Children of Ever After

by Avery Yearwood

In the heart of West Philadelphia, two women's lives collide in a heart-wrenching tale of love, loss, and unexpected redemption.

Brittney, a young mother abandoned by her children's father, struggles to raise three children in an apartment she can barely afford. Her neighbor reports her to the Department of Human Services and DHS decides the children are ‘unsafe,’ an amorphous accusation no one can define.

As Brittney argues with a skeptical judge, caseworkers place her children with Rebecca, a forty-year-old professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Rebecca knows the children aren’t hers to keep, but once the patter of tiny feet fills the quiet halls of her Victorian home, she can’t imagine life without them.

The two women are on opposing sides of a custody battle, but under the shadow of an inept foster care system, they begin to realize they have more in common than they thought. Together, they ask the in an imperfect world, can they somehow forge their own versions of family, love, and motherhood?

“Yearwood’s dry wit and literary style will keep readers engrossed, fascinated by the complex, beautiful women she has created. A tender, heartbreaking, and exceptionally intelligent study of contemporary motherhood in all its complexity,” Kirkus Starred Review

"Yearwood tackles the complex issues of family planning, motherhood, and adoption head-on, and the story works as well as it does because she offers no easy answers. This is a winner," Publisher's Weekly

"This isn't just a novel about motherhood—it is a searing commentary on the failures of child welfare systems, class inequality, and the extreme standards imposed on women, dismantling the cultural myth of the "perfect mother" who must balance career, household, and parenting. This incisive, heart-rending novel makes a strong case for re-evaluating the various supports extended to low-income and marginalized families, all while it celebrates female agency and women's resilience," Booklife Review, EDITOR'S PICK

Genres: Fiction

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2024

Reviews

[Ashley Constant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children of Ever After is a complex story that is about so much more than motherhood. It’s a thoughtful examination of relationships, the care system, what is asked of women, and the toll it has on them.

The immediate juxtaposition between Rebecca and Brittney is jarring—Rebecca’s nearly-famous husband is hosting a party in their lavish home and Brittney is excited by dry pancakes at a local diner—but the two women are lovingly fleshed out to great effect. Neither is perfect, but what woman is? Both are faced with impossible choices, thrust into a system that prioritizes status and class.

While reading, I kept thinking, “How is Yearwood going to pull off a satisfying ending?” Because you know it has to end one of two ways, but you still hold out hope that everyone gets their happy ending. And while I don’t want to ruin the journey, rest assured that the ending is satisfying and well-earned.

Fans of well-written fiction with heart should absolutely check this one out.

[Joell Swope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a great book. This is definitely one of my top favorites I have read this year. The storyline was so well written, and it was so easy to get drawn to all the characters. I would have given it more stars If i could. Definitely will be looking forward to reading more from this author.

[elizabeth mathews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was thought provoking- not sure it was very realistic? Maybe, as it is about a world I’ve not really immersed myself in. I would like to believe there were more stories out there that end as this one did.

[Cody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave it 2 stars because the editing errors were too many to ignore and I feel like the research was lacking in some of the storylines. However as a foster and adoptive parent myself I found the story very compelling. I know how broken the system is and how some families slip through the cracks while others are just lacking the support needed to be successful in their lives.

[Twins Reading Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novelist Avery Yearwood has carefully developed as one of the best writers of contemporary literary fiction thanks to her meticulous research and practically prescient selection of pressing topics, which range from the institutional disparities of the foster care system to the challenging immensely human challenges of parenting! With its vibrant heroines and distinguishing cast of characters, CHILDREN OF EVER AFTER is a gripping and magnificently written novel that reaches to the heart!
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The book penned by Avery Yearwood is a delicate unsettling piece of love, loss, and motherhood that clings well above each and every page. It feels like a vibrant, breathing thing. Children of Ever After is an excellent analysis of the human heart and the flawed structures that influence our existence. I was pulled into Brittney and Rebecca's life with such grace and accuracy that you experience every pain, every accomplishment, and every unsaid hope thanks to Avery Yearwood's prose, which is like an enchanting glide and a rumble of thunder all at once.
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Brittney's difficulties as a single mother, struggling against the judgments of a world that doesn't care, are devastating and very brutal. Avery Yearwood uses her to represent the innumerable women who struggle against a system that wants to see them fail while bearing the burden of social expectations. Then we have the other character Rebecca, a lady who has experienced her own silent heartbreak and is thrown into a role she never would have thought of but accepts with a passion that is tender and delicate. Their experience exposes the harsh truths of class inequality and the unrelenting loyalty that characterizes motherhood in a chaotic, unvarnished, and highly human way.
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Children of Ever After's sharp criticism on the shortcomings of the child welfare system and the dehumanizing expectations placed on mothers raises the story above a straightforward custody dispute. Avery Yearwood shows how societal expectations divide and unify women in equal measure, tearing down the idea of the "perfect mother" with unwavering honesty. Her sardonic humor and astute observations permeate each scene, altering this intensely personal tale into a more general critique of injustice and bravery in the face of injustice!
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Although Avery Yearwood does not offer simple solutions, she offers you a feeling that love—in all of its flaws—is what binds people together. Children of Ever After is a plea to rethink what motherhood, love, and family may be, as well as a celebration of female autonomy and a grief for what has been lost. This is the best of contemporary women's literature—it is intriguing thought-provoking, and utterly unmatched!

