Please Take My Baby

by Emma Robinson

As I hand my newborn baby to my mother, I see the softness in her face as she gazes down at the tiny, helpless girl in her arms. And I feel my heart shatter as I say the words that will change all our lives… ‘Please, take my baby.’

I know she will be better off without me. But as I leave her behind that dark night, I wonder, will I ever see my baby again?

Will I have the chance to explain to little Erin why I had to go? Even if I do find the strength to return, what will my mother have told her?

Only one person really knows what happened, and why I had to do what I did.

I know the truth will come out some day. I don’t expect forgiveness. The only thing I hope is that my family can survive the fallout…

A heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting tale about the sacrifices mothers make for their children, this story will make you hold your loved ones tight. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Kate Hewitt.

Genres: Audiobook, Contemporary, Fiction

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2023

About the author

Emma Robinson is a USA Today Bestseller with a passion for stories which explore the power of family and friendship in the most challenging circumstances. Whilst her early novels are humorous; her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming.

Emma currently lives in Essex, England with a husband, two children and a small black dog.

Reviews

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please Take My Baby
By Emma Robinson
Pub Date: 17 Oct 2023
Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction
Rating: 4/5

Emma Robinson's Please Take My Baby is honest, realistic and heartbreaking, making it an emotional journey. It provides a candid look at the struggles of parenthood and the risks taken for the sake of a child, making it a powerful reminder of the bond shared between parent and child.

Erin, a single mother caring for her ailing mother and teen daughter, is searching for Imogen, a mysterious figure in her life. As its plot is presented, it depicts the strength that a parent must bring to the table through family, love, pain, and resilience in the face of adversity. It's an exploration of hope and courage that will resonate with many readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this book with me. This is my first read by Emma Robinson and I look forward to her future work.

#PleaseTakeMyBaby #EmmaRobinson #books #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #netgalley

[Catbytheseareads ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin, a divorced single mom, who finds out about her family’s past as she navigates through raising a teenager and moving them in with her Mum who has progressing dementia.. It hits home for me as my mother is at the beginning stages of dementia and I’ve moved to be with her seeing it get much worse.

It’s beautiful writing. The way she shares about memories and the love that can only come from mothers is magical. This is a great book about mothers, daughter and grandmothers bonding and making up for years missing one another, as well as what it takes to get there.

A great HEA filled with hope.
3.75 stars round up
#postpartumpsychosis

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free copy of this arc to review.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early! This book had such an interesting premise, but the way it was executed made it very basic and forgettable. Despite what the synopsis would lead you to believe, our main character is Erin. She's a UK mom to a teen daughter with an ex husband who is trying to move to the US and a mother struggling with dementia. She finds a picture of her mom and a young baby who she knows is not herself, so who is it? We know from the very beginning of the book that the baby, whom she assumes is an estranged sister, is her actual mother; the mother who raised her is her grandmother. I really wish we didn't find that out with her in the first chapter because it eliminated any tension and the rest was just waiting to find out why and how it all happened. I liked how this book touched on how we treat people with postpartum psychosis and other mood disorders, but I still couldn't relate to or understand the actions of Imogen (the mother). Overall, this was just fine.

[Megan | _The.Brunette.Bookworm_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. It had a good bones, it was written well, and the plot in characters were well played out.

But it just fell a little short for me. I didn’t think it was mine, blowing or anything that stands out.

Overall though, it’s a good book

[Angharad Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine meeting up with who you always knew as your older sister to be told “ I’m not your sister Erin I am your mother “ …

Impactful opening chapter than drew me straight in !!

This book follows the story of Erin and the trials that she is facing in the current day . Her daughter Harriet is toying with the idea of moving to the USA with her dad , her mother has deteriorating dementia , work stresses when she is thrown this bombshell .

Gut wrenching story line , Erin’s struggle to get the truth from her mum before the dementia takes all her memories away , finding out why Imogen felt she had to give her up to discover the devastating truth , looking into post natal desperation and the impact it had on her birth mother .

Superb book whilst emotional really enjoyed it .

Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read this for my honest review .

