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The Secret of the Brighton House
Her family lied to protect her. Will the truth tear them apart?
Joanne’s always been told her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love. When unpacking a box of her own old baby clothes, Joanne accidentally discovers a photo of her birth mum holding a newborn, and realises she’s been lied to.
As Joanne begins to dig into the past, she uncovers layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the very family she holds dear. What really happened to her mum? What could be so devastating that her dad has kept it from her for her whole life—and is she ready to find out?
Joanne’s always been told her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love. When unpacking a box of her own old baby clothes, Joanne accidentally discovers a photo of her birth mum holding a newborn, and realises she’s been lied to.
As Joanne begins to dig into the past, she uncovers layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the very family she holds dear. What really happened to her mum? What could be so devastating that her dad has kept it from her for her whole life—and is she ready to find out?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2024
342 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Hayward
6 books91 followersI write historical fiction often set in dual timelines between the past and the present day. I love stories about family secrets and intrigue (think Kate Morton) which it why I write about them. My debut novel The Girl in the Maze comes out in autumn 2021
I trained as a journalist and edited a variety of trade publications, several of which were so niche they were featured on Have I Got News for You. I then moved into the world of PR and set up an award-winning communications agency Magenta Associates.
Devastated and inspired in equal measure by the death of my parents in quick succession, I completed The Creative Writing Programme with New Writing South out of which emerged my debut novel The Girl in the Maze about the experience of mothering and being mothered. It won Agora Books’ Lost the Plot Work in Progress Prize 2020 and was longlisted for the Grindstone Literary Prize 2020 and Flash500 2020.
When I'm not writing (or reading) in my local library, I love pottering in second-hand bookshops, hiking with my husband and our Hungarian Vizsla and wild camping. I live in Brighton – sandwiched between the Downs and the sea – with my husband, three children, dog and two rescue cats – one of whom thinks he’s a dog.
You can buy The Girl in the Maze here: https://linktr.ee/cathyhayward
And you can find out more about my writing journey here: https://cathyhayward.co.uk
Please do get in touch and ask me a question. I read (and respond) to all my reviews and love chatting to readers.
I trained as a journalist and edited a variety of trade publications, several of which were so niche they were featured on Have I Got News for You. I then moved into the world of PR and set up an award-winning communications agency Magenta Associates.
Devastated and inspired in equal measure by the death of my parents in quick succession, I completed The Creative Writing Programme with New Writing South out of which emerged my debut novel The Girl in the Maze about the experience of mothering and being mothered. It won Agora Books’ Lost the Plot Work in Progress Prize 2020 and was longlisted for the Grindstone Literary Prize 2020 and Flash500 2020.
When I'm not writing (or reading) in my local library, I love pottering in second-hand bookshops, hiking with my husband and our Hungarian Vizsla and wild camping. I live in Brighton – sandwiched between the Downs and the sea – with my husband, three children, dog and two rescue cats – one of whom thinks he’s a dog.
You can buy The Girl in the Maze here: https://linktr.ee/cathyhayward
And you can find out more about my writing journey here: https://cathyhayward.co.uk
Please do get in touch and ask me a question. I read (and respond) to all my reviews and love chatting to readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
July 24, 2025
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I really wanted to love this book and I did at first. Joanne thought her mom died while giving birth to her but then she finds some photos of herself as a baby where her mother is holding her so she starts to ask questions. Her dad refuses to answer them so Joanne has to investigate it herself.
I had a few issues with this book namely:
- A government official lets Joanne look through a patient file
- Joanne's father and step-mom tiptoeing around her and not explaining things
- Joanne's mom's family didn't do anything about finding her or her mother
- Joanne's father then doubles down on his lies
- Joanne's stepmom and dad hide from her when she comes to the door
- When they do finally answer the door her stepmom closes it in her face
And then there was the story and the writing itself. The writing was pedestrian and very amateurish. The same thing happened over and over again ad nauseam. The book lacked any real depth. If Joanne's father was just honest with her when she asked questions he could have saved Joanne a lot of stress and heartache. He made it worse not better. She had to schlep all over the place in her condition. I hate deception, especially where children are concerned. They should not be lied to no matter what because it'll always come back to haunt you and them, and often the lying is worse than the secret itself, as in this story. While I appreciate what the author was trying to do here, shining a light on a not much talked about mental health issue, it's just got bogged down with how unbelievable the story was, the repetitiveness and amateurish writing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
I really wanted to love this book and I did at first. Joanne thought her mom died while giving birth to her but then she finds some photos of herself as a baby where her mother is holding her so she starts to ask questions. Her dad refuses to answer them so Joanne has to investigate it herself.
I had a few issues with this book namely:
- A government official lets Joanne look through a patient file
- Joanne's father and step-mom tiptoeing around her and not explaining things
- Joanne's mom's family didn't do anything about finding her or her mother
- Joanne's father then doubles down on his lies
- Joanne's stepmom and dad hide from her when she comes to the door
- When they do finally answer the door her stepmom closes it in her face
And then there was the story and the writing itself. The writing was pedestrian and very amateurish. The same thing happened over and over again ad nauseam. The book lacked any real depth. If Joanne's father was just honest with her when she asked questions he could have saved Joanne a lot of stress and heartache. He made it worse not better. She had to schlep all over the place in her condition. I hate deception, especially where children are concerned. They should not be lied to no matter what because it'll always come back to haunt you and them, and often the lying is worse than the secret itself, as in this story. While I appreciate what the author was trying to do here, shining a light on a not much talked about mental health issue, it's just got bogged down with how unbelievable the story was, the repetitiveness and amateurish writing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
October 15, 2024
This is the story of Joanne, who is finally pregnant in 2021, in her forties, after many years of not being able to carry a baby past a few weeks. And, it is also the story of Grace, who is pregnant with Joanne, in 1975. Mother and daughter, both pregnant in parallel timelines.
This story is unnecessarily long and drawn out. The writing style is weak. And, I have major issues with the plot.
The first is the description of the birthing room and maternity ward in England in 1975. I gave birth in 1973 in Canada. I cannot believe that what was written is accurate. I find it hard to believe that it would differ as much as it seemed between England and Canada. It sounded barbaric, like something out of the early 20th century. Physically disabled babies were whisked away. Unmarried mothers were treated with scorn. And more.
Secrets are a big part of many stories. Usually, it is interesting trying to guess them and watching them play out. Usually, there is a good reason for the secret. In this story, it is a secret kept by Joanne's father. For the life of me, I could not understand his reasoning. Secrets from the past might be hurtful but not knowing or suspecting can even be worse. The whole thing left me with a creepy feeling, definitely not in a good way.
This is a very dark and sad story. I had to skim parts of it, just too much for me. While it did end on a positive note, it was not enough to erase what came before. This was not the book for me. And, I do not recommend it for anyone pregnant or contemplating pregnancy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy .
This story is unnecessarily long and drawn out. The writing style is weak. And, I have major issues with the plot.
The first is the description of the birthing room and maternity ward in England in 1975. I gave birth in 1973 in Canada. I cannot believe that what was written is accurate. I find it hard to believe that it would differ as much as it seemed between England and Canada. It sounded barbaric, like something out of the early 20th century. Physically disabled babies were whisked away. Unmarried mothers were treated with scorn. And more.
Secrets are a big part of many stories. Usually, it is interesting trying to guess them and watching them play out. Usually, there is a good reason for the secret. In this story, it is a secret kept by Joanne's father. For the life of me, I could not understand his reasoning. Secrets from the past might be hurtful but not knowing or suspecting can even be worse. The whole thing left me with a creepy feeling, definitely not in a good way.
