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You Were Always Mine
The acclaimed authors of the “emotional literary roller coaster” ( The Washington Post ) and Good Morning America book club pick We Are Not Like Them return with this moving and provocative novel about a Black woman who finds an abandoned white baby, sending her on a collision course with her past, her family, and a birth mother who doesn’t want to be found.
Cinnamon Haynes has fought hard for a life she never thought was possible—a good man by her side, a steady job as a career counselor at a local community college, and a cozy house in a quaint little beach town. It may not look like much, but it’s more than she ever dreamed of or what her difficult childhood promised. Her life’s mantra is to be good, quiet, grateful. Until something shifts and Cinnamon is suddenly haunted by a terrifying “Is this all there is?”
Daisy Dunlap has had her own share of problems in her nineteen years on earth—she also has her own big dreams for a life that’s barely begun. Her hopes for her future are threatened when she gets unexpectedly pregnant. Desperate, broke, and alone, she hides this development from everyone close to her and then makes a drastic decision with devastating consequences.
Daisy isn’t the only one with something to hide. When Cinnamon finds an abandoned baby in a park and takes the blonde-haired, blue-eyed newborn into her home, the ripple effects of this decision risk exposing the truth about Cinnamon’s own past, which she’s gone to great pains to portray as idyllic to everyone…even herself.
As Cinnamon struggles to contain old demons, navigate the fault lines that erupt in her marriage, and deal with the shocking judgments from friends and strangers alike about why a woman like her has a baby like this, her one goal is to do right by the child she grows more attached to with each passing day. It’s the exact same conviction that drives Daisy as she tries to outrun her heartache and reckon with her choices.
These two women, unlikely friends and kindred spirits must face down their secrets and trauma and unite for the sake of the baby they both love in their own unique way when Daisy’s grandparents, who would rather die than see one of their own raised by a Black woman, threaten to take custody.
Once again, these authors bring their “empathetic, riveting, and authentic” (Laura Dave, New York Times bestselling author) storytelling to an unforgettable novel that revolves around provocative and timely questions about race, class, and motherhood. Is being a mother a right, an obligation, or a privilege? Who gets to be a mother? And to whom? And what are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of marriage, friendship, and our dreams?
Cinnamon Haynes has fought hard for a life she never thought was possible—a good man by her side, a steady job as a career counselor at a local community college, and a cozy house in a quaint little beach town. It may not look like much, but it’s more than she ever dreamed of or what her difficult childhood promised. Her life’s mantra is to be good, quiet, grateful. Until something shifts and Cinnamon is suddenly haunted by a terrifying “Is this all there is?”
Daisy Dunlap has had her own share of problems in her nineteen years on earth—she also has her own big dreams for a life that’s barely begun. Her hopes for her future are threatened when she gets unexpectedly pregnant. Desperate, broke, and alone, she hides this development from everyone close to her and then makes a drastic decision with devastating consequences.
Daisy isn’t the only one with something to hide. When Cinnamon finds an abandoned baby in a park and takes the blonde-haired, blue-eyed newborn into her home, the ripple effects of this decision risk exposing the truth about Cinnamon’s own past, which she’s gone to great pains to portray as idyllic to everyone…even herself.
As Cinnamon struggles to contain old demons, navigate the fault lines that erupt in her marriage, and deal with the shocking judgments from friends and strangers alike about why a woman like her has a baby like this, her one goal is to do right by the child she grows more attached to with each passing day. It’s the exact same conviction that drives Daisy as she tries to outrun her heartache and reckon with her choices.
These two women, unlikely friends and kindred spirits must face down their secrets and trauma and unite for the sake of the baby they both love in their own unique way when Daisy’s grandparents, who would rather die than see one of their own raised by a Black woman, threaten to take custody.
Once again, these authors bring their “empathetic, riveting, and authentic” (Laura Dave, New York Times bestselling author) storytelling to an unforgettable novel that revolves around provocative and timely questions about race, class, and motherhood. Is being a mother a right, an obligation, or a privilege? Who gets to be a mother? And to whom? And what are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of marriage, friendship, and our dreams?
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2023
472 people are currently reading
22483 people want to read
About the author
Christine Pride
4 books629 followersChristine Pride is a writer, editor, and longtime publishing veteran. She’s held editorial posts at many different trade imprints, including Doubleday, Broadway, Crown, Hyperion, and Simon & Schuster. As an editor, Christine has published a range of books, with a special emphasis on inspirational stories and memoirs, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. As a freelance editorial consultant, she does select editing and proposal/content development, as well as teaching and coaching, and pens a regular column—“Race Matters”—for Cup of Jo. She lives in New York City.
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May 12, 2023
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I loved this writing duo's first book We Are Not Like Them a couple of years ago and they have another hit on their hands with You Were Always Mine. The premise of a black woman finding an abandoned white baby and then trying to foster to adopt had me intrigued from the start. The writing of the letters by the biological mom warmed my heart and were some of the best parts of the book.
The story deals with a lot of issues such as race, motherhood in all its forms, abuse and foster care. They were all thought provoking and dealt with in a realistic and sensitive manner. The racial divides in foster care made me aware and I saw it in a new light. Kudos to the authors for teaching me something. The writing of the duo is seamless. I felt so many emotions while reading this book everything from crying to out and rage. Rage at some of the characters but also the system itself. This was such a unique take on being a foster parent and a story I loved reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
I loved this writing duo's first book We Are Not Like Them a couple of years ago and they have another hit on their hands with You Were Always Mine. The premise of a black woman finding an abandoned white baby and then trying to foster to adopt had me intrigued from the start. The writing of the letters by the biological mom warmed my heart and were some of the best parts of the book.
