Without Saying Goodbye

by Laura Jarratt, Alice White (reader)

Two women will do whatever it takes to protect their own – no matter the cost to anyone else.

Cerys leaves her life behind in a fiery wreck. Lily slips away from hers early one morning, silent as a shadow. Both are mothers. And both are desperate.

When the two women are thrown into each other's paths, they strike a tentative bond. Cerys is a mother with no children to care for anymore, and Lily is doing all she can to take care of a four-year-old on her own. But each keep secrets from the beginning—the scars, the loneliness, and, most importantly, who they actually are. They need to work together to survive, but how can they trust each other? Because everybody knows: the longer a secret is kept, the worse its consequences will be when the truth comes out.

As the past catches up with them in the form of a deranged father with a shotgun, Lily especially finds herself backed into a corner. But mothers will do what they must to protect their children, no matter who else gets hurt along the way.

A deeply emotional and complex thriller that explores motherhood, love and the desperate need to protect it... at any cost.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller

Audio CD

First published May 2, 2023

About the author

Laura Jarratt was born in Salford in the 1970s, the decade fashion should really forget. She remains mentally scarred from the numerous childhood photos of her in very bad clothes, which she blames for her present aversion to having her picture taken. Despite being good at English, Classics and Modern Foreign Languages, she accidentally studied Microbiology at university and then went on to work in education. Laura escaped the city as soon as possible as she becomes claustrophobic if not surrounded by enough green. Concrete just does not do it for her.

She's lived throughout the UK but came home to the North West where she is currently owned by Henry, a ginger cat without a tail, who holds the family in thrall.

Reviews

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really well told emotional story about two women - both mothers at different stages and needing each other more than they knew. I liked the writing style which was quick and changed perspectives. I did think the description was a little off for me as I didn’t think this book was so much a thriller as a family drama. Cerys left overwhelmed and just wanted to disappear. When things didn’t go as plan and she wandered by another desperate young woman clearly struggling and she has to stop to help her, Lilly, and her son Sammy. I liked the slow way the reader got the background of each woman. I loved the setting and really loved the people that Lily and Cerys met along their journey. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up for being such an engrossing read.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without Saying Goodbye is the story of two women incognito who meet under highly unusual circumstances. After coming to a wordless understanding that discussions about their past is off limits, they form a tentative bond and makeshift family of sorts. Both women are running from something or someone. Both are at the end of their rope. Both would rather die than return to their former lives. Both have secrets they will not share. As the story unfolds, readers come to know these women, to understand their pain, motivation and fear of being forced back to the insufferable life they fled.

Cerys is battling depression as a result of empty nest syndrome. She gave up her dreams of a career to be a stay at home wife and mother, and now all these years later she's left with nothing to fill her idle time or mind - nothing to look forward to, nothing to live for. She doesn't know who she is anymore or what role she plays to an indifferent family that no longer needs or sees her often enough to recognize the signs of deepening depression threatening to break her. Over a period of time, as the darkness claims Cerys, she makes an irreversible decision culminating in one dark night on an empty highway, a fiery crash and a no longer tethered woman on the run.

Lily is a young, naive, abused mother with a helpless four year old child. Her husband has repeatedly beaten her down both mentally and physically until her confidence in her own ability as a mother, wife and human being is nonexistent. However, it's not fear for her own life that motivates her, but rather love for the child depending on her. There's one thing this monster can't beat out of her - her maternal instinct to protect her child at all costs, and so on a dark, foggy night after months of silent preparation, Lily slips out of the house and vanishes with her child.

One fateful afternoon, far away from their respective former homes, Cerys' and Lily's paths cross. Both recognize a bit of themselves in the other and without revealing backgrounds, they form a tentative, temporary arrangement to live together - no questions asked. Things improve until the day an emergency ends their anonymity, and someone figures out who they are. It's only a matter of time until danger arrives on their doorstep.