This is a very dark and sad story. I had to skim parts of it, just too much for me. While it did end on a positive note, it was not enough to erase what came before. This was not the book for me. And, I do not recommend it for anyone pregnant or contemplating pregnancy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy .
August 14, 2024
I received a free copy of, The Secret of the Brighton House, by Cathy Hayward, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Joanne thought she knew the truth about what happened to her mother, that she died in child birth, but she did, and her father has lied to her all this time. I enjoyed this read, Joanne is such a strong female character.
November 11, 2024
Though the cover of this novel has a slight thriller vibe, make no mistake, this is not a thriller.
The novel was about two young women, both pregnant, a generation apart. Some of the scenes in the book were traumatic to read.
Grace and her husband Mike were so very excited to be expecting a baby. Grace sewed tiny clothes and she and her best friend, Susie, made a large and colourful rag rug for the baby's room. But this was the 1970s. A time when women were induced to accommodate the schedule of the doctors. When husbands were not welcomed at the actual birth. Grace, quite naive in her expectations of what would happen, had a very traumatic birth experience. Alone while she laboured, and frightened, she would never get over the birth of her baby daughter, Joanne.
Joanne and her husband, Alex, have been trying to get pregnant for years unsuccessfully. After IVF treatments and seven miscarriages, finally now they have passed the crucial five month mark. All of this obsession to conceive has put a strain on their marriage. Joanne is now in her forties and therefore hers is a 'high-risk' pregnancy.
When her father brings over a box of her baby things that she might use for her new baby, she finds her own baby journal. Having been told that her mother Grace died while giving birth to her, she was shocked to see photos of Grace holding her as a baby... This discovery causes Joanne to become estranged from her Dad and leads her on a path to ascertain just what happened to her birthmother, Grace.
Like most people, I know that some women experience the 'baby blues', or postpartum depression, however, with this novel I learned that there is also a thing called 'postpartum psychosis' which affects around one in one thousand women!
This was a well-written novel about motherhood, childbirth, and mental illness. The scenes which were narrated by Grace were particularly poignant and distressing.
Also, this book touches on the theme of nature vs. nurture.
All in all, "The Secret of the Brighton House" was an absorbing, emotionally charged and meaningful work of women's fiction.
The novel was about two young women, both pregnant, a generation apart. Some of the scenes in the book were traumatic to read.
Grace and her husband Mike were so very excited to be expecting a baby. Grace sewed tiny clothes and she and her best friend, Susie, made a large and colourful rag rug for the baby's room. But this was the 1970s. A time when women were induced to accommodate the schedule of the doctors. When husbands were not welcomed at the actual birth. Grace, quite naive in her expectations of what would happen, had a very traumatic birth experience. Alone while she laboured, and frightened, she would never get over the birth of her baby daughter, Joanne.
Joanne and her husband, Alex, have been trying to get pregnant for years unsuccessfully. After IVF treatments and seven miscarriages, finally now they have passed the crucial five month mark. All of this obsession to conceive has put a strain on their marriage. Joanne is now in her forties and therefore hers is a 'high-risk' pregnancy.
When her father brings over a box of her baby things that she might use for her new baby, she finds her own baby journal. Having been told that her mother Grace died while giving birth to her, she was shocked to see photos of Grace holding her as a baby... This discovery causes Joanne to become estranged from her Dad and leads her on a path to ascertain just what happened to her birthmother, Grace.
Like most people, I know that some women experience the 'baby blues', or postpartum depression, however, with this novel I learned that there is also a thing called 'postpartum psychosis' which affects around one in one thousand women!
This was a well-written novel about motherhood, childbirth, and mental illness. The scenes which were narrated by Grace were particularly poignant and distressing.
Also, this book touches on the theme of nature vs. nurture.
All in all, "The Secret of the Brighton House" was an absorbing, emotionally charged and meaningful work of women's fiction.
May 30, 2024
The Secret of the Brighton House by Cathy Hayward
Thank you NetGalley, author Cathy Hayward, and publisher for allowing me to read The Secret of the Brighton House in exchange for my honest review. I really liked the bright blue cover, and was intrigued by the description: Her family lied to protect her. Will the truth tear them apart? “Joanne’s always been told her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love. When unpacking a box of her own old baby clothes, Joanne accidentally discovers a photo of her birth mum holding a newborn, and realises she’s been lied to. As Joanne begins to dig into the past, she uncovers layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the very family she holds dear. What really happened to her mum? What could be so devastating that her dad has kept it from her for her whole life—and is she ready to find out?”
This was my first read by the author and I was ill prepared for how dark this plot would actually be. Told in flashback first person and modern day third person timelines of 1975 and 2021, the character Joanne Shaw and her husband Alex are finally pregnant after years- long struggles and IVF. Her “condition” (pregnancy) is repeatedly referred to as a reason for the lifelong secrets regarding her 1975 birth and the fate of her birth mother, Grace. Joanne was always told Grace tragically died during her childbirth, but when long packed away baby clothes and mementos are opened, pregnant Joanne begins a quest to get to the bottom of the actual truth, with or without her overprotective father, Mike’s, help. The decade Joanne was born (the 70’s) was a different time and Mike thought he was doing his best by hiding the truth from his daughter throughout her life, especially when Joanne stumbled upon the box of her own baby clothes and mementos while finally pregnant. Throughout her fragile pregnancy and birth of baby Grace, Joanne has visions of her deceased mother Grace and faces her fears of hereditary conditions and a predisposition to postpartum psychosis. This was by no means a light read. 2/5
Topicss: infertility, deception, postpartum psychosis, motherhood, mental illness, IVF, marriage struggles, predisposition to postpartum psychosis.
Triggers: IVF, miscarriages, lies, postpartum, mental hospitals, psychosis. antipsychotic medications.
Thank you NetGalley, author Cathy Hayward, and publisher for allowing me to read The Secret of the Brighton House in exchange for my honest review. I really liked the bright blue cover, and was intrigued by the description: Her family lied to protect her. Will the truth tear them apart? “Joanne’s always been told her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love. When unpacking a box of her own old baby clothes, Joanne accidentally discovers a photo of her birth mum holding a newborn, and realises she’s been lied to. As Joanne begins to dig into the past, she uncovers layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the very family she holds dear. What really happened to her mum? What could be so devastating that her dad has kept it from her for her whole life—and is she ready to find out?”
This was my first read by the author and I was ill prepared for how dark this plot would actually be. Told in flashback first person and modern day third person timelines of 1975 and 2021, the character Joanne Shaw and her husband Alex are finally pregnant after years- long struggles and IVF. Her “condition” (pregnancy) is repeatedly referred to as a reason for the lifelong secrets regarding her 1975 birth and the fate of her birth mother, Grace. Joanne was always told Grace tragically died during her childbirth, but when long packed away baby clothes and mementos are opened, pregnant Joanne begins a quest to get to the bottom of the actual truth, with or without her overprotective father, Mike’s, help. The decade Joanne was born (the 70’s) was a different time and Mike thought he was doing his best by hiding the truth from his daughter throughout her life, especially when Joanne stumbled upon the box of her own baby clothes and mementos while finally pregnant. Throughout her fragile pregnancy and birth of baby Grace, Joanne has visions of her deceased mother Grace and faces her fears of hereditary conditions and a predisposition to postpartum psychosis. This was by no means a light read. 2/5
Topicss: infertility, deception, postpartum psychosis, motherhood, mental illness, IVF, marriage struggles, predisposition to postpartum psychosis.
Triggers: IVF, miscarriages, lies, postpartum, mental hospitals, psychosis. antipsychotic medications.