The story deals with a lot of issues such as race, motherhood in all its forms, abuse and foster care. They were all thought provoking and dealt with in a realistic and sensitive manner. The racial divides in foster care made me aware and I saw it in a new light. Kudos to the authors for teaching me something. The writing of the duo is seamless. I felt so many emotions while reading this book everything from crying to out and rage. Rage at some of the characters but also the system itself. This was such a unique take on being a foster parent and a story I loved reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
June 11, 2023
Thank you to the authors Christine Pride and Jo Piazza, publishers Atria Books and Simon and Schuster, and as always NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of YOU WERE ALWAYS MINE.
The main female protagonist, Cinnamon, a married black woman without children, is very unhappy and totally awash. Her life began in trauma, a life which she now shares with a selfish husband and few if any friends or allies to help shoulder her burdens. She often finds herself drawn to call on her pastor "back home" whenever things get to be too much for her. She holds on to her affection for him for the simple fact he said to her as she grew up, and said often, "I love you." And now she's found a white baby, abandoned, whom she cares for and starts to call Bluebell. And though the entire civilized world seems to tell her that raising a white baby is improper, ludicrous, even immoral-- Cinnamon knows what she feels, her instinct to protect the child, and her knowledge of the secrets she carries, make the child her own.
This is a story about race in America as much as it is about a woman and a baby that each find family in the other. In many encounters and even passing encounters, Cinnamon is heavily racialized while carrying Bluebell with her. Everyone stares, wondering. "What's going on there exactly? Where's that baby's mother?" Even graver instances of racism and racialized behavior than this occur in this book, but the excessive unwanted attention Cinnamon receives everywhere she goes is such an important detail because it shows how common these are, how deeply entrenched in our society.
Here is my trigger warning for racism and racialization, child abandonment, foster system and adoption, mention of SA.
The first half of this book, I didn't find a pleasant read, as it establishes Cinnamon's state of mind, which isn't happy. But though I didn't enjoy it, the writing is excellent-- I could really feel her discomfort and ennui. She is a woman plagued by a historical lack of family. She needs validation, craves love. The writing brings us in very close to this anguish. In the second half, her world changes, and she changes with it. Tone, pace, everything changes in the second half of the book. Sort of like the mood shift one experiences when coming out of a depression.
All said, YOU WERE ALWAYS MINE is an excellent story, intentionally written, that for this reader, combined into a compelling read.
Rating: 👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻.5 / 5 white foster babies
Recommend? Please read this book
Finished: June 7 2023
Format: Advance Digital, NetGalley
Read this if you like:
👩👦 Stories about adoption and foster families
🤱 Stories about intergenerational trauma
👩🏾❤️👨🏿 Family drama
👤 Mental health rep
🗣 Internal monologue
The main female protagonist, Cinnamon, a married black woman without children, is very unhappy and totally awash. Her life began in trauma, a life which she now shares with a selfish husband and few if any friends or allies to help shoulder her burdens. She often finds herself drawn to call on her pastor "back home" whenever things get to be too much for her. She holds on to her affection for him for the simple fact he said to her as she grew up, and said often, "I love you." And now she's found a white baby, abandoned, whom she cares for and starts to call Bluebell. And though the entire civilized world seems to tell her that raising a white baby is improper, ludicrous, even immoral-- Cinnamon knows what she feels, her instinct to protect the child, and her knowledge of the secrets she carries, make the child her own.
This is a story about race in America as much as it is about a woman and a baby that each find family in the other. In many encounters and even passing encounters, Cinnamon is heavily racialized while carrying Bluebell with her. Everyone stares, wondering. "What's going on there exactly? Where's that baby's mother?" Even graver instances of racism and racialized behavior than this occur in this book, but the excessive unwanted attention Cinnamon receives everywhere she goes is such an important detail because it shows how common these are, how deeply entrenched in our society.
Here is my trigger warning for racism and racialization, child abandonment, foster system and adoption, mention of SA.
The first half of this book, I didn't find a pleasant read, as it establishes Cinnamon's state of mind, which isn't happy. But though I didn't enjoy it, the writing is excellent-- I could really feel her discomfort and ennui. She is a woman plagued by a historical lack of family. She needs validation, craves love. The writing brings us in very close to this anguish. In the second half, her world changes, and she changes with it. Tone, pace, everything changes in the second half of the book. Sort of like the mood shift one experiences when coming out of a depression.
All said, YOU WERE ALWAYS MINE is an excellent story, intentionally written, that for this reader, combined into a compelling read.
Rating: 👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻.5 / 5 white foster babies
Recommend? Please read this book
Finished: June 7 2023
Format: Advance Digital, NetGalley
Read this if you like:
👩👦 Stories about adoption and foster families
🤱 Stories about intergenerational trauma
👩🏾❤️👨🏿 Family drama
👤 Mental health rep
🗣 Internal monologue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2023
Cinnamon Haynes has a difficult life growing up but she keeps that to herself, painting it in an idyllic form. After a lifetime of having the rug pulled from under her, husband Jayson does it does it too with his grandiose plans with equally grand flaws. She contemplates all of this as she sits at her usual park bench at lunchtime, waiting for young Daisy in whom she has confided about Jayson but where is she? She certainly has been acting strange of late. Cinnamon waits patiently, then hears a sound and there, looking up at her under the bench is a baby with the brightest blue eyes she’s ever seen. In addition, there is a note attached written by Daisy. The issue addressed here is that Cinnamon is black, whereas Daisy is white.