[Rachel Irodenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book early. This book was such a great story, I read it as an audiobook and loved the narrator which I have found is really important when listening to books. This story has so many twists and turns it keeps you on your toes wanting to know more. I loved how the overall story unfolded, making a more positive outcome of crappy situations. This book didn’t leave with many questions which was great because they were all answered. The only thing I wish we had was an epilogue that gave a little update on the family maybe a year later. Overall a wonderful story and I plan to read more of the authors. Definitely worth a quick read/listen

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Aaron moves in with her mom Ava due to her mom‘s growing dementia Aaron‘s daughter Harriet isn’t happy about it but while getting her stuff set up in her room she finds a cracker tin full of documents and pictures and then one of the pictures Aaron sees her mom holding a plump little girl and her mom has a Big smile on her face. Aaron knows this isn’t her because she was a scrawny little thing and she could tell by the way her mom is looking at the picture that she knows who it is yet says she doesn’t this is when Aaron calls her aunt Marcel who lives in Australia when she finds out the baby‘s name is Imogen she wants to know more and what she finds out will rock her world but bring closer and peace to another’s. She is also dealing with her ex Simon who without her knowledge sent her daughter Harriad beautiful pictures of California telling her she could move with him and his new wife and start high school there. Aaron cannot compete financially with Simon but she isn’t letting Harriet move to another country without a fight or at all. This book was mostly about Ava and Aaron and Imogen and at the end Marcel the only reason I bring up the bit with the dad is because I noticed when reading books with single moms from Britain the mom could be poor while the dad lives a lavish lifestyle do they not make men pay child support there? In America the absent parent has to keep the child living at the level they were accustomed to but it seems in Britain it is A-OK for a mom and her child to be destitute but I am going off topic completely! This is a great book and at one point it even made me feel like I was going to cry when Marcel came from Australia I won’t say more because I don’t want to give anything away this is such a great book in at first I thought it was a thriller but it doesn’t really and it’s so good so heartfelt and every real thing that people go through. I listen to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a stellar job so kudos to her she did an excellent performance. I want to thank Bookoucher a and Net Galley for my free audio arc please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Georgi 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me in too many tears. A wonderful story, very heartbreaking which fortunately had a happy end.

It cached me from the prologue which literally left me with my mouth open - finding out that your sister is actually your mom can raise so many questions which made me very impatient to find all the answers.

Even the title of the book kind of makes you think that's something heartbreaking that's going to happen in the book.

I would read this again and of course, I would highly recommend it.

Thanks, NetGalley, Bookature Audio and the Autor for offering me an advance audio copy of the book in return for my honest review.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening chapter, where Erin tracks down the sister she never knew she had, was a real emotional pull.

Followed by a gut-punch of a twist; “I’m not your sister, I’m your mother!” And that was me in for the ride! WOW!

Erin needs to understand why her birth mother, Imogen gave her up, but Imogen isn’t talking and neither is Erin’s mum, Ava, who has dementia.

This book is beautifully written and super emotional and Erin navigates the path of caring for Ava and searching for the truth about her past, while also learning to let go of her own teenage daughter, Harriet, who is leaving to live in the USA, with her father.

An impactful story with well developed and relatable characters. A really good read.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Emma Robinson and Bookouture for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[The Book Review Café · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your looking for a family drama that’s going to pull on the heartstrings look no further. Please Take My Baby is a compelling drama that deals with subjects that some readers may find upsetting. Although Emma Robinson tackles these uncomfortable subjects with genuine empathy. But ultimately it’s an uplifting tale about the sacrifices mothers make for their children.

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[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and author for a complimentary copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I know I'm in the minority, but I didn't love this book despite the intriguing premise. Erin, a divorced single mom, is of the sandwich generation, taking care of an elderly mother with dementia as well as a teenage daughter. While going through some photos, she finds one of a young woman and on the back, it says Imogen. When asking her mother about her, it gets her agitated. Erin has never heard or seen this Imogen before and wonders what the connection is to her mother.

This multi-layered story was interesting, I just don't think it was executed well. Things moved too slowly for my liking, and I found myself skimming through chapters to try and find when the story would actually progress. At about 70% and a week of trudging through the book, I skimmed through the end just so I knew what happened.