October 30, 2024
The Secret of Brighton House by Cathy Hayward delivers a compelling storyline that captures readers' attention with its gripping and unusual storyline. The narrative explores the enigmatic history of Brighton House, weaving together a tapestry of secrets and revelations that keep you hooked.
While the plot is undeniably captivating, there are moments where Hayward's effort to underscore certain themes feels a bit heavy-handed. This doesn't detract significantly from the overall experience, but it does occasionally pull you out of the immersion.
Mike's storyline evokes mixed feelings; his character is not well-developed which leads to it being ambivalent in its impact, although it should be vying for top spot with the main protagonist, Joanne's story.. Nevertheless, the book's strength lies in its brave storyline contrasting pregnancy, childbirth and mental health provision in the 1970s and contrasting that with how women are treated today.
Overall, The Secret of Brighton House is a worthwhile read for those who appreciate a story that delves into the unknown and reveals layers of hidden truths. Hayward's storytelling grips you, even if it sometimes tries a little too hard to make its point.
While the plot is undeniably captivating, there are moments where Hayward's effort to underscore certain themes feels a bit heavy-handed. This doesn't detract significantly from the overall experience, but it does occasionally pull you out of the immersion.
Mike's storyline evokes mixed feelings; his character is not well-developed which leads to it being ambivalent in its impact, although it should be vying for top spot with the main protagonist, Joanne's story.. Nevertheless, the book's strength lies in its brave storyline contrasting pregnancy, childbirth and mental health provision in the 1970s and contrasting that with how women are treated today.
Overall, The Secret of Brighton House is a worthwhile read for those who appreciate a story that delves into the unknown and reveals layers of hidden truths. Hayward's storytelling grips you, even if it sometimes tries a little too hard to make its point.
May 27, 2024
As much as I liked the writing and both the pace and sequence, I wasn't a fan of the book as a whole. The plot, when analyzed technically, is pretty underwhelming and weak.
After I finished the book, I realized I can sum up the whole thing in a few sentences. It was basically the kind of story people would write about seeing it happen to someone they knew.
The characters were also quite maddening, I understand everyone's apprehension about Joanne stressing herself over what happened to her bio mom, but they all reacted as if her world didn't change the moment she knew her mom didn't die in child birth. Considering the guilt she lived with over thinking about how she were to blame for her mother's demise, her need to know the truth was understandable to me.
I couldn't get why the father was adamant about not telling her everything even after she knew some parts of the truth, it would've saved her a lot of work and heartache.
The ending was satisfactory, while it didn't redeem the book, it gave it a nice closure.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
After I finished the book, I realized I can sum up the whole thing in a few sentences. It was basically the kind of story people would write about seeing it happen to someone they knew.
The characters were also quite maddening, I understand everyone's apprehension about Joanne stressing herself over what happened to her bio mom, but they all reacted as if her world didn't change the moment she knew her mom didn't die in child birth. Considering the guilt she lived with over thinking about how she were to blame for her mother's demise, her need to know the truth was understandable to me.
I couldn't get why the father was adamant about not telling her everything even after she knew some parts of the truth, it would've saved her a lot of work and heartache.
The ending was satisfactory, while it didn't redeem the book, it gave it a nice closure.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
October 29, 2024
Joanne’s pregnancy prompts her to look at her own past.
What an absorbing and affecting read. The Secret of the Brighton House works on many levels. Firstly it is an exploration of marriage as Joanne and Alex navigate their final IVF chance at having a child. I loved the way Alex’s perspective as a prospective father is given. Too often, if understandably, the focus on parenthood is given to women and here we are reminded that men are impacted too. I thought Cathy Hayward’s ability to show how those who do really love one another can find themselves drifting apart and losing sight of who they really are in a relationship as they focus on one event and forget their own dreams and desires, was thoroughly convincing. I was desperate for Joanne and Alex to find their way back to one another and to become successful parents happy in their own skin because Cathy Hayward made me care about them.
Secondly, alongside the marriage aspect is the consideration of who Joanne’s Mum is – her birth mother Grace or Lou, the woman who brought her up. There’s a real maturity in how this thread is woven into the story with the potential for Joanne’s whole personality and future to be changed. I loved the fascinating way Mike’s true personality is peeled back layer by layer too.
In addition, is the mystery at the heart of The Secret of the Brighton House. It’s not possible to say too much for fear of revealing spoilers, but as Joanne uncovers the 1970s events in Brighton there’s not just an entertaining plot, but a real sense of social history too.
But it is Grace who drives the narrative and through whom the most profound part of the story is conveyed. Her terrible mental health experiences feel completely convincing. She’s the kind of character whom the reader continues to think about long after the book is read. I genuinely think The Secret of the Brighton House has the power to change attitudes towards mental health.
The Secret of the Brighton House is a highly affecting, realistic and sensitively written exploration of motherhood in various forms. It considers severe mental illness and the depth of connection in families beyond the usual units. I thought it was not just very interesting, but that it was actually a highly important book because it brings difficult topics out into the open in an honest and caring manner. I recommend it most highly.
What an absorbing and affecting read. The Secret of the Brighton House works on many levels. Firstly it is an exploration of marriage as Joanne and Alex navigate their final IVF chance at having a child. I loved the way Alex’s perspective as a prospective father is given. Too often, if understandably, the focus on parenthood is given to women and here we are reminded that men are impacted too. I thought Cathy Hayward’s ability to show how those who do really love one another can find themselves drifting apart and losing sight of who they really are in a relationship as they focus on one event and forget their own dreams and desires, was thoroughly convincing. I was desperate for Joanne and Alex to find their way back to one another and to become successful parents happy in their own skin because Cathy Hayward made me care about them.
Secondly, alongside the marriage aspect is the consideration of who Joanne’s Mum is – her birth mother Grace or Lou, the woman who brought her up. There’s a real maturity in how this thread is woven into the story with the potential for Joanne’s whole personality and future to be changed. I loved the fascinating way Mike’s true personality is peeled back layer by layer too.
In addition, is the mystery at the heart of The Secret of the Brighton House. It’s not possible to say too much for fear of revealing spoilers, but as Joanne uncovers the 1970s events in Brighton there’s not just an entertaining plot, but a real sense of social history too.
But it is Grace who drives the narrative and through whom the most profound part of the story is conveyed. Her terrible mental health experiences feel completely convincing. She’s the kind of character whom the reader continues to think about long after the book is read. I genuinely think The Secret of the Brighton House has the power to change attitudes towards mental health.
The Secret of the Brighton House is a highly affecting, realistic and sensitively written exploration of motherhood in various forms. It considers severe mental illness and the depth of connection in families beyond the usual units. I thought it was not just very interesting, but that it was actually a highly important book because it brings difficult topics out into the open in an honest and caring manner. I recommend it most highly.
November 17, 2024
This was an interesting book. Definitely bring awareness to breach birthing in a time when c-sections were not prevalent, Post Partum Psychosis, IVF, miscarriages, & miracle baby. This book has a dual POV. One is Grace Bennet, mother the Joann, & her experience in becoming a mother & the mental damage after that. The other is Joann finally making it to 5 months of pregnancy after 7 miscarriages. All her life she has been told her mother died giving birth to her. As she is unpacking old baby things of hers she finds her baby book that her mother wrote in. But when she finds multiple pictures in the book of her mother & her after birth she is puzzled & overwhelmed to think that she has been told a lie all her life. Now when she’s been told to rest to give her baby the best chance of surviving she is determined to find the truth. This is a great book that shows the many struggles with infertility & family secrets & found family! If you are sensitive to birthing practices (while not in great detail) I give you warning. Otherwise I recommend this book to those who need a whirlwind book with a happy ending.