Without Saying Goodbye is a propulsive, emotional domestic thriller that explores the many stages of motherhood, the overwhelming need to protect and the need to be needed no matter ones' age. Jarratt does a beautiful job of characterization, of building empathy for both women who are decades apart in age. Readers are drawn into both women's lives, coming to understand what drove them to run - to leave their families without a word of goodbye, and how in their own way, they're each searching for their own identity. The plot line unfolds in a steadily rising pace with tension increasing over concerns of being discovered and forced to go back which keeps both women wary and always looking over their shoulder. Will they ever truly be free of the past that haunts them?

For this reader, the most beautiful part of Without Saying Goodbye is the gradual transformation of both women from darkness to light as they learn to trust again - both their own instincts and others. Through picturesque prose, Jarratt renders this story with beauty and grace even as she delivers a commentary on social issues like mental and physical abuse, empty nest syndrome and a mother's internal instinct to protect - to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of her children. How far would you go to protect your child? I know I'd do whatever it takes.

Without Saying Goodbye is a powerful, highly readable, heart touching domestic thriller. It's especially suited to women of all ages who've ever felt invisible or less than without really understanding why. I highly recommend it to fans of character driven domestic crimes and light suspense thrillers.
Special thanks to Sourcebooks for an arc of this title. Release Date of May 2, 2023
This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available at Cross My Heart Reviews.

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sat down this afternoon to read this, and immediately disliked the writing style. I briefly considered putting it aside to try again later, but I’m not a fan of the “DNF” if I’m reviewing a book. I may start to skim and give you a low rating, but I’ll always finish the book. In this case, I AM SO GLAD I DID! This story quickly dragged me in, no skimming was needed, and there will be no low ratings here…

I thought I was in for a fast-paced thriller, but that’s not this. This is a beautiful story, with a light thriller/mystery touch, but it’s mostly a drama - even with a bit of romance. I love when I get books that I normally wouldn’t read if they were labeled differently and enjoy them! This was thoughtful, touching, and almost made me tear up (I’m not a big crier).

We have the story of two women: Lily and Cerys. Cerys is a stay-at-home-mom turned empty-nester who feels she has nothing else to live for, so she decided to kill herself. She failed though, and just started walking towards the sea to drown. As she’s passing a hamburger stand, she sees a little boy accidentally spill his meal, and she sees the mother break down. Her need to kill herself is sidetracked by seeing a young mother in distress - and so she meets Lily, and her four-year-old son, Sammy.

Lily has run away from her abusive husband; she’s young - really young, and at a breaking point. She needs help, and Cerys seems to also need help. They both understand that something secretive is going on with the other, but they put those worries aside because they feel safe around each other. Soon, these two women - both with pasts they decide to keep secret - become a makeshift family, along with a sheep farmer they meet, Dylis.

This does have the “Sleeping with the Enemy” trope of a woman leaving her abusive husband and living in fear that he’ll find her, but aside from that, this was super fresh and I finished it in one sitting. Heartwarming, heartbreaking, phenomenally-written characters and just a fantastic story, this is one I’d highly recommend. I’ll be thinking about this one for awhile, which makes it get five stars from me.

(Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Laura Jarratt, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 2, 2023.)

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️. RTC.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another emotional journey of motherhood. It was compelling, and well written. It's about 2 women at different stages in motherhood. Cerys is an empty nester who no longer feels needed. She's lonely, bored, and dealing with depression. Lily is a young mom who has been abused by her husband, physically and mentally, and she wants to protect her four year old son Sam. Both women want to escape their life, find a way. I won't say how, that's for you to find out. They end up crossing paths along the way and decide to stick together for the time being as they could both benefit from having each other. That is, until someone figures out where they are and their lives are at risk of getting turned upside down. But mother's will do whatever it takes to protect their children. These ladies will left nothing stand in between them and their children.

I really liked how as the story progresses, we learn more about each of these women's pasts. This isn't what I'd call a thriller, but more of a domestic suspense. Definitely an engrossing story. I'll be interested to read more by this author!

Out May 2.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub, and Amazon once it publishes!

[Shelby (catching up on 2025 reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit: changing my rating to 4.5. It really was very well done!!!

Without Saying Goodbye by Laura Jarratt
Thank you @bookmarked for the gifted copy.