I'd give this 2.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads. In keeping with my policy, I will not be reviewing books below three stars on my blog or posting on social media, only on Goodreads.

[Melissa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this heartwarming story!!

This is a story about what it truly means to be a mother and the sacrifices they make along the way. We are shown how difficult it can be to let go. It was a page turner for me, I really enjoyed it!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three generations of women in a family with long lost secrets deal with them when they all are exposed.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. I've read a few by this author and she never disappoints.

Erin and her daughter Harriet have moved in with her mother as she is in the early stages of dementia. This is a story that will really pull at your heartstrings in more ways than one - the dementia, the story around Imogen who is named on a photograph but Erin has never heard of her before and the heartbreaking decision Harriet has to make.

I won't go into too much detail as I don't want to spoil it but a very well-deserved 5⭐️

[Marimirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Erin, Rezeptionistin in einem Hotel, findet bei ihrer dementen Mutter ein Foto eines unbekannten Babies, welches mit Imogen beschriftet ist. Auf der Suche nach ihrer vermeintlichen Schwester findet sie heraus, dass alles ganz anders ist als sie dachte.

Der Klappentext des Buches verfährt meiner Meinung nach viel zu viel über den Inhalt. Ich habe ihn zum Glück vor dem Lesen nicht nochmals gewürdigt, so dass ich sehr unvoreingenommen in die Geschichte eintauchen konnte. Allerdings hat auch das nur bedingt zum Erfolg beigetragen. Ich habe nicht so Recht hineingefunden. Für mein Empfinden hat es einfach ewig gedauert, bis sich etwas Spannung aufgebaut hat (welche dann auch überschaubar war) bzw bis die Geschichte überhaupt ins Rollen kam.

Im Nachhinein betrachtet muss ich sagen, dass Erin eine sehr authentische Protagonistin ist. Sie muss mit vielen Dingen klar kommen, wie zB der Demenz ihrer Mutter oder den Überlegungen ihrer jugendlichen Tochter von London in die USA zu ziehen. Ihre Gedanken und Handlungen waren für mich sehr gut nachvollziehbar und man konnte ihr Gefühlschaos richtig spüren. Das hätte aber viel besser verpackt werden können, indem die Autorin etwas mehr Tempo aufgenommen und einen größeren Spannungsbogen kreiert hätte. So hatte ich leider kaum das Gefühl, ich müsste das Buch wieder in die Hand nehmen um zu erfahren, wie es weiter geht. Erst ganz gegen Ende des Buches wollte ich es dann doch wissen.

Leider konnte mich das Buch nicht überzeugen, obwohl die Idee dahinter gut aber definitiv ausbaufähig wäre.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When you’re told a mother makes sacrifices, you think of the sleepless nights and the wrecking of your body and the nights you’ll have to stay home. But they are easy when compared with the biggest sacrifice. The one where you have to let them go. Worse, you have to make them feel as if they can walk away and not look back. Freedom without strings.”

My heart was not ready for this book. A story about identity and the relationship between a mother and her children that explores the sacrifices mothers make and what it means to really put your child first. Gut-wrenchingly emotional and moving, it broke my heart into pieces before putting them back together again.

A story about four generations of women, a family secret that has been hidden for decades, and life-changing decisions, it centres around Erin, a forty-something divorcee who has recently moved back into her mother Ava’s home to help care for her as she battles dementia. The pair have always had a strained relationship and there is added tension in the home as Erin’s fifteen-year-old daughter, Harriet, is far from happy with the move as it meant leaving her school and friends behind. But it’is when Erin finds a photograph of her mother holding a baby she’s never seen before that things really begin to unravel, leading Erin to a shocking discovery that makes her question everything about herself and her life.

“Layer upon layer of lies. Her whole childhood covered and hidden and papered over. Now those layers were peeling and tearing apart and what was she going to find underneath?”

