is a story of relationships and personal growth.
The book is told in alternating viewpoints from Martha, who has always dreamed of being a mother, and Alex, who has already had two abortions and doesn't see room for a child in her future.
We learn about their friendship and about their relationships with their own families.
PERCEPTION is a major influence in this book.
Although the writing is beautiful and the story flows, this is not an easy book to read. It tugs at every emotion and makes the reader look at herself and her own beliefs. One can not predict how she, herself, would respond or react in the same situation. When all is said and done, this is a book about love.
October 3, 2024
4.5/5.
Another incredible, heartbreakingly beautiful story by Kate Hewitt. She writes characters so amazingly; they are crafted with so many imperfections yet you can’t help support and love and root for them the whole time. Except Martha pissed me off many times in this book but I can see where she was coming from after finishing the book. geesh poor Alex. Such a freaking brave and selfless woman for choosing to have her child (Timeo) even after the amniocentesis showed it would have under a year to live (Zellweger syndrome). I love how the book started out so so messy, such an emotional rollercoaster to both Martha and Alex truly finding themselves, finding their purpose, their sense of happiness. Alex and Eduardo 😭😭 I was so totally rooting for them. I really wanted Alex to adopt Roman in the end but I’m so happy Eduardo and Alex admitted their love for each other.
Another incredible, heartbreakingly beautiful story by Kate Hewitt. She writes characters so amazingly; they are crafted with so many imperfections yet you can’t help support and love and root for them the whole time. Except Martha pissed me off many times in this book but I can see where she was coming from after finishing the book. geesh poor Alex. Such a freaking brave and selfless woman for choosing to have her child (Timeo) even after the amniocentesis showed it would have under a year to live (Zellweger syndrome). I love how the book started out so so messy, such an emotional rollercoaster to both Martha and Alex truly finding themselves, finding their purpose, their sense of happiness. Alex and Eduardo 😭😭 I was so totally rooting for them. I really wanted Alex to adopt Roman in the end but I’m so happy Eduardo and Alex admitted their love for each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2017
I was hoping for something with a bit happier of an ending. Since Friday all movies, tv shows, and books have been doom and gloom and this book wasn't an exception to that rule. It seemed straight forward enough with the pregnancy and the friend and adoption and stuff and then an emotional time bomb went off and things went seriously off track. If nothing else the book was thought provoking and you could see all sides and the sense of what everyone was saying but there really wasn't a right answer, and the end results would be the same no matter what. I am glad that the relationships came through mostly intact and the book ended if not on a happy note at least on a hopeful one.
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