September 29, 2024
My heart broke reading this book. It was so uncomfortable to read such an amazing expression of what having puerperal psychosis might be like for the sufferer. The experiences Grace went through during and after having baby Joanne were horrendous. I literally squirmed. I had my first baby at a similar age in the same week, month and year and had a not dissimilar traumatic experience but thankfully with a different ending. Thank goodness our understanding and compassion around childbirth and motherhood has changed for the better. I felt so much for Joanne discovering all this hidden family history during her own last attempt at pregnancy. The author expressed everyone's emotions so well and the dual timeline/narrator works so well to move the story along I can't express enough what a brilliant read I found this book to be. Have the tissues ready though.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
October 11, 2024
The Secret of the Brighton House has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand it was a nice, quick read. The plot, on the other hand, well it wasn't at all what I was expecting.
The main theme of the book is postpartum psychosis, and how it was dealt with in the 1970's. Other themes include miscarriages, IVF treatment, difficult childbirth and attempted infanticide.
The secret of the title wasn't so much a secret as a massive big cover up.
The story is told across dual timelines. The present day is told in the third person and centres around Joanne who is pregnant and has found out that her mother, Grace, did not die giving birth to her, as she had been led to believe.
The 1970's timeline is told in the first person, from the POV of Grace. This timeline makes for very uncomfortable reading.
Quick read it may be, but there is a sense of unease throughout. Thankfully there is a happy ending, but it took me a while to shake off the sadness that had overcome me at reading Grace's plight.
The main theme of the book is postpartum psychosis, and how it was dealt with in the 1970's. Other themes include miscarriages, IVF treatment, difficult childbirth and attempted infanticide.
The secret of the title wasn't so much a secret as a massive big cover up.
The story is told across dual timelines. The present day is told in the third person and centres around Joanne who is pregnant and has found out that her mother, Grace, did not die giving birth to her, as she had been led to believe.
The 1970's timeline is told in the first person, from the POV of Grace. This timeline makes for very uncomfortable reading.
Quick read it may be, but there is a sense of unease throughout. Thankfully there is a happy ending, but it took me a while to shake off the sadness that had overcome me at reading Grace's plight.
October 20, 2024
The first few chapters were not great writing and I almost gave up. This got better, particularly in the Grace chapters later on. However I was really irritated by the way her parents and husband treated Joanna, in her 40s, like a fragile child. The whole reaction to the secret being revealed was just silly.
I did appreciate the Grace chapters through her psychosis - they felt very real. For that I've given an extra star.
I did appreciate the Grace chapters through her psychosis - they felt very real. For that I've given an extra star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2025
I really wanted to love this book but it just fell short in so many places
June 1, 2024
This book was definitely a bit anxiety inducing, I kept thinking the worst with all the secrecy, that’s my own fault because secret is obviously on the name and description of the book.
I actually read enjoyed the book once I got past the fear she would miscarry or end up like her mom.
This book was also a learning experience I've never heard of what happened to Joanne's Mam, and kept thinking about how badly it was handled.
If you have a chance read this book, it is really good just a bit slow.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I actually read enjoyed the book once I got past the fear she would miscarry or end up like her mom.
This book was also a learning experience I've never heard of what happened to Joanne's Mam, and kept thinking about how badly it was handled.
If you have a chance read this book, it is really good just a bit slow.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
November 4, 2024
Joanne is determined to uncover the truth, but this pursuit is taking a toll on her health. I found the past timeline to be drawn out and filled with excessive details about bodily functions that did not contribute to the overall story. It's puzzling why Joanne can't put off discovering the truth for a later time.
Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, for sharing the book through @netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, for sharing the book through @netgalley. All opinions are my own.
August 4, 2024
This was a terrific book, tense, lovely and heartbreaking all at once.
Joanne is finally pregnant after years of IVF when she gets clues that her mother may not have died during her birth. Her father refuses to discuss it and she decides to find out the truth.
Her husband is terrified for her and her unborn baby, but she's determined.
In alternate chapters we follow her journey as well as her mother Grace's , which include some heartbreaking and uncomfortable chapters about postpartum psychosis.
It has a lovely ending and I enjoyed the book. immensely
Joanne is finally pregnant after years of IVF when she gets clues that her mother may not have died during her birth. Her father refuses to discuss it and she decides to find out the truth.
Her husband is terrified for her and her unborn baby, but she's determined.
In alternate chapters we follow her journey as well as her mother Grace's , which include some heartbreaking and uncomfortable chapters about postpartum psychosis.
It has a lovely ending and I enjoyed the book. immensely
October 30, 2024
In her novel, Cathy Hayward weaves a compelling narrative that explores the complex dynamics of motherhood, mental health stigma, and the weight of family secrets. Set between contemporary Berwick-upon-Tweed and 1970s Brighton, the story follows Joanne Shaw as she uncovers the truth about her birth mother's fate while navigating her own journey to motherhood through IVF treatment.
Plot and Narrative Structure
The novel alternates between two timelines: present-day Joanne's discovery of her mother's past and Grace Bennett's devastating experience with postpartum psychosis in 1975. Hayward masterfully builds tension as Joanne pieces together the truth about her birth mother, while simultaneously revealing Grace's deteriorating mental state through first-person narration.
Strengths and Notable Elements
Authentic Portrayal of Mental Health
One of the novel's strongest aspects is its raw and unflinching portrayal of postpartum psychosis. Hayward's depiction of Grace's descent into mental illness is both heartbreaking and illuminating. The author skillfully captures the confusion, fear, and isolation experienced by new mothers struggling with mental health issues, particularly in an era when such conditions were poorly understood and heavily stigmatized.
Complex Character Development
The characters are well-drawn and multifaceted, particularly:
Joanne: Her struggle with infertility and fear of inheriting her mother's condition adds depth to her character
Mike (Joanne's father): His motivations for keeping secrets become increasingly understandable as the story unfolds
Lou (Joanne's stepmother): Her conflicted feelings about Grace's memory are portrayed with sensitivity
Areas for Improvement
Pacing Issues
The novel occasionally suffers from uneven pacing, particularly in the middle section where Joanne's investigation seems to stall. Some readers may find the alternating timelines disruptive to the story's flow, especially when crucial revelations are delayed for dramatic effect.
Underdeveloped Subplots
Several potentially interesting subplots, such as Alex's career struggles and Joanne's jewelry-making ambitions, feel underdeveloped and sometimes serve merely as background decoration rather than integral parts of the story.
Writing Style and Technical Elements
Hayward's prose is generally strong, though occasionally uneven. The first-person sections from Grace's perspective are particularly effective, capturing her increasingly fragmented mental state with haunting clarity. However, the third-person narrative following Joanne sometimes lacks the same emotional immediacy.
Themes and Social Commentary
Motherhood and Identity
The novel expertly explores various facets of motherhood:
The pressure to become a mother
The impact of infertility on relationships
The complex dynamics between birth mothers and stepmothers
The generational impact of mental illness
Medical Treatment Evolution
Hayward effectively contrasts the treatment of postpartum psychosis in the 1970s with contemporary approaches, highlighting both progress made and continuing stigmas around maternal mental health.
Impact and Relevance
While the story occasionally relies on convenient plot devices, its exploration of maternal mental health issues remains timely and important. The author's personal experience with postpartum depression (as mentioned in the acknowledgments) lends authenticity to the narrative.
Final Thoughts
The Secret of the Brighton House is an ambitious debut that tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and insight. While it occasionally stumbles in execution, the novel's core message about the importance of understanding and supporting maternal mental health resonates strongly. Hayward's personal connection to the subject matter shines through, though sometimes at the expense of narrative subtlety.