The premise of the book is undoubtedly a good one as it looks a number of fundamental and very important issues. The most glaring one being that of race and racism. I especially like how it examines the idea of motherhood transcending colour and DNA. Cinnamons obvious and immediate love of the baby, who she initially calls Bluebell, comes across loud and clear. The fate of the baby also forces both Cinnamon and Daisy to fully confront their traumas from the past and parts of that are very moving. The novel also touches on relationships and the importance of friendship. The characterisation is interesting as there is the conundrum of both central protagonists and you do see them more clearly by the end of the book. I think the best part of the novel are the letters that Daisy writes to her baby and these are emotional and wonderfully expressed.
However, good though parts of the book undoubtedly are, it is long being way too wordy so it slowly meanders back-and-forth so that the premise gets lost. Some serious problems are skimmed over as there are several side issues which takes the focus away from the main point of the novel. It seems to me that there are huge chunks missing too as it takes a big leap in time at the end. Finally, surely it’s a bit of a stretch that Cinnamon is the one that finds the baby?????
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
The premise of the book is undoubtedly a good one as it looks a number of fundamental and very important issues. The most glaring one being that of race and racism. I especially like how it examines the idea of motherhood transcending colour and DNA. Cinnamons obvious and immediate love of the baby, who she initially calls Bluebell, comes across loud and clear. The fate of the baby also forces both Cinnamon and Daisy to fully confront their traumas from the past and parts of that are very moving. The novel also touches on relationships and the importance of friendship. The characterisation is interesting as there is the conundrum of both central protagonists and you do see them more clearly by the end of the book. I think the best part of the novel are the letters that Daisy writes to her baby and these are emotional and wonderfully expressed.
However, good though parts of the book undoubtedly are, it is long being way too wordy so it slowly meanders back-and-forth so that the premise gets lost. Some serious problems are skimmed over as there are several side issues which takes the focus away from the main point of the novel. It seems to me that there are huge chunks missing too as it takes a big leap in time at the end. Finally, surely it’s a bit of a stretch that Cinnamon is the one that finds the baby?????
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 27, 2023
Excited that I read another book by Christina Pride and Jo Piazza.
This one is about What Does Being a Mother Really Mean? Are there different definitions even? Cinnamon Hayne’s life has not always been easy, and she does much to gloss over that as she becomes an adult. She is married to the dazzling, Jayson and always seems to follow his dreams. Yet, she has never really developed her own sense of self, so how can she stand up for what is so important to her?
She starts meeting another woman, Daisy at the park each week. Something, about her tells Cinnamon they have more in common then would seem obvious. Both women just enjoy talking with each other. Then one day, Daisy doesn’t show up anymore, yet Cinnamon finds a something very unexpected. Daisy has left her baby, and wants Cinnamon to raise her.
This plays deeply on the question of race. The baby is white and Cinnamon Black. It does make many people question how she has this child, even temporarily. Yet, is that the true deciding factor when it comes to love and bounding. It leaves Cinnamon much to think about and she is trying to find Daisy, so it will come down to who this baby really is for.
Well written and interesting premise, since usually books are about White Couples taking in Children of Color. I did enjoy reading it and understanding both Cinnamon and Daisy’s back stories.
This one is about What Does Being a Mother Really Mean? Are there different definitions even? Cinnamon Hayne’s life has not always been easy, and she does much to gloss over that as she becomes an adult. She is married to the dazzling, Jayson and always seems to follow his dreams. Yet, she has never really developed her own sense of self, so how can she stand up for what is so important to her?
She starts meeting another woman, Daisy at the park each week. Something, about her tells Cinnamon they have more in common then would seem obvious. Both women just enjoy talking with each other. Then one day, Daisy doesn’t show up anymore, yet Cinnamon finds a something very unexpected. Daisy has left her baby, and wants Cinnamon to raise her.
This plays deeply on the question of race. The baby is white and Cinnamon Black. It does make many people question how she has this child, even temporarily. Yet, is that the true deciding factor when it comes to love and bounding. It leaves Cinnamon much to think about and she is trying to find Daisy, so it will come down to who this baby really is for.
Well written and interesting premise, since usually books are about White Couples taking in Children of Color. I did enjoy reading it and understanding both Cinnamon and Daisy’s back stories.
September 20, 2023
Cinnamon has fought hard for everything in her life, a man, a job, and a nice house. Its everything she has ever dreamed of. One afternoon while Cinnamon is at the park, she finds an abandoned baby. The baby belongs to one of Cinnamon’s students; shes a college guidance counselor. The note with the baby begs Cinnamon to take care of the baby. Cinnamon does just that. She takes the baby home and works on giving it a home. Cinnamon eventually works to get custody of the baby, but at the custody hearing the mom shows up. Will Cinnamon get custody, or does the mom have a change of heart.
I was not prepared for this book. I read the synopsis and thought that it could be a lovely story, however, I was quickly irritated with the story. Cinnamon just found the baby in the park and her immediate thought is to just take it home – not notify anyone! I was happy that she eventually got the courts involved. I just failed to see the beauty in this story. It was unnecessarily bogged down and felt just so unrealistic and that the authors were just going for the shock factor that a black woman found a white baby. I felt so much of the story was hung up on that – and I wanted it handled differently. I also disliked the unnecessary use of overly complex words and verbiage in the book.
There was so much potential this one, but it sadly fell flat for me.
I was not prepared for this book. I read the synopsis and thought that it could be a lovely story, however, I was quickly irritated with the story. Cinnamon just found the baby in the park and her immediate thought is to just take it home – not notify anyone! I was happy that she eventually got the courts involved. I just failed to see the beauty in this story. It was unnecessarily bogged down and felt just so unrealistic and that the authors were just going for the shock factor that a black woman found a white baby. I felt so much of the story was hung up on that – and I wanted it handled differently. I also disliked the unnecessary use of overly complex words and verbiage in the book.
There was so much potential this one, but it sadly fell flat for me.