[Allison Minke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. It was about the trials and tribulations of motherhood and the unconditional love that mothers have for their children that sometimes leads to hard/selfless decisions. I enjoyed this book. It was a much needed break from romance and thriller.

[BrittBritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A uniquely heartbreaking story that I couldn't put down, I had to know what would happen next. The story and characters were very well written. One of the best books I've read so far in 2025.

[Lisa Carby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Shelley Marushak Langelaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truthfully I almost shelved it in the first three chapters. It was hard to follow and a bit too graphic (which I found unnecessary) in my opinion. However, I persevered and pressed on and it turned into an intriguing story that at times was sad and other times filled with hope.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery Yearwood’s Children Ever After is a deeply moving and emotionally charged novel that explores the raw complexities of motherhood, loss, and resilience. From the very first page, Yearwood grips the reader with a narrative that is both heartbreaking and beautifully profound, unraveling the lives of two women bound by circumstances neither could have foreseen.

At its core, the novel follows Brittney, a devoted yet struggling mother fighting to keep her family together, and Rebecca, a woman thrust into an unexpected role that challenges everything she thought she knew about love and responsibility. As their lives intertwine, the novel raises difficult but necessary questions about the child welfare system, societal expectations of mothers, and the sacrifices women make for the ones they love.

Yearwood’s writing is stunning in its honesty. Every page brims with emotion. Grief, frustration, and hope woven together with an authenticity that makes it impossible to look away. The characters are so vividly real that their pain becomes the reader’s pain, their triumphs a shared relief. There are no easy answers in this story, only the complicated truths of human experience.

Children Ever After is more than just a novel; it is a profound statement on the meaning of family and the endurance of love against all odds. It will leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the final page, your heart aching yet somehow full. A must-read for anyone who appreciates literature that challenges, inspires, and deeply moves.

[Luz Alonso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often, you stumble upon a book that grips you from the very first page, and Children of Ever After by Avery Yearwood is exactly that kind of novel. I came across this book by pure chance, not knowing what to expect, and found myself completely immersed in a deeply emotional and thought-provoking story that refuses to let go.

Set in the heart of West Philadelphia, the novel weaves a raw and brutally honest narrative of two women—Brittney, a struggling young mother, and Rebecca, a university professor thrust into an unexpected maternal role. Their lives intersect in the most painful way when Brittney’s children are taken away by the foster system and placed with Rebecca.

What makes Children of Ever After so powerful is how Yearwood refuses to paint either woman as a villain. Instead, she crafts two fully realized, flawed, yet deeply relatable characters. As a reader, you find yourself sympathizing with both Brittney’s desperate fight to keep her children and Rebecca’s unexpected but profound attachment to them. The novel does not take sides—it simply tells a story that is, at its core, heartbreakingly real.

This novel deserves every bit of attention it’s getting. It’s a timely, important, and utterly gripping read that highlights a system so many families are forced to navigate. If you’re looking for a book that will make you feel deeply, think critically, and stay with you long after you finish it, Children of Ever After is one you cannot miss.