•Mystery/suspense
•Drama
•Found family
•Women's fiction

Three generations of women meet one another at the best possible time.

I'm such a sucker for found family, especially when it involves women who support one another in their time of need. Without Saying Goodbye really exceeded my expectations, and I enjoyed the mash-up of genres here and the unpredictability of it all. I didn't know what was coming next, and I love that! I listened to this one on @scribd and Alice White's narration is outstanding!!

Edit: changing my rating to 4.5. It really was very well done!!!

[Caitlin (CMAReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the free book.
This is a powerful book about what mothers will do for their kids, what comes after big life changes, and the power of friendship. I liked how this book juxtaposed a mother trying to survive with her young child with a woman who is unsure of anything after all of her children are gone. This book is packed full of emotions. I felt so much for Lily and her situation. She wanted to be a good mother but didn't know how this would look and then came Cerys. I so enjoyed seeing this relationship grow slowly - it's one that needed a foundation of trust and honestly - and the author paced this so well. I also adored Dilys. What wisdom she had. She gave such a balance to the ender part of life, and I liked how these different age-stages were represented among these women. This is a story I'll be thinking about for a while.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two women at very different stages in life find themselves entangled in one another. Cerys is an empty nester as her three children have grown into adulthood. She feels lost, without purpose, and alone. Lily is a new mother to four-year-old Sammy, who is escaping an abusive relationship. The two women meet by chance and form a heartwarming and emotionally complex bond. They promise each other never to question one another's past, and yet their secrets slowly seep through.
I enjoyed every page of this book. The trials of motherhood and feelings of depression are written and expressed beautifully. It is heartwrenching at times. Women need each other in many ways. Without Saying Goodbye wraps up a friendship, romance, a little thriller, and heartache all in one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Jarratt for this beautiful tale.

[Christina Faris (books_by_the_bottle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cerys leaves her life behind; desperate and alone, she sets off with no idea where she is going. When she crossed paths with Lily, who herself is desperate and struggling, the two women are drawn to each other. They strike up an unlikely friendship, or maybe it isn’t really all that unlikely, considering they are both mothers at different stages in their lives. Lily is has a young child and is trying to escape an abusive relationship, and Cerys feels lost with her three children grown and no longer needing her the way they once did. A beautiful look at the relationship between mothers and children (whether blood or found family), this was an emotional thriller.

Since I loved Laura Jarrett’s last book, I had to check this out too! Told in alternating perspectives, we learn more about both Cerys’ and Lily’s pasts, and the tension is palpable as the past catches up with them. I could relate SO much to Cerys, as a mother myself not having a career since my children were born. When they are your whole purpose, your only job, I could see why she was so lost as they grew up. Moreover, this was thought-provoking read about speaking your truth, finding your purpose, and doing what brings you joy (even if it’s unconventional at times). I also really appreciated the aspect of living with depression; I thought the author did a very respectful job of portraying that dark cloud that drags you under. And also with showing hope that you will find your light again. With short chapters and a fast-pace, I read this in a day.

“I was a mother…nothing more than that. I didn’t have a career. They were my whole life”.

Thank you to Netgalley, Laura Jarrett and Sourcebooks for the ARC! “Without Saying Goodbye” releases May 2nd!

This review will be shared to my instagram blog (books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

[Lisa Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without Saying Goodbye is a beautiful, heartwarming tale of two women who have lost their sense of self. Cerys had an abundance of love to give and Lily desperately needed someone to show her some love. When they meet purely by happenstance, they become fast friends and confidantes.

Lily is running from an abusive marriage, needing to protect her child, while Cerys is running away from life in general. They made a pact not to question each other about their reasons for running, but their truths slowly come to light as they trust each other more and more. Cerys is the mother that Lily never had and Lily is the only person who has needed Cerys in a long while. They build a beautiful, everlasting friendship.

This story is both heartwarming and heart wrenching. The author does a fantastic job with character development and both women felt like a friend I’d like to have myself. I give this book 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmarks for the advanced copy.

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down

This is a very slow, slow burn. I would say this book is contemporary/drama not a thriller.