Plot and Narrative Structure
The novel alternates between two timelines: present-day Joanne's discovery of her mother's past and Grace Bennett's devastating experience with postpartum psychosis in 1975. Hayward masterfully builds tension as Joanne pieces together the truth about her birth mother, while simultaneously revealing Grace's deteriorating mental state through first-person narration.
Strengths and Notable Elements
Authentic Portrayal of Mental Health
One of the novel's strongest aspects is its raw and unflinching portrayal of postpartum psychosis. Hayward's depiction of Grace's descent into mental illness is both heartbreaking and illuminating. The author skillfully captures the confusion, fear, and isolation experienced by new mothers struggling with mental health issues, particularly in an era when such conditions were poorly understood and heavily stigmatized.
Complex Character Development
The characters are well-drawn and multifaceted, particularly:
Joanne: Her struggle with infertility and fear of inheriting her mother's condition adds depth to her character
Mike (Joanne's father): His motivations for keeping secrets become increasingly understandable as the story unfolds
Lou (Joanne's stepmother): Her conflicted feelings about Grace's memory are portrayed with sensitivity
Areas for Improvement
Pacing Issues
The novel occasionally suffers from uneven pacing, particularly in the middle section where Joanne's investigation seems to stall. Some readers may find the alternating timelines disruptive to the story's flow, especially when crucial revelations are delayed for dramatic effect.
Underdeveloped Subplots
Several potentially interesting subplots, such as Alex's career struggles and Joanne's jewelry-making ambitions, feel underdeveloped and sometimes serve merely as background decoration rather than integral parts of the story.
Writing Style and Technical Elements
Hayward's prose is generally strong, though occasionally uneven. The first-person sections from Grace's perspective are particularly effective, capturing her increasingly fragmented mental state with haunting clarity. However, the third-person narrative following Joanne sometimes lacks the same emotional immediacy.
Themes and Social Commentary
Motherhood and Identity
The novel expertly explores various facets of motherhood:
The pressure to become a mother
The impact of infertility on relationships
The complex dynamics between birth mothers and stepmothers
The generational impact of mental illness
Medical Treatment Evolution
Hayward effectively contrasts the treatment of postpartum psychosis in the 1970s with contemporary approaches, highlighting both progress made and continuing stigmas around maternal mental health.
Impact and Relevance
While the story occasionally relies on convenient plot devices, its exploration of maternal mental health issues remains timely and important. The author's personal experience with postpartum depression (as mentioned in the acknowledgments) lends authenticity to the narrative.
Final Thoughts
The Secret of the Brighton House is an ambitious debut that tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and insight. While it occasionally stumbles in execution, the novel's core message about the importance of understanding and supporting maternal mental health resonates strongly. Hayward's personal connection to the subject matter shines through, though sometimes at the expense of narrative subtlety.
October 8, 2024
Thank you to Kelly Pike, of Folk PR, for my AD-GIFTED copy of this novel.
Firstly, before I get into my review, I feel that I must begin on a note of caution about the novel's themes which will be highly sensitive, upsetting and challenging for some readers, so before you read on, please be aware that the story covers miscarriage, pregnancy loss, mental health and psychosis.
This is the second novel by Cathy Hayward, whose debut novel, The Girl in the Maze, was inspired by her own difficult relationship with her mother and won several awards.
TSOTBH tells the story of Joanne, who is in her mid forties, and who, after several miscarriages, is finally pregnant after undergoing IVF. She has always been told that her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love as she grew up in Berwick.
When preparing for the birth of her much longed for baby, Jackie unpacks a box of her own old baby clothes, and discovers a photo of her birth mum holding her as a newborn outside a house in Brighton, and realises that she has been lied to.
Why would her dad lie to her? And why did he move her so far away from Brighton?
With her questions stonewalled by her father, Jackie is terrified of what his silence might mean.
Desperate to know what really happened, Jackie delves into the past and begins to uncover layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the family she holds dear.
Meanwhile as Joanne's search for the truth unfolds, her chapters alternate with those of Grace herself, as she too prepares to give birth to her much longed for first baby, in the 1970s...
This is an affecting, and often desperately sad story of two women, who are both embarking upon the life changing journey of motherhood, decades apart, and who are linked by a terrible family secret.
As well as exploring themes of motherhood, family and belonging, the novel centres on the issue of post-natal psychosis: its devastating impact on the mother, her relationship with her child, and with her partner and family.
As you read Grace's chapters, which are harrowing and especially impactful because they are related in the first person, it is hard to credit how primitive the treatment and management of this condition was in the 1970s.
Whilst this dreadful illness is still not fully understood today, thankfully there does seem to have been improvements in treatment and care over the years since, as we see in the way Joanne's birth plan is approached.
Secrecy is another important element within this novel. We see how corrosive family secrets can be, and the damage that is caused: was her father's secrecy borne of shame and stigma as a result of contemporary attitudes to psychosis, or was it a case of misplaced good intentions? There is much to think about on this point, as it is key to much of what subsequently happens in the novel.
After so much sadness and tragedy, the concluding chapters of the story do offer a measure of hope and also closure, as a family which has suffered much begins to heal, and look forward to a happier future.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Firstly, before I get into my review, I feel that I must begin on a note of caution about the novel's themes which will be highly sensitive, upsetting and challenging for some readers, so before you read on, please be aware that the story covers miscarriage, pregnancy loss, mental health and psychosis.
This is the second novel by Cathy Hayward, whose debut novel, The Girl in the Maze, was inspired by her own difficult relationship with her mother and won several awards.
TSOTBH tells the story of Joanne, who is in her mid forties, and who, after several miscarriages, is finally pregnant after undergoing IVF. She has always been told that her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love as she grew up in Berwick.
When preparing for the birth of her much longed for baby, Jackie unpacks a box of her own old baby clothes, and discovers a photo of her birth mum holding her as a newborn outside a house in Brighton, and realises that she has been lied to.
Why would her dad lie to her? And why did he move her so far away from Brighton?
With her questions stonewalled by her father, Jackie is terrified of what his silence might mean.
Desperate to know what really happened, Jackie delves into the past and begins to uncover layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the family she holds dear.
Meanwhile as Joanne's search for the truth unfolds, her chapters alternate with those of Grace herself, as she too prepares to give birth to her much longed for first baby, in the 1970s...
This is an affecting, and often desperately sad story of two women, who are both embarking upon the life changing journey of motherhood, decades apart, and who are linked by a terrible family secret.
As well as exploring themes of motherhood, family and belonging, the novel centres on the issue of post-natal psychosis: its devastating impact on the mother, her relationship with her child, and with her partner and family.
As you read Grace's chapters, which are harrowing and especially impactful because they are related in the first person, it is hard to credit how primitive the treatment and management of this condition was in the 1970s.
Whilst this dreadful illness is still not fully understood today, thankfully there does seem to have been improvements in treatment and care over the years since, as we see in the way Joanne's birth plan is approached.
Secrecy is another important element within this novel. We see how corrosive family secrets can be, and the damage that is caused: was her father's secrecy borne of shame and stigma as a result of contemporary attitudes to psychosis, or was it a case of misplaced good intentions? There is much to think about on this point, as it is key to much of what subsequently happens in the novel.
After so much sadness and tragedy, the concluding chapters of the story do offer a measure of hope and also closure, as a family which has suffered much begins to heal, and look forward to a happier future.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
October 23, 2024
This was my second Kindle First choice of the month. I really enjoyed it but some parts were never really explained to my satisfaction and we sort of got left hanging and wondering why they merited a mention in the first place !! That, and a few niggly errors cost it one star for me.