Read
March 2, 2023DNF. There isn't sufficient reason for Cinnamon to not notify the authorities. I'm just not buying this. This is an interesting idea, but there needs to be a better reason why she wouldn't notify someone. I'm out.
September 8, 2023
Such a captivating novel with a complex premise. A Black woman finds an abandoned white baby, sending her on a collision course with her past, her family, and a birth mother who doesn’t want to be found. I really enjoyed the book from beginning to end. The situation Cinnamon was put into was unimaginable yet she found a way to navigate through the chaos. The book really posed the question of what would you do if you were placed in this same situation and following through with it could result in your life being turned upside down.
One of the major themes that stood out in the novel surrounds mothering a child of a different race and the disparities it may cause that person when attempting to foster the child. Both authors managed to create the most realistic interactions amongst the characters. I loved how layered the book was especially when it came to the tension and controversy surrounding the baby.
Cinnamon was put into a tough spot and her marriage was on the line because of it. Yet she still chose the baby over it. I wouldn’t know what to do if I were in her shoes. I did feel her husband was a bit unreasonable but I understood why. Her friend Lucia was outta line PERIODT. Then Daisy was wrong for putting Cinnamon in that predicament. She could’ve gone to her face to face instead of just leaving the baby because anything could’ve happened.
Overall, loved the book definitely recommend it’s worth a read. There weren’t a lot of chapters but the few we have are lengthy. The writing is immersive and vivid, very engaging the further you get into the novel. The authors did a really good job portraying a real-life situation with realistic emotions. It kind of made me feel some type of way seeing how everyone was acting toward Cinnamon especially the people that should’ve been on her side. Special thanks to the author and @atriabooks for my gifted copy!!!
One of the major themes that stood out in the novel surrounds mothering a child of a different race and the disparities it may cause that person when attempting to foster the child. Both authors managed to create the most realistic interactions amongst the characters. I loved how layered the book was especially when it came to the tension and controversy surrounding the baby.
Cinnamon was put into a tough spot and her marriage was on the line because of it. Yet she still chose the baby over it. I wouldn’t know what to do if I were in her shoes. I did feel her husband was a bit unreasonable but I understood why. Her friend Lucia was outta line PERIODT. Then Daisy was wrong for putting Cinnamon in that predicament. She could’ve gone to her face to face instead of just leaving the baby because anything could’ve happened.
Overall, loved the book definitely recommend it’s worth a read. There weren’t a lot of chapters but the few we have are lengthy. The writing is immersive and vivid, very engaging the further you get into the novel. The authors did a really good job portraying a real-life situation with realistic emotions. It kind of made me feel some type of way seeing how everyone was acting toward Cinnamon especially the people that should’ve been on her side. Special thanks to the author and @atriabooks for my gifted copy!!!
March 9, 2023
What happens when a Black woman finds a baby left for her in the park? Most women would call the police or work to try and find their mother, but when you add in a complicated history of the woman having trauma from being raised in foster care herself, the plot thickens. Then we add in a troubled marriage, a woman trying to hide from her past and being confused about her future, which is what happens with Cinnamon. Oh, and then there is the fact the baby is white in a small south Georgia town. At times, this story suspends reality a little as I found the sequence of events a little hard to believe at times, but overall I really enjoyed the story. Sometimes a little fantasy for a good story is worth it. This book was a lot lighter to me than the author's previous story, especially regarding race. While it did introduce some trigger warning topics ( sexual abuse/incest/homophobia/racial violence) it glossed over a lot of the heavy parts and really just introduced them as backstories for character's decisions. Overall, I did enjoy the story and wanted to see how it all unfolded and ended. I enjoyed some of the secondary characters, like Lucia and Rick and found the writing to be solid and with a steady flow, even as it bounced between the characters and the timeline. I enjoyed this book and would recommend to it to those who are ok with suspending a little bit of reality ( i.e. screaming, "that would never happen like that in real life" in your head) for a really good story.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this title.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this title.
Read
June 19, 2023DNF at 30%. I was concerned about the premise and that's ultimately what didn't work for me. Finding a baby and not contacting the authorities was just too much for me to buy into! I just couldn't get my head into this one! So, I'm letting it go as it's just not for me!
April 27, 2025
There are a lot of different views and ratings for this book, but for me, this was deserving of all the 🌟 's possible! This story and its characters are all a part of my heart now. Nothing I say could possibly do this book justice, but it was an incredible read with a striking premise. It included marriage, motherhood, betrayal, trust, faith, hope, struggles, trauma, healing, finding your voice and who you are, the foster care system, adoption, race, and prejudices. The one thing it screams, though, is LOVE ❤️!!! This is another story that will stay with me always. I was in the foster care system and was eventually adopted. Both were super rough. Thankfully, there are real people out there like Cinnamon Haynes who show unconditional love and provide safe homes and family. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!!
August 26, 2023
This entire review is a spoiler so if you are determined to read the book - do not read any more.
The premise of this book is good - woman finds new-born child of a woman she hardly knew but the note explains that the mother trusts the woman to raise her child. It took several years to read this book - or it felt like it. Two women wrote the book and this is often the case of dual writers - they both have a little something that they want to add in. The book drags. But, even worse, it seems that every single person in the book is full of lies. It is most confusing and I had to keep going back to find out if this person really was kicked out of a relative's home or had a degree from a university or if the person's father really was killed. The book remained confusing because of all the lies. I could not keep them straight. And, of course, like the proverbial house of cards, it all came tumbling down at the end. Much of the book is trite and trivial - the exhaustion of taking care of a new born baby, the final court case when the real mother (the one who has to tell the truth about the baby) walks in the courtroom at the last minute -- and, I almost forgot, the real mother refuses to talk in court because her very own grandfather who abuse her is in the courtroom. But, wait, grandma comes to the rescue, comes to the secret room where she is hiding and says that she will take grandpa out of the courtroom so the actual mother can testify. I am including so many spoilers because you will have to read for weeks to find them. Just forget it - there are better books out there giving info on the poor child care system in the US and how there are never enough social workers to do the job of checking on them or the foster parents. And there are not enough police or social workers who will believe an abused child and really investigate the situation. And there are not enough foster parents who will really foster a child and there are too many people who will take a child to get some extra money and treat the child like s--t. Even the relatives in this book treat the orphan relatives like s --t. Save your time and money. There are much better books.