Cerys and Lily are both mothers, and both leave their lives with kept secrets. These two women will do whatever it takes to protect their own.

I love the people that Cerys and Lily meet along the way. And the backstory on both of them. This is a story about motherhood, family and struggles between them. No crazy plot twists. I was expecting a little more from this book, and the fact that it was categorized as a thriller, when it wasn’t, sort of set me back.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a DRC. Without Saying Goodbye is available now.

[A_Stylish_Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @bookmarked @netgalley for a copy of this book. I read the synopsis thinking this would be a thriller but it's more fiction. The story is about 2 women that meet randomly and both are hiding from their past. They somehow form a friendship and live in a small remote town. I enjoyed how Lily and Cery's bond formed as well as the bond Cery forms with their landlord. I loved that this book explores motherhood and found family.

[Delaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is presented as a “deeply emotional and complex thriller” which I would disagree with. This is much more of a drama. Deeply emotional, yes. But very much a drama, not a thriller. It felt like a lifetime movie to me. The writing was decently well done, so I decided to rank it in the middle at 3 stars. The story itself had flaws and again, it wasn’t the thrilling read I was anticipating. I’d recommend this to fans of mother/daughter drama stories.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the copy of Without Saying Goodbye by Laura Jarratt. This is a sweet story about women helping and healing each other. Somehow, the pacing was off and I didn’t really get to know or connect to any of the characters, maybe because the story was so slow to unfold. If you don’t mind being in the dark about Cerys and Lily’s secrets until near the end, you will love this book. I needed to know more to really get invested in their lives.

[Alicia Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, such a beautifully written book. So soul-searching and heart-wrenching for those of us who have survived traumatic marriages.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without Saying Goodbye
by Laura Jarratt

Cerys leaves her husband after feeling alone and disconnected from him for years.
Lily sneaks away in the early morning hours.
Cerys misses mothering her kids, empty nest is hitting harder than she thought. Lily is doing everything she can to deal with past trauma and her 4-year-old.
When these two ladies' path cross, they decide to help each other out in ways they can without giving up their secrets. Will their past catch up to them?

I loved every minute of this book, it was so emotional and had me hooked from the beginning. You get to see real-life issues at hand, dealing with depression without realizing its depression, and abuse physical and mental. These women grow to learn to trust again and find out how to handle depression. They learn that you don't have to live in the darkness forever there is light at the end again, just takes a bit, and hard work to get there.

Thank you, Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC for an honest review

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story about two mothers, each struggling and desperate to escape their lives. A chance run in had them crossing paths and beginning to work together. It's a story about how far a mother will go to protect her own. I was engaged from the first pages and read it quite quickly. It was a bit of a slow burn, but it flowed nicely. As the story went on, you got to know the characters really well and the reasons for their choices.

If I had one critique, it would be that this is marketed as a thriller. While it did have some thriller/mystery elements, it was more of a domestic drama to me. There was some suspense but also even bits of romance in there. There were no huge twists and I was expecting more thrills when I went into it. But it was still a good read!

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an advance readers copy via Goodreads contest. Thank you @sourcebooks.com. I am under no obligation to write a favorable review.

Without saying Goodbye by Jarrett was an easy read with likable , although troubled characters. As a mature woman, and an empty nester mom I completely understood Cery’s feelings of displacement and having to readjust who you are when your children leave and you are no longer needed. Also Lilly’s need to get out of an abusive marriage to save her daughter was a dramatic part of this book. Not sure if male readers would “get” this book but it’s a wonderful read for all women. Let’s mentor, and protect other women in our lives .

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three women, all strangers, encounter one another at the most difficult times in their lives. Each one senses that there is more to each others stories, but gives each other the space, time and trust to talk about what ended up bringing them together on their own terms. What develops is this incredibly strong relationship that brings one peace, and allows another to find safety, and another to find joy again.