I never understood who the pink roses were for or how Grace died, why Gerry only got slung in quite a way into the book and hadn't even been referred to till then and I have never had a baby but I didn't understand why forceps were used on a baby's head that was a breech birth and how they even managed this !! Another oddity was that in the local register office they had posters up about modern-day slavery and domestic violence.....seemed a tad random to me.
I've been following a true murder case in recent years where a mother disappeared and her immediate family and friends just didn't report her missing which was so sad and this story reminded me of this a little.....and no, that is not a spoiler !! The author would have us believe that a wife whose husband disappears off someplace each June never asked him why.....trust me, I don't know ANY woman who'd not badger and nag till she found out where he was going !! The expression "how very dare you" was also used and I hadn't heard that till Catherine Tate started with it in this century....and the same goes for A Song For Europe. That was never a thing till way later than the 1970s.
She wrote leaped instead of leapt in a story set over here (yet got it right just once, strangely) and there were quite a lot of missed-off question marks but that was it for mistakes that I spotted.
I'd definitely read another from her as I enjoyed this and liked her characters. Plus it was partly set in Sussex, where I used to live. It kept me guessing and held my interest all the way through just dying to know what happened and when and how !
I never understood who the pink roses were for or how Grace died, why Gerry only got slung in quite a way into the book and hadn't even been referred to till then and I have never had a baby but I didn't understand why forceps were used on a baby's head that was a breech birth and how they even managed this !! Another oddity was that in the local register office they had posters up about modern-day slavery and domestic violence.....seemed a tad random to me.
I've been following a true murder case in recent years where a mother disappeared and her immediate family and friends just didn't report her missing which was so sad and this story reminded me of this a little.....and no, that is not a spoiler !! The author would have us believe that a wife whose husband disappears off someplace each June never asked him why.....trust me, I don't know ANY woman who'd not badger and nag till she found out where he was going !! The expression "how very dare you" was also used and I hadn't heard that till Catherine Tate started with it in this century....and the same goes for A Song For Europe. That was never a thing till way later than the 1970s.
She wrote leaped instead of leapt in a story set over here (yet got it right just once, strangely) and there were quite a lot of missed-off question marks but that was it for mistakes that I spotted.
I'd definitely read another from her as I enjoyed this and liked her characters. Plus it was partly set in Sussex, where I used to live. It kept me guessing and held my interest all the way through just dying to know what happened and when and how !
May 27, 2024
Joanne has always known her mother died in childbirth, but when after a decade of disappointments and IVF she finally finds herself pregnant and daring to hope, she's confronted with a little baby-book. Hers. With pictures and scribblings of her mother.
The second story line, not surprisingly, is that of a girl named Grace. Married to the love of her life, and firmly routed in Brighton, she and her best friend Susie fall pregnant within a few months of each other. Set in the early seventies it paints a picture of life as was. (think smoking pregnant women, think women giving up their job to become a mother).
Two story lines is a common way of telling historical fiction - you know they're going to make sense eventually, and usually reveal a big plot line. In this case, it's obvious really early, if not immediately, who Grace is. And so as a reader you know she's dead. But how? And when? It's a haunting read, really. And the answers to these questions, you know as a reader before Joanne knows, have a massive impact on Joanne's own situation.
As Joanne's pregnancy continues, and -so I can imagine- her hormones are raging, finding out what happened to Grace becomes a mission. A mission that has you sometimes questioning her sanity. (but then again: hormones. Or?).
The story had me hooked despite not always liking Joanne's focus and her inability to cut some slack here and there to those who love her. That said: hormones. Plus: do we need a character to be likeable all the time? No. Is it understandable given the story and her situation: yes.
The novel ends with Joanne in labour on the backseat of the car, being driven to hospital.
(and there's an epilogue). No spoilers.
I received an eARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion and review.
The second story line, not surprisingly, is that of a girl named Grace. Married to the love of her life, and firmly routed in Brighton, she and her best friend Susie fall pregnant within a few months of each other. Set in the early seventies it paints a picture of life as was. (think smoking pregnant women, think women giving up their job to become a mother).
Two story lines is a common way of telling historical fiction - you know they're going to make sense eventually, and usually reveal a big plot line. In this case, it's obvious really early, if not immediately, who Grace is. And so as a reader you know she's dead. But how? And when? It's a haunting read, really. And the answers to these questions, you know as a reader before Joanne knows, have a massive impact on Joanne's own situation.
As Joanne's pregnancy continues, and -so I can imagine- her hormones are raging, finding out what happened to Grace becomes a mission. A mission that has you sometimes questioning her sanity. (but then again: hormones. Or?).
The story had me hooked despite not always liking Joanne's focus and her inability to cut some slack here and there to those who love her. That said: hormones. Plus: do we need a character to be likeable all the time? No. Is it understandable given the story and her situation: yes.
The novel ends with Joanne in labour on the backseat of the car, being driven to hospital.
(and there's an epilogue). No spoilers.
I received an eARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion and review.
July 21, 2024
The Secret of Brighton House by Cathy Hayward
This story is told in a tandem dual timeline between the 1970s and the present. In the story you are introduced to Joanne who is pregnant, and as she is preparing for her baby she discovers family secrets among heirlooms that are given to her. She is shocked by lies revealed with a photograph. Her parents kept secrets but even they don’t know the whole truth. Joanne goes on a quest to find the truth of her mother’s past and her birth.
The stress from dealing with worry of the unknown is almost as intense as the need to find the truth. This story does have some dark elements, but important ones in exploring topics of infertility and the mental health of women, issues not often explored or mentioned.
I think the flashback episodes could have been developed more and introduced in a better way. I also think that the characters beyond the mother and daughter could have been better developed. The back story with the mother was underdeveloped and not fully explored.
On a side note, American readers may be put off by the lack of punctuation, meaning periods, in title abbreviations.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a quick read and I found it engaging. However, I just wanted more depth and background in the flashback base story.
I want to say “ Thank you” to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC copy. These are my personal opinions. This novel will be released in November 2024.
This story is told in a tandem dual timeline between the 1970s and the present. In the story you are introduced to Joanne who is pregnant, and as she is preparing for her baby she discovers family secrets among heirlooms that are given to her. She is shocked by lies revealed with a photograph. Her parents kept secrets but even they don’t know the whole truth. Joanne goes on a quest to find the truth of her mother’s past and her birth.
The stress from dealing with worry of the unknown is almost as intense as the need to find the truth. This story does have some dark elements, but important ones in exploring topics of infertility and the mental health of women, issues not often explored or mentioned.
I think the flashback episodes could have been developed more and introduced in a better way. I also think that the characters beyond the mother and daughter could have been better developed. The back story with the mother was underdeveloped and not fully explored.
On a side note, American readers may be put off by the lack of punctuation, meaning periods, in title abbreviations.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a quick read and I found it engaging. However, I just wanted more depth and background in the flashback base story.
I want to say “ Thank you” to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC copy. These are my personal opinions. This novel will be released in November 2024.
October 27, 2024
What a story, I was gripped from the first chapter and felt the pacing between Grace and Joanne's timeline really well done. Each of their stories we're compelling enough that switching between them both felt so well paced (finding it hard to describe sorry)
The story follows Joanne, after years of struggling to conceive her and Alex as so happy that IVF was successful. She's planning out the nursey, clothes and dreaming of holding her baby.
Her Dad and Mam are overjoyed, Joanne has always known that her biological mother Grace died during childbirth but she's been lucky to have Lou (Mam) who raised her from a toddler. Her Dad gives her a box containing some clothing from when she was a baby, little does he know it contains Joanne's baby book, partially complete by Grace.
What Joanne reads in the book and the few photo's within it throws everything she's believed into a spin. I won't give any spoilers but the dual timeline takes you through Grace's heart-breaking life and Joanne's discoveries.