The premise of this book is good - woman finds new-born child of a woman she hardly knew but the note explains that the mother trusts the woman to raise her child. It took several years to read this book - or it felt like it. Two women wrote the book and this is often the case of dual writers - they both have a little something that they want to add in. The book drags. But, even worse, it seems that every single person in the book is full of lies. It is most confusing and I had to keep going back to find out if this person really was kicked out of a relative's home or had a degree from a university or if the person's father really was killed. The book remained confusing because of all the lies. I could not keep them straight. And, of course, like the proverbial house of cards, it all came tumbling down at the end. Much of the book is trite and trivial - the exhaustion of taking care of a new born baby, the final court case when the real mother (the one who has to tell the truth about the baby) walks in the courtroom at the last minute -- and, I almost forgot, the real mother refuses to talk in court because her very own grandfather who abuse her is in the courtroom. But, wait, grandma comes to the rescue, comes to the secret room where she is hiding and says that she will take grandpa out of the courtroom so the actual mother can testify. I am including so many spoilers because you will have to read for weeks to find them. Just forget it - there are better books out there giving info on the poor child care system in the US and how there are never enough social workers to do the job of checking on them or the foster parents. And there are not enough police or social workers who will believe an abused child and really investigate the situation. And there are not enough foster parents who will really foster a child and there are too many people who will take a child to get some extra money and treat the child like s--t. Even the relatives in this book treat the orphan relatives like s --t. Save your time and money. There are much better books.
March 10, 2023
In "You Were Always Mine", we're presented with a fictional scenario: what happens if a black woman finds and tries to adopt a white infant? This is what happens to Cinnamon Haynes, a black woman who works as a counselor at a local community college, when she takes her regular Friday lunch break at a nearby park bench. Cinnamon's near-perfect life, which she has spent an extensive amount of time and work building up, is upended following this event, as well as the discovering a note from the infant's mother, pleading with Cinnamon to just take in her child without question. Cinnamon has only occasionally spoken to Daisy, the mother, and has no means of contacting her after disappearance.
What follows is Cinnamon's attempt to try and raise a young infant that looks nothing like her, and eventually needing to contact the authorities given the situation she's put in. We get to see how Cinnamon's family and friends react to her decision, especially when her husband makes his opinions clear. The story also includes snippets of letters from Daisy, writing to her abandoned child, and flashbacks to both Cinnamon and Daisy's pasts, highlighting events that shaped their lives and led them to the eventual present.
As a whole, I think the premise of this novel is important and raises important questions about race and privilege, and the judgements we cast on families when their appearances aren't the same. I appreciated as well the deep-dive into the complexity of the fostering and adoption process, and how it disadvantages those of color from the onset. There are a lot of gaps in the storyline however, especially when it comes to how irresponsible (and illegal) a number of Cinnamon's actions are and the overall message of the story gets muddled in the process.
Thank you Atria Books for the advance copy of this novel!
What follows is Cinnamon's attempt to try and raise a young infant that looks nothing like her, and eventually needing to contact the authorities given the situation she's put in. We get to see how Cinnamon's family and friends react to her decision, especially when her husband makes his opinions clear. The story also includes snippets of letters from Daisy, writing to her abandoned child, and flashbacks to both Cinnamon and Daisy's pasts, highlighting events that shaped their lives and led them to the eventual present.
As a whole, I think the premise of this novel is important and raises important questions about race and privilege, and the judgements we cast on families when their appearances aren't the same. I appreciated as well the deep-dive into the complexity of the fostering and adoption process, and how it disadvantages those of color from the onset. There are a lot of gaps in the storyline however, especially when it comes to how irresponsible (and illegal) a number of Cinnamon's actions are and the overall message of the story gets muddled in the process.
Thank you Atria Books for the advance copy of this novel!
December 14, 2023
Could not put this one down, but did because I didn’t want it to end. It was told gracefully and captured my heart from the beginning. A story that defines what love and family truly is. At the end of the day, love is love, no matter the color of your skin or who you are or where you come from. Loved this book.
April 30, 2023
These authors have once again talked about race in a way that isn’t in your face but relatable, heart wrenching, emotional and above all a human experience. This was an ARC.
August 11, 2025
Interesting premise - Black woman finds white baby abandoned and decides to care for the baby while searching for the teenage birth mother. All sorts of interesting issues and dynamics to be explored. Add to that, the novel is written by two different author, each voicing the perspective of the main characters. I've never read anything written that way and I did appreciate the distinct voices.
I just felt like this could have been better. It's a bit overwritten for my taste (repeating the concerns, issues, fears too many times; overtly explaining the author's point), especially in Cinnamon's voice. Plus, I really struggled to sustain my disbelief in the plot which felt every unrealistic in execution.
I liked it, but ultimately, I think this would have benefitted from stronger editing.
I just felt like this could have been better. It's a bit overwritten for my taste (repeating the concerns, issues, fears too many times; overtly explaining the author's point), especially in Cinnamon's voice. Plus, I really struggled to sustain my disbelief in the plot which felt every unrealistic in execution.
I liked it, but ultimately, I think this would have benefitted from stronger editing.