Lily has never had a loving and caring mother figure in her life, which leaves her vulnerable to fall prey to the wrong kind of person. In the middle of the night she takes her child and leaves her life behind for the safety of her and her child. Cerys is in the darkest place, her children have grown and left the home and her marriage seems to be slipping away, she has built her identity around being a wife and mother, and now she doesn't know her purpose anymore in this world. The two women encounter each other, as if fate knew they needed each other. Lily to help her feel safe again and learn how to mother her child and Cerys to find her purpose, her what's next. And fate intervenes again to introduce them to Dylis. Dylis is an elderly woman who needs help around the house and on her sheep farm, as she recovers from a broken leg. Dylis provides a safe place for both women to stay and forms a sweet relationship with Lily's child.

This book had a thriller aspect as Lily's husband is not going to give up her and their child so easily, and in the end Cerys is forced to fight to protect those most important to her.

But more than a thriller, it was an incredible story about found family. Family doesn't always have to be one you are born into, marry into, or give birth too. Family can be found in many places and when least expected. Cerys became a mother figure to Lily, who so desperately needed that in her life, and Dylis became that to Cerys, who was still mourning the loss of her own mother. And Cerys, Lily and little Sammy all gave Dylis a family she'd never had.

I loved Cerys character and her story as well. Cerys was in her 50's and not only entering menopause, but also having to face the "loss" of her family as she knew it. These are huge transitions in a person's life that don't get recognized or talked about enough. This caused severe depression in Cerys, depression that she didn't understand until she met Dylis.

This book was an emotional read, even if you have never been in these women's circumstances there were aspects of their stories that you could relate to. I was definitely invested in this book and these women, hoping that Cerys and Lily would find their happily ever afters.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Without Saying Goodbye. All opinions are my own.

[Maria Ortiz Marquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the beginning of the story, we meet Cerys, a middle-aged wife and empty nester who has decided to disappear from her loved ones’ lives. When things do not go as planned, she wanders off to the coastal town of Beaumaris, Wales where she meets Lily and her four-year old son, Sammy. Cerys’ motherly instincts lead her to help Lily and abandon her initial plans, and they end up agreeing to stay together and trust each other, no questions asked. When Lily’s past comes knocking at her door, secrets are revealed, and they now must protect their loved ones at whatever cost.

My Thoughts:

I LOVED this book. It is a gripping and emotional story of two women at distinct stages of life struggling to find their value and purpose in the world. Lily is a twenty-two-year-old escaping from an abusive relationship that has mined her confidence and broken her spirit. All she is sure of is that she loves her child and would protect him from anything. However, years of neglect and abuse have left her overwhelmed and paralyzed.

Cerys is a fifty-three-year-old mother of three who dedicated her entire life to her family. When her children leave home, she feels she has lost her purpose in life. Moreover, all she gets from her marriage is indifference. Meeting Lily provides Cerys with an “adopted daughter” to care for. For Lily, Cerys is the mother she wished she had, a role mother to satiate her desperate need for guidance.

The author did a phenomenal job of introducing us to these characters and letting us know their feelings and motivations early on. Lily kept surprising me along the way, while Cerys resonated deeply with me. Her reflections on motherhood, second chances, and coming back to your origins were especially beautiful and many a time drew tears from me. There is also Cerys’ employer, Dilys, a woman in her eighties whose practical approach to life gives Cerys clarity and guidance.

The pacing felt perfect for the story. While there are moments of beauty and happiness, there is also the tension of knowing that eventually Cerys’ and Lily’s past (hers especially) will catch up with them. The story never stalls and kept me engaged from start to finish. The author touches on themes of mental health, abusive relationships, loss, grief, middle-age, shame, and acceptance.

I could go on and on describing all the things I loved about this book, but I will not spoil it for you. This is a five-star book for me, that will live in my forever-shelves.

If you are a fan of themes of found family, motherhood, and second chances paired with suspense and a little romance, this book is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a free digital copy to review this book.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cerys is a mom, so much so she’s made it her whole identity. But now that her children are off to their own lives she’s left uncertain of what to do now. Feeling distraught and useless she leaves her life behind. Lily feels like she doesn’t know how to be a good mother. But what she does know is her child deserves more than the life they have right now, so she packs them up and slips away in the night.