I was born in the 70's so this truly resonated with me. Bravo Cathy for a story so well throughout and described so well.
My only frustration was how Joanne dealt with her own health issues during the pregnancy. I do understand her overwhelming need to find out the truth about Grace but not risking her own pregnancy.
Thank you NetGalley, Cathy Howard and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.
The story follows Joanne, after years of struggling to conceive her and Alex as so happy that IVF was successful. She's planning out the nursey, clothes and dreaming of holding her baby.
Her Dad and Mam are overjoyed, Joanne has always known that her biological mother Grace died during childbirth but she's been lucky to have Lou (Mam) who raised her from a toddler. Her Dad gives her a box containing some clothing from when she was a baby, little does he know it contains Joanne's baby book, partially complete by Grace.
What Joanne reads in the book and the few photo's within it throws everything she's believed into a spin. I won't give any spoilers but the dual timeline takes you through Grace's heart-breaking life and Joanne's discoveries.
I was born in the 70's so this truly resonated with me. Bravo Cathy for a story so well throughout and described so well.
My only frustration was how Joanne dealt with her own health issues during the pregnancy. I do understand her overwhelming need to find out the truth about Grace but not risking her own pregnancy.
Thank you NetGalley, Cathy Howard and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.
November 3, 2024
In "The Secret of the Brighton House," Cathy Hayward tackles the profound and often overlooked themes of postpartum depression and psychosis through the lens of her protagonist, Grace. This poignant narrative, while fictional, resonates deeply with the realities faced by many women, shedding light on a critical issue that deserves more attention.
Hayward’s writing is both sensitive and insightful, reflecting extensive research and a genuine understanding of the complexities surrounding mental health in the postpartum period. The portrayal of Grace’s struggles is intense yet tastefully rendered, allowing readers to connect with her journey on an emotional level. The narrative balances the weight of the subject matter with moments of humanity and resilience, making for a compelling read.
The author’s ability to weave these serious themes into a narrative that is engaging and thought-provoking is commendable. "The Secret of the Brighton House" not only highlights the challenges women face but also sparks important conversations around mental health that are often shrouded in stigma.
Overall, this book is a remarkable exploration of postpartum experiences that will resonate with many. Cathy Hayward’s thoughtful storytelling deserves high praise for bringing such a vital topic to the forefront in a well-crafted and impactful manner. This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of motherhood and mental health.
Hayward’s writing is both sensitive and insightful, reflecting extensive research and a genuine understanding of the complexities surrounding mental health in the postpartum period. The portrayal of Grace’s struggles is intense yet tastefully rendered, allowing readers to connect with her journey on an emotional level. The narrative balances the weight of the subject matter with moments of humanity and resilience, making for a compelling read.
The author’s ability to weave these serious themes into a narrative that is engaging and thought-provoking is commendable. "The Secret of the Brighton House" not only highlights the challenges women face but also sparks important conversations around mental health that are often shrouded in stigma.
Overall, this book is a remarkable exploration of postpartum experiences that will resonate with many. Cathy Hayward’s thoughtful storytelling deserves high praise for bringing such a vital topic to the forefront in a well-crafted and impactful manner. This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of motherhood and mental health.
November 12, 2024
The Secret of the Brighton House was a Netgalley audiobook from an unknown, to me, author. A 3 star (in my rating system) which means I read it, didn't quit, would likely never read again, should you read it? maybe, blah blah blah. Author Cathy Hayward tells an uncomfortable story in dual pov's/timelines featuring mother and daughter, pregnancy, loss, mental illness, and several other trigger warnings. And, therein lies my difficulty. I requested this book, listened to it, then questioned what I was thinking based on my own trauma. I went back to read the publishers description:
Joanne’s always been told her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love. When unpacking a box of her own old baby clothes, Joanne accidentally discovers a photo of her birth mum holding a newborn, and realises she’s been lied to.
As Joanne begins to dig into the past, she uncovers layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the very family she holds dear. What really happened to her mum? What could be so devastating that her dad has kept it from her for her whole life—and is she ready to find out?
Read this one if you wish, but please be aware of potential triggers including miscarriages and mental illness. To the publishers - please be sensitive to reader's experiences and at least give us informed consent (especially when it does not provide a spoiler).
Joanne’s always been told her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love. When unpacking a box of her own old baby clothes, Joanne accidentally discovers a photo of her birth mum holding a newborn, and realises she’s been lied to.
As Joanne begins to dig into the past, she uncovers layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the very family she holds dear. What really happened to her mum? What could be so devastating that her dad has kept it from her for her whole life—and is she ready to find out?
Read this one if you wish, but please be aware of potential triggers including miscarriages and mental illness. To the publishers - please be sensitive to reader's experiences and at least give us informed consent (especially when it does not provide a spoiler).
October 14, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this eCopy to review
I recently finished reading The Secret of the Brighton House by Cathy Hayward, and it was quite an emotional journey. The story revolves around Joanne, who has always believed that her mother died in childbirth. However, when she discovers a photo of her birth mother holding her as a new born, everything she thought she knew about her past is thrown into question.
Joanne, experiences a whirlwind of emotions. The initial shock of uncovering the photo was just the beginning. Her father’s reluctance to discuss the past only fuelled her determination to uncover the truth. Each revelation was like peeling back layers of a deeply buried secret, and the more she discovered, the more her world seemed to unravel.
The writing was engaging, and the dual timelines between the past and present were handled well, keeping me hooked throughout. The revelation of long-held family secrets, was compelling. However, there were moments when the story felt repetitive, and some plot points seemed a bit contrived.
Despite these minor issues, the book’s exploration of family dynamics and the consequences of hidden truths was powerful. It’s a poignant read that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page
I recently finished reading The Secret of the Brighton House by Cathy Hayward, and it was quite an emotional journey. The story revolves around Joanne, who has always believed that her mother died in childbirth. However, when she discovers a photo of her birth mother holding her as a new born, everything she thought she knew about her past is thrown into question.
Joanne, experiences a whirlwind of emotions. The initial shock of uncovering the photo was just the beginning. Her father’s reluctance to discuss the past only fuelled her determination to uncover the truth. Each revelation was like peeling back layers of a deeply buried secret, and the more she discovered, the more her world seemed to unravel.
The writing was engaging, and the dual timelines between the past and present were handled well, keeping me hooked throughout. The revelation of long-held family secrets, was compelling. However, there were moments when the story felt repetitive, and some plot points seemed a bit contrived.
Despite these minor issues, the book’s exploration of family dynamics and the consequences of hidden truths was powerful. It’s a poignant read that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page
October 31, 2024
Joanne has always known that her mother, Grace, died in childbirth. Now heavily pregnant herself, Joanne discovers something that threatens to disrupt everything she thinks she knows about her family.
The story is told in two timelines, Joanne in the present day as she attempts to uncover her family’s secrets, and Grace in 1975 as she prepares to give birth to her first child. As the novel progresses we begin to find out what really happened when Joanne was born, but what impact will this have on Joanne who is finally about to become a mother herself?
Hayward’s writing drew me in straight away and I raced through this book to find out what happened to Grace. If you like stories that are full of suspense and intrigue then this is one for you to check out!
A word of caution though, if you’re pregnant or trying to be then I’d leave this one on the shelf for now. While things have thankfully progressed since 1975 the descriptions of Joanne’s birth and the treatment of new mothers were particularly distressing. There were parts that I found upsetting and hard to read so please take that into consideration before picking this one up.
The Secret of the Brighton House is published on 1st November, huge thanks to Cathy Hayward for a gifted copy in exchange for a review.