[Madeline Heintz · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Children Ever After” by Avery Yearwood, the protagonist, Rebecca, is filled with her fervent desire to be a mother. At 39 years old, she undergoes feelings of fear about not being able to have children of her own soon if her husband doesn’t agree to start conceiving with her. His career-focused life seems to dissuade him from providing Rebecca with the life she’s always wanted from being married to him, to start a family together someday. The way Rebecca explains how the years have dragged by provides the reader with the frustration and sadness she must be feeling. The excuses from Will about needing to keep reputation crystal clear has led to a sexless relationship between them. They both seek very different things from their relationship, and as they grow older, their differences grow stronger. This book serves as a reminder of the essentialness of similar pursuits to be reciprocated by both partners in a relationship, or they can both be engulfed with feelings of unhappiness and resentment towards one another. The writing style is captivating and the overall plot is interesting to ponder on. Can a relationship work if both people want different things from it? This big life question is navigated and dissected multiple times throughout this book, and gives its readers an important glimpse into the navigation of serious relationship issues that are quite realistic.

[Jessica Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading "Children of Ever After" by Avery Yearwood reminded me of the complicated feelings I had when I became a mom for the first time—how overwhelming and beautiful it was, and how quickly people start judging you when you’re just doing your best. This book dives deep into those same feelings but in a situation so much heavier than mine.

What made "Children of Ever After" so powerful for me is how real it felt. I’ve never been part of the foster system, but I’ve seen how fast life can turn upside down for people with fewer safety nets. It made me think about how easy it is to judge someone from the outside—and how important it is to listen before you decide what’s “right” for a family.

Avery Yearwood writes with honesty, heart, and even a bit of humor in the hardest moments. This book doesn’t offer easy answers—but it does offer hope. It shows how people from completely different worlds can find common ground, and maybe even build something new together.

"Children of Ever After" is for anyone who’s ever questioned what family means, or what motherhood should look like. It’s beautifully written, deeply emotional, and something I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

[Kat Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who was adopted and is now preparing to start my own family, Children of Ever After hit me in a deeply personal way. Avery Yearwood has crafted a poignant, gut-wrenching novel that examines the many faces of motherhood—the yearning, the sacrifice, and the impossible choices that shape a child’s fate.

At its core, this is a story about two women from opposite worlds—Brittney, a struggling young mother fighting to keep her children, and Rebecca, a professor who longs to give them a better life. Their battle is not just against each other but against a foster care system that too often fails the families it claims to protect. Yearwood writes with unflinching honesty, exposing the deep class divides and impossible expectations placed on mothers while still honoring the fierce love they have for their children.

What struck me most was how there were no villains here—only heartbreak, resilience, and the desperate hope that love will be enough. It’s a novel that lingers long after the final page, challenging everything we think we know about family and belonging.

[Eric Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never had kids and even floated the idea of adopting, but financially, I’m unable to support a kid or kids. So anyway, I checked out this book and have to say that I was really impressed with it. I liked the flow of the story and how it ended. Personally, if I were to go through this situation, I would have essentially a framework in place to care for a child and also deal with any possible parents who may still care about them. The situation presented in the story was realistic and not preachy, which was nice. Sure, Brittney had to deal with a deadbeat dad who had sex but felt guilty enough to help financially even though he essentially walked out on Brittney. Enter Rebecca, who ends up with Brittney’s kids, and the story evolves into a great tale about love and compassion. I mean, I wasn’t always able to stop because it was so poignant and down-to-earth, which I like. The characters had a life; they existed, and the other characters were good additions to the story, not complicating it at all. Nice read I would like you to check this book out.

[Nora Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children of Ever After, by Avery Yearwood, is one of the most moving books I've read in a long time. The author is certainly a master of conveying complex and overwhelming emotions with every slight touch of dialogue and the characters' thoughts, and I was amazed by the character arcs as well; Brittney and Rebecca are perfect foils of each other—a young lower-class mother fighting to keep her children and a wealthy childless professor who becomes responsible for them—who gradually learn its nothing but tragic circumstances and the system that have them pitted against each other. There is also an unbelievable sense of tension and pressure throughout, even in the seemingly mundane, the book opening, for instance, with a party secretly fraught by a tense marriage and the exhaustion of keeping up appearances.

While this story is told from the perspective of women, I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the shambles of the welfare system and the purgatory of custody battles—this is a phenomenal and incredibly relevant read.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a start and stop because it was hard to get into. As someone who has many years experience in child welfare there are some concepts that ring true and others that are far fetched. The writing felt lacking in maturity overall but I did think there were some things that were done right. The ability to capture the daunting tasks set before parents who are trying to earn their children back from foster care system while battling their own demons and lacking any kind of positive support system. The lack of understanding that most foster parents have going into fostering children and their romanticized ideas of what it will be like versus the reality.