The two run into each other unexpectedly, striking a bond and changing the course of their lives. Because mothers will do whatever it takes to protect their children, no matter the cost.

I want to start off by saying I went into this with an open mind and I’m glad I did. The back cover promises an “emotional, gripping thriller” but I don’t believe that does this touching story justice. If you go in hoping for a thriller you’ll probably be disappointed. In my opinion this book is better described an emotional, suspenseful women’s fiction.

This was just such a heartwarming story, focusing on the dynamics of mother/daughter relationships. And I am a complete sucker for found family which this story did so well, it made my heart swell.

There were some tough subjects (abuse, depression) throughout the story but I thought they were handled well and with care. I appreciated the candid and non judgmental way the author wrote about them.

Even though the pace is a little slower, the short chapters and multiple POV made this a quick read. This was my first by this author and it intrigued me enough to add her debut to my TBR!

Thank you Source Book and Netgalley for my review copies in exchange for an honest review!

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a touching story that revolved around two women - Lily and Cerys. They’re on the run for two different reasons, attempting to escape their current lives. In the midst of it all, they find each other and form a mother/daughter connection.

There was a lot that I really liked about this book. I was totally immersed in Lily’s story and was curious about where things would end up for her. She did have a pretty bit secret that I thought was a good addition to the story, but I found it to be very obvious. It would’ve been cool if it was kept under tighter wraps for a big reveal.

Cerys’ story was a struggle for me, and that’s what brought my rating down. I wish I could go into details, but they would definitely be spoilers. So I’ll just say that her character didn’t really make sense to me. Her motivation for running away didn’t really add up. It has to do with her husband and children, and in terms of her children, I thought her mentality around all of that was ridiculous and unfair. Anyway, I’ll leave it at that.

Overall, I liked the writing style of this one and found myself zooming through it. I also appreciated the focus on motherhood. Unfortunately, there were some pretty big parts of the story that didn’t add up to me.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my gifted copy!

[ladybreww · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯. 𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.

𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚 🎭: women’s fiction
𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚 🏃🏼‍♀️: moderate
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🚫
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 🖤: stories of friendship
𝙏𝙒/𝘾𝙒 ⚠️: suicidal ideation, abuse

This book was a sweet and heart wrenching story of two mothers who find each other on the worst day of their respective lives. Each woman is hiding from someone, and each woman has a major secret. Somehow, they lean on each other and teach each other to survive. It is a story of found family, what it means to be a mother, and how to stand up for yourself.

I loved the emotional journey this book took me on. I teared up, I laughed, I was nervous, and I was rooting for each of the women. There are some tough issues discussed.

For me, the best part was the found family theme. Each woman, from each generation, found ways to learn from the others.

👏🏼👏🏼 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 to readers who enjoy stories of friendship and a mother’s love.

Thank you to Sourcebooks, Netgalley, and the author for the advanced copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Chelsea (gofetchabook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tense, but overall heartwarming book about healing and survival.

I wouldn't call it a "thriller" per se, but there were definitely some VERY tense moments.

Lily and Sammy are on the run from her abusive husband. Lily feels worthless and helpless as a mother to her four year old, and has never been on her own before. She is completely lost as to what to do, and doesn't even know how to book a hotel for herself and her young child. Lily then meets Cerys, who isn't so much as "on the run," but trying to escape her mundane life.

Cerys becomes the mother that Lily never had, as they forge their own path in life, until one day, Lily's husband finds them. The dramatic ending of what happens when the husband finds the women will have you on edge. Lily has spent her adult life believing she was worthless, and helpless and in capable of being a mother. She spent the months she was gone, believing her husband had gotten a court order for custody of their child. She will do anything to protect her child from that monster, and Cerys will do anything to protect Lily.