Emma Robinson has created a beautifully and sensitively written story filled with compelling and real characters that make you feel everything they do. I felt like I walked in Erin’s shoes at every step and there were times I had to put the book down to compose myself before picking it up again. Themes of maternal sacrifice that run through every facet of the story but it was Erin’s agony over Harriet possibly moving away to live with her father that resonated most with me. Having recently sent my eldest off to university in another city I felt her pain in my soul but loved that she chose to put her daughter’s best interests above her own again and again.

“Hang on in there. That's how she felt, like she was hanging on by her fingernails to both her mother's past and her daughter's future. What would happen if she let go?”

Dementia is not an easy subject to write about but Robinson deals with it brilliantly, her skill for writing difficult subjects in a candid but sensitive way evident once again. She provides a raw, honest, emotional, and detailed exploration of dementia, the emotions it stirs up, and the repercussions for the patient’s whole family. I felt Ava’s confusion and fear as she moved between lucidity and forgetting simple things like how to make a cup of tea and Erin’s heartache and devastation was palpable, reminding me of how I felt watching my own grandmother descend deeper into dementia.

Heartfelt, poignant and affirming, Please Take My Baby is a powerful and thought-provoking read that I highly recommend. Just make sure you have a box full of tissues handy.

[buzy_reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

All it took was one photo to change how Erin looked at her life. As Erin cares for her mother she is reminded of the woman who raised her.
…
Please Take My Baby hits you in the heart. A direct punch in the feels. Emma Robinson came out punching. There was no holding back with those words from Imogen to Erin.
…
Erin’s eighty year old mother Ava lives with her and her daughter Harriet ever since dementia stole her memories. Erin’s life has been turned upside down between the divorce, her mother’s dementia, Imogen, and her daughter’s decision to move away.
…
Emma Robinson tells a story about Erin’s life as a mother, daughter, and divorcee. The early years of living with Ava as a mother is filled with pages of a woman who took control of Erin’s life. In between pages of her past upbringing are pages of life lessons with Erin learning to navigate being a mother who shares custody of her daughter while living back home with her mother who suffers from dementia. Navigating life’s changes from new management at work, her daughters interest in moving, and finding out who Imogen is.
…
What I liked is how Erin organized her time between work, taking care of her mother and daughter, while also taking time for herself. I liked how Erin dealt with her ex-husband. It’s not easy to navigate a relationship with someone you’re no longer with. When children are in the picture making time and adjustments is par for the course. Emma Robinson showed that life isn’t easy. It’s messy and uncertain. With a plan of action life can be sorted into categories and dealt with accordingly. I like how realistic Emma Robinson portrayed both sides of this illness from Erin’s perspective as well as Ava’s. It’s a challenging illness where everybody reacts differently. I enjoyed the way Emma Robinson brought the topic of being a mother into the story both from Ava’s perspective and Erin’s. Dropping that secret about Imogen led to a curious game of wondering what happened. It was fabulous trying to figure that out.
…
I felt a familiar sense of understanding regarding Erin’s situation with dementia. Time is if the essence when dealing with memory loss and realizing the person who has raised you has answers to questions about your past. In order for those memories to survive they need to be documented and discussed before time runs out.
…
The plot is interesting. It’s multi-layered with Erin at the forefront of the story. Between dealing with her mother who has dementia, a teenage daughter moving forward in life, work and finding out the truth about Imogen it’s all very realistic.
…
Emma Robison created a realistic situation about relationships between parents and their children. I enjoyed the various ways Emma represented each relationship by describing how each situation affected both the parents and the children. Each situation opens up a new chapter in their lives. I appreciated the ingenuity of Emma’s advice and thought process to formulate a plan of action.

[Teresa Nikolic · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Erin's fifteen year old daughter Harriet announces that her dad Simon has asked her to move with him and his new wife to California Erin is left floundering, how can she let someone that is her whole world leave hers? After having time to consider it she knows that if it's what Harriet really wants she can't stand in her way, however much it may break her. Whilst retrieving a suitcase from her mother's loft for Harriet to use on her initial visit, Erin stumbles across a box of papers including some old photos, what she learns from this find leaves her questioning her whole existence and she's determined to find out why she's been kept in the dark her whole life.