It really bothered me that a woman who was so educated in anthropology, spent a good deal of her life researching the concepts of support networks among women of all kinds of cultures and environments, and studying human behavior, was so quick to judge. Yes, she eventually started to become open minded but being a research minded individual I was hoping she would have approached it that way from the beginning.

[Brittney Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books just hit you right in the heart—this is one of those. It follows Brittney, a young mom doing her best to raise her kids on her own, until the foster care system rips them away. Suddenly, Rebecca, a professor with a comfortable life, is caring for kids that aren’t hers. These two women start out on opposite sides of a battle, but as they navigate a broken system, they realize they have more in common than they ever expected.

Yearwood’s writing is sharp, honest, and full of emotion. She doesn’t just tell a story—she shines a light on the impossible pressures of motherhood, the deep flaws in child welfare, and the way class and privilege shape everything. But at its core, this is about love, resilience, and redefining family. It’s heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down. If you’re looking for a book that sticks with you, this is it.

[LINDA MCCAULEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

truth…………..

The story draws you in to a world unknown to many. A young mother left alone with three children. Living in poverty with no real life skills. When the children are removed from the home by social services, the “hoops” she would have to jump through are impossible given her situation. “Regulations” for the procedure are often enforced to the nth! No possibility of changing a rule to help the situation. Some children have wonderful foster homes and thrive! Luckily in this story they certainly do! This story is about the birth mother’s struggle, the foster’s kind heart and how it all affects the children. It’s a story of loss and of love!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was simply heartbreaking at times in reflecting a system that is focused on compliance and “checking boxes” rather than the unique needs of families. The storyline definitely caused consideration for how the DCFS/DHS operates with some children falling through the cracks while others are seemingly taken from their loving homes. In the end, while a great read, the story was a bit unrealistic as the two mothers came together to provide a beautiful life for the 3 children. A little too fairy tale, happy ending for me amidst the harsh reality of the system.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book as part of Goodreads giveaways.

[Judy Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good, well written and takes a look at two women, one who is so young and brought into motherhood to soon and is left by her husband with 3 young children. The other is a women who only wants to be a mother but her husband doesn't want children and he leaves the home. The characters are well written, the story makes you understand what the system is like for those who lose the children, and for those who only want to have a child.

[Bonni L Opthof · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of hope

Interesting to look at both sides of foster
care. The heartbreak of losing your children to the system because life got overwhelming. Circumstances can break a person. But the DHS system is there to protect the children. This book does a good job of showing the complexities involved.

[Joan mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting book

I gave this story 4 stars although parts of it deserved 5. But it took me 3 chapters in to realize what exactly I was reading about. As the story began to develope and make sense it became a good book. Harsh at times. Harsh as in life really isn’t fair and children pay the biggest price.

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this 5 stars but for some reason I just couldn’t seem to keep gripped. Kept putting it down & starting different books. I nearly shelved this but persevered. Really interesting storyline & loved the contrasts of the 2 different characters. Found the last chapters just seemed to drag out & not really go anywhere in my opinion

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at both sides of the public foster care system. Although I'm not sure the biological/foster mother relationship was realistic, I think it offered a way to present the conflicting interests of those parties involved. More importantly, it offered what was likely a realistic look at how the system is not the best and what impedes the provision of the best needs of children.

[Racheal Buksh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually did really like the story, I cried once or twice when the author explained in detail how hard it was for Brittney to get anything productive done. I was kind of hoping for a really big dramatic twist but nothing major really happened towards the end.

I read this to give myself a break from romance/thrillers. And it did just that 😇

[Patricia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

A young mother, suddenly struggling to raise her children on her own, finds herself in a “damn if you do-damn if you don’t “ situation.
Her struggles with Child Protective Services shows that these situations are not always what they seem.

[Maureen Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. A story of a struggling single mother and a caring foster parent as they work together to give 3 children the best life possible. Also discusses the flaws and red tape in the foster parent adoption system. I highly recommend this book.

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so happy I found this book on Kindle Unlimited during my "novels set in Philadelphia" quest before my trip! I was pleasantly surprised by the nuanced look at the world of Child Protective Services, fostering and adoption, and of course, appreciated the setting while actually in the city.

Source: Kindle Unlimited ebook

[Megan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Digs into the unjust nature of the child welfare system

Brief glimpses of why a woman would want to be a foster parent and the domino effects of life in poverty resulting in another women losing her children.