May 7, 2024
With Mother's Dqy coming up, a wonderful reminder that motherhood should be celebrated no matter how it comes about. The story explores the heartache often found in the foster care system and the impact of abuse, along with prejudice. It also highlights the importance of how love, friendship, and family can change lives and lessen our burdens. Another thoughtful collaboration by a great pair of authors.
July 3, 2023
Touching, thought-provoking, and graceful!
You Were Always Mine is a beautifully written, affecting tale that takes you into the life of Cinnamon Haynes, a thirty-four-year-old Black woman who, after befriending a nineteen-year-old white girl at the local park, has her life turned upside down when Daisy suddenly decides to leave her newborn blue-eyed baby girl abandoned for Cinnamon to find and raise as her own.
The prose is reflective and intentional. The characters are flawed, scarred, and authentic. And the plot is a compelling tale of friendship, family, race, discrimination, marital discord, childhood trauma, courage, hope, heartache, secrets, motherhood, foster care, culture, socioeconomic disparities, and the complex dynamics of interracial adoption.
Overall, You Were Always Mine is an insightful, nuanced, captivating tale by Pride & Piazza that reminds us that life is complicated, messy, challenging, short, heartbreaking, as well as all those other special moments and lovely times that happen in between especially when it comes to being a mother, either biological or adoptive, to a child.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
You Were Always Mine is a beautifully written, affecting tale that takes you into the life of Cinnamon Haynes, a thirty-four-year-old Black woman who, after befriending a nineteen-year-old white girl at the local park, has her life turned upside down when Daisy suddenly decides to leave her newborn blue-eyed baby girl abandoned for Cinnamon to find and raise as her own.
The prose is reflective and intentional. The characters are flawed, scarred, and authentic. And the plot is a compelling tale of friendship, family, race, discrimination, marital discord, childhood trauma, courage, hope, heartache, secrets, motherhood, foster care, culture, socioeconomic disparities, and the complex dynamics of interracial adoption.
Overall, You Were Always Mine is an insightful, nuanced, captivating tale by Pride & Piazza that reminds us that life is complicated, messy, challenging, short, heartbreaking, as well as all those other special moments and lovely times that happen in between especially when it comes to being a mother, either biological or adoptive, to a child.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2024
I wanted to like Cinnamon. I wanted to root for her. Yet this story is a house of cards built on a foundation of lies. Maybe Bluebell was supposed to be the catalyst for Cinnamon finally being authentic, but that's a lot to put on an infant.
July 1, 2023
Title:
You Were Always Mine
Author: Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
I received complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada & Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Sensitive • Human • Impactful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Cinnamon Haynes has fought hard for a life she never thought was possible—a good man by her side, a steady job as a career counselor at a local community college, and a cozy house in a quaint little beach town. It may not look like much, but it’s more than she ever dreamed of or what her difficult childhood promised.
Daisy Dunlap has had her own share of problems in her nineteen years on earth—she also has her own big dreams for a life that’s barely begun. Her hopes for her future are threatened when she gets unexpectedly pregnant. Desperate, broke, and alone, she hides this development from everyone close to her and then makes a drastic decision with devastating consequences.
These two women, unlikely friends and kindred spirits must face down their secrets and trauma and unite for the sake of the baby they both love in their own unique way.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After absolutely loving writing duo Christine Pride and Jo Piazza's debut We Are Not Like Them, it will come as no surprise that You Were Always Mine was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. I'd heard them talk about this next project during an author zoom event, and in the same vain as their debut it sounded like it would be spark dialogue and debate.
This duo certainly has the ability to blend their voices and create dynamic character arcs. This very well-written novel, tackles the issues of race, discrimination, class, abuse, foster care, motherhood and friendship head on. With a slightly slower pace, this one lacked the depth I'd been anticipating. It felt more fictionalized, requiring me to suspend my disbelief at times, and there were a lot of subplots that detracted from the main story. There were so many missed opportunities for the story to so deeper and spark dialogue, but it took a different approach.
At the end of the day, You Were Always Mine is an important, powerful and well crafted novel that made me reflect on my own biases. A solid contemporary read, just not the literary gem to entice deep contemplation I'd been hoping for. I'll continue to read whatever these two authors publish next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy books that tackle motherhood
• fans of Hold My Girl
• anyone who likes stories about foster families or adoption
⚠️ CW: pregnancy, abandonment, foster care, adoption, rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, child abuse, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, cancer, hate crime, racism, medical content, medical trauma, death, death of parent
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I chose you, but I also chose me, because for once it was my time, my chance to get something I wanted - and you were it."
Author: Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
I received complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada & Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Sensitive • Human • Impactful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Cinnamon Haynes has fought hard for a life she never thought was possible—a good man by her side, a steady job as a career counselor at a local community college, and a cozy house in a quaint little beach town. It may not look like much, but it’s more than she ever dreamed of or what her difficult childhood promised.
Daisy Dunlap has had her own share of problems in her nineteen years on earth—she also has her own big dreams for a life that’s barely begun. Her hopes for her future are threatened when she gets unexpectedly pregnant. Desperate, broke, and alone, she hides this development from everyone close to her and then makes a drastic decision with devastating consequences.
These two women, unlikely friends and kindred spirits must face down their secrets and trauma and unite for the sake of the baby they both love in their own unique way.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After absolutely loving writing duo Christine Pride and Jo Piazza's debut We Are Not Like Them, it will come as no surprise that You Were Always Mine was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. I'd heard them talk about this next project during an author zoom event, and in the same vain as their debut it sounded like it would be spark dialogue and debate.