Please Take My Baby talks about the complexities of family relationships and the lengths a parent will go to in order to protect their children and ensure they have the best life possible, and this is clearly evident from the challenges we learn about here. This story covers some very sensitive subjects such as dementia and post partum psychosis and the author deals with these with dignity and compassion, but also the subject of nurturing your children to a point where they are ready to spread their wings and move on into a world where they're not totally dependent on you anymore and, having gone through this twice, in quick succession, with my two children, this is where this story hit me hard. After being the centre of their world for so long it is hard to let go, but oh so rewarding when you see the well grounded, independent human beings they become and Erin did the right thing for Harriet by not holding her back. This is a heartwrenching, yet heartwarming tale by Robinson who takes real life events and, putting pen to paper, turns them into a work of art, this latest story is nothing short of exquisite. You will need tissues!

I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

[Hijabi_booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩One image was all that was necessary to alter Erin's perspective on her existence. Erin is reminded of the woman who reared her as she takes care of her mother. You feel the heartbreak of Please Take My Baby. a strong blow to the gut. Emma Robinson started off with a punch. Imogen spoke to Erin without holding back in any way. Since dementia stole her memories, Erin's 80-year-old mother Ava now resides with her and her daughter Harriet. With the divorce, her mother's dementia, Imogen, and her daughter's desire to leave, Erin's life has been completely upended. Erin's life as a mother, a daughter, and a divorcee is depicted in a story by Emma Robinson. The early years of living with Ava as Erin's mother are replete with accounts of a woman who oversaw her life. Erin learns how to manage being a mother who shares custody of her kid while living at home with her dementia-stricken mother in between chapters of her prior childhood. navigating the changes in her life, including the new management at work, her daughter's desire to move, and discovering Imogen's identity. What I like about Erin's time management was how she balanced work, caring for her mother and kid, and finding time for herself. I appreciated Erin's approach to her ex-husband. Navigating a relationship with a person you're no longer with is difficult. Making time and changes when there are kids involved is standard procedure. Emma Robinson demonstrated that life is difficult. It's chaotic and unreliable. Life can be categorized and handled appropriately with a plan of action. I like how well Emma Robinson captured both sides of this sickness from Erin's and Ava's perspectives. It's a difficult illness where every person responds differently. I liked how Emma Robinson included the subject of motherhood into the narrative from both Erin and Ava's perspectives. Disclosing that Imogen-related information sparked a strange game of imagining what transpired. It was a blast attempting to solve that.

[Tonya Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Please Take My Baby" written by Emma Robinson and narrated by Sofia Zervudachi, is a heart-wrenching book that pulls at your heartstrings! A beautiful and emotional story that captures the struggles and love of four generations - Ava, Imogen, Erin and Harriet.

Erin, a hardworking single mother, finds herself caring for her mother, Ava, raising a teenage daughter, Harriet, and working in hotel management all while she is struggling to better understand who is in a photograph her daughter found in an old biscuit tin. Hariett showed Ava, who is suffering with dementia, the photograph and learned the photo was of someone named Imogen. Erin sets out determined to learn more about Imogen and find her as she believes Imogen is her sister and her mother's daughter.

Emma does a wonderful job of diving into an emotional storyline that involves memory loss, depression, family protecting family, postpartum psychosis, and so much more. Though uncomfortable topics, Emma shows genuine empathy and understanding through her characters.

Sofia does an excellent job of changing tones and voices through the various characters and her accept fits the part!
 
Even after completing this read, I continue to look back at the challenges and think of the ways parents try to protect their children. #postpartumpsychosis

Thank you #NetGalley and #Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this early audio version in exchange for a review. All opinions and thoughts are those of my own.

[sjoyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prologue Ruined Suspense!

Please Take My Baby was neither "utterly heart-wrenching" nor was it a "powerfully emotional family drama" as the subtitle stated. The title was also misleading. The Prologue told you who Erin and Imogen were to each other, which ruined any suspense.

The book held my interest because it made me so angry. Erin's ex-husband was a jerk who manipulated their daughter for his own purposes. Erin allowed it. Erin's mother/grandmother didn't always have dementia. She knew exactly what she was doing by keeping Imogen and Erin apart.