The ending of the story is heartwarming, as each person grows and learns to love themselves for who they are, and not who others expect them to be.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questa storia mi ha veramente scaldato il cuore. Le protagoniste sono due donne, Lily poco più che ventenne e Cerys poco più che cinquantenne. Una scappa da un marito abusivo, l’altra da un senso di depressione (empty nest syndrome) e abbandono dovuto al fatto che i figli sono adulti e lei si ritrova senza nessuno di cui occuparsi.
Hanno la fortuna di incontrarsi e, nonostante gli evidenti segreti che si nascondono a vicenda, decidono di aiutarsi e di fidarsi l’una dell’altra, creando un legame che salverà la vita ad entrambe.
Questo libro è scritto così bene che mi ha fatto immaginare e sperare che questa storia possa essere vera, che nella vita reale ci possano essere donne come Cerys e Lily che si trovano casualmente e che riescano ad uscire da situazioni di abuso e difficoltà emotiva dandosi supporto come han fatto loro.
È una storia potente e toccante, che tocca temi importanti e che trasmette l’ansia, la paura e la preoccupazione di chi vive situazioni del genere.
È stato emozionante veder trasformare e crescere queste donne che hanno trovato la forza e la luce dentro di loro.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, we have a book marketed as a thriller that is absolutely not a thriller. This is straight-up women’s fiction. No thrills involved. Expectations can make an enormous impact on a reader’s enjoyment of a book, so adjust accordingly.

The story follows three generations of women, all at different and difficult cruxes in their lives. Content addresses self-esteem, motherhood, aging, loneliness, and the importance of female relationships. This aspect of the story is beautifully told, eloquently written, and powerful.

As for the rest: the big reveal wasn’t a surprise at all. In fact, the author gives it away (inadvertently?) early on if you’re paying attention. And, if you’re an avid thriller reader, you’ll see it coming even if you’re not paying attention.

The storyline is predictable, and pacing is a (very) slow burn.

It’s actually sad that the writing attempted to curve this into a thriller, and that marketing didn’t push this as the emotionally profound story it is.

*I received a free eARC from Sourcebooks Landmark, via NetGalley.*

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers of suspense and thriller novels who enjoy those that feature female protagonists and lots of twists will want to give this title a look. The plot, characters and setting will all draw the reader in.

Two women meet seemingly at random. Both have had children. While Cerys no longer has any to care for, Lily has a four year old…and a violent husband. These three go to live with a widow in Wales where Cerys acts as her housekeeper. What happens from here will keep readers riveted until the final twist.

Recommended to those who enjoy domestic suspense. There are secrets, complex pasts and a need to survive in these pages. Publishers Weekly gave this title a starred review, always a good sign. PW says that it is this author’s best work yet.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this title. All opinions are my own.

[Megan Houde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily and Cerys are both mothers who are leaving their pasts behind. They both cross paths and plot out a way to escape, each with secrets they have yet to share. And in their wake is an angry husband, but mothers will do what they have to to protect their children.

This book was emotional, being a mother myself. A cry for help and reaching out for those who hear our call. Thats what the two main characters are for each other. Cerys is overwhelmed and just wants out and Lily wants to escape the abuse she faces from her husband, with her son Sammy.

This story really build on empathy and what some face behind quite doors. Their is a lot of tension that the book builds as well, and made it such a unique read for me.

If you like characters who are driven than this book is definitely one to pick up!

[Geneva.Bookdiary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Without saying goodbye

I think you would like this if you have had this life experience. The FMC Lily left an abusive relationship with her child and is trying to stand on her own the book expresses all her fears and worries very raw.
I’ve never been in that type of situation so it’s a bit hard to connect but I still enjoyed the story. The story is told very nicely and you will definitely feel all the emotions for both Lily & Cerys.

It’s a very deep story about two women who meet under unusual circumstances. Two mothers at different stages of their life.

This is more of a drama than a thriller.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4 stars
This is billed as a thriller, and while it does have some thriller vibes, to me, it is more of a female bonding and encouragement novel. Lily, along with her 4 year old child, is running from an abusive husband, Danny. She feels unworthy to be a mother after listening to his verbal jeers.
Cerys is a middle-aged mom who is dealing with an empty nest and a distant relationship from her husband. She feels unneeded and unloved. She contemplates death before meeting Lily.
Together these 2 women heal each other. A true testament to building women up through encouragement and love.