This duo certainly has the ability to blend their voices and create dynamic character arcs. This very well-written novel, tackles the issues of race, discrimination, class, abuse, foster care, motherhood and friendship head on. With a slightly slower pace, this one lacked the depth I'd been anticipating. It felt more fictionalized, requiring me to suspend my disbelief at times, and there were a lot of subplots that detracted from the main story. There were so many missed opportunities for the story to so deeper and spark dialogue, but it took a different approach.
At the end of the day, You Were Always Mine is an important, powerful and well crafted novel that made me reflect on my own biases. A solid contemporary read, just not the literary gem to entice deep contemplation I'd been hoping for. I'll continue to read whatever these two authors publish next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy books that tackle motherhood
• fans of Hold My Girl
• anyone who likes stories about foster families or adoption
⚠️ CW: pregnancy, abandonment, foster care, adoption, rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, child abuse, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, cancer, hate crime, racism, medical content, medical trauma, death, death of parent
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I chose you, but I also chose me, because for once it was my time, my chance to get something I wanted - and you were it."
August 4, 2023
This novel is the story of two women, one in her late teens and one in her late thirties, one white and one Black, who become friends by chance. Cinnamon is struggling through her marriage and dealing with her childhood that was spent in foster care. One day, she meets Daisy, a lonely young woman with a similar past and a baby. When Daisy deserts her baby, Cinnamon (a black woman) finds herself taking care of an abandoned baby of a different race (caucasian). She has to provide love and support to this child—the kind she never got in her own life. When Daisy's grandparents show up, the real fight begins.
This book is about the choices we make as a family. It's also about forgiveness and unlikely friendships that can change the course of your life. Race is a core issue of the story, and it goes into detail about the legal aspects of abandonment and our foster system. The novel was heartfelt, with a cast of interesting characters and a good story.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
This book is about the choices we make as a family. It's also about forgiveness and unlikely friendships that can change the course of your life. Race is a core issue of the story, and it goes into detail about the legal aspects of abandonment and our foster system. The novel was heartfelt, with a cast of interesting characters and a good story.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
June 13, 2023
A moving and heartfelt story about the love two women have for a baby and the courage it takes to fight for the ones you love. One white college student abandons her baby and a Black woman finds it, working hard to prove she is able to keep and foster the baby. Full of drama, this book does a great job addressing issues of class and race. Perfect for fans of authors like Celeste Ng or Jodi Picoult. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 4, 2023
The most simple but yet also very complex theme of this book is love.
I thought Cinnamon was a terrific character. She had embellished her past to hide the pain, but gives her all for the little baby she finds.
The baby is white and Cinnamon is black, which creates conflict and tension.
Every child needs a parent and to be loved.
I liked Cinnamon’s persistence and devotion to the baby.
It’s a compelling read.
Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the early read.
I thought Cinnamon was a terrific character. She had embellished her past to hide the pain, but gives her all for the little baby she finds.
The baby is white and Cinnamon is black, which creates conflict and tension.
Every child needs a parent and to be loved.
I liked Cinnamon’s persistence and devotion to the baby.
It’s a compelling read.
Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the early read.
July 9, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ - what a sweet book! Really enjoyed it and the premise.
May 16, 2024
DNF at 50%. This is the first book I have not finished. I couldn’t do it. It was long and drawn out. Cinnamon the main character got on my nerves quite quickly and how she found the baby and then didn’t tell anyone and just brought her home and then makes a huge decision without including her husband,just seemed ridiculous to me. Who does that?
June 12, 2023
2.75 STARS (increased to 3 for this site) - 
I was excited to see that writing duo Jo Piazza and Christine Pride had a new book coming out after I loved their debut We Are Not Like Them two years ago. Together they wrote a powerful and thought-provoking story that encompassed important issues.
Their new book You Were Always Mine asks the question: What would happen if a Black woman found an abandoned white baby and she wanted to adopt it? Cinnamon Haynes is a middle-aged Black married woman who works as a college counsellor and has a casual friendship with a young white woman named Daisy. Unbeknownst to Cinnamon, Daisy was pregnant, and she suddenly leaves her blonde-haired, blue-eyed newborn in a basket for Cinnamon to find with the request that Cinnamon to raise the child.
This book had all the fixin's for another great read by this duo - issues of race, discrimination, class, abuse, friendship, foster care and motherhood are some of the topics that are introduced. The story includes flashbacks to Daisy and Cinnamon's pasts and letters Daisy writes to her child. The topics are relevant and important, but I was disappointed that these complex and poignant issues were not handled with nearly enough depth or emotion.
We skim over all these issues and are instead given a story that is very slow moving with many subplots that not only convolute the main plot but will require readers to suspend disbelief - particularly legal aspects. The plot soon loses steam, and I was frustrated by many of Cinnamon's decisions and disappointed that the big confrontation didn't happen until almost 80% into the book and wasn't the big conflict I was expecting.
This book will give readers a lot to discuss regarding race, motherhood, secrets and trauma, but it was too farfetched, and I didn't feel connected to the plot or the characters and soon found myself skimming the pages. While this book wasn't for me, I loved their debut and look forward to reading more from this duo in the future.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Atria Books for my advanced digital copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.
I was excited to see that writing duo Jo Piazza and Christine Pride had a new book coming out after I loved their debut We Are Not Like Them two years ago. Together they wrote a powerful and thought-provoking story that encompassed important issues.
Their new book You Were Always Mine asks the question: What would happen if a Black woman found an abandoned white baby and she wanted to adopt it? Cinnamon Haynes is a middle-aged Black married woman who works as a college counsellor and has a casual friendship with a young white woman named Daisy. Unbeknownst to Cinnamon, Daisy was pregnant, and she suddenly leaves her blonde-haired, blue-eyed newborn in a basket for Cinnamon to find with the request that Cinnamon to raise the child.