She did Erin a disservice by raising without showing any love for her. Yes, she kept both Erin and Imogen safe but had her own selfish reason for doing so. She was hiding her own secrets. She could have kept them both safe by being honest. Erin's father/grandfather was a terrible human being who cared for no one. They both damaged Erin which caused her to marry her ex-husband and allowed him to take advantage of her.

I only felt sorry for Imogen who was the real victim. She was the person with more courage than her mother or father. Imogen didn't know the real truth behind her mother's actions. Even when she found out, she loved her mother in spite of it. Erin was also victimized but she allowed her daughter to be victimized and used by her ex-husband. I know, Erin did it out of love for her daughter.

Most will have a different opinion about the book. Therefore, it's best that you read it for yourself. It is worth reading!

[Eva Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please Take My Baby by Emma Robinson, an audiobook narrated by Sofia Zervudachi is definitely an utterly heart-wrenching and powerfully emotional family drama! This story wraps out your heart and makes you question constantly - why? It was a sad and touching story! I loved every single part of it!
There wasn't too many point of view or too many characters so it was easy to follow and no confusion over things! Brilliantly made emotional rollercoaster!

Erin, a divorced mum, facing a challenge - her teenage daughter wants to move to America to live with her father and his new wife. As much as Erin would like to pay attention to this she can't as she must look after her elderly mother who has dementia. Things are hard but on top of all this Erin discovers that her mother has another daughter! Erin is dedicated to finding who is she and why no one ever mentioned that she has an older sister!

I can't express how grateful I am to receive this audiobook as Sofia Zervudachi made this book so real! The emotions were so real! I was listening and sometimes forgot that it was a book as it felt like a watching film!

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook, I can't recommend it enough!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Please Take My Baby’ is an emotional read that explores the complexity of motherhood in the face of mental illness.

Erin is a single mother and the caretaker of her elderly mother, Ava, who has dementia. When Ava’s dementia causes her to spill a major family secret, Erin learns that Ava is her grandmother. Her real mother, Imogen, abandoned her as a baby after suffering from postpartum psychosis.

It is, at times, a really hard story to read, but it does justice to all of its characters, neither demonizing nor glorifying the mentally ill Imogen.

Postpartum mental health isn’t taken seriously enough nor is it understood well enough, but things have come a long way from when Imogen was a mother. We see how three different women respond to unplanned babies in ways that feel realistic.

While a lot of the story is incredibly sad, it ends on a hopeful (mixed, not unrealistically positive) note. It was an enjoyable read - definitely not a light beach read, but I think mothers in particular will find it interesting.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Miranda YEUNG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please Take My Baby by Emma Robinson

Emotional, heartbroken, but a story that full of sacrifices, love and motherhood.

She passed her newborn baby to her mother, said “Please take my baby.”

Among all these years, Erin had no idea about her true identity. Until the day her daughter found a picture in a biscuit tin at their home. Erin thought it was herself and her mother Ava. But it’s not…Erin could not get the straight answer from her dementia mother.

The story then followed along Erin was finding the truth. She discovered more about the secrets and history of her family.

It was totally touched by the story. Perfectly written storyplot. How a mother took care of herself after giving birth, how helpless a mother felt, how fragile a mother could be…all these feelings were strongly showed in the story.

I also loved how smartly the author put Erin as the center character by putting her as a daughter and at the same time a mother. Erin could then show her strong side as a mother and the understanding side as a daughter.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Emma for this beautifully written book.

Pub date: Oct 17, 2023

[Cece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please Take My Baby chronicles the journey of three generations of women, dealing with immense heartbreak, sacrifice and loss.

For Erin, a long-kept secret threatens to expose decades of heartbreakingly tough decisions made in moments of duress. But will this secret break bonds or strengthen them? This book is a testament to what lengths a mother will go to to protect her child.

Divorced mother of one Erin is juggling work, motherhood and taking care of her aged mother suffering from dementia. A photo of a stranger raises questions that could change not only Erins life but that of her mother and her daughter too.