The story is told in two timelines, Joanne in the present day as she attempts to uncover her family’s secrets, and Grace in 1975 as she prepares to give birth to her first child. As the novel progresses we begin to find out what really happened when Joanne was born, but what impact will this have on Joanne who is finally about to become a mother herself?
Hayward’s writing drew me in straight away and I raced through this book to find out what happened to Grace. If you like stories that are full of suspense and intrigue then this is one for you to check out!
A word of caution though, if you’re pregnant or trying to be then I’d leave this one on the shelf for now. While things have thankfully progressed since 1975 the descriptions of Joanne’s birth and the treatment of new mothers were particularly distressing. There were parts that I found upsetting and hard to read so please take that into consideration before picking this one up.
The Secret of the Brighton House is published on 1st November, huge thanks to Cathy Hayward for a gifted copy in exchange for a review.
September 27, 2025
📚 Book Review 📚
The Secret of the Brighton House by Cathy Hayward
This is the first book I read from this author and I knew nothing about it. I believe I spotted it a year ago on a Amazon First Reads and it looked like a mystery so I thought this was great for a September read! I was not disappointed and only wish I had reached for it sooner!
The story runs on two story lines, one is in 2021 and follows Joanne who is now pregnant after many years of trying and grew up believing that her birth mother died in Childbirth. Since then her Father moved to the other side of the country when she was 2 years old found a new wife who brought Joanne and her half sibling up as her own.
We also follow Grace who is Joanne's birthmother who is pregnant with Joanne in the 1970s and explore the truth behind the lie Joanne has been told since she was a child.
This is such a sad but heartwarming book of loss, grief, shock, trauma but also unconditional love as a mother. I honestly couldn't put it down once I was past 25 percent. I loved it but please beware of the trigger warnings if you suffer from any mental health issues or are pregnant.
A hands down 5 Star read for me!
#5starreads #cathyhayward #brightonhouse #mystery
The Secret of the Brighton House by Cathy Hayward
This is the first book I read from this author and I knew nothing about it. I believe I spotted it a year ago on a Amazon First Reads and it looked like a mystery so I thought this was great for a September read! I was not disappointed and only wish I had reached for it sooner!
The story runs on two story lines, one is in 2021 and follows Joanne who is now pregnant after many years of trying and grew up believing that her birth mother died in Childbirth. Since then her Father moved to the other side of the country when she was 2 years old found a new wife who brought Joanne and her half sibling up as her own.
We also follow Grace who is Joanne's birthmother who is pregnant with Joanne in the 1970s and explore the truth behind the lie Joanne has been told since she was a child.
This is such a sad but heartwarming book of loss, grief, shock, trauma but also unconditional love as a mother. I honestly couldn't put it down once I was past 25 percent. I loved it but please beware of the trigger warnings if you suffer from any mental health issues or are pregnant.
A hands down 5 Star read for me!
#5starreads #cathyhayward #brightonhouse #mystery
May 31, 2024
The Secret of the Brighton House by Cathy Hayward. Lake Union Publishing, 2024.
This well-written book tells two stories, Joanne first (August-December 2021) and then Joanne’s mother, Grace (November 1974-May 1977).
Getting to the bottom of what happened and why it matters requires reading about multiple painful and difficult topics - miscarriages, postpartum psychosis and other sad issues.
This book is outstanding with respect to plot, character development and consistency, and writing style.
I am not sure who likes to read about heartrending matters, not me as I read for pleasure and entertainment. However, postpartum psychosis, a rare condition, affects an estimated 0.089- 2.6 mothers out of every 1,000 births. This is the first I’ve heard of it, and while I did not suffer from it myself, I do believe that I did experience it firsthand, a call to help late one night when it would have gone better had I had an inkling of what was going on.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Secret of the Brighton House free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheSecretoftheBrightonHouse #NetGalley
This well-written book tells two stories, Joanne first (August-December 2021) and then Joanne’s mother, Grace (November 1974-May 1977).
Getting to the bottom of what happened and why it matters requires reading about multiple painful and difficult topics - miscarriages, postpartum psychosis and other sad issues.
This book is outstanding with respect to plot, character development and consistency, and writing style.
I am not sure who likes to read about heartrending matters, not me as I read for pleasure and entertainment. However, postpartum psychosis, a rare condition, affects an estimated 0.089- 2.6 mothers out of every 1,000 births. This is the first I’ve heard of it, and while I did not suffer from it myself, I do believe that I did experience it firsthand, a call to help late one night when it would have gone better had I had an inkling of what was going on.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Secret of the Brighton House free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheSecretoftheBrightonHouse #NetGalley
October 28, 2024
This is such a gripping but sad and difficult topic to read about but I enjoyed this dual time line story.
Joanne is pregnant and looking through of box of her own baby clothes she finds a photo of her birth mother holding a newborn. Joanne realises that she has been lied to all her life being told that her mother died in childbirth. This leads Joanne on a quest to try and find out what happened to her birth mother.
We also follow Grace in the 1970’s who is excited to give birth in the weeks we first meet her and her best friend is also pregnant and due to give birth a few months after her. We follow her as she gives birth and the weeks after her child is born.
It’s a story which pulls at your heart strings, it brings medical care in the 1970s into the spotlight and sadly the care of patients at the time is far removed from how care is today. I thought this was a well researched and well written book.It is a very powerful read and I think this story will stay with me for a while.
I would check trigger warnings before starting this one, its could be extremely upsetting for some readers.
Joanne is pregnant and looking through of box of her own baby clothes she finds a photo of her birth mother holding a newborn. Joanne realises that she has been lied to all her life being told that her mother died in childbirth. This leads Joanne on a quest to try and find out what happened to her birth mother.
We also follow Grace in the 1970’s who is excited to give birth in the weeks we first meet her and her best friend is also pregnant and due to give birth a few months after her. We follow her as she gives birth and the weeks after her child is born.
It’s a story which pulls at your heart strings, it brings medical care in the 1970s into the spotlight and sadly the care of patients at the time is far removed from how care is today. I thought this was a well researched and well written book.It is a very powerful read and I think this story will stay with me for a while.
I would check trigger warnings before starting this one, its could be extremely upsetting for some readers.
January 16, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, it was a fast paced story that kept me guessing. I had guessed the ending roughly fairly early on, but I still really enjoyed reading the book.
The story follows Grace a mum in the 70s who had an extremely traumatic birth and suffered a postpartum psychosis, and her now adult daughter Joanne who didn’t know the truth about her birth mums death and goes on a discovery journey of finding this all out. Very sad in places, especially in Graces scenes. Wouldn’t recommend reading if you are pregnant and scare easily as some of the 1970s scenes about birth might freaks you out!
There are a few parts I wonder if they were accurate for the time the book was set, e.g the way the birth happened for Grace and the part about disabled babies being taken away. I feel like those things did happen in the UK but potentially a bit earlier than the 70’s, but I may be wrong!
But I don’t doubt the mental health care and some of the things that happened in the hospital for Grace were very time accurate.
The story follows Grace a mum in the 70s who had an extremely traumatic birth and suffered a postpartum psychosis, and her now adult daughter Joanne who didn’t know the truth about her birth mums death and goes on a discovery journey of finding this all out. Very sad in places, especially in Graces scenes. Wouldn’t recommend reading if you are pregnant and scare easily as some of the 1970s scenes about birth might freaks you out!
There are a few parts I wonder if they were accurate for the time the book was set, e.g the way the birth happened for Grace and the part about disabled babies being taken away. I feel like those things did happen in the UK but potentially a bit earlier than the 70’s, but I may be wrong!
But I don’t doubt the mental health care and some of the things that happened in the hospital for Grace were very time accurate.
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