This book had all the fixin's for another great read by this duo - issues of race, discrimination, class, abuse, friendship, foster care and motherhood are some of the topics that are introduced. The story includes flashbacks to Daisy and Cinnamon's pasts and letters Daisy writes to her child. The topics are relevant and important, but I was disappointed that these complex and poignant issues were not handled with nearly enough depth or emotion.
We skim over all these issues and are instead given a story that is very slow moving with many subplots that not only convolute the main plot but will require readers to suspend disbelief - particularly legal aspects. The plot soon loses steam, and I was frustrated by many of Cinnamon's decisions and disappointed that the big confrontation didn't happen until almost 80% into the book and wasn't the big conflict I was expecting.
This book will give readers a lot to discuss regarding race, motherhood, secrets and trauma, but it was too farfetched, and I didn't feel connected to the plot or the characters and soon found myself skimming the pages. While this book wasn't for me, I loved their debut and look forward to reading more from this duo in the future.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Atria Books for my advanced digital copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2024
This is a second chance novel for me; I couldn't finish the previous book the authors made for personal reasons.
Pride and Piazza are back at it again, tackling race, privilege, and class. When the unimaginable happens, a white baby is left in a park, and Cinnamon (a black woman) is left deciding whether she will take the baby or find the mother. I loved how the author tackled differences in age as well, in regard to Cinnamon being older and Daisy being so young. As a reader, I was frustrated with how Daisy handled the situation, but you have to realize what someone so young has going on in their mind, and you also cannot forget the amount of privilege Daisy has because of her race. She isn't seen as a bad mother, but more as misguided and troubled. Meanwhile, Cinnamon has the weight of the world on her shoulders as she deals with the baby she now loves as well as her husband, who needs loving too. It's a constant mental battle for her. We see all that play out in this novel.
Although the book had a good premise, it fell short of diverging from the main plot. We could've gotten more perspective from Cinnamon had it not gone to her white husband and his small man complex and money issues. Also, Cinnamon and her ethics came into question so much when it came to that baby that it got unrealistic for me. All in all, it was an okay read that held my attention because we rarely see a black woman trying to adopt a white baby, so it was a break from the norm.
Pride and Piazza are back at it again, tackling race, privilege, and class. When the unimaginable happens, a white baby is left in a park, and Cinnamon (a black woman) is left deciding whether she will take the baby or find the mother. I loved how the author tackled differences in age as well, in regard to Cinnamon being older and Daisy being so young. As a reader, I was frustrated with how Daisy handled the situation, but you have to realize what someone so young has going on in their mind, and you also cannot forget the amount of privilege Daisy has because of her race. She isn't seen as a bad mother, but more as misguided and troubled. Meanwhile, Cinnamon has the weight of the world on her shoulders as she deals with the baby she now loves as well as her husband, who needs loving too. It's a constant mental battle for her. We see all that play out in this novel.
Although the book had a good premise, it fell short of diverging from the main plot. We could've gotten more perspective from Cinnamon had it not gone to her white husband and his small man complex and money issues. Also, Cinnamon and her ethics came into question so much when it came to that baby that it got unrealistic for me. All in all, it was an okay read that held my attention because we rarely see a black woman trying to adopt a white baby, so it was a break from the norm.
November 2, 2023
Thank you for the advanced copies, @atriabooks and @netgalley.
What a beautiful book about what defines a mother. It’s not a common race, it’s not carrying the same genes, it’s not birthing a child. Motherhood is more than all that.
Both authors poured their hearts into this book to convey their message. Yet, it was not a 5 star read like their first book for me. The pacing of this book was very slow, the chapters long, and I often did not feel the pull to continue.
Empathy takes time and that was needed to fully understand Cinnamon’s background and reasons for refusal to turn the baby into the authorities. It made the epilogue worth the wait.
What a beautiful book about what defines a mother. It’s not a common race, it’s not carrying the same genes, it’s not birthing a child. Motherhood is more than all that.
Both authors poured their hearts into this book to convey their message. Yet, it was not a 5 star read like their first book for me. The pacing of this book was very slow, the chapters long, and I often did not feel the pull to continue.
Empathy takes time and that was needed to fully understand Cinnamon’s background and reasons for refusal to turn the baby into the authorities. It made the epilogue worth the wait.
October 14, 2023
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really likes this whole storyline and how the author really emphasized the point that love has no color! There were moments that were completely gut wrenching and others that really touched my heart. It’s about friendship and love at its core but also how far some people will go to do the right thing. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes women’s fiction and something that will hopefully open up your eyes and brighten your day!
I really likes this whole storyline and how the author really emphasized the point that love has no color! There were moments that were completely gut wrenching and others that really touched my heart. It’s about friendship and love at its core but also how far some people will go to do the right thing. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes women’s fiction and something that will hopefully open up your eyes and brighten your day!
February 25, 2023
Oh my gosh, enough with the thesaurus induced descriptions. Why use 10 words when you can stretch it to 1,000! The distractions kept me from maintaining interest in what could have been a good story.
January 17, 2025
This book popped up for me as an Audible daily deals book and after reading the synopsis I was very intrigued. I bought it on a whim and also decided to read it on a whim as I was wanting something heartfelt to read. The writing in this story was done very well and it kept my interest the whole entire time. The ending was VERY sweet and this book holds a lot of quotable lines that have a lot of meaning behind them. What I wanted out of this book though, was more emotion and connection between the FMC and the baby she found. There was some at the end of the book, but it was only in one chapter, I wish it would’ve been shown throughout the entire book. I also felt as if the other main character, Daisy, the mother of the abandoned child did not fit a 19 year old. She seemed way beyond her years with the things she said. I really wanted this to be more than it was. I wanted to feel the feels through out it and unfortunately for me it didn’t deliver. But maybe it will for you!
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