It's a roller coaster ride of emotions, with HEA. It all works out in the end and everything falls into place.

The book wasn't as intriguing as the synopsis hinted it would be, however, the story telling was great though! There was no big reveal, the story unfolded too easily, the secret was revealed prematurely in my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my free copy of this arc to review.

[Kerrie Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another absolutely fab read from Emma

She has written another emotional rollercoaster of a book.
The characters were all relatable and I truest felt all the emotions of the characters and experiences they were going through.

Erin’s world is about to be turned upside down. She’s recently moved herself and her 15 year old daughter back to her mother’s house. Her mother has been diagnosed with dementia and is starting to struggle. Erin has never really felt much love from her mother but feels she’s doing the right thing.
Shortly after moving back, she discovers a biscuit tin with old photos in and when she shows them to her mother, she says it’s Imogen, her daughter. Erin has always believed she’s was an only child.

Not only that but her ex husband has been offered a job in America and wants Harriet, their daughter to go with him!

We discover how Erin deals with all this and find out the story of her family.

Beautifully written and really makes you think what would you do?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this title

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please Take My Baby by Emma Robinson and Narrated by Sofia Zervudachi was excellent and utterly heart-wrenching and powerfully emotional family drama which was filled with great twists and turns but you will need tissues and lots of them.

Emma has away of bringing her audience into the story and every book I have read or listened to, they have never disappointed, this book was no different. I just love the way Emma writes and its always from her heart.

WoW, I need to turn my phone off, put the kettle on, make a cup of coffee and hide so no one can find me and listen to this audiobook!!!..........Oh don't forget the tissues, guaranteed I will need them! This audiobook was excellent, but heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting tale about the sacrifices mothers make for their children, this story will make you hold your loved ones tight.

I highly recommend this book and the Narrator's Sofia Zervudachi was excellent.

Another 5 Star audiobook/book.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book review of Please Take My Baby by Emma Robinson.

Emma Robinson is a delightful storyteller, and this novel was no different. The twists and turns will surprise readers and bring them to tears.

Erin is a struggling single mother with a teenage daughter and a mother who is quickly losing herself to dementia. In fact, she has to sell her home to move in with her mother with her daughter. When she finds some old photographs, she learns that she has a sister named Imogen.

The funny thing is that she never heard the name before in her life and has no memories of a sister. But her mother has trouble talking about it when she is in a good state of mind. The name is enough to upset her mother, so Erin knows that she has to figure out what is going and quickly (before her mother forgets everything).

She decides that she will stop at nothing to figure out who Imogen is and what happened to her. When she finally finds her, Erin’s whole life changes completely. You will never believe what happened to Imogen and Erin!

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Mother's Secret

A story of a family with secrets and the fall out when the secrets are revealed. The book deals with unwed motherhood, mental illness and a teen trying to come to terms with a secret she has unearthed which will change her life.

It was an interesting enough story, but it did give away that the girl's mother was really her grandmother a bit early into the book.

I liked the characters and how honest Imogene was with Erin and her reasons for leaving her with her mother to raise. There wasn't much mystery and the secret didn't stay secret for long.
I like that the book handled the problem of the dementia with the great grandmother as that is a rather common happening in life.

I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a good job.
It was an okay book but not one I would rave about.

Thanks to Emma Robinson for writing the story, to Sofia Zervudachi for the narration, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the audio book to listen to and review.

[... Lost Bookland... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please Take My Baby by Emma Robinson is a profoundly emotional exploration of motherhood and family bonds. The story follows Erin, a single mother caring for her ailing mother and teenage daughter, as she unravels family secrets that lead to questions about her own identity. Robinson's writing is beautifully honest, portraying the complexities of parenthood and the sacrifices made for the sake of a child.

The novel's authenticity shines through as it delves into the challenges faced by its characters, making it relatable to readers who have experienced similar struggles. With its poignant storytelling and multidimensional characters, Please Take My Baby is a heartrending yet heartwarming tale that lingers in the heart long after the last page is turned. Emma Robinson's skillful portrayal of real-life issues and the enduring power of love makes this novel a must-read for those seeking an emotional and thought-provoking narrative.